“I don’t say it is fair. But it is reality.”
“Can you not talk to them on his behalf? For Kate’s sake? Persuade them?”
“I have nothing against the young man personally. But do I want him to marry my sister...?” He shook his head. “No.”
She stared at him, disappointed. “I did not expect you of all people to share that view. After all, you married beneath your station. And a person shadowed by scandal.”
“Do you not see the differences? They would be poor and excluded from polite society. Most of my parents’ friends among them.”
“But they would be happy.”
“Would they? I doubt it. Not with so many factors against them.”
“The vicar and his wife are not ostracized. Why would their son be?”
“Mr. Nelson is granted a certain latitude on account of his calling. People admire that he took the boy in. That doesn’t mean they want Mr. Harrison to marry their daughters.”
“Then your parents and their friends are...” She bit back the wordpompous.
He sighed. “They are not perfect. But my parents care about their daughter and want her to be happy. Not just for a few months, but for the rest of her life. And they are thinking not only of her but of her future children as well.”
“It still isn’t fair.”
He pressed her hand. “I know. Listen, I know what you want me to say. I realize you feel this very personally, because of your own... recent... situation. But your child will not grow up under a cloud of scandal as Mr. Harrison has. Your child will be legitimate in the eyes of society and the law. He or she will be an Overtree, with all the protection and privileges that name confers.”
Sophie made no reply.
They parted ways at the dressing room door. And in a pique as she was, she turned her back on him without saying good-night.
Captain Overtree did not return to her bedchamber to await the valet’s departure as usual, forgoing the pretense that he meant to share her room.
Changed and in bed a short while later, Sophie had difficulty falling asleep. She kept reviewing her conversation, or rather her argument, with Captain Overtree. And what would give her no peace was not Mr. Harrison’s situation or even Kate’s daunted hopes, but the realization of all she and her child had been spared because Captain Overtree had married her. He’d not only protected her from shame—he’d also rescued her child from a life of scandal and exclusion. Not to mention possible poverty and deprivation.
She thought of something the vicar had said in church, about how Christ took on our sin and shame on the cross, giving his life to save his people eternally. Oh, she knew humble and human Stephen Overtree would deny any similarities between what Christ had done and what he had done for her, but at the moment the realization burned in her chest like a hot coal. And how had she repaid his great kindness? By remaining aloof. By neglecting him. By idolizing another. She had done the same to both God and Stephen Overtree.Oh, Lord, forgive me...
Unable to lie there any longer, she rose from bed, and walked carefully across the room, hands stretched before her and hoping not to stumble into anything in the dark. She reached the dressing room and found the door latch. Dare she? She didn’t know exactly what she meant to do, but she wanted to at least apologize for their argument. And maybe thank him again. And maybe... kiss him. And maybe... more.
She quietly unlatched the door and inched it open, hearing only silence in reply. Within, Captain Overtree lay on his makeshift bed, a book open over his chest, eyes closed. Nearby on a ledge a candle guttered, its flame struggling to stay alight in a puddle of wax. She tiptoed inside, knelt beside the sofa, and watched him sleep. How would he react to wake and find her in his room? What would he do? Might he take her in his arms and kiss her? She longed to be held, body and soul. But by Stephen Overtree?
Yes.
Remembering the feeling of his hair beneath her fingers in the studio, she reached out and gently touched his head.
He lurched upright, grabbed her wrist painfully tight, and uttered a strangled yell.
She sucked in a startled breath. “It’s all right, Captain. It’s me. Sophie.”
His eyes were open but unseeing. A haze of violent emotion faded from them and he blinked awake. “Dreaming... thought you were the enemy.”
“No. Your wife.”
He loosened his grip and straightened. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
“No. I’m all right.”
“I scared you, didn’t I.”
“A bit.”
