“I did…” She looked at him hopefully. “More than I thought possible.”
“Good,” he smiled at her. “And this, I hope you know, is only the beginning.” A beat passed as they looked at one another, and the urge to take her hand and pull her into him was so strong he had to fight against it. “Good night, Sophia, I’ll see you in the morning.”
He turned and he left. Damn near fled, to be truthful.
Gabriel shook as he rushed to his room, and his stomach roiled with guilt. He had done nothing wrong, he knew. In fact, he felt as if that might have been the most honorable thing he had ever done in his life. But then why did he feel so awful? And why did he feel as if he had just made a huge mistake?
CHAPTER 17
Sophia woke the following morning with a headache that defied belief. Her head felt like it might split in two, and her stomach felt as if it was about to burst open. She groaned as she rolled over, and it took her longer than it should have to remember what occurred the night before.
When it did…
Oh no…
Her eyes shot open and panic swept through her. She started to sweat. She started to squirm. And she prayed that the hangover was worse than it felt, so it might put her out of her misery and save her the embarrassment that was sure to come.
“Good morning!” Mary swept into the room. “How did you sleep, Your Grace?”
“Horribly.”
“Wonderful,” Mary hummed as she went to the curtains. “Shall you be having a bath, or would you like to break your fast first?”
Neither,was what Sophia wished to say. She wanted to spend all day in bed and hide from her husband. She wondered if perhaps he was so drunk that he could not remember the previous evening, but she doubted it. Likely, he remembered it perfectly, and if that was the case…
No. There is no need to feel embarrassed or awkward. Nothing happened between us. Nothing even came close to happening. Likely, it is all in your head, but if you hide up here, he will know that something is wrong.
With little real choice in the matter, Sophia dragged herself from her room and waded downstairs. Time to face the actions of her consequences.
It was as she walked that she tried to reason with herself. Last evening wasn’t nearly the travesty that she had first assumed. It wasn’t as if she had said anything she should feel ashamed of. Nor had she acted on impulse. She and Gabriel had just talked, that was all, honestly and openly for the first time. Yes, there was a moment toward the end where things had felt a little strange between them, but it couldn’t have been that bad.
Then why does it feel as if it was even worse than that?
Sophia knew the answer, of course, and she was just starting to reckon with it when she arrived at the breakfast room to find her husband sitting at the head of the table. He was dressed in asmart suit, his hair was combed, his face clean shaven, and the sight of him took her breath away.
Despite what she wanted to believe about her feelings for Gabriel, Sophia knew in her heart of hearts that last night had changed everything. She was starting to develop feelings for her rogue husband and, if her instincts were correct, he was developing them for her too.
“Go – good morning,” she stammered as she walked into the room.
He looked up, saw her skulking, and smiled. “Sophia, I was wondering how you might be feeling today. In truth, I am surprised to see you awake so early.”
She winced. “I do not usually drink that much.”
“Clearly,” he chuckled.
It was only then that she realized how she must look. Still in her shift, her hair a mess, her eyes sunken, her skin a pasty sheen of grey, she likely looked like a ragged ghost. And while she should not have cared… she found that she did.
“I…” She moved to cover herself. “I think I might have a bath. I…” Awkward laughter. “I likely look a fright.”
“Not at all.” His eyes worked over her body, and she tried to cover herself further. “But it is not a matter…” Then, he pushedback his chair and stood. “I am done, so you have the room to yourself.”
“You are?” she blurted.
“I have business in London,” he explained. “I expect to be out all day.”
“Oh…” Her heart sank, and she hated that it did. “Will you be back for supper?”
“I am not sure.” He smiled once, then put his head down and walked right by her without another word said.
