“It’s empty,” she said. “I was about to call for a maid to come and collect it.”
“Ah, yes. Allow me…” Her father stepped from the room and barked down the hallway. A second later a maid appeared.
The maid’s name was Sally, Sophia knew her well, and she was perfect for what she had in mind.
“Your Ladyship, allow me…” Sally hurried forward to take the saucer of tea.
As she did, Sophia looked into Sally’s eyes and held them. Then, as she passed her the saucer, she made sure to slip the folded note into the young maid’s hands. The maid’s eyes widened, Sophia held them in her own gaze, and the maid nodded her understanding as she took the saucer and kept the note hidden.
“I will leave you to it.” Her father turned to leave.
‘Father…” Sophia called to him. He turned and raised an eyebrow in question. “Tomorrow, as I have… I feel that I have been well behaved. Might I go for a promenade through Hyde Park? If it please you?”
Her father considered and then smiled. “Yes, I think you have earned it. It will be good for others to see you out and enjoying life. Your mother, your sister, and I will join you.”
Sophia smiled gratefully. “I look forward to it.”
The door closed behind her father, and she heard the familiar sound of the lock clicking.
Alone now, Sophia sat on the end of her bed, and in a most surprising turn of events, she smiled. It was not a smile of relief, certainly not one of victory. Rather, it was hopeful. As destitute as her life currently was, tomorrow might very well change everything.
She was giving her husband one last chance to prove to her how much he cared and how much he had changed. Should he take it, she knew that she would accept him back into her life because she still loved him. But should he turn her away again… that would be her answer.
One more day, and she would know what her future held.
Gabriel sat in his carriage and watched the front door of Sophia’s townhouse. He might have been rejected entry by Sophia’s father, but she could not stay indoors forever. Sooner or later, she would come outside, and when she did, he would talk to her.
More than that, I will finally tell her how I feel.
Was it so strange that he was excited to see Sophia? That he could not wait to finally admit to her the truth of his feelings? Odd that something which had terrified him just hours ago, now brought him untold amounts of joy. But that just spoke to how right this was.
He was only waiting a few moments when the door opened. He sat up, his heart leaping through his chest at the sight of a woman walking through… only for it to crash back down when he realized it was just a maid.
Gabriel exhaled with frustration and fell back.
The maid closed the door softly behind her and then looked up and down the street. She was acting strangely, the way that she kept her head down as if she did not want to be seen. Gabriel found himself watching her, curious about what she was doing. And that curiosity grew as she crossed the busy street and made straight for his carriage.
She reached it and knocked on the door. “Your Grace,” she said. “Please, Your Grace, Lady Sophia has sent me.”
“Sophia!” Gabriel leapt for the door and swung it open. “Sophia sent you? What did she say?” He looked past the maid as if expecting Sophia to suddenly appear.
“She said nothing, Your Grace,” the maid said. “She did, however, give me this…” The maid reached into the front of her dress and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Then, she held it out for Gabriel to take.
The moment Gabriel took the letter, the maid vanished, leaving him alone in the carriage with the letter in his hand.
“What on earth…” Gabriel unfolded the letter and read it quickly.
Words are not enough. If you mean what I think you wish to say, I want you to prove it. Not just for me, but for yourself, Gabriel. You need convincing, as much as I. Do that, and I am yours.
Tomorrow, I will be at Hyde Park with my parents. Be there, find me, or don’t. It is up to you…
He read the letter again, his heart racing, confusion paired with excitement flooding through his body. He then looked out the window, back to the townhouse, moving his gaze upwards to the window that sat on the second floor.
A smile found his lips, the idea that she was sitting in that room watching him. And that smile grew when Gabriel realized what he had to do.
Sophia still cared for him. By the looks of it, she still loved him. If he wanted to win her back and prove that he was worth the risk, that he had changed, he needed to show her how much he loved her.
How was he going to do that?It is a good thing that I have all evening to come up with something.And that’s exactly what he did.
