‘I see,’ Sophie replied slowly, realising that if Horace had carried her aboard, it meant her identity could actually still be a secret.
‘Horace, I find I need a few moments alone before I meet his lordship. A few…ladymoments, that is. Could you escort me, discreetly, to the inn, do you think? I promise it won’t take much of your time.’
She forced a beguiling smile then, the one she reserved for family and people she actually liked, and for a second the redoubtable Horace stared before he scowled again.
‘The guvnor asked me to check for any special requests and that’s all,’ he growled, making Sophie sorely regret her initial impression. ‘Not that you don’t seem a nice enough filly,’ he continued in a kinder tone, ‘but I don’t get to make orders, jus’ follow ’em. And I daresay you can still ’ave them lady moments as this yacht has more luxuries than I’ve ’ad ’ot dinners,’ he added with a shrug. ‘You jus’ need to ask the guvnor w’en he gets ‘ere.’
‘I’m not asking your guvnor anything!’ Sophie replied fiercely. ‘Please stand aside so I may?—’
‘We leave as soon as the tide is with us,’ came his lordship’s faint tone, framed by the sound of brisk boots across a wooden deck.
Sophie shrank back again, suddenly feeling more exposed than ever in her life.
‘Thank gawd,’ Horace said with relief. ‘I ain’t got the patter for fillies an’ no mistake,’ he added, before walking away.
Furiously, she gripped the crossbow in her pocket and stiffened at some faint laughter, starkly aware some of the deckhands must have witnessed her undignified embarkation on board. She stepped back in a rush, suddenly fearful of everything; and then he was in the doorway, his tall figure silhouetted in the brightening morning, a roguish light in his eyes.
‘Good morning, Mrs Letitia Haxby,’ he began silkily, starting towards her. ‘I trust you have rested well my love? I have taken the liberty of ordering breakfast for you, but just say if you’d like anything in particular. I apologise for the swift journey, the tide waits for no man, but now we arefinallyalone we can begin to?—’
‘Stop right where you are, Rotherby!’ Sophie growled, pulling out the small crossbow and aiming it directly at his lordship’s chest.
There was a sharp curse as he pulled up short and scrutinised her in utter astonishment.
‘Miss Fairfax?’ he exclaimed in genuine shock. ‘What in the name of every blackguard known to England areyoudoing here?’
ChapterEleven
STILL TEACHING A RAKE A LESSON
A few seconds later
‘Iwould consider staying and breaking my fast with you, Lord Rotherby,’ Sophie enunciated icily, keeping the crossbow trained on his person, ‘but I have a stagecoach to catch if I’m to make it back to London before this day is done. Suffice to say, I will never speak of this night, and neither will you!’
‘Stagecoaches be damned, I asked a question! What in the blazes areyoudoing here?’ Lord Rotherby thundered, his eyes narrowed to shards.
Sophie suppressed a shiver. She’d never witnessed a gentleman in such a fury. Her father had a quiet nature, and Thomas always vented his anger on the local rabbit population. But this was different; she could feel Lord Rotherby’s fury as keenly as though it were her own, while the gleam in his eye was distinctly unnerving.
She drew a steadying breath and reminded herself she was the one holding a crossbow, and that no one, not even Lord Rotherby, was impervious to silver darts.
‘Lady Aurelia interpreted your comment about heradoring Parisas an invitation to accompany you on your next trip,’ she replied with forced calm. ‘She had no idea you planned to take Mrs Haxby,and was convinced you would offer marriage in the morning. My intention was to intercept and dissuade her from coming with you, but when you mistook me for Mrs Haxby everything changed. I… panicked, and let you think I was she until Aurelia approached Rotherby House, when I realised I was risking a public scene. I thought it better to reveal my identity in your coach, and ask safe passage home. Butyou, sir, decided to drive all night, making it impossible for me to do so.’
‘Lady Aurelia? Adore Paris?’ his lordship expostulated, his eyes flashing with anger. ‘I never said any such thing, and if she had some fairytale ending in mind she would have been sorely disappointed!’
‘Aurelia does not believe in fairytales,’ Sophie replied stonily, ‘and her plan was hardly honourable, particularly if what you say is true. But that does not excuse the fact that your rakish behaviour, sir, is an insult to all females!’
She paused as a dark scowl spread across his face.
‘My rakish behaviour? All females? I pride myself on my strict rules about companions, and I most certainly havenotin any way encouraged Lady Aurelia,’ he expostulated furiously. ‘Any interest she may have perceived was entirely on her side or, as I am more tempted to believe, wholly exaggerated to justify her own ambition,’ he continued scathingly. ‘In truth, I believe the only person who has been duped, my dear, is you.’
Sophie felt a dull flush rise across her face as she realised the full extent of her folly, but held her weapon steady. Even if Lord Rotherby had never mentioned Paris to Aurelia, he was still culpable, by virtue of his very nature.
‘In some ways I am not surprised by Lady Aurelia, for she has been forever making cow’s eyes at me,’ he continued, his lip curling contemptuously. ‘But you…’ He scowled intently, making Sophie feel suddenly and inexplicably vulnerable. ‘I would have expected so much better of you. Why a young lady of your breeding and understanding of the world has got embroiled in this mess– for the sake ofLady Aurelia, of all people–is beyond my comprehension. Do you realise what you have done? What any member of the ton will think?’ He took a step forward, raking his hand through his perfectly unruly Byronesque locks. ‘They will assume you’ve spent the night with me, Sophie,’ he ground out intensely. ‘Do you know what that even means?’
Sophie blanched at his use of her first name. Somehow it felt even more intimate than it should in his luxurious cabin, aboard his personal yacht.
‘It means you’re as good as ruined,’ he added bluntly. ‘You do understand that, don’t you? I’ve never pursued debutantes, but my reputation is such that everyone will assume I’ve—’ He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. ‘They will assume I’ve had your virtue, and by God, I’ve—’ He pulled himself up swiftly, before a fresh scowl spread across his features. ‘You cannot blame my choosing to drivemy chaisethrough the night,’ he continued scathingly, ‘whenyoutook it upon yourself to rescue a friend who did not need any kind of help. I would have known exactly what Lady Aurelia was scheming and sent her on her way, but instead…’
He paused to groan and run his fingers through his dishevelled hair again, while Sophie didn’t know where to look.
