“Sophia…” her stepfather began, sitting himself behind the large desk.
Dudley did not sit. Instead he leaned against the closed door with both arms crossed.
“…you are no longer a child, and I will not treat you as such. Neither are you like other ladies your age, free to fritter about Society for years on end. You have responsibilities. You have duties.”
“Yes, sir,” she said. Out with it, please! I wish to know what I am dealing with!
“This, er, engagement of yours… I wish to remind you that you are under my protection until you are wed, and upon your marriage, you will be subject to the will of your husband. And as your husband is a member of such an esteemed family as the duke’s, you shall be subject to their will as well.”
Sophia merely nodded. Although this was not the way she’d imagined a marriage to be, she knew he spoke the truth, as far as the law was concerned, anyhow.
“The responsibilities you have as a daughter and as a sister…” He glanced toward Dudley. “…may be relinquished, for the most part, upon your marriage. But until then, you will do as I tell you, knowing I always have your mother’s and Dudley’s interests high on my list of priorities. And yours, of course.”
“Of course,” she mimicked. She had to bite her tongue to keep from saying more.
At this point, Mr. Scofield’s face hardened. “Your marriage, as it is, legally has already occurred. Amongst the papers you were asked to sign last week, concerning your dowry and whatnot, you signed a marriage license and said license has been witnessed. Your bridegroom has signed it already as well. Payments have been made, and all necessary contracts have been filed by the solicitors.”
She was not sure she understood what he was saying. And then, when she did grasp his meaning, she found it difficult to believe. “But why? Why would such trickery on your part have been necessary? For I do feel as though this is a form of trickery.”
Her stepfather narrowed his eyes at her. She’d never before argued with him. But this was important! This washer life!
“It is simply the way matters are accomplished when dealing with such an aristocratic family as your fiancé’s. It was not trickery, my dear. It was business. Ladies are incapable of understanding these finer details. I would never have told you had I not sensed a… hesitancy upon your part this evening regarding the changes to the wedding date. I will prevent you from causing scandal or legal troubles for this family. I doubt your mother’s poor heart could handle such humiliation and dishonor.”
“But is the marriage not disputable until a ceremony has been performed, and… well, consummated?” She flushed as she said the words. She wished Dudley were not present. She would rather have had this conversation in private.
She would rather have avoided such a conversation all together.
“It could be disputed with an exam, I suppose,” Dudley interjected from his side of the room.
But a knowing look lurked in his expression, and his eyes were hooded and mocking.
“That won’t be necessary, my dear. As I’ve said, my concern is for your mother. Has she not glowed with health and happiness as of late?” His voice dripped with condescension. “And it is of no matter, is it? It has been my own opinion that you are happy to marry Lord Harold. I would only bring all of this out into the open with you, as I have said, since you seemed hesitant about the date.
Sophia barely comprehended all that had occurred over the last few hours. She sat, seething, as her stepfather spoke to her now.
“Surely, you won’t make any trouble. All I ask is that you continue frolicking about town with your friend, shopping and preparing for your wedding. Nothing distasteful in any of that, now, is there?”
And then she found her voice, low and steady and edged with a steel all its own. “How much?”
His brows rose. “Pardon?”
“How much have they paid you?”
He did not say anything, merely moved a few papers about on his desk for a moment or two. And then, glancing up at her, he confirmed her worse fears. “Enough,” he said. “Enough to eliminate this family’s debts, Dudley’s included, and for your mother and me to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. Would you put your mother’s future in peril, Sophia?”
Bile rose in her throat, but then subsided into her heart.
She stood. And then another question dawned on her. Turning back, she demanded, “But why? Why would the Prescotts pay so much? Why would they pay at all?”
At this, it was Dudley who answered, “Because, dear sister, Lord Harold is so very enamored of you. He’s leaving no chance for another man to snatch you away. You ought to be flattered.”
Flattered?
She’d done naught but consented to anengagement.
She’d trusted all of them while signing those papers. Was that not what a betrothal was for? A time of contemplation? A time to develop trust? A time for the couple to assure themselves of the decision they’d made?
It was awfully high-handed of them — of Lord Harold. She’d not thought he would be such a husband as to act so arrogantly in regard to their life together. She hoped he would not do so again.
