Although it nearly burned a hole in her hands, Sophia could not open the missive while her friend felt so dejected. “It was confusing. Even for me. He kissed me, and I — well, I — I didn’t stop him! And then I didn’t know how to tell you…”
Both girls sat in baffled silence for all of a minute before Rhoda gestured to the missive once again. “Unless you wish to open it in private.”
“No, no, that isn’t it at all.” She would tell Rhoda everything today. She would not keep anything from her friend. “Lord Harold and I are already legally wed.” She went on to explain the deceit surrounding her engagement, her stepfather’s meeting with her, and even Dudley’s cryptic comment.
At the end of Sophia’s long explanation, Rhoda frowned. “It certainly does seem a little devious.” She tapped her fingers against her lips with a perplexed look in her eyes. And then she glanced into Sophia’s lap. “Soph, I don’t know about you, but I personally cannot wait a moment longer. For heaven’s sake, open the missive! I’m dying to know what he’s all about.”
No further encouragement was necessary. Sophia broke the seal and opened the fine parchment.
She read aloud to Rhoda. As she said her own name, she realized that she spoke it softly, caressingly, as he had done on a few occasions.
Sophia,
I will not reveal all in this missive, considering the possibility that it never reaches your hands. When you next feed the fowl, as your habit leads you to do, I will await nearby. We have much to discuss. If you do not attend, then I will accept your decision to leave matters as they are. I would simply ask that you trust me.
She looked up.“He signed itD.”
He was giving her an entire week to consider her answer. For she was aware that he knew their habit was to feed the fowls on Wednesday.
Today was Thursday.
Placing both hands upon her cheeks, she looked up at Rhoda with a blank stare.
“What are you going to do?” Rhoda asked. “No, that’s a foolish question. You’ll meet him, of course.”
“I will?”
“You will.”
“Yes, of course. What have I to lose?”
When it Rains, it Pours
The next six days were possibly the longest of Sophia’s life. Rhoda and she tried to keep occupied, but shopping had lost its allure.
She no longer felt comfortable charging frivolous items to Mr. Scofield’s accounts. Although she’d canceled all of her appointments with Madam Chantel, she could do nothing to keep her mother from the steady stream of spending she’d commenced since the engagement. Every time her mother appeared in a new dress, or bonnet, or pelisse, Sophia felt the ropes tighten around her.
On a positive note, Dudley had made himself scarce. She presumed he was out gambling again. Which ought to upset her further, but she appreciated his absence, nonetheless.
And Mr. Scofield was spending a great deal of time at White’s, from what she understood. Her entire family, it seemed, was perfectly amenable to this entire situation.
She would not discuss anything with Lord Harold until after she met up with Captain Brookes. For the life of her, however, she could not imagine any plan that could extract her from this intolerable situation.
But she would meet him. How could she not?
Sophia felt forsaken by her family. Even her mother, whom she knew loved her dearly, avoided being alone with her.
But Sophia was not alone. She took solace in the fact that she had Rhoda.
And she had Peaches.
And, of course, Captain Brookes.
His very existence gave her comfort.
Because, as he had asked of her in his missive, shedidtrust him.
Soon to marry into the Prescott family, she was compelled by duty to attend a few soirees — a recital, two unremarkable balls, and one garden party. She’d done her best to don a cheerful demeanor and appear as normal as possible. Rhoda remained by her side as much as she could.
