As Penny poured water over her shoulders and into her hair, Sophia relived some of last night’s moments in her mind. She wanted her memories to remain vivid, just in case…
This morning she did not feel so hopeless as she had before.
Of course, any number of things could go wrong with their crazy plan. Harold might well come to his senses and decide that freedom was not worth risking his life. Or he might reconsider abandoning the privileged lifestyle to which he’d grown accustomed.
With a wife now, it would be safer for him to continue his relationship with Stewart in secret, indefinitely.
As could she with Devlin.
But…
It was not the same.
No, living in secret, living a lie, was not living at all. She and Dev had stolen a night of passion together, but he had been forced to leave before sunup.
She would have that they awaken each morning together. That they walk in the sunlight together… have children…
Upon which thought she bolted upright.
She’d forgotten all about that!
This could become complicated, indeed. No, a life filled with secrecy was not something she wished for.
Her maid handed her a washcloth and some soap.
“Oh, dear, my lady.” The maid turned away quickly.
Sophia glanced down to where the maid had been looking.
A remarkably obvious bruise in the shape of a hand stood out boldly upon her upper thigh.
* * *
Dev was surprisedwhen he finally went down for breakfast the next morning to discover that the duchess’ entourage had yet to depart for Priory Point. They were all to be delayed, it seemed, by three days, as per the duchess’ orders.
Her grace had decided the newly married couple must be given a few days of solitude and privacy together. Word was, Dev soon learned, that Harold’s little bride just might havecuredhim.
This, he was informed of, by one of the duchess’ younger sisters. She’d heard it from her grace, who’d heard it from her lady’s maid, who’d heard it from Sophia’s lady’s maid, who had gleefully announced that the newlywed couple had enjoyed a night of passionate lovemaking in the bride’s chamber.
This conclusion had been based upon evidence of various bodily fluids on the sheets, an unclothed bride in the morning, as well as various markings on the bride’s body. None of this was spoken of in so many words, which made it all the more astounding that he was able to gather so much from the middle-aged spinster.
Good heavens!
Again, reason to live in one’s own private lodgings.
Lord and Lady Harold, he was informed, had embarked upon their journey a few hours ago.
And upon hearing this news, an emptiness he could not immediately identify, filled him.
She was no longer just a few steps away. She was not even a short drive across town. Sophia was miles away from London by now and this, yes, this fact was the source of his sudden dispiritedness.
His aunt had ordered everyone to wait three full days before embarking upon their own journeys to Priory Point for the elaborately planned house party.
Dev found himself at loose ends.
For all of two minutes.
One very important matter required his attention. When Sophia told him what had happened to her as a young girl, that Dudley Scofield had forced himself upon her, it had required all of Dev’s self-control not to seek him out that very night.
