“And then, afterward, we’ll proceed to Eden’s Court where there will be another service, and the burial of course.”
As Sophia listened to the duchess’ detailed plans, she realized that maids were efficiently collecting items from around the room. The duchess was preparing to leave Priory Point. Sophia could have cried, knowing that all of this was not to be her burden to carry alone. And as soon as she thought that, guilt set in again. Such a burden would not exist but for her own selfishness.
“I told the magistrate we would meet him at the… landslide… so we could transfer to carriages there. At three o’clock this afternoon. Does that meet with your approval?” she asked, realizing that the duchess was once again, fully in control.
When the duchess had stopped talking, she’d gotten a faraway look in her eyes and had been gazing across the room, unfocused. Sophia’s words had seemed to spring her back to life again. “That will be fine. The magistrate will know that we require several carriages. Thank you, again, dear, for accommodating him earlier today. Did you sleep last night? It is my greatest wish that you not overtire yourself. A lady in your condition must take special care. If you feel uncomfortable, or ill, at any time during our journey, you must tell me. We will stop. The dead shall be honored and buried, but now, we must look to the future. We must protect the new life you are carrying.”
At these words, Sophia drew her brows together. “But your grace—”
“Sophia, dear, until you are given evidence indicating otherwise, we are going to move forward as though you are, in fact, increasing.”
“But—”
“We mustn’t waste any more time. It is nearly noon already, and I’ve a list of instructions to dictate and have sent ahead of us.”
Sophia rose.
She had been excused.
Not in any mood to argue with a determined duchess, Sophia left the room more confused than before. She no longer would be expected to handle the details of the crisis. No, because, apparently, she was now with child.
When a duchess declares you with child, does that make it so?
She touched her abdomen with her right hand. It felt the same as it always had. She felt the same as she always had.
Was it possible?
But, oh, the duchess believed any child would be Harold’s! Even if she were increasing, the child would be Dev’s! With black hair, most likely, and black eyes! Harold had blue-gray eyes and light brown hair. Sophia’s hair was blond and her own eyes blue. How could one explain such a discrepancy as that?
Surely it would be obvious.
Oh, dear Lord, what a mess she’d made.
This was what lying did.
The cock and bull story they’d told had led them into all of this.
She entered her chamber and looked around, certain she would never return. Not if she had any choice in the matter, anyhow.
Peaches was napping on a chair and opened her lids lazily for just a moment before returning to her slumber.
Closing her own eyes, Sophia recalled the lovemaking she’d shared here with Dev. Their passion had burned, like a raging wildfire, for a brief time in the high, four-poster bed. She truly believed that those moments had carried her to the pinnacle of happiness.
Had they been worth it?
Oh, yes.
And that first time, in London, on her wedding night.
They had spent two nights together in exchange for the demolition of an entire family.
Had they created a baby?
Sophia studied herself in the mirror. She had the same face, the same hair, the same eyes and lips and cheeks. But she was not the same girl who’d gotten engaged this summer.
Her eyes were haunted, her lips not so easy to smile, and her heart now filled with secrets and despair instead of hope.
But she was also now a woman who had loved. A woman who had known the heights of passion.
