19
James wasn't seriously expecting her to agree but one could live in hope.
'When I've heard the first two banns called then I might reconsider, but until then go away you disreputable Earl of Avon.' Sofia was irresistible when she reprimanded him so playfully.
'I thought you wanted to hear why I've been absent for two hours. Are we to stand out here and discuss this?'
She giggled and he loved the sound. 'I'm not going in any room with a door that you can close. You're a gentleman but I can no longer trust you to behave like one.'
'So, you consider me both disreputable, disgraceful and untrustworthy. Mmm, are you quite sure that you wish to marry me?'
She tossed her head, fluttered her long dark eye lashes and flashed her beautiful cornflower-blue eyes at him. 'I'm going to marry you, my lord, because you're an earl and probably one of the warmest men in England. The fact that you're also reasonably attractive, still have your own teeth and are not a complete half-wit does add a little to your worth.'
He pretended to pull his hair out and this made her laugh harder. 'I'm not going to survive three weeks without bedding you. Every time you speak I desire you more.'
This was a highly unsuitable conversation to be having where they could be overheard by both footmen standing outside the drawing room.
'Very well, I suppose we must continue this conversation in my blue room. The door will remain wide open at all times, do I make myself clear?'
It was his turn to laugh – she was repeating his words back to him and had his tone exactly.
She pointed to a hardback chair on the far side of the room and immediately he walked across and sat on it. She then took a seat as far away from him as she could without being in the hall or out of the window.
'This is farcical, am I now to shout at you? We might as well have remained in the hall.'
'Do get on with it, James, I don't have all day to be bandying words with you. I'm a busy woman and I've my wedding to prepare for. I hope you realise that every bride requires hundreds of new items of clothing before the wedding can take place. I hope Smithers has informed the seamstress and that she will be back with her team tomorrow.'
'Hundreds? Good God, Sofia, how can you possibly wear all those before the fashions change again?'
'I was funning, of course I don't require anything else. Now, do you have to go to Upminster Hall?'
He nodded. 'I fear so, Michael believes that everything will be in disarray and only someone of my standing can put things straight. I'd prefer to ride but a journey of five hours is too much even for Rufus or Lucifer. I'll be gone two nights at the most. Smithers won't be back in time for us to leave today. I'll leave at dawn tomorrow.'
'Then we can dine together, Eloise will now eat in the nursery as she should, but the rest of us will sit down together at six o'clock.'
He nodded. 'We've got three hours before then. How quickly can you change into your hideous habit? Lucifer is pining for your company.'
She was out of the door before he'd finished speaking and called back as she left the room. 'Time me, I vow that I'll return in a quarter of an hour. I've now got my riding boots which will make things more comfortable.'
One minute before the allotted time she appeared in the gallery. God knows what his neighbours would say if they saw her in her awful scarlet and gold habit. He didn't give a damn what she wore as long as they were within his grounds.
His body reacted at the thought of her without any clothes on at all. That moment couldn't come soon enough. He'd bedded women, beautiful, passionate women, but none had aroused his senses like Sofia.
'I've sent word to the stables so our horses will be waiting,' he said as she ran up to him.
'Let's hope that Lucifer hasn't bitten or trampled whoever drew the short straw and had to tack him up.'
He wanted to snatch her up, carry her to his salon and make love to her. Even the hideous habit couldn't make her look any less desirable. Riding was going to be extremely uncomfortable.
The horses were waiting, as were his dogs, and somehow she sensed his predicament and jumped onto the mounting block and into the saddle without waiting for his assistance. Lucifer was skittish this morning but calmed immediately when she stroked his neck.
Rufus nudged him, eager to follow the stallion who was already on the move. 'Right, my friend, I'm coming.'
Sofia waited for him. 'We'll go to the right. I so enjoyed it last time.'
He checked Rufus who would willingly have raced his stablemate, approaching those huge obstacles at speed would be foolhardy and possibly fatal. His fear had the same effect as a cold swim and all thought of bedroom sport vanished.
There'd been no need to panic, she rode as well as he did, and after he watched Lucifer sail over the first hedge with feet to spare, he relaxed and began to enjoy the wild ride.
