21
James decided he'd better behave for the remainder of the journey – hopefully in less than two days they'd be married and he could make love to her fully.
'James, just over two sennights ago I escaped from Bath and my job as companion to Annabel and here I am returning as your future countess. I think that's going to create a storm of gossip.'
'Whatever they might say between now and our exchange of vows, darling girl, means nothing. I can assure you that as soon as you become the Countess of Avon nobody would dream of saying anything detrimental. At present I'm the most important member of the ton in Bath.'
'Good heavens, only at present? How disappointing it must be to know that in the winter months there will be gentlemen here who are more important than you.' She was having difficulty keeping her face straight.
'Even I, arrogant and so high in the instep that I can barely get through a doorway without banging my head, accept that a duke or a prince outrank me.'
'Perhaps I should have hung out for one of those, my lord, and not rushed into this marriage.'
'I think that my being wealthier than any visitor or resident of this fine city should compensate you for your lack of rank, my love. I'm also younger, more handsome, certainly fitter than any of those gentlemen to which you refer.'
She couldn't contain her giggles. 'And are you the only one still unmarried? If that's the case then I'll resign myself to making an inadequate match and just enjoy spending your vast fortune on fripperies and unnecessary items.'
James was having difficulty restraining the urge to put her back on his lap and show her just how “inadequate” he was.
The acting butler, housekeeper, and senior footmen were waiting to greet them. Two junior footmen were there to open the carriage door and pull down the step.
He allowed them to open the door but shook his head when one of them reached down. James jumped out and turned in one smooth movement and lifted his future bride to the ground.
'I thought we could hold a ball here when the winter season starts and introduce the girls to Bath Society.'
She smiled up at him. 'I'm sure they'd enjoy that. Which reminds me, I forgot to mention, my love, that I told my sisters that you would be holding a garden party. I left them planning this event. It doesn't matter if you don't wish to do that as the idea will have served its purpose.'
'As soon this wretched business has been settled, and I know that there's no further danger, I'd be delighted to give my permission. I want to introduce you to those that depend on me for their livelihood as well as to my neighbours.'
There was no further opportunity to talk as they'd reached the front step. The butler bowed, the housekeeper curtsied as they should, and he led Sofia into the house that would soon be her home too.
Over dinner when there'd been staff in the dining room, they talked about their plans for the next day to reinforce the reason for their being in Bath. After they'd dined she played a sonata by Beethoven for him and then he returned the favour.
They were sitting cosily on a comfortable sofa whilst deciding exactly where they would go in the morning as Sofia had no wish to purchase anything she didn't want. She agreed to visit the various warehouses but was most insistent that she wouldn't actually purchase anything. Having lived all her life on the brink of financial disaster he knew that she'd never be an extravagant wife, that he'd have to persuade her to spend any of his wealth.
She looked up from the book she was reading. 'I hope Othello's not pining for his brother, James, I wish we could have remained with him until he was fully recovered.'
'My nephews are going to sleep on the sofa in my study whilst we're away. The dog will be spoilt. Jonathan's strong enough to carry him out when necessary and they're quite prepared to clean up after him if accidents occur.'
'It's such a shame that Eloise isn't quite as she should be. I hope that she'll have a happy life and never realise how much she's going to miss.'
'I believe that other families send children like her away to an asylum —.'
'That's quite disgraceful, all children are precious even if they're not perfect. Do you think that your sister hoped Eloise might in fact fall in the lake and drown?'
He jerked upright and looked as if she'd just stabbed him with a hatpin. 'God's teeth! A week ago I'd have been appalled that you might suggest such a thing but now I'm not so sure. My father was cordially disliked by all that knew him, did nothing for the estate, for the well-being of those that depended on him, and she looks like him and acts the same way too.'
'Go on, my love, tell me how things were.'
'I spent as little time as possible at home, fortunately my maternal grandmother's fortune transferred directly to me, so I was always independently wealthy. I'm sure that if he'd been able to get his hands on it, he'd have hoarded that too.'
'Is that why you were travelling overseas when he died? How did he die, he couldn't have been an old man.'
'He broke his neck riding. I returned to take up the title and my inheritance with considerable reluctance but knew my duty and believe I've fulfilled it well. There's not a cottage within my purview that isn't well maintained, all the families are well clothed and well fed. I know that when I kick the bucket I'll have left my lands in better heart than they were when I inherited them.'
'Please, my love, don't talk about your demise not after what happened. Something occurs to me, if this cousin is determined to inherit, why didn't he attempt to end your life instead of trying to end mine?'
'I don't know, but I can assure you nobody has tried to assassinate me. It would be a huge relief if in fact our assumptions are erroneous and my cousin has nothing to do with what happened today, that it was indeed just spite and revenge on the part of those I dismissed without reference or remuneration.'
