“Patrick,” he said. “Because this is not the time for Lord Coulter.” She nodded—one jerky tilt of her head. “Tell me everything now from the beginning, Sophie.”
“Timmy is my brother. A noise woke me, and I went to his room to find him gone. Whoever has taken him knows about my past,” Sophie said.
He stayed silent, watching her while his hands held hers as she told her story.
“My father was a man who got money by whatever means he could, legal or illegal.”
Disheveled, pale-faced, with her hair falling all over the place, she was still the most beautiful woman he knew, Patrick thought. Everything about Sophie had touched him from their first encounter, and now he’d finally have answers to his questions. He’d know the truth about her.
“I was a maid for the Earl of Monmouth and Letty. I could read because my mother did the cleaning and sewing for a lady who had retired from society. It was she who taught me to read and write as payment. My mother had hopes that this would elevate my station in life, you see,” Sophie said with a small sigh. “She was a wonderful woman. Honest, loyal, and nothing like my father.”
He squeezed her hands gently to say he understood.
“The late Earl of Monmouth was bedridden toward the end of his life, and I often read the newspaper for him when his manservant was busy. We used to talk about a great many things, and I knew him for the kind, generous person he was,” she said, and Patrick could tell she genuinely meant that. “Hewould confide in me about his concerns for Letty after his death and his doubts in Lord Dutton’s ability to fulfill his duties as the Earl of Monmouth. I never ventured an opinion,” Sophie rushed to add, shooting him a look.
“Go on,” he said.
“I found Letty crying one day. We often talked, and sometimes I was her maid when hers was sick or away. She, too, was worried about her future but didn’t want to upset her brother.”
“All of it, Sophie,” Patrick said when she fell quiet.
“Two days after that conversation with Letty, my father and mother took ill with fever. Mother urged me to get Timmy out of the house. They hadn’t expected to have another child, but Father was pleased when his son was born,” she whispered.
Patrick watched the memories come and go across Sophie’s face.
“I was desperate, you see, so I asked Letty if I could bring him to Monmouth, as I had no one else to turn to, and she said yes.”
“She is a kind woman,” Patrick said.
Sophie nodded.
“The following days saw the Earl of Monmouth’s health declining rapidly. We were told he would not last the week, and it was then that he and Letty put their heads together, and when they told me what they had decided, I said no.”
“About you marrying the earl?” Patrick asked.
“Yes, I said no because I didn’t think I could be a countess. I knew I couldn’t,” she whispered.
“But clearly you did,” he said gently.
“Letty convinced me. She said I needed to do it for my family’s sake, if not for mine and hers. That they would have a future if I did,” Sophie said.
She was talking faster now, rushing through the last part of her story.
“So, we were married five hours before he died.”
Even though he’d known something wasn’t right, he would never have come up with that scenario.
“I know it shocks you, and I understand you feel you must?—”
“Don’t put words in my mouth, Sophie. Continue with your story,” Patrick said.
She studied him with solemn eyes briefly before speaking again.
“My parents both died of the fever, and Timmy and I moved in with Letty, and she taught me to be a lady. She was adamant we needed to come to London for a season to stop any gossip and to ensure people met me. We created an entire past for my life and the reasons as to why I never had a season. Coming to London was to reinforce that and stop Lord Dutton claiming I had stolen his inheritance.”
They were both silent then. He was grappling with everything she’d told him. It had taken courage to rise above her birth and step into the life of a countess. She’d fooled all of them, and had he not visited Lord Monmouth before his death, Patrick would not have questioned her right to the title.
“And now tell me about Timmy,” he said.
