“I’ve broken so many society rules, I’m not sure which one will be my downfall,” she whispered. “I don’t want to fail Letty.”
“You’re not failing anyone. Now rest and sleep. Tomorrow we will address what needs to be done.”
Sophie felt her eyes close, which told her there had been something in whatever he gave her.
“What needs to be done?” she whispered.
“We will marry.”
That had her eyes opening. “I beg your pardon?”
She felt him move, and then he was above her. Even in the dark, she could read his expression—determined.
“I took your innocence, Sophie. My honor would have it no other way.”
“B-but we don’t want to marry each other.”
He shrugged. “I need to marry, and I like you, plus I am a gentleman. What did you think would happen when I realized you were a virgin?”
“I’m not of noble birth.”
“No one knows that, and if you are married to me, Timmy will always be under my protection. He will of course live with us.”
“No, Patrick?—”
“Yes.” He kissed her. “This is best for all concerned.”
She fought the sleep that dragged her under. “You can’t mean that?”
“I can and do. It will happen,” he said, lowering his head. His lips brushed hers briefly. “We also have this,” he whispered.
“This?”
“Passion, my sweet countess.”
Sophie let her eyes close and sleep pull her under then, but she knew that in the morning, she would be having words with him. Strong ones that would make him see reason.
She woketo daylight and no sign of Patrick. Sophie moved and then winced as her arm gave a vicious tug of pain. Then everything flooded back. The shooting, Patrick asking her to marry him.Telling, she revised.
“That is not going to happen.” No one knew what took place between them. Plus, she was a widow and could withstand the shame if anyone had seen her entering this town house, just as she could stand the shame of what people saw yesterday. Sophie and Timmy would simply retire to Monmouth. Jack Spode slid into her head.If he doesn’t kill me first.
She knew that there would come a day when they would confront each other, and if he won, Sophie also knew that Letty would always keep Timmy safe and ensure his future was secure.
Patrick had only asked Sophie to wed him because he was a man of honor and had taken her innocence. She, however, did not need him to do that.
Easing herself upright, which was not easy in a sling, she sat on the edge of the bed. Looking around the room, she could see it was a masculine domain. There was a single hunting sceneon the wall, a large chair beside the fireplace, and a small table beside that.
Pushing onto her feet, she stood, gripping one of the bedposts. Whereas yesterday Sophie had been strong, today she was weak as a newborn.
Moving slowly around the room, she reached the small table beside the chair. Lifting the first book, she read the title.
“The Adventures of Reverend Potter, book ten.”
Letty liked these books, but Sophie had not thought the fictional adventures of a man of the cloth would be Patrick’s reading tastes.
Moving to the window, she looked out and saw the gardens and park beyond.
“What are you doing out of bed?”
