She could not ask him.
Would Mama know? Prudence had obviously been kept in the dark, but had her mother? How many secrets were living within the walls of Lanveneth? How many secrets had her father taken to his grave?
Sophia leaned her head back against her seat, her eyelids growing heavy. She knew none of the answers. But if they made it to Cornwall, she was determined to uncover each and every one of them.
The carriage creaked as it topped the crest of a hill on the narrow road, jostling Sophia awake. Early morning light peeked through the windows, but Aunt Hester and Isaac were still asleep.
She leaned close to the window, catching her breath. The Cornish coastline stretched into the distance, the jagged cliffs meeting the restless churn of the sea. Patches of sea thrift nodded in the breeze, their pink blooms scattered across the landscape like freckles. In the other direction, fields rolled in vibrant green and gold, with dry stone walls marking the borders.
And nestled in a grove of trees in the distance, was Lanveneth.
The estate loomed far beyond the cliffs, the weathered cream stone defiantly out of reach of the sea spray. Sea birds circled the crest of the roof, the sides sloping like a pair of shoulders hunched away from the wind.
Sophia’s heart picked up speed. After five days of near constant travel, they had finally reached Lanveneth. She could already feel the wildness of the landscape—the way it tugged at the threads of her propriety. Cornwall was far from London. It was a rugged place, steeped in secrets and more memories than she could count. The sea, the caves, the hidden coves and pink flowers had stolen her heart, and even now, they took her breath away. Isaac had been her first love, but Cornwall had been her second. The two were forever tied together in her mind.That was why she had never returned; she had known how incomplete Cornwall would be without its other half.
Her gaze shifted to Isaac. She studied the dark crescents of his lashes as he closed his eyes, his mussed hair, the slow rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. Seeing him in Cornwall was as satisfying as completing a puzzle. They fit together perfectly.
His eyes fluttered open. Her heart leaped, and she looked away just in time, turning her attention back to the passing coastline. She heard him stir and shift on his seat for a better view out his window.
As Lanveneth grew closer, Sophia’s dread intensified. They had stopped at a few inns along the journey, searching for any sign of Prudence, but hadn’t found her. If she wasn’t at Lanveneth, Sophia would have no choice but to assume something had gone amiss on her journey—or that Percy had abducted her. The very thought made Sophia’s heart race. She had been fighting an ill sensation in her stomach for almost the entire journey, and now that their destination was in sight, she had never felt more nervous.
The moment the carriage stopped on the drive, Isaac pushed the door open, helping Sophia and Aunt Hester to solid ground. Sophia swayed on her feet for a moment, her head spinning. The air smelled of salt and fish, with a hint of wild garlic and flowers. She remembered that smell, and for a moment, she could think of nothing else. Her bonnet ribbons and skirts tossed in the breeze, and soon Isaac was standing beside her. She felt his fingers hook around hers, squeezing tight. The gentle reassurance gave her a little more confidence.
She was afraid to approach the door, even knowing that Mama was sure to be inside. But Prudence might not be.
Aunt Hester led the way to the front door with surprising speed, especially considering that she had been in a deep sleep only moments before. She struck her knuckles against thedoor, and Sophia held her breath as the butler opened it. Her heart raced as they stepped into the entrance hall. The walnut furnishings and blue walls were all familiar…but so was the sound drifting from the drawing room.
A melancholy tune on the pianoforte.
Chapter Twenty-One
The first thing Sophia wanted to do when she saw Prudence’s dark hair cascading down her back, was tug hard enough on it to make her topple backward off the pianoforte bench. The second thing she wanted to do was burst into tears of relief.
“Prudence Hale!” Sophia marched forward.
Her sister apparently hadn’t heard her approach. She jumped, whirling around in her seat.
“What on earth were you thinking?” Sophia stopped a few feet away as Prudence jumped to her feet.
She backed away a step at the sight of Sophia’s expression. “What are you doing here?”
Sophia’s eyes widened. “What amIdoing here? I thought Percy Ellington had abducted you! I thought you would have been forced to marry him by now. I had no idea if I would actually find you here or not.” Tears wobbled on the edges of her vision. Five days of hardly any sleep, unpleasant food, close proximity to Isaac, and not nearly enough baths had led her to a highly emotional state.
“You didn’t have to follow me,” Prudence muttered. Her cheeks darkened when she noticed Isaac and Aunt Hester in thedoorway. “I’m sorry to have worried you. I missed Mama and the dogs.”
“You could have asked Aunt Hester to accompany you!” Sophia’s anger slipped through. She couldn’t help it.
“Aunt Hester is your chaperone too! I couldn’t take her away when you were at such a vital point in your courtship with Lord Finchley.”
Sophia sighed. Shouting at her sister would accomplish nothing. She took two long strides toward her and pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
Prudence leaned back with a grimace. “You smell like horses and mildew.”
Sophia had to restrain herself again from tugging on her sister’s hair. After all Sophia had endured, Prudence only seemed faintly apologetic. She steadied herself with a deep breath, ignoring the mildew comment. “Who did you travel with?”
Prudence shifted on her feet. “My maid.”
“Only your maid?” Sophia’s brows shot up.
