She held tight to the front of his waistcoat, her heart beating so hard it hurt. “I wrote a letter to Lord Finchley today.” Her lips still tingled from Isaac’s kiss. “I am breaking off the engagement.I don’t care what the consequences are.” She swallowed, shaking her head fast. “I don’t love him.”
Isaac’s fingers caressed her face. “I knew you didn’t.”
Her laugh was breathless. “How did you know?” Her head was light as he traced the crest of her upper lip with his thumb. The pure adoration in his gaze spread warmth though her entire body. He leaned down to press another kiss to her lips, then another in quick succession. She laughed, and she felt his mouth curve into a smile.
He pulled away an inch and said in a low voice, “I knew you could never love a man with such a strong constitution.”
She threw her head back with a laugh. Isaac pulled her against him and feathered a kiss against the corner of her jaw, marking a trail down her neck to her collarbone. One uniform shiver captured her entire body, every last inch. Her heart was on fire. He had never kissed her likethisbefore. Each soft touch of his lips against her skin unraveled another thread of doubt, unfolding a bloom of joy so potent she hardly knew how to respond. She was utterly, blissfully overwhelmed. Tears sprung to her eyes. But they fluttered closed as his mouth found hers again.
He kissed her, deeply and slowly, until her head spun in circles. She had never felt more wanted. Isaac’s fingers curled around hers, anchoring her hand in his.
A deep bark came from behind them, and then a prolonged growl. Isaac pulled away just as Flora and Thistle nearly collided with his legs. Both dogs barked again, but relaxed when they recognized Sophia’s scent.
Her vision was hazy, her head light with exhilaration. Somewhere along the way, her bonnet had slipped from her hair. Flora picked it up from the grass with her teeth, tail wagging.
Isaac laughed, his arms still wrapped around Sophia’s waist. The amusement in his eyes knocked against her heart, and shesmiled so widely her cheeks ached. Slowly, he released his hold on her, stooping down to fetch her bonnet from Flora.
“What a good dog,” he said through a chuckle. He scratched the top of her head.
With the bonnet in hand, Isaac faced Sophia again. His chest rose and fell quickly, just as quickly as hers. She was still reeling from their kiss—from his words about loving her—from all of it. Isaac placed the bonnet over her hair, his movements slow and methodical as he tied the ribbons beneath her chin.
“Perhaps I should leave,” he said in a quiet voice, a smile curving his lips. He picked up her hand, leaving a kiss at the center of her palm, then the inside of her wrist. “I’ll set to work dismissing my steward and contacting Percy. Soon it will all be behind us.” He squeezed her fingers before letting go. “Goodnight, Sophia.” He smiled as he backed away.
Her heart soared. “Goodnight, Isaac.”
She had never been so happy to do away with formalities. There would be no more Miss Hales and Mr. Ellingtons.
But she certainly wouldn’t object to anyMrs. Ellingtons.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sophia watched Isaac’s form retreating in the dark for a long moment before she reached down to pat Thistle atop the head. Her cheeks ached from smiling as she crept toward the front door, ensuring her bonnet covered the mess Isaac had made of her hair. She could hardly comprehend all that had just occurred. It felt like a dream. It felt far too perfect to be true.
She expected to hear the pianoforte when she walked through the front door of Lanveneth, but instead she was greeted by silence. She would be an atrocious daughter if she didn’t stop by Mama’s room to ensure she wasn’t still as distraught as Sophia had left her earlier that day. She didn’t want to fight with Mama. Now that Sophia knew the truth about the smuggling, she could put her mother’s mind at ease that Isaac was going to quietly put a stop to it. There was no longer anything to fret about. Perhaps Sophia was too optimistic, but she hurried up the stairs with a lingering smile.
“Mama?” Sophia started in the direction of her room, but stopped when she heard a voice from the open library door.
“Where have you been?” Mama stood with a candle in one hand, a scowl creasing her brow. Her hunched shoulders weredraped with a shawl, her eyes wary as they took Sophia in. “I have been worried enough over Prudence, and then I realized that you had left the house unchaperoned.”
“I’m sorry to have worried you, Mama.” Sophia chose her words carefully. “But I was just at Morvoren to call upon Isaa—er—Mr. Ellington. I have no wish to keep secrets from you.”
Mama’s dismay deepened, but Sophia strode quickly into the room, taking her by the arms gently. “I know why you advised me to keep away from him and Morvoren House. I understand that you and Papa were concerned about my reputation. But it will not be a problem any longer.”
Mama listened in silence, but the concern did not vanish from her brow as Sophia continued her explanation.
“Isaac had no knowledge of his grandfather’s smuggling ventures until this evening. Percy Ellington, with the help of Isaac’s steward, has been continually smuggling goods into the house through a secret entrance. Isaac found a letter between Percy and the steward that proves his own innocence.”
Mama’s eyes rounded. “Percy Ellington was involved?”
“And that is why he wanted Lanveneth.”
Mama seemed to put the pieces together in her mind, her face growing paler. “Thank heavens Prudence managed to escape him.”
“All with the help of Isaac.” Sophia gave Mama’s arms a squeeze. “Isaac is innocent. He is going to rid his house of the crimes once and for all. Percy and the steward will not be permitted to set foot on the property again at the risk of being exposed and possibly hanged.” Sophia took a deep breath. She wasn’t entirely certain what their punishments would be, but she hoped the threats would be enough to stop them. Trespassing on Isaac’s property was already a great enough crime on its own.
She searched Mama’s face expectantly. “Are you not pleased with the news? As soon as the ordeal is put to rest, Isaac andI should be free to marry.” Her heart lifted at the thought, but Mama continued to scowl as she stared at Sophia. Her eyes welled with tears.
“What is it?” Sophia took a step back. “Do you still not approve?”
