“Send me away, I beg you,” she pleaded with her father. “I’ll golive in…Vienna, never to return. I’ll tell no one who I am. Change my name. Become a paid companion.” Sophia drew in a breath. “Anything would be better than to be shackled to this—this…wastrel.”
Lord Damon’s nostrils flared. He wasdefinitelypaying attention to her now. “Perhaps—”
“Sophia, that is quite enough.” Papa interrupted her before she could say more, grabbing hold of her arm and shooting Lord Damon a pointed look. “No more of this nonsense.”
The green of Roxboro’s eyes clouded first in surprise and then outrage. His lovely mouth thinned until his lips disappeared. So accustomed to being worshipped, disreputable duke or not, he was struck speechless by Sophia’s assessment of being wed to him.
“You do not wish to wed me,” Roxboro said slowly.
“You are catching on, Your Grace. I knew you were more intelligent—” Papa stopped the rest of her sentence with a pinch to her arm.
Roxboro sat back. Rubbed his temples. “Well, there you have it. Lady Sabrina and I are in agreement—”
“Sophia,” she and Father said at the same time.
“Regardless,” Roxboro drawled. “This chit and I are in accord. No marriage. She’s willing to go elsewhere and live a life of obscurity rather than wed me and I am in agreement. Any union between us would be an utter catastrophe. We’ll say Lady Brokeburst is half-blind.” His head fell back against the chair as he closed his eyes once more. “I bid you good day.”
Roxboro deserved a well-placed kick to the shin.
A choking sound came from Papa, one borne of rage and disgust. One did not dismiss Lord Canterbell, as Roxboro’s uncle surely knew.
Lord Damon watched his nephew, dark eyes gleaming with calculation. The duke was ignorant of what was at stake, but his uncle was not. Lord Canterbell held the ear of Her Majesty. He controlled Parliament. And he would not be denied. Roxboro would be forced to capitulate.
I would rather become a scullery maid in Paris.
“I will not allow my daughter to become a pariah because of your love of scotch. Or brandy, Your Grace.” Papa lifted a brow and turned to Lord Damon. “I must insist,” a thinly veiled threat laced his words. “On honor, my lord. I’m sure you can make the duke see reason.” There was steel in Papa’s tone.
Lord Damon dipped his chin.
Papa would make Lord Damon’s life, and that of the duke, incredibly difficult. Her father’s influence was highly sought after and he was powerful, with a web of connections in society and government. Roxboro, even as a duke, was no match for Lord Canterbell. Nor was his uncle. Damon Viceroy, no matter his wealth and pedigree, would not ascend any further in politics, or at all, if his nephew didn’t wed Sophia.
There was no getting out of this marriage for either of them. The only person who didn’t realize it was Roxboro.
“My lord,” Lord Damon’s tone was smooth. Conciliatory. “Might we discuss the pertinent details of this union in private? Perhaps at your solicitor’s tomorrow? The duke is…under the weather at present.”
“Ten o’clock,” Papa grunted with satisfaction. “Wellingham and Sons. I’ll have the marriage contract prepared for your review.”
A tiny snore came from Roxboro. He’d nodded off. Apparently, the conversation couldn’t hold his interest. The sot.
Papa and Lord Damon barely spared him a glance.
Sophia pressed a palm to her stomach at the thought of her future with the duke. Perhaps once wed, Roxboro might…simply forget she existed, just as he was doing now. He might send her away to the country to live out her days. The idea held a great deal of promise.
Her stomach twisted again.
The butler had brought nothing in the way of refreshments. How she longed for something to assuage the pitching sensation. A scone,perhaps. Or a biscuit. She would even take a tart, though they weren’t her favorite.
“Tomorrow then, Lord Canterbell. Lady Sophia.” Damon politely bowed, though his eyes on Sophia remained brittle and full of condemnation.
“One more small matter, Lord Damon,” Papa paused as he started to guide Sophia towards the door. “I want not a whiff of scandal attached to my Sophia. I think it best we put out some sort of explanation for the events of last evening. A secret courtship, perhaps. Her Majesty enjoys such things. She has a most romantic nature.”
Lord Damon’s features rippled briefly with anger at the suggestion, but his features smoothed as he nodded. “I understand, my lord. I bid you both good day.”
Chapter Four
Alexander was joltedback to consciousness by the snapping of his uncle’s fingers directly in front of his nose.
“Wake up. You fell asleep.”
