Sophia flinched under her mother’s disappointed, unwavering stare. “As I said in the carriage last night, Roxboro expressed admiration for me. He’d seen me walking in the park.” Even to her own ears the excuse sounded weak.
“Goodness, Sophia.” Mama raised a brow. “He was under the influence of an excessive amount of spirits. Wasn’t it obvious?”
That stings.
“Roxboro did not give the impression of intoxication.” Sophia wasn’t about to admit that she’d drunk three glasses of champagne before following him outside and was likely foxed herself. Thestupidity of her actions was appalling. “After expressing his admiration, Roxboro…asked if he could call upon me.” She didn’t bother to add that he’d said he would speak to Papa about courting her. Every word he’d spoken had been a lie.
“Oh, Sophia,” Mama’s tone was laced with pity. “Roxboro is a rake of the highest order, and not a trustworthy man. And you claim Mara is a pea-hen.” Mama shook her head. “She would never have followed the duke out into the gardens.”
Sophia could say nothing. Believing Roxboro, following him into the dark of the gardens,hadbeen stupid. She had little defense for it. All she’d been thinking was how…pleased Mama would be if a duke called upon her. Finally. How she would finally have triumphed over Mara and the Hortensias of the world.
“Well, I suppose it no longer matters.” Mama’s eyes were now dry. “I’m not pleased, mind you, given the gossip, but your father has matters well in hand. And although I am pleased you’ll be a duchess.” Mama preened for a moment. “I do wish you weren’t going to beRoxboro’s, no matter his looks and wealth. His character is questionable.” She shrugged. “No matter. I daresay you’ll be a widow within a few years at any rate, given his love of spirits not to mention his other habits.”
“Mama. That is a terrible thing to say.” Sophia didn’t want to marry Roxboro, or even like him, but she didn’t wish him dead.
“Your mother is correct.” Papa frowned as he examined the tea tray. “What happened to all the ham sandwiches? The truth is, Sophia, that Roxboro slips off his horse with great regularity, mostly due to his love of drink.” He smiled at finding a ham sandwich hidden beneath a pile of the watercress. “Tripping about and such. Falling off that pleasure barge into the Thames. I am surprised Roxboro has lasted this long. Oddly clumsy for a libertine. You would expect him to be a bit more graceful in his movements.”
“The Thames?” Which was filthy and full of diseased things. Notto mention the smell. She had heard mention of Roxboro going for a swim in that disgusting body of water but she’d thought it a jest.
“Fished out while singing a bawdy tune. Had an eel caught on the buttons of his coat. Lucky he didn’t drown. Thought it all a great lark. So foxed he barely knew his own name.”
Good lord. Why hadn’t she just…stayed hidden behind that blasted potted fern at Lady Perswick’s ball?
“And.” Mama leaned forward. “Roxboro was nearly decapitated by a thresher after passing out in the wheat at The Pillory. The ducal seat.”
“Decapitated?” Roxboro became less appealing by the moment. “And his estate is called The Pillory?” Pillories were used to confine a person for punishment.
“Yes. Can you imagine? Slicing off a duke’s head? I had it firsthand from Lady Witsworth whose estate is a half day’s ride from The Pillory. Roxboro fell into a stack of hay after a night of carousing at some tavern with Lord Oakhurst. No one knew he was in the hay, including Oakhurst. The servants had been searching for him for hours. Lord Damon was beside himself.”
“How horrifying,” Sophia whispered. “But you want me to wed him? Despite all these tales?”
Both her parents stared at her, agog.
“Well, of course,” Mama insisted, her tone leaving no doubt she thought Sophia to be an idiot. “He’s compromised you. Rather publicly. No matter how disreputable, Roxboro is still a duke, Sophia. A young, attractive one, despite his numerous flaws. There isn’t another duke this Season save Hayward. Yes, Roxboro will gamble, keep a mistress, and drink far too much. Eventually, he’ll drown in a barrel of whisky or choke on a fish bone. But you’ll be a duchess.”
“You’re joking.” Sophia reached for another biscuit.
“You must give him an heir as soon as possible,” Mama instructed, eyeing the biscuit in Sophia’s hand. “Not another. You’ve had at leastsix. A young lady should not be a glutton. As I was saying, a child will solidify your position in society as a duchess and mother of a duke. Think of the influence you’ll wield.”
Sophia didn’t care for wielding influence, especially now that she must considerbeddingRoxboro. She was still trying to come to terms with the fact that she must marry him. Or that she might never again have a taste for champagne. But of course she must provide him an heir.
An unexpected curl of heat unwound inside her.
No. Despite Roxboro’s physical attractiveness, he was a terrible, awful, human being. She wouldn’t look forward to sharing a bed with him at all. In fact, she would spend the rest of the day imagining all the ways to avoid marital relations with that unrepentant sot.
“I don’t care about being a duchess,” she finally said.
Mama fell back against the settee once more, lips pursed. “I do. I plan to call upon Lady Brokeburst tomorrow and relay to her just how incorrect her assumptions were. You and Roxboro developed an affection for each other. A secret one. Your father knew, of course.” She beamed at Papa. “But I was kept in the dark, thus her waving about the newspaper shocked me.” She thought for a moment. “Your father didn’t want it to take attention away from Mara’s Season. But the fact remains, you and Roxboro did nothing wrong. Not really. And once I was apprised of the situation, I was thrilled beyond measure.”
“I don’t know why there isn’t more ham.” Father took up a watercress sandwich. “A month is long enough, I think, for the banns and the wedding, given you’ve been courting.”
“But we haven’t been.” Panic swept through Sophia.
“Tomorrow, you’ll be officially betrothed.” He finished the tiny sandwich.
“I don’t like him,” she insisted. “Not in the least.”
“Perhaps you should have disliked him sooner,” Mama said firmly. “Before allowing him to compromise you. I can’t wait to inform LadyBrokeburst that she’s made a complete cake of herself by spreading such gossip. She won’t be invited to the wedding.”
