“What is happening?” Sophia managed to say between ragged breaths.
“It is time, Fee.”
“Time? For what?”
But she knew the answer.
“I’m leaving, Fee. Freddy and I are getting married.”
Sophia fought against the suffocating pressure on her chest. “You’re abandoning me?”
“No! I’m leaving you in the capable hands of Mr. Mannerly here.” Adriana offered Tobias a warm smile. “You will take care of her for me, won’t you?”
“You can’t go!” Sophia gasped. “Not like this. Papa will never forgive you!”
Adriana’s mouth tightened. “Papa offers me no alternative.”
“He will banish you from the house! I will never see you again!”
“We will write each other. Katie will make sure you get my letters.”
Sophia’s voice shrunk to a whisper. “Please don’t do this. Please.”
“I’m sorry, Fee. You know I would do almost anything for you. That’s why Freddy and I have waited this long. I wanted to make sure you had a future of your own. Now that you have found happiness, you must surely understand why I cannot give Freddy up.”
A tear slipped down Sophia’s cheek. Tobias leaned in and gently wiped it away with his handkerchief. His face was clouded with concern, the usual ease replaced with drawn brows and lips pressed firmly together.
Freddy stepped forward and put his arm around Adriana, who offered him a weak smile. Only then did Sophia allow herself to see the pain in her sister’s eyes.
“We are family,” Sophia murmured. “A wedding should be a day of celebration. Our neighbors should be there.” She stopped. “I suppose you didn’t call the banns.”
“No. We didn’t dare. Even though Father was away, someone would have told him. But that’s all right.” She tilted a smile at Freddy. “I am of age. We will simply marry under common license. Freddy has arranged everything. His parents have permitted us the use of the cottage at their summer home. They are waiting there to receive us with a modest celebration. It is barely an hour away and Freddy will have a position with a friend of his father’s. We will have an income and the support of the Wynns. You will see. All will be well.”
“But who will be the witnesses at your ceremony?”
“I suppose the vicar will have a neighbor he can call upon,” Adriana replied with a shrug.
Sophia shook her head adamantly. “It’s all wrong. Bess would want to come. And our brothers.”
Adriana bit her lip. “It’s better if they don’t know. That way, Papa cannot take out his anger on them.”
Sophia had no quick reply. No comfort to offer her sister. No lie she could tell herself. The future with her father would be even bleaker now.
Freddy and Adriana stood with hands clasped tightly together, hope and apprehension displayed in equal measure upon their features. Sophia did not know what to do.
What would Tobias do?
The answer was easy. He would ignore all the negative voices—hers, society’s—and seize the day. After all, Adriana was only going to marry once.
Sophia squared her shoulders.
“What about me?” she asked. “I could go. I know about the wedding already. If Papa does discover this, he will withhold the greatest measure of his wrath for the sake of my health.” She thought wryly of the irony. Never before had her weakened condition offered her an advantage. “I should be there,” she continued. “Someonefrom our family should be there for you, Deedee. You deserve at least that much!”
“I wish that with all my heart!” Adriana cried. “But the journey would be too strenuous for you. And then walking up the path into the church… It would be too much. I feel enough guilt as it is. Let’s not make it worse.”
“A footman could carry me. Goodness knows they do it often enough. And my carriage ride with Tobias did me no end of good. I am not tired at all.”
“I don’t think racing up the stairs helped,” Adriana said with a frown. “You’ve had a shock. You should rest.”
