Page 35

“The amusements and occupations of young women should be innocent, elegant, and improving.”

Dr. John Gregory, A Father’s Legacy to His Daughters

Sophia flinched in surprise as the door to her chamber opened suddenly, the young maid attending her squealing in fright. She swung her head to find her husband standing in the doorway, his chest rising and falling as though he had hurried to reach her.

“Out,” Richard commanded firmly, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him with a decisive motion.

The maid’s eyes widened. “But … her ladyship’s hair?” she stammered, holding up a handful of pins as explanation.

“I will take care of her ladyship’s hair,” he said, his tone softening slightly as he gestured toward the dressing table. “Set the pins down and leave us.”

The maid curtsied quickly, placing the pins on the table before hurrying from the room and closing the door behind her.

Sophia chuckled as she turned to Richard, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Satisfied? You frightened the poor girl.”

“If she had stayed any longer, I might have frightened her more by ignoring her presence entirely,” he responded with a crooked smile.

Her cheeks flushed, but she tilted her head, teasing, “Are you going to help me with my hair now, husband?”

Richard approached her with a gentleness that belied his earlier urgency, raising his hands hesitantly before beginning to remove the pins still nestled in her hair. His fingers worked carefully, and as he unraveled the braids and her hair fell loose to her waist, she couldn’t help but feel a shiver of delight at his touch.

“So beautiful,” he murmured, the words so soft she barely caught them. He leaned closer, breathing in the faint, familiar scent of her hair before stepping around to clasp her hand. “Come,” he said, drawing her to her feet.

His gaze swept over her, his green eyes locking with hers, and she felt her heart flutter at the intensity she found there. “Are you ready? For this?” he asked quietly, his voice carrying a vulnerability she had not expected. “After everything that has happened, I would understand if …” He gestured toward the bed, searching for the words.

Sophia rose onto her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “I do not wish to wait,” she said simply.

Richard exhaled sharply, a smile curving his lips as he lifted her into his arms as though she weighed nothing at all. He carried her to the bed, his movements steady and purposeful, before lowering her gently onto the turned-down sheets.

Sophia gazed up at him, her heart racing with anticipation. “You are most impressive,” she whispered, a playful glint in her eye.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “So I have been told,” he replied, though his tone softened as he continued. “But with you, I am learning a new kind of admiration. You challenge me, Sophia. And I want to build a life with you, not just as my wife, but as my partner.”

Her smile widened as she reached for his hand, feeling a warmth blossom in her chest. “And I with you,” she said.

The moments that followed were filled with quiet laughter, whispered words, and an intimacy that deepened their bond as they began to truly share their lives. Sophia marveled at the strength of the man before her, not just in body but in heart, and as they lay together in the quiet stillness of the evening, she felt a certainty she had rarely known: life with Richard would be an adventure, and together, they could face whatever might come.

Richard awoke as dawn's soft light filtered into Sophia’s room. Staring up at the fabric draped across the four-poster frame, he reflected on the wonder of the previous night. Somehow, Sophia made him forget his past missteps and filled him with hope that he could become a better, more honorable man. Her presence eased his worries and made him feel whole in a way he had never known.

He couldn’t help but compare the peace he felt with her to the hollow distractions of his past. Had he been trying to bury his troubles in fleeting company? Sophia made him want to live fully, while others had merely helped him escape.

Rolling onto his side, he prepared to rise, only to startle at the sight of Ethan standing beside the bed, his wide green eyes watching him at almost eye level.

“Ethan?”

“Good morning, Papa. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up. Emma says it is polite to let people wake on their own instead of startling them.”

Richard blinked, still groggy. “Uh … good morning.”

“I’ve been waiting a while,” Ethan continued, unabashed. “We wake up early on the farm, but Emma says city people stay up late.”

Richard let the boy’s remarks pass, rubbing his eyes. “How did you find me?”

“I followed your vah-let,” Ethan said, stumbling over the unfamiliar word. “But when you weren’t in your room, I tried the other doors. Papa, what is a vah-let?”

“A valet is a servant who helps a gentleman dress and look his best,” Richard explained, suppressing a yawn.

Ethan’s round face scrunched as he considered this. “Am I a gentleman?”