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Sophia jumped to her feet. “No!”
“It is best—”
“No! We are a family and we must stick together.”
“Sophia, be reasonable—”
“I will not! You promised me.” Sophia lowered her voice, quoting in a husky tone, “‘I will allow you your freedom. As my countess, you may do anything you want and I will support you, as long as you are at my side.’ That is what you said the day you visited me at my uncle’s home! I will remain at your side, as we agreed that day.”
Richard grimaced. “Please, Sophia, I must keep you and Ethan safe. I could not live with the guilt if something happened to either of you. I can barely live with my guilt for exposing you to this because of my shameful past.”
“It is illogical, husband. If Ethan and I leave London, it will expose us while we travel for days to Somerset. Not to mention we will have to divide the men we have to split off. There is no guarantee that the villain dogging you will not observe our departure and follow us in order to ambush us. Here in London, the resources are combined, and we are protected behind the walls of Balfour Terrace. I will not leave! If you attempt to force me, my cooperation will end.” She banged his desk with her open hand.
Richard’s jaw fell open. “Dickens, you are a magnificent creature!”
“Do not attempt to charm me, husband.”
“Sophia, you have made some fine points, but—”
“No but. I am not leaving! And I expect you to show me the note!” With a flurry of skirts, she stalked out of his study. If she remained any longer, she could not be responsible for what she might do to the infuriating oaf.
Chapter
Sixteen
“A father's guidance is a daughter's safeguard.”
Dr. John Gregory, A Father’s Legacy to His Daughters
Perry loped in to collapse with a negligent air into one of the ivory armchairs. “I thought that went rather well.”
Richard picked up his empty cup and threw it at his sardonic brother, who quickly ducked so that it hit the wall behind him in a shattering spray of shards.
“My, my, brother. Your emotions are taking over.”
“Quit finding amusement in my troubles or I will blacken your eye, brother.”
“The countess made several good points. I agree with her assessment that a journey to Somerset would be fraught with peril.”
“I must do something! This is my fault!”
“Richard, this may be easier to resolve if you have a clear head. You may have done something to cause this situation, but a man who targets an innocent woman and child is deranged, which is beyond your control. And, thus far, nothing but gossip, threats, and minor incidents have occurred, so calm yourself.”
Richard groaned, leaning his elbows on the smooth finish of his desk to drop his head into his hands in a gesture of agony. “Perry, do you not understand? It is only a matter of time before the blackguard heightens the stakes.”
“Your wife is losing her patience. Be careful she does not leave our household to return to the Morelands. Currently, she is cooperating with you, but you will push her too far and complicate the threat further.”
“Why do you say that? How would you know?”
“It is what I would do in her position.”
Richard stared at his brother. The possibility of Sophia leaving him was … It made his heart ache in his chest and his breathing shallow. “I will think on it.”
Perry left him to his thoughts, and Richard sat staring sightlessly at the street through the window, aggravated by the boarded-up window in his peripheral vision.
He felt adrift, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. He wanted to rant, to rage, to take action, but against whom? Who had he offended so deeply? And why now? It seemed unlikely to be tied to any recent event, as he had ended his last arrangement in December of the previous year.
For five months, he had refrained from any entanglements, determined to avoid the mistakes of his past. His failed betrothal to Annabel haunted him still, her discovery of his indiscretion in the stables marking a turning point in his life. At the time, he had naively believed marriage would allow him to continue his wayward habits without consequence. But that was before he met Sophia, the captivating minx who had turned his plans—and his heart—completely upside down.
