Hell, he hadnt blushed since he was in the nursery. Meeting her eyes, he spoke with the steadiness of complete conviction. I love you, Sophie.
To his consternation, she didnt smile.
She took a long time to answer, which worried him even more.
Had he mistaken her? Trepidation sank sharp teeth into him. She could be flirting. After all, she enjoyed her first season and flattery had turned the heads of girls less admired than Sophie. Perhaps she collected hearts like trophies. The thought made him feel sick.
The delay became unbearable. Say something, darling.
Still she didnt smile as she straightened away from the tree. Her shoulders were level, her chin was up. She looked every inch the young aristocrat. I love you, Harry.
For a moment, he stared at her in disbelief. Could he be so fortunate? She looked like she meant it.
Another close examination of her expression. By God, she meant it. Troupes of angels danced a gavotte in his soul.
What could a fellow do when the woman he adored told him she loved him? Nothing except sweep that woman into a wild kiss.
Harry surfaced from joy to discover that he lay over Sophie on the soft grass and that her hands tangled in his hair. We have to stop.
She pouted in a way that made him desperate to go further, but some thread still moored him to reality. That reality didnt encompass Harry Thorne taking the Marquess of Leaths sister in the woods like an amorous gypsy. I cant believe the world talks about you as such a rake. Im disappointed.
She pouted in a way that made him desperate to go further, but some thread still moored him to reality. That reality didnt encompass Harry Thorne taking the Marquess of Leaths sister in the woods like an amorous gypsy. I cant believe the world talks about you as such a rake. Im disappointed.
His laugh cracked as he rose on his hands. Shall I promise to be rakish only with you until death do us part?
She went rigid and the teasing light drained from her eyes. What what do you mean?
He should be nervous. But hed been committed to this woman since their first meeting. Everything following had only confirmed that he was eternally in her thrall.
I mean Even when he was certain, a man tended to stumble at such a moment.
Poised over her like this, he couldnt do justice to his intentions. Struggling to ignore how beautiful and damnably available she looked spread out on the grass, he rolled away and kneeled beside her. He tugged a crushed daisy from her wantonly tumbled golden curls. Sit up, Sophie.
She frowned in puzzlement. What is it? Nonetheless, she sat, folding her legs beneath her.
Taking her hand, he rose on one knee. Lady Sophie, I knew the moment I saw you that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. He swallowed and stared into her shining eyes. Will you do me the inestimable honor of marrying me?
Hills above Genoa, early March 1828
Damn, damn, damn.
Cam knew he was devilish reckless playing these games in public. And now the time had come to pay the piper.
As the horse-faced woman with the loud voice and deplorable taste in hats bustled toward them, he stepped away from Pen and tried to act as though their acquaintance was purely casual. At least, thank God, the woman hadnt appeared while hed been manhandling Pen.
Hed battled so hard to keep his distance, but in the end, the temptation had proven too strong. Especially now he knew that Pen wanted him too. Even when there was bugger all he could do to satisfy his craving and still call himself a gentleman.
Awake, Pen was constantly in his mind. Even worse, he dreamed about her at night. Hot, sweaty, ribald dreams, where he used her hard. Like an experienced woman, not a delicate lady of his class. He woke shaking and ashamed, hard as an oar.
If he could make his yacht fly back to England, he would. Surely once he didnt see Penelope every day, hed become again the measured, sensible man hed been before he fell under this gorgeous termagants spell. Part of him still looked at her with astonishment. This is Pen of the scraped knees and broken dolls. You have no right to tumble the girl whose childhood tears you dried. Not only tumble her, but have her in every filthy way your imagination can conjure.
When the woman reached them, Cam caught speculation in her beady eyes. The man, obviously also English, approached with less dispatch but equal curiosity. Luckily Cam knew neither of them. Although that wouldnt save him from a scandal, unless he came up with some reason why he and an unmarried girl from a good family were alone together.
Mrs. Barker-Pratt, what a surprise. Pen tried to sound enthusiastic.
The two women exchanged kisses on the cheek and Pen turned to Cam. My lord, permit me to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Barker-Pratt, dear friends of my late aunt. She paused infinitesimally, but only someone who knew her as well as he did would guess how rattled she was. Mr. and Mrs. Barker-Pratt, this is Lord Pembridge who has been touring the lakes.
He bowed, wondering whether the game was finally up. Anyone familiar with noble English families would recognize that heirs to the Sedgemoor dukedom took the courtesy title of Marquess of Pembridge. Mrs. Barker-Pratt, Mr. Barker-Pratt.
My lord. Mrs. Barker-Pratt curtsied while the husband, a little man who faded into invisibility in his wifes dominant presence, bowed.
The Barker-Pratts hail from Shropshire, but have lived in Tivoli for many years, Pen continued with false brightness. Mr. Barker-Pratt is an expert on Roman funerary monuments.
How interesting, Cam murmured. Pens skill at weaving through the introductions filled him with dreadful fascination. It was like watching someone cross a gorge on a high wire while a river full of hungry crocodiles snapped below.
We havent returned to England in forty years, despite war and revolution. Wed feel quite foreign in London. Although with so many English friends here, its like being at home. Mrs. Barker-Pratts laugh could shatter glass. At home with only the most interesting people, of course. Dont you agree, my lord, that the best of the English are those who leave the country?
Cam smiled at Pen. In Miss Thornes case, thats definitely the case.
Pen sent him a withering glance. So gallant, my lord. She turned back to Mrs. Barker-Pratt. His lordship is a childhood friend. We met by chance this evening.
If she wasnt careful, the story would unravel. The staff knew that theyd arrived together. Still, hed do his best to play along. A pleasure to see dear Miss Thorne again.
Mrs. Barker-Pratt looked puzzled. We heard you were meeting your brother in Paris, Miss Thorne.
Pen paled. During these last weeks, her grief for Peter had been a palpable presence.
Cam saved her from having to talk about Peter. Lord Wilmott has passed away.
Oh, my dear, Im so sorry.
Mrs. Barker-Pratt might be an unwelcome intruder, but Cam felt a surge of gratitude when the woman swept Pen into a motherly embrace. For weeks, hed longed to extend a similarly generous response. Once he wouldnt have hesitated. But theyd both grown up since then, damn it.
Cam stepped back. Ill wish you good night. You have much to discuss, Im sure.
As he walked away, he couldnt help wondering what might have happened if he and Pen had remained alone in the lamplight. Nothing to be proud of, that was sure.
Prescott Place, Wiltshire, March 1828
Yes, Sophie said immediately and her hand tightened around Harrys. Id love to marry you.
Oh, my dear! Harry raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them. He could hardly believe that the space of an afternoon had delivered not just this glorious creatures vow of love, but also a promise to be his. Ill speak to your brother the instant he returns to London.
Sophie snatched her hand back and regarded him with horror. No, you mustnt.
The abrupt change left Harry bewildered. Youre under twenty-one, Sophie. I need his permission.
She scrambled to her feet and stared down at him as if hed suggested some unnatural practice. My brother wants me to marry Lord Desborough.
More slowly, Harry rose from his knees, his gaze never wavering from Sophie. You cant marry Desborough. You love me.
For a moment, he thought she might hurl herself into his embrace, but she curtailed the movement and wrapped her arms around her crushed bodice. My brother is determined on the marriage.
Your brother is a reasonable man. Hell
She interrupted him. He is a reasonable man. Hes arranged a match with a kind gentleman of great fortune whos fond of me.
Harry glared at her. You sound like you want to marry the sod.
Oh, Harry, she said on an exhalation of despair. You dont understand.
Harry glared at her. You sound like you want to marry the sod.
Oh, Harry, she said on an exhalation of despair. You dont understand.
He folded his own arms, fighting his hurt. To think, five minutes ago, hed considered himself the worlds happiest man. I understand that you said youd marry me and now seem to say that you wont.
She curled her hand around his tight forearm. Lets not quarrel.
I cant let you marry Desborough.
I dont want to. But my brother is in a state because of Uncle Nevilles suicide and because Sedgemoor is working against us and because he thinks the scandal may end his political career. Its not the time to tell him that his carefully laid plans wont eventuate.
Youre frightened of him.
The suggestion shocked her. Of course not. But open defiance now, when he feels like the world turns against him, would hurt him.
What about me?
Harry bit back the childish question. So what do you propose? Moments ago, propose had conveyed a completely different meaning.
She stared up with a sweet entreaty that, if he was less upset, would have him back on his knees. We wait.
I cant wait. He made a sweeping gesture. I need everyone to know that youre mine. Living without you this last week nearly broke me.
Please dont be angry, she said softly, changing her grip into a caress.
How long until you turn twenty-one? Although even then if Sophie married without Leaths approval, there would be a brouhaha.
Devastation darkened her blue eyes. Nearly two years.
Two years? That was an eternity. He stared at her in anguish. I cant bear to think I might lose you.
Youll never lose me, she said with a certainty that should have surprised him, but didnt. She was young, but she was steadfast. Which was a double-edged sword. A flightier girl wouldnt spare a thought for her brother. We can continue as we are.