what I was going to say to her and how to confess about what nearly happened in the carriage.’
‘There is nothing to confess. We were engaged and now we are getting married. It is the natural order of things.’ He placed a soft kiss on her lips. Her entire being tingled with anticipation. She looped her arms about his neck, inviting him to deepen the kiss, but he gave a slight shake of his head. ‘The next time I see you I will have the licence and we can be together, properly.’
A quiet thrill filled Sophie. She had left this morning thinking that she should end their acquaintance and she’d come back a nearly bride. The quickness of it made her head spin.
They were right not to wait. The alternative was far too dangerous. This way they could say that there was no dishonour and that they chose to marry, rather than being forced into it.
She leant back against his arms, memorising the planes of his face and the way a lock of hair flopped over his forehead. Later she intended to draw him from memory so she could have a memento of today.
‘Is everything all right, Sophie?’
Her smile widened. She could tease him now. ‘Then you had best get the licence and I will see about this wedding breakfast you require. Send me a note when you know.’
He nipped her chin. ‘The only thing I require is you in my bed as soon as possible. As my lawful bride.’
‘Richard, what is going on? Hannah returned practically in tears because of your cruelty this afternoon. How dare you!’ His mother’s voice assaulted Richard when he walked into his rooms later that evening.
Myers gave him an apologetic look, but Richard merely smiled at his valet. He patted his coat pocket which held the special licence. Nothing was going to disrupt his happiness, not even his mother and her accusations. Sophie would be properly his tomorrow. He had done it. Sophie would belong to him. His refuge from the world would be secure.
As he had suspected, the Bishop of Durham had been more than happy to oblige the son of the Marquess of Hallington and had even offered to perform the ceremony tomorrow morning at eleven. Before he left the Bishop, Richard penned a note to Sophie to be ready and sent his coachman off to Sophie’s house to deliver it.
Tension flowed from his shoulders. Sophie would know now what tomorrow would bring. Things had worked out better than he’d hoped this morning. He had succeeded—even his mother and her accusations of cruelty towards his sister could not change his future.
He looked forward to initiating Sophie tomorrow afternoon in the art of bedsport, but first he had to deal with his mother.
‘Congratulate me, Mother, I am going to marry.’
His mother’s face pursed like she had just swallowed a sour plum. ‘To the common chit whom you have used as a decoy when you were negotiating Hannah’s marriage? But how? Why? You have barely spent any time with her beyond your duty.’
‘To Sophie, yes.’ Richard frowned. His mother had no right to speak of Sophie in that fashion. And he had kept his visits with Sophie private. Sometimes his mother was a worse snob than his aunt. ‘You will like her when you meet her. You will find her an admirable daughter-in-law. There is nothing common about Sophie at all. You will see why I married her once you are acquainted with her.’
His mother raised an eyebrow. ‘I have heard from your sister that Miss Ravel is a classic Beauty with a friendly unaffected manner. However, Hannah is no judge of character. I thought we had agreed—there is no need to actually marry the girl. If a woman wishes to ruin herself, allow her. You did the honourable thing. You proposed, she refused. You have squired her to a few amusements, but you were well chaperoned.’
‘She has accepted my offer. My second offer.’
‘This woman was merely the excuse you were going to give your father if he required an answer.’
‘You chose to believe that, Mother. I saw no need to correct your assumption.’
‘Are you telling me that there was more to it?’ His mother paled visibly. ‘What have you done, Richard? How did she trap you?’
‘Mother, my relationship with Sophie is none of your business.’ Richard breathed deeply. His mother had never met Sophie. She could not possibly understand why he needed to be certain that she would remain in his life. He wasn’t even sure he understood. He only knew that he had to have her. ‘Why did you allow Hannah to go to the match today? I asked you to prevent it.’
‘She wanted to. Ronald wanted her there.’ His mother ran a finger along the oak table. ‘I don’t see why you had to take rooms here in Granger Street. Your man does not clean properly. You could have stayed with us. It would have been good to have you there when you were needed, rather than me having to seek you out.’
Richard gave a faint shudder at the thought of staying any length of time with either of his parents. With his father, they were at least able to be in separate wings. His mother’s house on Charlotte Square was a reasonable size, but not overly large. And given his impending marriage, these rooms would have to do as a bridal suite. He withdrew the licence from his coat pocket.
‘I will be married tomorrow, Mother, and that is the end of it. Remember, Sophie is my chosen bride and address her civilly. Otherwise don’t bother.’
‘May I come to the wedding or am I to be forbidden as unfit for society? My father was a baronet. And now every door is shut to me.’ His mother slammed her fists together. ‘Why? Because of your father and his vindictive nature.’
‘I haven’t told Sophie about you and Hannah yet,’ Richard admitted between clenched teeth. Trust his mother to hit on the nub of the problem. His plans had moved at a breathtaking rate after Sophie melted in his arms. He had to trust Sophie would understand why he hadn’t told her before the wedding. ‘Events rather overtook us. If there was any trapping to be done, it was me who pushed. I want her for my bride. You who followed your heart and abandoned your family surely must understand this?’
His mother digested the news with difficulty. ‘Do you love her?’
‘What does love have to do with it?’ He refused to discuss his feelings for Sophie with his mother of all people! They were far too new and raw. He had never felt like this about anyone before. All he knew was that he wanted her in his arms for always. He also knew he’d forced the marriage, rather than trusting Sophie to make the right decision.
‘I know what it is like to be in a loveless marriage, Richard. I suffered dreadfully. You have no idea how it can suffocate you. I thought I’d go mad if your father mentioned his pigs again.’
He crossed over to the desk. ‘My father has written. The letter arrived this morning. He is coming to Newcastle. I have no idea when he will arrive. I thought you should know. He is apparently prepared to leave his pigs to meet Sophie.’
His mother went white and she staggered over to the sofa. ‘You swore this wouldn’t happen. He never travels up here. He knows I am here. Whatever am I to do? Do you suppose he knows about Hannah’s impending marriage? Could Parthenope have heard a whisper? That woman is a menace! She has always aided and abetted your father.’
‘He
