had given him the excuse to linger without family interference. But Sophie had changed the rules and he no longer had time. He had made sure that Hannah’s interests were looked after, now he intended to look after his own. Everything had taken on a new urgency because of his father’s note which he’d received this morning. Against all expectation his father had decided to travel and inspect his son’s choice of bride. He declined to give a date, but Richard knew he had a week, ten days at most, before his father appeared.
If Sophie truly did not want to marry him, he needed to break it off for her sake, but he did have hope his plan would succeed. Silently he damned Cawburn for all eternity for making her wary of men.
It wasn’t love, not the sort of love that he’d seen his parents experience, but he wanted to protect her and keep her safe from harm. He did have feelings for her and they frightened him to death.
Now his sister had nearly ruined his delicate plans. Sophie needed to be cajoled into this or she’d bolt and he’d lose her for ever. He didn’t want to give her the additional excuse of his family. He tolerated them because he was related to them, but he was under no illusion—they were an acquired taste.
‘Go away, Hannah. Keep your nose out of my business.’
‘I shall go back to my seat now if you are going to be horrid,’ his sister said, sticking her nose in the air. ‘You failed to pay me the slightest bit of attention.’
‘Do! And next time, keep your solemn promise.’
Hannah stalked off without replying.
Richard sank down in the chair and contemplated the scene in front of him. Sophie stood at the non-bowling end, her straw hat pushed back on her forehead, poised to run if the occasion called for it while Armstrong faced the new bowler.
A smattering of applause rippled through the ground as Armstrong ran one run. At a moment’s hesitation, Sophie ran the other way. Silently he willed Armstrong to take another, but Armstrong motioned for Sophie to stay where she was.
Sophie nodded and banged the bat on the ground, signalling she was ready for the next ball.
The bowler’s run took an inordinately long time. Richard clenched his fists. All Sophie had to do was hit a single run and then allow Armstrong to face the next four balls.
She swung and missed, but the ball carried on harmlessly to the wicket keeper. Richard silently vowed that the next time she offered to play cricket, he’d refuse. His nerves couldn’t stand it. She glanced over to him and he gave an encouraging smile. Sophie had done a good thing with volunteering, but should he have allowed it? What moment of madness had he experienced?
He had never considered that she’d actually have to bat. A humiliated Sophie would hardly be conducive to seduction.
The bowler lifted his arm.
The ball came in at a slow curve and looked like it, too, would miss her stumps.
‘Leave it alone, Sophie,’ Richard muttered under his breath. ‘Just survive.’
Sophie lifted her bat and swung.
The crack of the bat hitting the ball echoed around the ground.
Richard watched in amazement as the ball arched out over the field, finally landing some feet on the other side of the boundary.
A huge cheer went up from the crowd. Richard leapt to his feet.
Sophie had done it! She had hit a six and scored the winning runs.
He ran out to the crease along with the rest of the team.
‘We won!’ Sophie shrieked happily. ‘And I can’t believe it. We really won!’
‘Thanks to you.’
He took the bat from her and tucked it under his arm before catching her hands. She circled around him, her face lit with happiness. It was all he could do not to kiss her thoroughly in front of everyone. His Sophie had won the match. She’d stepped up and played the game, beautifully.
‘The bowler thought I was a helpless female and sent me an easy ball.’ Sophie gave an infectious laugh. ‘But I was determined not to let the side down, particularly not after you had done so much to get us in the winning position.’
‘Where did you learn to swing like that?’
‘At school. That ball reminded me of the sort of delivery Miss Denton used to give the new girls. I knew I could do it and I did!’ Sophie gave a happy sigh. ‘I really did.’
‘You should have told me that you were a crack shot.’
‘I told you that I used to play at school. It is why I knew how to use the frying pan.’ A mischievous smile lit her face. ‘The third time I hit Sebastian was just like I hit that ball. Thwack!’
‘Makes perfect sense why he retreated,’ Richard said with mock gravity.
She laughed, a happy unaffected laugh, her face glowing with pride at her accomplishment. He wanted to swing her up in his arms in front of everyone and kiss her soundly. She had come so far in the past few weeks. Cawburn hadn’t destroyed her. He fought to keep his arms at his sides.
She ducked her head and spoke to the ground. ‘You have no idea how competitive girls can be at sport.’
‘I can well imagine.’
Before she replied, the team came up and surrounded her, blocking his view of her face. Their cheers rang out throughout the ground, but Richard wanted to murder each and every one of them. Sophie should be his and his alone. And he would do everything in his power to claim her.
Sophie sighed happily, leaned back against the horsehair seat in Richard’s carriage and closed her eyes as the carriage started off from the cricket ground in Jesmond.
The day had gone perfectly from start to finish. She knew it wasn’t strictly proper, but she had adored having the rest of the team crowd around her, congratulating her on her skill at batting. Mr Armstrong had asked her to play the next time. Sophie declined with a laugh, but it felt good to be asked. Richard had been very silent while this was happening, glowering in particular at Mr Armstrong as if in truth he were a jealous fiancé, instead of a pretend one.
She gave a sideways glance at Richard. Was it possible to fall in love with someone after only a few short weeks? Or was it simply the heady romance of the moment? Finally, after so many years, to be free of the guilt and the shame of that one night?
It would be easy to start to depend on Richard, but it also would be a huge mistake. Once Robert and Henri returned, Richard would go out of her life for ever. All this pleasantness would be mere memories.
‘I was sorry not to say goodbye to Miss Grayson,’ she said, putting the thought from her mind. ‘I looked for her after the match, but she had gone.’
‘Who?’ Richard sat bolt upright next to her, suddenly alert.
Sophie shivered
