Page 147 of A Duchess for his Family

Sophia looked around. “Marjorie?”

“She is fine.” The answer came immediately.

“She was examined?”

“Yes.”

“Is she warm?”

“Yes.”

“Frightened?”

“Yes.”

Sophia’s heart tightened.

“But unharmed,” Benedict added quickly. “She is asleep now. Amelia refused to leave her until she was.”

Sophia closed her eyes briefly. “Thank God.”

Benedict sat on the edge of the bed. Only then did Sophia notice that his hand still rested beneath hers. Neither moved it. For several moments, there was only the faint crackle of the fire. Then Sophia looked at him.

“What were you doing outside, in the middle of the night?”

Something shifted in his expression. Sophia watched him carefully.

“You were hardly taking a peaceful midnight stroll during a flood.”

“No.” Benedict looked toward the fire. “I was searching for Marjorie.”

Sophia’s smile faded.

“I went to check on the girls before retiring,” he continued. “Amelia was asleep. Marjorie’s bed was empty.”

Her fingers tightened slightly around his wrist.

“You realized where she had gone?”

“Amelia told me Marjorie intended to bring you home if I would not.”

“Oh, Benedict,” she gasped.

“I should have come sooner,” he whispered.

“For Marjorie?”

His gaze returned to hers. “For you.”

Sophia went still. Benedict was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter.

“I could not sleep. I spent half the night waiting for morning.”

Her heart gave a painful little beat. “Why?”

“I intended to find you and… ask you to come home.” Benedict continued. “I could not sleep. I thought walking might make the hours pass more quickly.”

Sophia stared at him.