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Zach’s temper ignited. He was a good man, damn it, and he didn’t deserve to be treated so disrespectfully. “If you do all the talking, this won’t be a conversation.”
“It doesn’t have to be. You’ll listen and do as I say. You’ve compromised Sophie, so you must do right by her.”
“Marry her, you mean?” Zach’s heart sped.
“Yes.”
“That is hardly a hardship to me, my lord. I love Sophie.” The cannonball that had been weighing on him lifted. How freeing to say the words!
The earl cleared his throat again. “Love is neither here nor there. You will marry her regardless.”
Zach couldn’t help a smile. “It will be my honor to make her my wife. I shall propose to her soon.”
“Not so fast. I still don’t think you’re good enough for her. If Sophie weren’t so fond of you, I’d beat you to a pulp with my bare hands for what you’ve done.”
Zach let the hypocrisy slide. He knew well the story of the earl and countess. They had met some twenty years ago, both married to others, and fallen in love and consummated their adulterous union. Sophie had told him. She’d also told him of the earl’s own son, Evan, and her sister, Ally. He’d ruined her as well. Zach glued his lips shut. No good would come of voicing these ironies.
“I guess I should be happy the lady is fond of me, then,” Zach said. “I assure you I’m more than fond of her. You’re wrong about me, my lord. I’m a good man with a good business. I will take care of Sophie.”
“Just see that you do.” Brighton returned to a document on his desk.
Was that his cue to leave? Zach stood. “Please know, my lord, that I didn’t plan to compromise your daughter. We’re drawn together, she and I. We have something…special.”
Brighton grunted, his gaze not leaving the document.
Why not continue? “Since Lady Sophie and I are now betrothed in your eyes, may I assume you will have no issue with me escorting her to the festival?”
Again, a grunt.
Zach smiled. He took that as a “yes.”
* * *
Sophie rose early on May Day to walk about the estate and gather flowers to take to the festival. She smiled happily as she sat on the veranda, filling May baskets and then fashioning the white, yellow, and pink blooms into a crown for her head. She made one for Ally as well, even though her sister couldn’t attend the festival. The wreath would bring some brightness into Ally’s bedchamber. With more posies left, she couldn’t resist. She made tiny garlands for Maureen and little Sophie.
“Sophie, how grand! You’ve brought in the May!” Ally gushed when Sophie presented her with the crown. “You do look stunning in that white morning dress. I suppose you bathed your face in the morning dew as well?”
Sophie smiled. Bathing one’s face in the morning dew on May Day was an old wives’ tale, said to preserve one’s beauty. “You know there’s never enough dew for that.”
“When is Mr. Newland calling for you?”
“Soon. I’m so glad the earl is letting him escort me. In fact, I should go. He could be here any second.”
“Do have a sensational time, Sophie.”
* * *
Zach arrived promptly, and the two delivered Sophie’s May baskets to tenants on the Brighton estate. Iris and Sophie had placed loaves of Cook’s delicious white bread in the baskets under the flowers.
“Don’t be seen,” Zach teased. “I’ll not let anyone claim a kiss from you but me.”
They laughed together as they rode the rest of the way to the celebration outside of Bath, arriving in time to see the parade led by the May Queen. She was none other than Lady Patricia Price-Adams, Cameron’s sixteen-year-old sister. Her coal-black hair was a striking contrast to the white peasant dress and flowers she wore, and her sapphire-blue eyes gleamed as she laughed, tossing petals to the children, including her adorable brown-haired sister, Lady Katrina.
“Tricia looks absolutely stunning,” Sophie said, clasping Zach’s hand.
“She does,” he agreed. “It’s quite an honor to be chosen as May Queen.”
“I admit I don’t know much about these traditions,” Sophie said. “My father never allowed us to celebrate, and when he died and we moved to Mayfair, my Uncle Crispin wouldn’t allow it either, being a devout Christian.”
