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lly think they tried to match us?”
“Absolutely. You matched each of them so they assumed you might need some help with your match.”
“They were right,” Sophie replied with a giggle. “I had no idea what I was doing.”
“Neither did I.”
“This will cause a huge scandal,” she said with a smile as she rubbed her belly, “especially now.”
“The scandal has already started.”
She frowned and glanced up at him. “What do you mean?”
“You do not have to worry about your father claiming you because your bother has already admitted to the world that you are his sister.”
She clapped her hand over her mouth. How could Somerton have done such a foolish thing? “Why?” she mumbled. “Why would he do that?”
“Because he loves you. And Lady Genna loves you. She wants the world to know you are her half sister, too. He and all your friends want you to return to London.” He brought her hands to his lips.
Tears burned down her cheeks. “Nicholas, you told me that if you married me it might put Emma’s reputation at risk.”
He sighed. “I already told her what might happen.”
“Then perhaps you should tell me.”
He nodded. “When I was with Maggie, I told my father that I loved her and wanted to marry her. He told me she was nothing but a whore and only wanted me for my money. He arranged for me to walk in on them while they were . . .”
“Oh, my God,” she muttered. “What a dreadful man!”
“He wanted me to see that Maggie only cared about money. He paid her to have intercourse with him.” He looked away from her. “Then two months later, she came to me saying she was with child.”
She shook her head wondering how this could be scandalous to Emma. His daughter already knew she was a bastard. “I don’t understand, Nicholas.”
“I have no way of knowing if Emma is mine or my father’s child. He threatened to tell everyone the story.”
“I am dreadfully sorry, Nicholas. But this just reinforces what I have been saying. Marrying me would only cause you and your family harm.”
“I told Emma everything, Sophie. I wanted her to understand what might happen if you agree to be my wife and her mother.”
“What did she say?” she asked reluctantly. He would not be here unless he had his daughter’s blessing.
“She said that even though she’d only met you once, she believes she loves you and that you would make a perfect mother for her. And she didn’t care who her father really was because I am her true father.”
Sophie wiped a tear off her cheek. “She is a lovely young girl.”
He stopped and looked over at her with love. “And one who needs a mother who will love her regardless of her birth.”
She glanced up at the crystal chandelier.
“What are you really afraid of, Sophie?” he demanded.
“Losing you,” she whispered. “I thought if I left on my terms it would be better. But it wasn’t. I was afraid after Lady Cantwell died that the reason I couldn’t read you was because you were going to die. I couldn’t stay and watch you die. I know that sounds horrible. I’m sorry I disappointed you.”
“You could never disappoint me,” he said, approaching her slowly. “All your life people have left you alone. Your father, your mother, and even me. I should have insisted on marrying you the moment I discovered who you were. I should have done more.”
She nodded. “I don’t know how to be a marchioness, much less a duchess. I’ve never planned a ball. And I certainly don’t know the proper seating arrangements for a dinner party. I will be an embarrassment to you. I should hate to see that in your eyes.”
“You would never be that, Sophie. You have friends who can help you with anything you need to know. Just as they did for Victoria.” He wrapped his arms around her. “None of those things matter to me, sweetheart. You are the only thing that is important. I want you to be my wife, my duchess, and the mother of my children.”
