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She knew where she’d go. She would go to Rachel’s and tell her all that had happened. It was about time someone knew of Nick’s behavior, and his inferences.
“If you are certain, My Lady?”
“I am.”
When Jessica went to leave the room to call the horse, Sophia did not wish to stay behind alone. Instead, she followed behind the maid, hurrying across the landing and glancing back repeatedly to Nick’s bedchamber door in fear, but the door stayed firmly closed.
Perhaps he intends to keep to his word and not come out again?
She couldn’t take that chance.
She stayed with Jessica the entire time she was in the house. The moment the horse was prepared, she left, speeding off away from the house with the horse galloping beneath her. Jessica offered to come with her on another horse, but Sophia assured her she wasn’t going far and would not need the company.
Rain was beginning to spit in the air as she rode down the drive and madly turned into the street. Her gallops were so harried that a phaeton carriage had to pull up sharply, in order to avoid a collision. Sophia called an apology to them before riding off again.
Within a few turns in the street, the rain had grown worse. It was no longer just that faint patter in the air, but a full-on downpour. Each drop fell like a needle on Sophia’s body, so that her hair was soon plastered to her neck, and her gown stuck to her skin. With the rain coming down so hard, puddles turned to floods, and she was forced to ride slower, as the horse had to clop through deep ravines of water.
When Sophia came to a stop, she was amazed to find she had not gone to Rachel’s house at all. She had gone to Jeremy’s.
Stunned, she and the horse stood on the driveway, staring at the house in wonder.
What do I expect him to do of this matter?
Unable to answer her own question, she slid off the horse and walked toward the house. The puddles on the pebbled drive were growing deeper too, dampening the hem of her gown and cloak, so that she had to drag the sodden clothes with her toward the door.
She knocked impatiently on the wood, then waited for an answer. It took some time and a second knock, but soon, the door was answered by Jeremy’s butler, whose eyes went wide at the sight of her.
“My Lady! Did something happen to the carriage?”
“No. Thank you for lending me the use of it. I…” Sophia swallowed, trying to best to keep her tone formal and free of emotion.
I wish to see Jeremy!
“May I see the Duke?”
“I am afraid he has left this morning to see a friend.” The butler’s words made her numb. She stood perfectly still, very aware of the rain that fell on her cheeks and dripped down off her chin.
“A friend?”
“Yes.”
She knew it could have been any number of friends, perhaps Lord Thorne, yet the fear that he might be seeing another woman gutted her.
Would he go to another woman’s bed so soon after being in mine?
“Very well, thank you.” Sophia attempted to smile and brush off the matter, to hide her pain, yet the smile faltered quickly. “Good day.” The butler looked as if he wished to speak to her again, but Sophia didn’t wait around to hear what he had to say. She hurried to her horse and clambered up quickly, aware that the wetness of her clothes had taken on a new scent, that infernal dampness invaded her nostrils and made her nose curl, despising the day.
What a day this is! Perhaps I should have just stayed in Jeremy’s bed? If he would have let me.
Pulling on the reins, she urged the horse down the drive again. At first, he galloped, but it wasn’t long before he had to be slowed down to a gentle amble. The streets were busy with carriages moving people about, and some were getting stuck in the worst of the sudden floods. Sophia took smaller lanes, heading toward Rachel’s house. She did not know how long it took her, but by the time she got to the manor, she felt soaked to her bones and her body trembled from the cold.
Slipping down off the horse, she placed the reins over an iron fence that encircled the house, aware that the stable boys had not come running. Clearly, they were not expecting visitors in such weather.
Trudging through the water that ran off the front porch steps, like some sort of waterfall, Sophia moved toward the door and struck it heavily. Her body was growing weak after so much riding, and she leaned on the wall beside the door, waiting for it to open.
“Who is there?” the butler’s voice called as he opened the door.
“Who is it, Stevens?” Rachel’s voice called from inside.
“There doesn’t seem to be anyone there, My Lady.”
Irked to have not been seen, Sophia tried to push off from the wall, but the heaviness of her gown tangled around her legs and made her stumble. She barely managed to stop herself from falling by grasping at the doorframe, much to the butler’s surprise who yelped and jumped back.
“Oh, my goodness,” Rachel cried and was suddenly in front of Sophia. “Calm your heartrate, Stevens, it is only Sophia.” She took Sophia’s arm, even as the butler placed a hand to his chest, as if she had made his heart leap out of his chest at the shock. “Sophia, what are you doing here in this weather? Do not tell me you have ridden all this way?”
“Then I best not say anything at all.” Sophia walked in, so wet that the skirt of her gown dragged behind her, carrying a smear across the wooden floorboards.
“Something has happened, I know it. Sophia, my friend, what has happened to you?”
