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“God’s wounds, Sophia, are you all right?” he begged to know, reaching for her hands. He took them easily enough, urging her to move to her knees too. She raised herself up a little, with fresh tears on her cheeks.
“I cannot believe he…” She broke off as her breath hitched. “He…”
“I know. I know.” Jeremy pulled her forward. He didn’t think of the conversation they’d had during their dance. All he thought of was having her near, so he could comfort her. He held her tightly in his arms, cradling her in his chest. Fresh tears came from her as she nuzzled into him, hiding her face there.
Never had he wanted to protect someone so much as he did Sophia in that moment. It made his arms raise around her waist, clinging to her with splayed fingers.
“You’re safe now,” he whispered in her ear, so only she could hear him. “Is this the first time he has tried to do such a thing?”
“H-he’s grown worse as of late,” she said, stammering through her tears. “He said things, did things. This morning, he burst into my chamber, but I never thought he would actually do something like this. It’s a line. A line I didn’t think he would cross!” She pushed herself up from Jeremy’s chest a little, revealing her tear-stained cheeks. “Yet he did. Oh my god, what am I going to do? I can’t go home now. I can’t go back there.”
“Of course, you can’t,” Jeremy agreed as he helped her to her feet. He was about to offer that she could come to his, when the door opened from the ballroom again. On the stone terrace, two faces appeared there. The first was Stephen, the other was Lady Rumpton. She called out to them, clearly seeing the distress her friend was in.
“What has happened?” She hurried down the steps, in their direction, with Stephen close behind her.
“Care to explain, Jeremy, why Lord Elkins just staggered into the ballroom accusing you of assault?” Stephen asked.
“Assault? Pah! He should be done for such a crime.” Jeremy kept his arm firmly around Sophia’s waist, reluctant to let her go as she leaned into him. His wish to invite Sophia to stay at his faded. If Lord Elkins was spreading rumors already, he knew having her at his house would only add to that. “Lady Rumpton, could Sophia stay with you tonight?”
“Of course.” Lady Rumpton stepped forward, as if to take Sophia’s hand, but Jeremy couldn’t let her go yet. He had not wish to, and she seemed equally reluctant, with her hands tangled up in his jacket.
“Let us find the carriages, then.” Jeremy began to lead a path around the house.
“Wait, we are going now?” Lady Rumpton hurried after them.
“This would be the part when you explain what has happened, Jeremy!” Stephen called, hastening along at his other side.
Jeremy glanced down at Sophia. When he saw the fear there, he knew what she wanted, without having to hear the words.
She cannot say it. It is down to me.
“Lord Elkins just tried to force Sophia to kiss him,” Jeremy tried to keep his voice calm, despite the anger that ripped through him. When both Stephen and Lady Rumpton stumbled to a halt, nearly falling over in their surprise, Jeremy pushed on with Sophia in his arms. They were quick enough to follow again and swallow their shock. “Exactly. So let us get her out of here. Now!”
He led the path all the way to the carriages, relieved when Lady Rumpton pointed out hers. Lady Rumpton climbed in first, then Jeremy helped Sophia in, though he held her hand for a little longer, reluctant to leave her. She turned on the coach bench, staring at him as he stood in the doorway of the carriage.
“There is no need to fear now, Sophia,” he whispered to her, desperate for her to know she wasn’t alone in this. “He will not hurt you again.”
“We need to go. Now!” Lady Rumpton thumped the side of her carriage.
Jeremy was forced to step back and shut the door, watching as the carriage set off. Beside him, Stephen stood with his hands in his hair, tipping his gaze back to the starry sky above him.
“What happens now, Jeremy?”
Jeremy watched the carriage disappear at the end of the road.
“I don’t know, but I do know one thing.” Once the carriage vanished, he turned his eyes on Stephen. “I’m not going to let Lord Elkins come within a foot of Sophia again.”
* * *
“I am beginning to think you and I have talked all night.”
“It certainly feels like it.” Sophia glanced at the windows that were firmly covered in curtains. No light slipped through the cracks, suggesting it was still very much dark outside, though she felt she and Rachel had talked so long that it would soon be dawn.
Sitting up in bed, she turned to watch Rachel. They were both wearing their nightgowns, with Sophia tucked up under the covers, and Rachel sat at the far end of the bed, leaning on a bed post. She was tired, not just judging by the number of times she yawned, but also the shadows growing under her eyes.
“I am sorry for keeping you awake all night,” Sophia said gently, resting back on the pillows.
“I am not sure I could have slept regardless,” Rachel assured her. “My mind has been too busy for that. When I think of the nerve of Lord Elkins, the audacity, the sheer aggression. It makes me sick to my stomach.”
