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Sophia closed her eyes, trying to ward off thoughts of Nick, but it kept coming back.
“I’m beginning to think I was a fool,” she murmured. “His words over the last few weeks, the bedchamber door handle moving. I never wanted to think any of it would lead to him actually trying toforcesome affection from me. Am I truly devoid of any intelligence at all for thinking so?”
“No.” Rachel leaned forward and laid a hand on Sophia’s knee through the covers, reaching out to her. “There is nothing wrong in this world in wanting to see the best in someone, especially when they are your family. I thought the man controlling, but never did I think he would try to do what he did.” Rachel shuddered another time and sat back. “We have talked of it all night, Sophia, and still, we can make no sense of his actions. Only one thing is clear.”
“What is that?” Sophia asked, lifting herself up off the cushions a little.
“Seeing you with the Duke of Pemberton must have made Lord Elkins snap. I hear a jealous man is capable of many things,” she added the latter sentence in a whisper. “A man already driven by obsession of you, well, perhaps it is not so surprising he snapped after seeing you and the Duke dance together.”
“Yet he must have seen the dance did not end well. I walked off.” Sophia swallowed nervously as she thought of that dance. The pain came back to her, as if she had been struck by an ocean wave. It made her grip to the covers around her tightly.
Jeremy rejected me. That is what his silence meant.
She couldn’t think of how he had run after her in the garden, or her relief to see him. He had defended her, and she loved him even more for it, but it still did not declare affection for her.
He is a man who knows right and wrong. He would protect any woman in my position last night.
“Anyone who truly watched the two of you dance together, as I did, would have seen something of what passed,” Rachel said with a sad smile. “I know you told me the Duke did not return your love, but I am still convinced he feels something. If Lord Elkins saw the Duke’s expression when you ran off, as I did, then he would suspect the same.”
The words only made the pain worse.
“What am I going to do, Rachel?” Sophia whispered, in desperate need of her friend’s advice.
“Well, let’s handle one decision at a time. Let us first deal with Lord Elkins.” Rachel spoke with determination and leaned forward. “Do you want to go back to that house?”
“Never!” Sophia was firm. “There must be a way to get my annuity out of the estate. If I find a solicitor, then perhaps it can be acquired without me seeing Nick, then I could arrange a house of my own.”
“Then we have your resolution.” Rachel smiled. “You have a new future ahead of you! First thing’s first, we will get your things from the house.”
“You wish me to go back there?” Sophia flinched at the thought.
“Not alone, Sophia. We’ll ask the Duke of Pemberton to accompany us.”
“Is that a good idea?”
“He’s already struck Lord Elkins once. The Duke’s presence could be enough of a threat in itself to stop Lord Elkins coming near you.”
“Yes, perhaps you are right.” Even as Sophia rested back on the pillows, agreeing with Rachel, she felt fear swell within her at the thought of seeing Jeremy again, knowing that he could not look at her as she did him.
