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Jeremy went through all the rooms downstairs, trailing behind Sophia and her maid, Jessica, as she pointed out all the things that she wanted to take with her. Every item Jeremy helped to gather as quickly as he could, determined that Sophia wouldn’t be here for much longer.
The whole affair was something of a blur, with Jeremy noticing every slight movement Sophia made. He watched when she chewed her lip and glanced at the windows, nervous of Lord Elkins’ return. He also noted the way her hands danced over a few ornaments in the sitting room, trembling a little, as she decided which ones to take and which to leave behind.
Not once did she return his look.
Why will she not look at me?
As he followed behind her, as if he were her shadow, the memory of the pain in her face when they had danced together came back to him.
Of course, she cannot look at me. I have broken her heart.
He knew he had to speak to her, but there was so much to say, this was clearly not the moment to do it. If he was to declare how he really felt, then he needed time to talk of everything and this was not that time. Right now, he had to concentrate on getting her out of this house.
As they returned to the hall, portmanteaus and trunks were brought in. Lady Rumpton stood over one of them, counting up the things that were inside, checking all was well. Meanwhile, Stephen stood by the window, keeping watch.
“Anything?” Jeremy asked, moving to his side.
“Nothing. Yet.”
“Keep watching.”
“Have no fear, I intend to,” Stephen promised with a firm nod. Jeremy was glad of his friend’s help and clapped him on the shoulder before turning to seek out Sophia again.
Seeing that she was hurrying up the stairs with Jessica beside her, Jeremy took off, not intending to be far away from her. He took the steps two at a time in his eagerness to be with her, then hurried down the corridor, following her into a room that turned out to be her bedchamber.
Jeremy paused in the door, glancing across the room in wonder. A portmanteau was wide open as Sophia and Jessica hurried to place gowns inside it, one after the other was flung in such a way that showed they were not taking the time to pack neatly.
“Sophia?” Jeremy called to her.
“Yes?”
“You do not need to fear. I won’t let him near you.” She paused, standing in the wardrobe, before she glanced back his way.
“I’d rather be gone before he comes back. Just in case.” She hurried to her task again, reaching in for the gowns. “There was something my late husband said about his brother once, something that has been bothering me as of late.”
“What was that?” Jeremy asked. He was careful to keep standing by the doorway, reluctant to come in much further. They may have shared his bedchamber, but he would not intrude on hers after what she had been through.
“He said that he could never be sure what Nick was really thinking, and he found that a little frightening.” Sophia moved distractedly as she helped the maid to strap up the portmanteau.
What a curious thing to say about a brother.
Jeremy mused on the thought as the portmanteau was carried to the doorway. Jeremy eagerly took it out of the maid’s hands, wanting to be of use. Jessica passed through the doorway first, but before Sophia could go, he caught her hand.
“Jeremy – oh.” She gasped when he lifted that hand to his lips.
He couldn’t hold back, and he couldn’t bear seeing her like this. As he kissed her hand, holding her to him, he watched as her cheeks pinkened. She looked into his eyes then, for what felt like the first time in hours.
“What was that for?” she whispered as he lowered her hand again.
“I will tell you. Very soon, but for now, let us get you out of here.” He urged her forward by pulling on her hand. To his relief, he found she didn’t release her hand from his. Instead, she entwined her fingers in his.
Once they reached the hall, all was prepared.
“I think that’s everything,” Lady Rumpton declared with her hands on her hips. “Time to pack up the carriages.”
Jeremy helped the manservants carry out the bags to the second carriage. There was a lot of running back and forth, but soon, all was prepared.
Jeremy stood by the carriage, looking over what they had achieved, when he noticed the gravel driveway was churned up in an odd way. It led off toward the trees.
