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“Her wellbeing,” the man echoed under his breath. “I loved her the moment she took her first breath of air. She is delightful, she’s thoughtful and caring, she’s beyond rash most of the time. There has never been one thing that I would ever want changed about her. Her wellbeing, that of her sisters is all I have been focused on for nearly two decades. But even after all that time, after I’ve kept a keen eye on Sophie her entire life, I’ve somehow lost her to you.”
Gabe wasn’t certain what to say to that. Was he supposed to give comfort to Viscount Beckbury, the man who had made him more than miserable for a number of years? He sighed. He might never care for Beckbury, but he was Sophie’s father and she did love him. “Sophie is completely devoted to you, my lo—”
“No she’s not,” Beckbury cut him off. “If she was, she wouldn’t have fled to Scotland with you. She would have done what I asked of her. As much as I would like to believe otherwise, Sophie’s completely devoted toyou,Prideaux.” His brow lifted as though he couldn’t believe he was saying those words. “But that’s how it should be. You’re her husband now.”
“I’m equally devoted to her, I assure you.”
The older man heaved a sigh of his own. “I once thought your father was an honorable man, but he proved me wrong. You seem to be a different man than Charles in that regard – taking responsibility for your sister and her daughters, making certain your brother has the best possible care, but we cannot change what is in our blood, Prideaux. So consider yourself on notice. If you ever cause Sophie even the tiniest amount of pain, I will kill you. I should have killed your father after what he did toAnne, but I will not—”
And then it all clicked. It was the way he said her name so reverently. The way he’d told Augusta that it would have been impossible to forget her mother. “You loved her.”
“I beg your pardon?” Beckbury growled.
“Anne Hendley.” Gabe said softly. “You loved her. I can hear it in your voice.”
The man snorted, but he didn’t say anything for the longest while. Finally, he shook his head. “She never knew. Neither of them did. And it’s of no matter this many years later anyway. What matters now is my daughter’s life, her happiness.” His voice cracked just a bit. “Treasure Sophie as she was meant to be treasured or you’ll wish you’d never been born to your blackguard of a father.”
“We cannot change what is in our blood,” Gabe echoed the man’s earlier words. “Maybe that’s true, maybe it’s not. I like to think I’m my own man. But if we are all some combination of those who came before us, you are forgetting about my mother, Beckbury. You’re not taking her into account at all, and she was the kindest, gentlest soul who lived. She loved those around her and took care of those in need. If you never met her, you missed a great lady.” He shook his head. “We both love Sophie and we both want nothing more than her happiness for the rest of her days. I swear to you, I will love and care for her until my last breath.”
“That’s all I ask.”
“I know you love Sophie,” Gabe said, because he’d always known that. Had he been in Beckbury’s spot, with a bastard pretender vying for his beloved daughter’s hand, he might very well have made the same decision. “She’s been terrified to see you, terrified that you’re angry with her. You should go see your daughter, Beckbury. Go see how happy she is. Go tell her all is well.”
“You’ll keep her safe?”
“Until my dying breath.”
“Thank you, Prideaux. I will hold you to that.” Beckbury pushed out of his chair. “Let’s go find our Sophie then, shall we?”
Gabe followed his father-in-law’s lead. When the man opened his door, Sophie stood right in the threshold, and she’d very clearly heard the entire conversation.
“Sophia!” Beckbury grumbled, clearly annoyed.
“Sorry, Papa. I had to make sure you weren’t going to kill him.” Then Sophie threw her arms around her father’s middle and held him tight. “And I love you too, Papa. You’re the best father in the whole world.”
Beckbury kissed the top of her head. “I just want for you to be happy, Sophie.”
“I will be,” she vowed. “Gabe makes me happy every single day.”
EPILOGUE
Northend
Northwold, Norfolk - February 1825
Gabriel Prideaux, the Earl of Northwold, was severely outnumbered and had been for many years. It was a wonder he didn’t have an entire head full of grey hair. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk and hoped he was sending his sternest expression to his niece, though Ismérie did not seem worried in the least.
“Ladies do not ride astride, my dear, and they do not do so inbreeches,” he grumbled, hoping he sounded marginally like his father-in-law. She might listen to him if he sounded more like Beckbury.
Ismérie’s dark chignon was slightly wild after her jaunt across Northend, and her cheeks were still a bit pink. “But I can’t go nearly as fast riding sidesaddle in a habit, Uncle Gabe.”
“A disadvantage, I’m sure,” he replied. “But as you’ll be coming out this season, it’s best to start preparing to go on for how we plan to continue this year. No more breeches.” And he hoped she never found out about the times Sophie had donned boy’s clothes. He’d never get her to listen to him, if she knew that. “It’s unfair, I know,” he continued, “but you will already have to contend with your American-ness. There’s no reason to borrow more trouble.”
“But you said being a silver heiress, I would have no trouble finding a throng of suitors, just like Aurelie.”
He did hate it went his own words were used against him and came back to haunt him. “Aurelie did not wear breeches, nor did she ride astride, you might recall.” And Aurelie hadn’t had to look far to find a decent fellow who adored her. But Ismérie had always been the more free-spirited of the pair, which was endearing, but it wasn’t always regarded highly within theton, and that was where she was headed.
He heard a sound from the corridor and Gabe flashed Ismérie an expression as he pushed out of his chair and started for door. Sure enough, when he pulled it open, his seven-year-old daughter stumbled into the study as she had been very clearly listening at his door.
