AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They climbed back into the bed, and Sophia put out the light while she told her cousin about the conversation in the library. Lily gasped in horror. “I had no idea Cecil was so … so …”
“Evil?”
“Yes. I wonder what Papa will do about him. He takes family responsibility seriously, and I think Cecil is in for a world of trouble. Why is he so greedy? I thought Papa was quite generous in taking him in and providing him with an allowance. He treated him like his own family!”
“I think Cecil has been gambling away his funds … more funds than he actually possesses. He is hell-bent on pursuing our father’s footsteps, it would seem. He has been on a downward path since our father died. Maybe before, for I do not know what he and my father might have gotten up to together.”
Lily was silent for several seconds before responding. “I am very glad the men in my family eschew gambling. And I am glad you came to live with us. And I am even more glad that Lord Saunton took an interest in you. You already solved the problem, you clever woman!”
Sophia smiled into the darkness. She, too, was grateful for Lord Saunton’s interest. She reached up to touch her fingers to her lips, remembering the feel of his mouth on hers when she took that irrevocable step to compromise herself. This may have been a shocking evening—a shocking week—but tomorrow she would wed the devilish lord and she would begin a new life far, far, far from her brother’s influence. In fact, she would probably never need to see Cecil again.
CHAPTER6
It disgruntled Sophia to see Cecil waiting in the vestibule. It was time to leave for Balfour Terrace and, apparently, Uncle Hugh had decided Cecil would still be attending the wedding for the sake of appearances.
Her brother looked pale and glared at her malevolently before casting his eyes back to stare at the floor in resentment. It appeared Uncle Hugh had already spoken with him about the prior evening’s incursion. She wondered if Cecil had spent the night in his room because there had been no sign of him when Leech was caught. The whiff of hard liquor seeping from her brother meant he must have gotten soused after letting Leech into their home. Perhaps a sign that he had some conscience, then? Not that Cecil ever needed an excuse to drink.
His presence that morning suggested that he was doing his best to hold on to his allowance and connection to the viscount, who was taking full advantage of his desperation to keep up appearances.
Thinking of the evildoer, Leech, being bruised and battered this morning brought a small smile of relish to her lips. The man had been hoisted with his own petard, for which she harbored no regrets. It could have been her, bruised and battered, if she had not taken measures to protect herself.
Uncle Hugh entered the entrance hall, swinging his head around as if he was counting up family members. “Everyone ready to leave, then?”
Aunt Christiana sighed. “After the events of last night, I am more than ready to see our girl safely wed. And the sooner we are done, the sooner I can return home to take a lie-down. I missed much sleep.”
The older woman appeared peaked. It made Sophia ever more certain she was making the right decision to wed Lord Saunton. Her adopted family did not deserve to be exposed to such villainy of the kind Cecil had visited on them. With Sophia wed, the risk would be terminated.
It was a sad state of affairs that once a woman wed, she lost all rights to her own income and possessions, but she felt she had found an excellent resolution to the problem that her dowry in trust presented. And if Lord Saunton thought he could change his mind and return to his philandering ways, he would discover that she did not tolerate such behavior. But the earl seemed sincere about his efforts to alter his course, and she was certain she could assist him to find his way. His issues were far easier to solve than drinking and gambling, especially when taken into account with the fact that he was taking calculated steps to correct his past mistakes, which demonstrated his commitment to his crusade of redemption.
Uncle Hugh frowned in concern at his wife. “Are you all right, dear?”
Her aunt smiled. “I am happy to marry Sophia off to such a well-connected peer. It will be quite the relief to know she will be taken care of. Losing a little sleep is a small price to pay for such a prestigious event.”
Her uncle broke into a smile. “I had my reservations about allowing this marriage, but I had time in the past few days to get a report on Saunton. He is considered quite moderate in how he spends his money and, from all accounts, has expanded the wealth of the Saunton estates and investments considerably since inheriting the title. He assured me he has every intention of seeing our niece happy and healthy. I think this is a good match, wife. My apologies for doubting you.”
The entire family was evidently relieved to marry Sophia off today in order to end the threat of a scheming brother and any future fortune hunters he may ally with. Except for Cecil himself, of course. Sophia was quite looking forward to the security that marriage to Saunton would bring.
Aunt Christiana beamed in response while Uncle Hugh took up her gloved hand to press a kiss to her fingers. The two of them stood staring at each other with loving gazes, causing Sophia and Lily to fidget. The cousins looked at each other, and Lily quirked an eyebrow at Sophia in silent remark. Sophia shook her head and exhaled a brief chuckle of discomfort.
“I think the carriage is waiting for us, Papa. I trustCecilis not traveling with us?” Lily pointedly interrupted the moment between her parents.
Uncle Hugh looked over at Cecil with distaste. “No. He is making his own way to Balfour Terrace.Buthe will be on time.” The menacing tone made Cecil straighten in agitation.
“Yes, my lord.”
With that, Lord Moreland ushered the women out the door to the carriage awaiting them.
* * *
Richard fiddledwith his pristine cravat while Peregrine stood grumbling under his breath across the library. His brother was still coming to terms with his hasty wedding and complaining about having a woman underfoot in their family home. He even mentioned finding rooms, but Richard interjected that they were family and Perry’s place was in this ridiculously large family home. His brother relented but asserted he would stay at his clubs frequently in order to pursue his pleasures.
Richard shrugged in nonchalance, but secretly he hoped that his path back to honor would, mayhap, inspire his brother to rethink his own course. Richard was very much afraid that his own debauched history had infected his younger brother immeasurably, or, at least, done nothing to mitigate the damage their father had done to him.
Richard paced, switching his thoughts to Sophia. He needed to pull her aside before their vows and inform her about Ethan. She deserved to have an opportunity to cancel the wedding if she wished. Richard had conducted his negotiations with Lord Moreland without seeing her for the past few days. He wanted to do the right thing and inform her about his son, but at the same time, he was strangely reluctant to impart the news. He grew more and more certain that any sane woman would immediately screech and run from him. The terrible scandal would affect her life in ways he could not imagine. Many would turn away from him and his family due to his recognition of his son, openly residing at Balfour Terrace.
He would adroitly explain his presence, perhaps claiming Ethan was his ward, because that was the way of polite society. But everyone would still know Ethan was his natural born son, especially if the boy turned out to resemble him as much as Johnson had intimated.
Richard felt light-headed, nauseous even, with the stress of confronting Sophia with the news. Mayhap his brother was correct and he should inform her after the wedding? Sophia knew something like this might come to light.But you assured her no progeny had been uncovered just a few days ago in the Moreland drawing room.Then the delightful hellion had thrown her supple body against his to kiss him, the sensation of which was ever present on his lips and his mind since that astonishing moment.
