AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Perry raised his head and nodded. “I will inform Shaw to come and assist you. We can meet in your study once I find some sustenance.”
* * *
Knockingon the door of Richard’s study before entering, Sophia stopped in dismay when she saw that one of the windows facing the street was boarded up and a maid was sweeping up glass from the floor.
Perry rose when she entered and made to leave the room. “I will look into this, brother.” With that, the Balfour brother left the study.
Richard dismissed the maid and came around his desk to gather Sophia’s hand in his. Once the door was closed, he led her to the armchairs and had her take a seat before settling in the opposite chair.
“What happened?”
“Someone threw a rock at the window in the early hours of the morning.”
Sophia’s fear and irritation soared. “Are you going to continue to pretend this is not a campaign of some sort?”
Richard contemplated her for a moment. “I should have known better than to attempt to fool you. Perry and I believe this is the work of one person.”
“So you finally admit it!”
“I apologize. I did not wish to alarm you while I investigated the matter. But I should have realized you are too clever to not make the connections.” He looked away, his expression pained. “I feel terrible about this. My past behavior is plaguing our household, and it is not fair to you. I hope you will forgive me while I try to sort out the havoc I have caused.”
“That is not what upsets me. I thought we agreed to work together, and now you finally admit that you have been shutting me out. I could have contributed to solving this situation, but instead you decided to keep it from me like I am some sort of witless fool!”
Richard brought up his hands to rub his face. She finally noticed the weariness. His lips were pinched, and he was pale. Was he sleeping, she wondered with a sharp pang of guilt at the recollection of the hours they had burned away in each other’s arms. She wished to ease his suffering, but she also wanted to hit him for being dense.
“I apologize, Sophia. None of this has been about your wits. It has been my shame to visit this on you and Ethan. My dark past has exposed the two of you to danger, and I am having difficulties with my conscience. But there is no time to sort it out because I must find the culprit behind this to protect you and Ethan. What if this worsens and the attacks become more dangerous … more lethal?”
Sophia stared at him. “We will work together to resolve this. We will increase our vigilance. Have you told me everything?”
That was when her dear, wonderful, exasperating husband looked her straight in the eye—and lied. “Yes.”
Sophia ground her teeth in frustration, forcing a smile onto her face. The lying reprobate still would not inform her about the note.
“I am going for tea with my aunt and cousin this afternoon. I will take the shorter John and a footman.”
Richard inclined his head. “Of course.”
* * *
Sophia forcedherself to endure the formality of tea with her aunt, while in the back of her mind, she continued to fume. How was she to assist meaningfully if Richard insisted on keeping secrets from her? The question could not be answered while they sipped on tea and Lady Moreland informed her of the lateston dits.
I do not care! My family is in danger and my husband will not talk to me,she wanted to scream. But she smiled and nibbled on dainty biscuits and sipped her tea from a delicate cup while her aunt’s words flowed over her like water over a rock.
Lily gave her a light pinch. Sophia realized that the room was quiet and her elegant aunt was staring at her. “My apologies. I was woolgathering for a moment. What was the question?”
Her aunt, a handsome woman, tilted her head in bemusement. She had the same enormous eyes as her daughter Lily, and her hair was a deep chocolate brown with only a few strands of silver to mark her age under her jaunty turban. After a moment, Lady Moreland’s mouth curled into a knowing smile, and she discreetly picked at her bodice with slender, graceful fingers. “I recall that I had a tendency to woolgather in the first few months of my marriage to Uncle Hugh.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Sophia saw Lily wince and stick out her tongue to simulate gagging. Sophia herself did her best not to grimace at the thought of what her aunt alluded to. Her cousin cleverly interjected to change the subject. “Mama asked why you left the theatre early?”
“Oh. I was not feeling well, so Richard insisted we leave early.”
“Lord Stanford punching your husband in the face during intermission was not the cause, then?”
Sophia shut her eyes in defeat. She should have known her aunt had already heard the gossip. “Yes, Aunt Christiana. That is the true reason for our departure.”
“Well, not to worry, Sophia. I hear Richard has barely been seen about town since he married you. The speculation is that the rake has finally reformed and spends his evenings with his bride.”
That was good news, at least.
