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“I never had any doubt, niece. You are the perfect wife for the gentleman. I believe the earl has been bored, but a clever girl like you will keep his attentions at home where they belong.”
The sentiment rather touched Sophia, who smiled in acknowledgment.
Once the tea was over, she and Lily made their way to the garden. The spring air was pleasant, and the privacy of the garden afforded them an opportunity to talk. With a little coaxing from her cousin, Sophia confided all that had happened since the wedding, including the infernal note her husband kept from her.
Lily’s expression was perplexed when Sophia finished telling her of what occurred that morning, and the fact that Richard still withheld the note.
“Why do you not ask him? It is quite out of character for you to not do so?”
Sophia felt glum admitting the truth. “I suppose it was some sort of test. If he told me, I would know he truly considered me an equal and trusted me, so I could trust him.”
Lily pulled a face. “That is most dishonest of you.”
“What? I am not the one who is dishonest!”
“Sophia, Lord Saunton is under great strain. I do not think it is a good idea to be testing his sincerity at this moment. Inform him you were eavesdropping and you are aware of the note. Ask him why he has failed to inform you of it.”
“Lily, you are most unfair!”
“I am not, Sophia. You have a terrible habit of trying to solve matters on your own without any help. Look how you suffered under the threat of kidnapping from Leech but failed to obtain assistance from your own family. You did not even tell me why you were sleeping in my chambers. In fact, you outright lied to me about that. If you want Lord Saunton to trust you, then you need to extend the same courtesy to him. Ask him about the note.”
“Zooks, Lily, when did you get so demanding?”
“I care about you, cousin, and you know I speak the truth. I will not stand idly by without speaking my mind. Would you prefer I clutch your hand to commiserate and weep about the awful men of the world, or would you rather receive some useful direction on how to resolve the matter at hand?”
Sophia muttered her answer in resentment. “Useful direction, I suppose.”
Lily’s face lit up, her customary enthusiasm restored. “Perfect! Now you should go home and ask him about the note.”
* * *
When she returned homefrom visiting her unsympathetic cousin, Sophia found Richard dispatching letters with his quill in hand. Smoothing her skirts with fluttering hands, she approached the desk and waited for him to complete the letter he was writing. Once he was done, his head came up, and he flinched in surprise.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Just a few moments. You appear to be tired.”
“I have had little sleep since we married. I must find the source of this threat. With your safety, and Ethan’s, at risk, this cannot continue.”
“Yes, that is why I am here. This morning you admitted that this is a campaign, and I asked you if there was anything else I needed to know.”
“I remember.”
“Why did you not tell me about the note?”
“Which note?”
“I do not know which note! That is the point! You did not tell me about the note I overheard you discussing with Perry the day we went to see the pelicans in St. James’s Park with Ethan.”
Richard’s face was blank for a moment, then his hand went to his pocket. “That note. I would have told you about it this morning, but so much happened in the past few days it slipped my mind. It was not intentional, I assure you!”
“It was intentional not to inform me of it when you received it!”
Richard lowered his gaze. “I apologize for that. Halmesbury warned me it was not well done of me.”
“So you spoke with Halmesbury about the note—and Perry—but you did not see fit to inform me of it?”
“I wanted to spare you the worry.”
