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Gabe’s mouth fell open in surprise. No one knew that. Clayton’s condition had been kept secret by Mr. Hill, Dr. Peat, and all of the caretakers at Rosewood. “I beg your pardon?”
But Beckbury shook his head. “Do you honestly think I wouldn’t keep myself apprised of you and your family?”
But why would he have done so? It was on the tip of Gabe’s tongue to beg the viscount for mercy. Clayton was not in any sort of position to ask for himself, and Gabe did not want to see what reputation his brother had once enjoyed dragged through the mud anymore than it already had been. But begging Beckbury for anything went against everything in Gabe’s blood. The man had kept Sophie from him, he’d been the one to tell Gabe of his unfortunate family legacy, and he’d—
But why had he kept himself appraised of Gabe’s family?The question echoed in his ears once more. Beckbury had sent Gabe packing. He’d rejected his offer. So why would he have any interest in keeping the Prideaux family in his sights at all, unless…
Escaping Mama had proved more difficult than Sophie would have thought. She had to practically hop on one leg as she begged to find the privy before Mama finally relented. Just as soon as she’d exited the drawing room, Sophie lifted the edge of her skirts and bolted toward her grandfather’s study, terrified the entire way that she’d missed the most important parts of the conversation she most definitely needed to hear.
“Do you really think I wouldn’t keep myself appraised of your family?” Papa’s voice filtered from the room and Sophie scowled. Goodness, what had she missed?
“And whywouldyou do that?” Gabe asked, his deep voice ringing out, strong and clear.
Sophie stopped at the door and cupped her hands against the wood to hear the others better.
“Even after you rejected me, were you worried that Sophie still loved me, that I still loved her? That you weren’t confident that in turning me away you could make her heart turn from me just as easily? Better to keep a supply of information at the ready in case it was necessary to defame me?”
Gabe loved her!He truly had! But Papa had turned him away? When had he done so?Whywould he have done so?
“I do not need a supply of information,” Papa snapped. “And we both know it.”
“There’s no such thing as love,” Grandfather added, his tone sharp and stinging like it often was. “It’s a made up notion poets invented to justify their worthless existence.”
He was such a heartless old man. It was a wonder her grandmother had managed to live with him as long as she had.
“Marriages are not built on love,” her grandfather continued, “but on power and connections. You have neither. You are not worthy of my granddaughter. And you will do nothing for my heir in that regard either. I must insist you keep your distance from both Sophia and Chase going forward.”
Sophie’s mouth fell open. They couldn’t do such a thing. She would talk to Papa, herself. He always listened to her. Talking to Grandfather wouldn’t do any good at all. And it would be best not to incur his wrath, at least not until Hellsburg was safely on his way back to Prussia or he might decide Sophie should go with her horrid cousin.
“My position on you and your unfortunate family has not and never will waver,” Papa added, breaking Sophie from her reverie.
Gabe’s unfortunate family? What was wrong with the Prideauxs?
“Fortunately for you, Sophia has made it quite clear that she does not regard me as she once did,” Gabe said. “But as for Winslett, we have been friends for a decade. I don’t imagine even a dictate fromYour Gracewill change that fact.”
“Insolent,” Grandfather complained. “Just as you said, Beckbury.”
Why would Papa say something like that? Gabe was completely in the right to defend himself against such a ridiculous dictate.
“You will leave at once. You are not welcome at Chatham House.”
Goodness! The last thing Sophie needed was to be caught eavesdropping on this conversation. She pushed away from the door and rushed back toward the drawing room as fast as she could, her heart pounding all the way.
As soon as she rejoined the assembled group in the drawing room, Charlotte caught Sophie’s gaze, a questioning look in her sister’s depths; but Sophie shook her head and turned her attention to Chase and Lord Kelling who seemed to be in some deep conversation. She made a direct path toward the two of them. “Chase,” she said, hating that she sounded slightly out of breath after her mad dash. “A word, if you don’t mind.”
Chase and Kelling exchanged a glance, but then her cousin offered her his arm, and Sophie practically dragged him to the far corner of the drawing room away from any listening ears. “Did you know Gabe offered for me?”
Hehadknown, she could see it written across his face. “You’re not listening at doors again, are you?”
Sophie smacked his chest. Obnoxious man. He’d known how her heart had broken all those years ago. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
But Chase shook his head. “It wouldn’t have done any good, and none of it is any of my concern, anyway, Sophie. You’re my cousin and I love you. He’s my friend. I—”
“Yes, well, be prepared for Grandfather to demand that you end your friendship with him.”
“I beg your pardon?” Her cousin frowned.
“Is Gabriel staying with you? I—”
