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Chase shook his head again. “He’s been at Weybourne House. But he leaves for Cumberland in the morning.”
“Cumberland?” What in the world was in Cumberland?
“Dinner will be getting cold,” Grandfather announced from the threshold. Papa was behind him, but Gabe was nowhere to be found.
Sophie suffered through dinner. She had no idea what she ate, if anything. She certainly did not have an appetite. She briefly noted that Grandfather made an announcement regarding Chase moving into Chatham House. Anyone seeking an audience with Grandfather, should also expect Chase’s presence as he was now in the process of learning the ins and outs of the running the dukedom. But Sophie couldn’t focus on any of that. Gabe had offered for her. Papa had rejected him for some reason. And Gabe was leaving for Cumberland in the morning. How could she focus on anything else?
The entire ride to Beckbury House, Sophie stared at her father across the coach. Gabe had offered for her hand, but Papa had refused him. And she’d never known it. Why would Papa refuse Gabe? And why wouldn’t he have told Sophie about any of it?
She wasn’t certain what she was searching for in Papa’s visage, but she wasn’t finding it. He seemed like he always had. There was absolutely no indication that he had engaged in any sort of conversation with Grandfather and Gabe that evening, none at all. If she hadn’t known for a fact that he’d done so, she’d have never suspected otherwise. But she did know better now, and the whys kept circling her mind with no answer in sight.
Once they arrived home, Sophie held back as her sisters and Prissa made their way to their bedchambers. She couldn’t follow them though, she’d never get to sleep, not one wink until Papa told her the truth about everything. She waited until Mama turned in, and then she made her way to her father’s study.
She knocked once, waited for him to bid her entrance, then made her way inside Papa’s domain. He looked older than he had earlier in the day. Perhaps it was the way the lamplight reflected off him or perhaps it was his conversation with Grandfather and Gabe that was wearing on his mind.
“You should be in bed, Sophie,” he said as he poured himself a drink from the sideboard.
It was definitely the conversation with Grandfather and Gabe that was wearing on his mind. Papa rarely imbibed.
Sophie took a deep breath and stepped further into his study. “What did Grandfather want with you this evening?”
Papa scoffed. “To threaten me within an inch of my life should I let any harm come to Priscilla while she’s here. I assured him, she would be well cared for.”
“Oh.” That made sense, Sophie supposed. And perhaps that had been why Grandfather had summoned Papa originally, but they certainly discussed more than Prissa’s wellbeing. “Then what did he want with Major Prideaux? He sent for him not long after you left, and then the major was not at dinner.”
Papa’s brow furrowed and then he tossed back a healthy swallow of his drink. “It’s late, Sophie. You should go to your chambers.”
Did he truly think he was going to dismiss her so easily? Sophie shook her head and made her way to her father’s side. “What aren’t you telling me, Papa? Something about Major Prideaux?”
“Sophie,” he complained, sounding rather tired.
“Papa, Iknowyou’re keeping something from me.”
“You know that, do you?” he asked.
“I know Gabriel Prideaux offered for me,” she continued even after her father’s eyes widened in surprise. “I know you refused him. And I think I have a right to know why you wouldn’t tell—”
“Sophia, you havenorights,” he snapped.
Stunned, Sophie’s mouth fell open. Papa never spoke to her like that. He used that tone with Mama often, but never with her. And the change in his demeanor startled her enough that she took a step away from him. “Papa?”
Her father’s jaw hardened and he narrowed his eyes on her. “Now I have asked you twice to retire to your chambers. Do not make me have to ask a third time.”
Over the years, Sophie had witnessed more than one argument between her parents, but she never thought she’d be on the receiving end of Papa’s anger. If she pressed her case any further, she was suddenly unsure what he might do. So she turned on her heel and bolted from his study all the way to her bedchamber, her heart aching the whole way.
She rushed into her room, closed the door behind her, and sagged against it, not surprised in the least to discover Charlotte was sitting in the middle of Sophie’s four-poster, apparently awaiting her return.
Her sister’s light eyes were wide in question. “Well…?” Charlotte prodded. “What did you find out?”
Absolutely nothing of any merit. But when Sophie opened her mouth to respond, a sob escaped her instead, a sob she hadn’t even known she was keeping in.
Charlotte quickly slid from the bed, raced across the Aubusson rug, and wrapped her arms around Sophie. “Oh, no!” her sister soothed. “Oh, Sophie! Don’t cry. It’ll be fine, whatever it is, it’ll be fine.”
But it wouldn’t be fine. Papa had raised his voice with her, which he had never done even once in her life. He was keeping all sorts of things a secret, apparently. And Gabe…Gabewas leaving for Cumberland in the morning. That last thought made Sophie sob even harder.
She had loved Gabe so much, with all her heart and soul. She’d been a blubbering mess when he’d left all those years ago. Had he really not wanted to leave her behind? Had he wanted her to come with him? Or had he wanted to stay with her? She had no idea what to think or what to believe. But she had to know what happened, what hadreallyhappened. And she couldn’t help but wonder, or hope really, that Gabe might still care for her just as he’d asked her that evening if she still cared for him.
There had to be a way to learn the truth. If Papa wouldn’t tell her, then Gabe…
