Defiant: 5 (Noble Passions) (12 page)

And her brother didn’t approve of Ned.

Which was absurd.

In the coming days, she would work to change his mind.

Ned was the one she wanted. Ned was the husband she chose.

But she knew, and likely Ned knew too, they would have to
step softly with Ewan.

She stood and bent to press a kiss on his forehead. “Will I
see you tomorrow?” she whispered.

“I hope so.” As she turned away, he caught her hand. “Did
you enjoy your adventure?” he asked, a light glinting his eye.

“Yes, Ned,” she said. “I enjoyed it very much.

It had been a grand adventure.

She never wanted another adventure again.

* * * * *

Ned did not see Sophia the next day. Or the next. In fact, a
week went by without so much as a glimpse of her, and then two. While he missed
her terribly, he was hardly lonely. He was closeted in his rooms, visited by an
incessant parade of doctors and surgeons. His brothers marched in at all hours
to hear about the pirates. Especially Dennis, who was most interested in the
more grisly details. Percy came by too—they had a great time recalling the
details of their escapades—and Edward and Violet and Kaitlin and, God, even
Aunt Hortense.

But of the one person he wanted to see, ached to see, there
was nothing.

It was harder than he had expected, being apart from her,
but until he was stronger, he could hardly storm over to her house and demand
to see her.

Fear—that now that she was home she’d realized how
unsuitable he was—haunted him. At night he was haunted by other specters as
well. The memory of her hands, her mouth, her body on his.

When Violet and Kaitlin came into his room one morning to
check on him, mercifully without their husbands in tow, Ned’s anxiety reached
its peak.

“H-how is S-Sophia?” He choked on the words. He cleared his
throat to swallow his panic and tried again. “Is she well?”

“She’s fine,” Violet said, handing him a cup of tea. He
grimaced. He hated tea. It was all anyone had been handing him lately.

“And her back?”

“Healing nicely.”

Kaitlin, bless her, offered him a plate of biscuits. “She’s
been tired though. Sleeping a lot. But that is to be expected.” She sat on the
chair by the bed. “You two have had an ordeal.”

An ordeal? He recalled a night in a tiny room, hushed
whispers, the glory of her embrace. Hardly an ordeal. This—this separation—was
much worse. “When can I see her?”

Violet paled. “See her?”

Ned frowned. “It’s been two weeks.”

“When you’re better.” Kaitlin patted his hand.

“I’m fine,” he said. “It hardly hurts at all anymore. Why
hasn’t she come to see me?”

“Oh, she has,” Violet said.

“She’s been here every day.”

Every day!

Hell and damnation. He started to throw off the covers until
he remembered he wasn’t decent. He glared at his sister. “If she’s been here,
why hasn’t she come up to see me?”

Violet sighed. “She’s an unmarried woman, Ned. It’s hardly
proper for her to be in your rooms.”

“Besides which…” Kaitlin wrinkled her nose. “You smell
terrible.”

“She does have a sensitive nose.”

He could have sworn the women were biting back smiles. Which
was hardly kind. “I shall have a bath.”

“It won’t matter,” Kaitlin said. “Ewan has been adamant. She
is
not
to visit your rooms.”

“Ewan?” he nearly spat. Fury raged. His vision clouded. Ewan
was keeping her from him. He’d kill him.

“He’s even gone so far as to set footmen at your door.”

“Hell!”

“They caught her twice.” Kaitlin’s lips tweaked. “Once
dressed as a maid carrying coals for your hearth and the other time as a stable
lad.”

“She nearly pulled it off,” Violet said, stealing one of his
biscuits.

“She did.” Kaitlin nodded. “It’s the hair, I’d wager.”

“Providential, that.”

“I must see her.” He sent his sister a pleading look. It
usually worked. Or it had worked before she married Ewan. Now she simply
sniffed.

“Ned, you have to understand. She is his sister. He went a
little mad when she disappeared. And then, when he found her again, with you…”

“Everyone noticed.”

Ned frowned at Kaitlin. “Everyone noticed
what
?”

“The way you two were looking at each other. As though…”

“As though what?” he asked. But he knew.

Violet frowned. “As though you were in love.”

“We are.” A small voice for such a large confession.

Both women gaped at him. Then Violet shook her head. “You
only think you are. It’s the excitement of the escapade.”

“The thrill of the adventure.”

“The exhilaration of sharing something such as this.”

“Ballocks.” He’d loved her long before he’d boarded that
boat.

“Ewan feels—”

“Ewan can rot!”

“Ewan feels the two of you should be…”

“What? We should be what?” Alarm churned in his gut.

“Separate. He feels you should be separate. Until the
reaction wanes.”

“Until the reaction wanes?” Hell. It would never wane.
Never. “I am in love with her, Violet.”

“Ned—”

“In love. Don’t let him keep us apart.”

“You’re too young to be in love. Four and twenty.”

“You were in love and married long before then. And don’t
tell me I am too young. I’m not. I might have been when I first realized my
feelings, four years ago—”

“F-four years ago?” Violet blinked. She glanced at Kaitlin.

“The first time I laid eyes on her. When she came to London
for her season and we sponsored her. God. I knew
then
.”

“Then, why?”

“Why? Why haven’t I claimed her?” He sat up straighter in
the bed and forced himself not to grimace at the pain screaming in his
shoulder. “Because Ewan told me, in no uncertain terms, I was not good enough
for her.”

Violet leaped to her feet. “
What?
”

Ned appreciated her fury on his behalf. “He insisted I was to
keep my distance, to ignore her and by all that was holy, never kiss her again.”

Kaitlin gasped. “You
kissed
her?”

And a damn sight more. He set his teeth and glared at the
duchess.

Violet bristled. “Ewan St. Andrews said my brother wasn’t
good enough for his precious sister?”

Ned blanched. He should never have let that slip. Violet
looked furious. Oh, what had he unleashed? He’d never win Ewan’s support for
his suit if he’d just soured the man’s marital bliss. “He has a point,” he
found himself saying. “I don’t have a title or a fortune or any prospects to
speak of.”

“Pish. Women don’t care about any of that.”

His intensity softened. “That’s what Sophia said.”

“She did?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve talked about this?”

“She knows how I feel and I know…” His throat worked. “I
know she loves me too.” At least he hoped she still did. “But I have to get
better before I offer for her.”

“Naturally.”

“And make my fortune.”

They stared at him. “Make your fortune?” Kaitlin asked.

Violet shook her head. “No. You should claim her now. It
could take years to make a fortune. For some it takes a lifetime. Ewan wants
her married this season.”

Panic flared. “This season?”

“He’s got a schedule of events for her to attend. A litany
of suitors to present.”

Acid burned in his belly. A litany? “Dear God. I must see
her. At once.” Speak to her. Remind her. Hold her.

“Ewan won’t allow it.”

“To hell with Ewan.” He whipped back his blankets—because
who the bloody hell cared that his legs were bare?—and leaped from the bed.
Those bare legs refused to hold him. He wobbled and then fell to his knees.

How mortifying.

That his sister squealed and the duchess fussed over him as
though he were a babe didn’t help. Together they helped him back to bed. In
that moment, he swore—
swore
—he would get stronger soon. He had to. Or he
could lose her.

“Oh dear,” Kaitlin murmured as she settled him back in the
damn bed and tucked the covers around him.

Violet swept the hair from his brow. “You should forget her.”

Ned’s chin firmed. There was no forgetting her. “As you
could forget Ewan?” And to Kaitlin, “Or Edward?”

Violet paled. “Do you truly love her so much?”

“I do. She’s my everything. Won’t you please help me?”

“You’re asking me to defy my husband. My lord and master.”

The women exchanged a somber glance and then burst into
laughter.

“Don’t worry, Ned.” Violet squeezed his hand. “We’ll see
what we can do. Maybe between the two of us, we can sneak her in to see you.”

Oh yes. That would be lovely.

“We could do that. Or…” Kaitlin tapped her lip. “We could do
something really daring and have everyone over for dinner.” Her tone was dry as
dust.

“That would work too,” Violet allowed. Her expression firmed
with a stubbornness Ned knew well. “But first I need to talk to Sophia and find
out how she really feels.”

“She loves me.”

“Mmm hmm. I’ll talk to her.”

“And then?”

“And then if she does indeed love you, truly love you, then
I’ll help.”

Ned wrapped his sister in a hug, which was a mistake because
it pulled at his scar and started it bleeding again, but he didn’t care.

With Violet on his side, he couldn’t lose.

She was much more daunting than Ewan by far.

Sophia curled up in the window seat of her lavish suite and
glared at the gardens. They were lovely and it was a beautiful day. Why this
made her more miserable, she didn’t know.

It had been two weeks since she’d seen Ned. Two entire
weeks. And though she haunted Wyeth House, she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of
him. She’d tried several times to sneak into his rooms but each time either
Ewan or one of his minions stopped her.

Her heart ached for him.

She felt as though she was pining away.

She’d never been much of a piner. It was hardly in her
nature to languish.

To make matters worse, her courses had come, and with them a
dark cloud of desolation. In some deep well of her soul, she’d been hoping.
Hoping if she were with child, Ewan would have to let her marry Ned.

As it was, whenever she brought him up, her brother would
change the subject and start talking about Dittenham or the prince or this duke
or that earl. She’d taken to avoiding him again so she wouldn’t snatch him
bald. She’d taken to hiding in her rooms where no one could find her.

A scratch sounded at the door and she sighed. Apparently
they could find her.

“Who is it?” she called. There was no one she wanted to see.
Not really.

“It’s Violet, dear. And Kaitlin. We’ve brought cakes and
tea. May we come in?”

“I don’t want cakes.”

A sudden silence welled on the other side of the door and
then, “You don’t want
cakes
?”

“
You
don’t want cakes?”

“Oh dear. Sophia, do let us in. We need to talk to you.”

Talk, talk, talk. All anyone wanted to do anymore was talk.
About marriage. About parties and musicales and balls. And some husband who
wasn’t Ned. Bother.

“Go away.”

“We’ve brought news,” Kaitlin said in a hopeful tone.

“News?” Of what? Another dismal soirée?

“We’ve just come from Wyeth House.”

“We’ve just spoken to Ned—”

Sophia whipped open the door before Kaitlin finished her
sentence. “Come in. Come in.”

The two swished inside. It was odd seeing Kaitlin herself
carrying the tray but she hadn’t always been a duchess.

Sophia closed the door and followed them into the sitting
room. “How is he? Is he well? Is he healing? Did he ask after me?”

Kaitlin laughed but Violet studied her with far too
assessing an eye.

“Sit down, my dear,” she finally said. “We need to talk.”

“About Ned?” Because this was a pertinent point. If they
wanted to talk about anything else, Sophia was like to hie back into her
bedroom and lock the door.

“Yes. About Ned,” Kaitlin said, pouring three cups of tea
from the Wedgewood pot. She handed one to Sophia, who set it back down. She
didn’t want tea. Couldn’t bear it.

Violet took a cake and munched it. “First of all, he’s fine.”

“Though not yet steady on his feet,” Kaitlin added.

“No. Not very.”

“Did he ask about me?”

“He did, in fact,” the duchess said.

Sophia nearly collapsed in relief. She’d been frightened to
death he’d had second thoughts about everything that had happened between them.

“He would like to see you.”

Sophia’s heart leaped, sang. She jumped to her feet and
caught Violet in a hug. “Splendid! When can—”

“There’s a problem.”

Sophia sank back in her chair. “Ewan.” Her nose curled.
Blast her brother. Damn and blast.

“May I ask you something?” Kaitlin asked.

“Certainly.”

“How do you feel about Ned?”

Feel? About Ned? She picked up a cake, though she didn’t
want one. “What do you mean?”

“He seems to think you are in love with him. You know how
men are.” Violet tittered a laugh but Sophia suspected it was not genuine. “They
have an adventure with a girl, maybe exchange a kiss or two and suddenly you’re
in love with him.”

“I am in love with him. And it was a damn sight more than a
kiss or—” She paled. The cake crumbled. Oh dear. Perhaps she’d said too much.

Both Violet and Kaitlin gaped at her. She brushed the crumbs
from her skirt and tried to appear as innocent as she could but neither of
these ladies was a fool. They caught her meaning and quickly.

“I see.” A smile teased Kaitlin’s lips.

Violet’s expression, on the other hand, was ferocious. “I’ll
kill him,” she said.

“You will not kill him.”

“Ewan will.”

“No. He won’t. Because you aren’t telling him.”

Violet frowned. “He needs to know. He needs to realize. Why,
even now, he’s negotiating with an Italian count.”

Sophia’s gut churned. “I’m not marrying an Italian count. I’m
not marrying anyone but Ned. And if Ewan tries to make me, I shall run away
again.”

Kaitlin squeezed her hand. “He will never approve of a match
between you and Ned.”

Violet frowned. “I understand what he is trying to
accomplish. I understand he has sacrificed so much for your future and wants
the best for you. But I do have to admit, it annoys me that he thinks my
brother is not good enough for you.”

“It annoys me as well.” Ned was a hero. He’d saved her, he’d
saved Edward. He’d saved everyone.

“The two of you are perfectly matched,” Violet said. “You
would be brilliant together. And it appears you love each other. Why can’t Ewan
see the truth of it? Blast, he is such a stubborn man.”

“Although…” A glimmer lit in Kaitlin’s eye. “If you’ve been
compromised, well and truly compromised, he cannot refuse Ned’s suit.”

A silence settled around the small table; a slow smile
curled on Violet’s face. “Isn’t there a masquerade next week at Lady Billingsly’s?”

“
My
lady Billingsly?” Sophia gaped.
Prudence?

Violet nodded. “A pirate theme, I believe.”

Sophia laughed. Naturally.

“And doesn’t Lady Billingsly have that lovely
secluded
garden?” Kaitlin tapped her lips.

“And imagine if, at just the right time, Ewan and I, and,
oh, I don’t know, Lady Jersey, should happen to stroll by and find his sister
in Ned’s arms?”

Sophia could imagine it.

She could also imagine Ewan killing Ned right then and
there. Lady Jersey be damned.

But she couldn’t say no.

It was a chance to see Ned. To talk to him and, maybe, to
kiss him once more.

She couldn’t say no.

* * * * *

Ned worked very diligently to strengthen his legs and within
a few days he was able to walk around his room for a bit before collapsing, and
before long he was able to tackle the stairs.

He made it a point to eat heartily and sleep profusely and
follow the doctor’s orders to a tee. One thought drove him—seeing Sophia again.
When Violet told him of Ewan’s plans to introduce Sophia to an Italian count at
an upcoming ball, Ned knew he had to be well enough to attend.

But before he saw her again, he needed to speak with Ewan
and express his intentions. It was only right.

He called a meeting with Ewan and his brother. Technically
he didn’t need Edward there but figured he might need the protection.

His knees wanted to knock as he dressed for the encounter
but he did not allow it. When he arrived for the meeting, which was to be held
in Edward’s study, he was ten minutes early.

Still, they were both waiting.

Ewan did not look pleased. He was seated across from Edward
at the enormous desk at the far end of the room. It seemed to take forever for
Ned to traverse the space.

“Edward.” He nodded. “Ewan.”

“What’s this about, boy?” the bear snarled. No so much as a
how
do you do
.

“Sir.” Ned cleared his throat.

“Aw, fuck.” Ewan raked his hair. “Anything that starts with
sir
cannot be good.”

“Sir, I know your sister is everything to you.”

“Damn right she is.” His enormous fists clenched. Ned did
not care. He didn’t care if Ewan killed him here and now. Without Sophia his
life had no meaning.

“She’s everything to me too—”

“Stop right there.” Ewan shot to his feet and glowered. “I
doona want to hear any more.”

“You must!”

“Must I?” His face went a little red and the muscles on his
neck bunched. “A worthless pup like you? Sniffing around my sister’s skirts?”

“Ahem,” said Edward. “That is my brother of whom you speak.”

“And?” Ewan’s fists tightened.

“And your
wife’s
brother.” Edward let that sink in
for a moment. “Her
beloved
brother.”

Even though his throat worked and a hint of horror swept
over his features, Ewan stood his ground. “I will not consider it.”

Ned stiffened his spine. He had expected no less. “Are you
certain?”

Ewan crossed his arms. His jaw clenched.

“A pity, that. I had hoped this could have been worked out
civilly but I see that I shall have to resort to my backup plan.” He headed for
the door.

“Ned!” Edward’s call stilled his steps. “Your backup plan?”

“Yes,” he said matter-of-factly. “I shall kidnap her.”

“Kidnap her?” Ewan’s ears turned an odd shade of red.

“Toss her over my shoulder and carry her away.”

Edward slapped his knees. “That sounds like an excellent
plan.”

“It’s a terrible plan!” Ewan bellowed.

“May I borrow your carriage?”

Edward grinned. “Absolutely.”

“You’re not kidnapping my sister! We’ve just barely covered
up her last disappearance.”

Ned fixed Ewan with a glower. “You kidnapped
my
sister.”

Ewan bristled. “That was’na me! How many times do I have to—”

“Tossed her over your shoulder in the middle of a ball if
memory serves.”

The great hulk stilled. His lips worked. “Well, that time it
was
me. But that is hardly the point.”

“It is exactly the point. You wanted Violet so much you didn’t
care what anyone thought or did or threatened you with. You took what you
wanted, like a man.”

“I loved her. This is not the same thing.”

Ned fixed him with a steady look. “This is exactly the same
thing.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Sir, I love your sister. More
than life, more than breath. I would do anything for her. I realize I don’t
have much to offer her now—”

“Now
that
you have right—”

“But I am willing to work at that. I’m willing to do
whatever it takes. However long it takes to make something of myself.”

“You are something, Ned,” Edward said softly. Ned shot him a
grateful glance. “You are a brave man who would sacrifice his life for another,
time and time again. And,” he shot a glower at Ewan, “you are the brother of a
duke. That makes you a man of consequence.”

“Edward, everything I have is yours. I intend to make my own
fortune and then return for her. All I ask is that you allow her to wait.”

“Wait?” Ewan sputtered. “She’s practically on the shelf now!”

“Not hardly.” Edward brushed this declaration away and
focused on Ned. “But what will you do?”

Ned cleared his throat. “I was hoping to get your advice.”

“Our advice?” More sputtering from Ewan.

“You are both successful men. You, Ewan, carved out an
empire with your own two hands. From nothing. Surely you can teach me
something.”

“Well…I…”

Edward tapped his lips. “You like horses, don’t you, boy?”

“Horses?” Who didn’t like horses?

“I was planning on gifting you an estate on the occasion of
your twenty-fifth birthday. But I don’t see why you can’t have it a little
sooner.”

“Edward!” His heart swelled with gratitude. And hope.

“It has a stable. Some promising horseflesh. I wager you
could make a profit on it if you tried.”

Ewan frowned at the duke. “Not Watersly?”

“The very same.”

“But
I
wanted that.” When Ewan put out a lip, he
looked very much like Sophia.

“Have you a better idea?”

Ewan’s nose wrinkled. “I suppose I could include him on an
investment or two.”

“Nothing illegal,” Edward said.

The affronted expression on Ewan’s face was amusing. “I
assure you, I am nothing but aboveboard.” He whirled on Ned. “But I promise you
this, while you are working at making your fortune, I shall be working to find
a husband Sophia will accept. Mark my words.”

Though Ewan’s threat made his gut churn, Ned nodded. “Fair
enough.” He could only hope Sophia loved him enough to wait.

After Ewan left, Ned collapsed into the chair he’d vacated
and scrubbed his face.

“Nerve-racking, isn’t it?”

“Huh? What?” He glanced up at his brother.

“Being in love.”

“Oh, hell, you have no idea.”

Edward laughed and fetched them both a whisky, clinking
their glasses before responding. “Actually, I have a very good idea indeed.”
They sipped in silence for a bit before Edward cleared his throat. “By the way,
how are you feeling, Ned?”

“Much better, thank you.”

“Are you up for a masquerade tonight?”

Ned made a face.

“Your old friend Billingsly is hosting. It’s a pirate theme.”

Still not enticing.

“And from what I understand from Kaitlin, Sophia will be
there.”

Hell.

Yes.

Edward grinned. “We leave at seven.”