DisobediencebyDesign (17 page)

Arthur laughed. “You’ll get used to it.” He took an easy
chair opposite. “Sophie, I’ve also asked Mother and Father if I could set you
up with a room here.”

“A room?”

“A bedroom.” Arthur crossed then uncrossed his legs. “For
those days when we host a dinner at night and a breakfast the next morning.”

She had never heard of such a thing. “Does that happen
often?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know really.” He
glanced at Joseph, who regarded him curiously. “Perhaps more often than is
fashionable.”

Maybe it was an American fashion. “All right,” Sophia
conceded. “I suppose if I plan ahead, I can pack a gown—”

“Damn it!” Arthur stood and walked to the window then back
again. “I’m obviously not being plain enough.” He glanced between her and
Joseph. “I want you two to continue your affair and I’m providing you a place
in which to do it.”

“What?” Joseph said sharply.

Panic coursed through her veins. “Our affair?” She dared not
look at Joseph.

Arthur knelt down next to her. “Sophie, I’ve known about you
since after your attack. The connection was apparent from the way you depended
on Joseph—”

Sophia turned away, tears smarting in her eyes.

“Henny knew too. I guess she found you one day. That’s what
she told me before she…” He gently cupped her chin and turned her to face him. “I’ve
lost the love of my life. I have nothing but memories. The love of your life is
here.” He glanced up at an utterly dumbfounded Joseph. “You two should be
together.” He stood and walked to the fireplace, hanging his head against his
arm on the mantel. “Mother and Father still consider Royston as a possibility
for you. I do not. I cannot. You will not marry that man.” He glanced between
her and Joseph. “I want to make it so Royston no longer wants you.”

“No longer wants me?”

“Arthur,” Joseph growled.

Arthur turned to him abruptly. “You don’t want her to end up
with Royston either.”

“I don’t want your house to be a brothel.”

“It’s not a damn brothel,” Arthur bellowed.

“Okay. A place of assignation, then,” Joseph snarled back.

“It already was with me and Henny—”

“What you are suggesting is far more clandestine and
improper!”

Arthur held his ground, red-faced, eyes narrowed. “Do I need
to remind you of your promise that you would do anything to protect her?”

Joseph threw his head back and grumbled an oath to the
ceiling.

“Will you two gentlemen please explain what you are arguing
about?”

Joseph drew in a deep breath. “Your brother is offering a
subterfuge and a location for you and me to continue doing what we had been
doing in the studio at Harwell Hall.” He eyed Arthur intently. “Except he would
like it to go much further.”

Sophia’s breath hitched. “Further?” she asked Arthur.

Arthur speared his fingers through his hair. “Royston
prefers virgins and if you are not one, he might reconsider his suit.”

“Oh.”

Joseph met her eyes and blushed.

“Oh.” Realization made her blush as well.

“Sophie,” Arthur said gently, “if you could marry anyone in
the world right now, who would it be?”

She flicked her eyes at Joseph. “Anyone?”

“Anyone.”

She couldn’t possibly answer that out loud. Joseph flashed
the most devastatingly sympathetic smile in her direction.

Arthur smirked. “I think I have my answer.”

“Good God,” Joseph muttered in exasperation.

“And you would ask her if you could!” Arthur said to him.

“Arthur, I’m not allowed to marry just anyone,” she reminded
quietly.

“No. I know.” He slowly paced before her. “But what if you
had to get married?”

“Had to?”

He knelt before her, taking her hands in his. “Sophie, Henny
was pregnant when she fell down the stairs. She lost the child. Our child. And…”
He swallowed his emotions. “She didn’t fall down the stairs. She was pushed.”

She gasped. “Pushed?”

“By Royston.”

Sophia clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle a cry.
Joseph sat at her side and wrapped a warm arm around her shoulders.

“Sophie, what Royston tried to do to you was his way of
ensuring you would not belong to any other man. To put it very indelicately, he
was trying to
claim
you.” Arthur resumed his pacing. “I will not have
you marry that man. I know you do not want to marry him and I suggest we—you,
me and Joseph—do everything we can to make sure the marriage does not happen.
One way is to have you be
claimed
by the man you love—”

“Arthur!” Joseph warned.

“Which means you and Joseph being intimate in a way that
only a husband and wife should be intimate.” Arthur studied them both. “Which
means not concerning yourselves with the consequences.”

Sophia threw Arthur a questioning look.

But he did not answer her. “I’m going to my study to work on
correspondence. I’ll leave you two alone to discuss this. I’ll return in… I’ll
return.” He left, closing the door behind him.

“The consequences?”

Joseph let his annoyance subside at Sophia’s plaintive
query. He squeezed her shoulder. It felt so good to have her in his arms again.

“He wants us to make love until you are with child.”

The shock on her face was endearing.

He drew a finger along her jaw to outline her gaping mouth. “And
yes, I do agree that such a request is highly irregular. Especially from one’s
brother.”

He dipped his head, touching his lips to hers, the intensity
of the sensation enlivening every inch of his flesh. She clasped her hands
around his neck and opened to him, letting him explore her as he used to far
too long ago. He took his time, renewing their intimacy, and she followed him
every step of the way.

He could kiss her like that forever. “And?”

“And what?” she asked breathlessly.

“Could you kiss me every day for the rest of your life?”

She flushed as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. “Yes
I could. I know I could. But Joseph,” she said, wiping her eyes, “I am not at
liberty to marry whomever I want. Even if I am with child, Mama and Papa could
still say no.”

“Who on earth would they expect you to marry but the father
of your child?”

Her tears flowed unrelentingly. He fumbled in his pocket for
his handkerchief.

“They could send me away,” she said, pressing the
handkerchief to her nose. “I’ve heard of servants who became with child and
have to leave the estate. I’ve never seen them again. I have no idea where they
go.”

They probably went home to their families but such a thought
was no consolation. He took her hand. “We could run away as soon as you think
you might be pregnant.”

“And go where?”

Good question. Perhaps Arthur had thought some of this
through. “We could go to America.”

A flash of terror clouded her face.

“No. Sorry. You don’t want that. I have to stay in England
for a while anyway, until Arthur and I sort out all this railway business.”

“Darling, don’t be offended.” She grabbed his arm and searched
his eyes, a corner of her lips curling upward. “I’ve just never considered
going to America. Everything about this is new to me.”

“Yeah.” He smiled. “To me too. We’d have to be married. Or
travel with Arthur, I suppose.”

She crinkled her forehead in thought. “I’ve only heard about
this in gossip but I think girls my age can get married in Scotland.”

“Scotland?”

“Henny mentioned it, after Arthur had returned from setting
up a house there.”

Ah
. The Lamberton property.

“It’s quite scandalous, you know. Only girls who
have
to get married do that sort of thing.”

Joseph chuckled. “I think that’s the idea.”

“Oh.” She blushed again. It was damn bewitching.

“But,” he sighed, “you do bring up a point I think Arthur
didn’t consider. Not only would it be scandalous for you, it would be quite
scandalous for the company. If I got a woman of my own class with child, most
would turn a blind eye. But to be seen as having seduced the innocent daughter
of a marquess, during her first Season… I don’t think our investors would have
confidence in my reputation after such a revelation.”

“But maybe they wouldn’t have to know.”

“How do you mean?”

“Well, Mama and Papa would not want the papers to get a hold
of such a story. Even if they knew, they wouldn’t want anyone else to know. I
think it could be kept a family secret.”

“Then all of a sudden, nine months later you and I are
married and have a child?”

She shrugged. “We’ll be in America. How will they know?”

He chuckled and pulled her close. “Look, the other morning Arthur
said he had a plan to bring you on as a hostess in place of Henny. He knows I
have strong feelings for you so he asked if such an arrangement would be okay
with me. That’s all he said, I swear. I had no idea he was up to some crazy
shenanigan.”

“‘Shenanigan’?” She fluttered her eyelashes at him in
puzzlement, a look that swelled his heart. And his cock.

“Intrigue, plot. Whatever the hell it was he was thinking.”
He threaded his fingers through hers. “Darling, we don’t have to do anything
right now. I mean, I do have half a mind to carry you upstairs to my bedroom
and have my way with you—”

“Apparently with Arthur’s blessing.”

A nerve-racking thought.
“Yes.” He chuckled. “But we
do need to plan this out some more.” He brought her hand up to his lips. “And
most importantly it should be the right moment for you.”

She gave him that look again, the look of innocent curiosity
tinged with a burgeoning sensuality she probably did not quite understand. The
look that always did him in. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, laying
her down against the arm of the sofa, helping her shift her body underneath
his. He lengthened himself on top of her, skimming his hand over the swell of
her breast, teasing her nipple through the silk of her bodice with his thumb.
She moaned his name then pressed her lips to his.

She was his, he was hers and they were in this together. He
deepened their kiss and ground his hips against hers, mimicking the act that
would seal their union.

And he didn’t give a damn if Arthur walked in and found
them.

“Oh Sophie, you look beautiful.” Mama gushed as Sophia spun
around in her bedroom, showing off her new ball gown.

“Do I?” Sophia brushed down the lace collar draping across
her bosom. She had tons of new dresses to wear since the incident with the Duke
of Royston. She had lost a treasured dress that night but the new pale-blue
silk brocade with lacy trim was swiftly becoming her favorite.

“Perhaps tonight you will meet your husband.” Mama pressed a
hand to her mouth, her eyes reddening.

“Mama, don’t cry! You should be happy for me.”

“I am. But I’m losing my only daughter. Oh Sophie!” She
shook with sobs.

Sophia hugged her closely, tears forming in her eyes.
Arthur’s plan was going to rip their family apart.

“Let’s get ready to go, Mama. Papa hates it when we keep him
waiting.”

Lord and Lady Hawkhurst’s annual ball was well attended,
perhaps too much so. The ballroom was a complete crush, as was the refreshment
room, although dozens more guests could have been received if the women’s
skirts hadn’t been so voluminous. Dancing was a chore at times but Sophia’s
dance card was full of fabulous partners. Unusually so. As if all the men who
excelled in the waltz had decided to attend that very night.

The event was truly the height of the Season.

As she whirled a polka-mazurka in the arms of the Earl of
Bedingham she spied Geoffrey dancing with Flora Sheffleigh. She couldn’t help
but smile for him. He looked happy.

A wave of melancholy crashed over her. Was she really going
to leave everything she knew and loved behind for an unknown life? She had been
excited at first but now, seeing familiar faces, seeing Mama cry made Sophia a
bit queasy.

Lord Bedingham relinquished her to Mama at the end of the
dance.

“Oh Sophie, you look unwell.” Mama took out her fan. “Perhaps
some air?”

“Thank you, Mama—”

“Perhaps a refreshment?”

The familiar and most unwelcome voice sent a stabbing chill
up her spine.

“Your Grace,” Mama said with a curtsy.

“Lady Richmond, Lady Sophia.” Royston bowed too
extravagantly.

“Yes, Sophia, a refreshment with the duke is a fine idea.”

She could not believe Mama had just said what she had said. “I
think I’ll remain where I am, Mama.” Sophia tried to keep her cool. She whipped
out her fan, waving it most obnoxiously. “My next partner will expect to find
me in the ballroom.” She smiled when she spied him. The Earl of Croxley was
handsome and a wonderful dancer although he was a bit old for her and already
smitten with Lady Skeyton. But dancing with him would get her away from her
tormentor.

Lord Croxley approached and gave his greetings all around.

She held out her hand. “My lord,” she said with a curtsy and
an alluring smile.

“Our galop, Lady Sophia.” He offered his arm.

“Lord Croxley,” began Royston in an overly deliberate
manner, “did I not see you in the garden with Lady Skeyton just an hour ago?”

“Your Grace?” The earl stiffened.

“Ah yes, it was you. I recall the color of your waistcoat.
Your jacket was off, hanging on a tree branch. Of course the lady’s face was
obscured by your muscular torso but she sounded as if she was enjoying herself.”

Lord Croxley flushed crimson.

“Oh dear.” Mama’s hand flew to her mouth.

The earl kept his head. “You were a long way off the walking
path to have seen such a scene, Your Grace. One wonders what you yourself were
doing there.”

“Taking the air, my lord.”

“Oh Sophia,” Mama said urgently. “I think you ought sit this
one out.”

“But, Mama—”

“Listen to your mother, my dear Sophia,” the duke said too
familiarly.

Lord Croxley bowed. “It looks as if I should take my leave,
Lady Sophia.” He walked away, his head held high.

“Now how about that refreshment, my dear?” Royston stuck out
a bent arm.

“Oh yes, Sophie. After that shocking incident,” Mama said,
fanning herself vigorously, “you’ll need a cooling drink.”

Sophia wanted to throw her fan at something. Anything. “Actually
if you would excuse me, Your Grace, Mama. I think I will repair to the ladies’
retiring room, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, my lady. I will be waiting right here for your
return.” He leered. “Don’t be too long.”

She had to get out of there. But how? She had arrived with
Mama and Papa. Maybe Papa could call for the carriage. She’d send it right
back.

Her frantic thoughts clouded her vision and she almost
crashed into a very tall man.

“Lady Sophia! You look as if you’re running from something.”

Geoffrey!
Her savior. “Geoffrey,” she said, taking
his arm despite him not offering it, “could you do me the biggest favor in the
world?”

“Sophie,” he said quietly, “what’s wrong?”

“I have to leave. I have to get out of here. Please can you
take me in your carriage?”

“Yes. For you I’d do just about anything.” He led her
quickly to the coat room. “Home?”

She did not want to go there. “No.” She needed to be with
someone who would listen to her. “Can you take me to Arthur’s? Do you know if
he’s at home?” She hadn’t thought it through, she just hoped.

“I saw him at the club this afternoon, so he’s possibly
having an evening in.”

If Arthur wasn’t home, then Joseph might be. “Yes. Please.
Could you take me to Arthur’s?”

* * * * *

Geoffrey knew something was terribly wrong with Sophia. Once
inside his brougham she drew the shades and slunk back against the squabs yet
despite her efforts hid behind her hood and fan until they were well on their
way. Only when they were far beyond the Hawkhursts’ did she fold the fan,
revealing her twisted, trembling face. She said nothing as Geoffrey put his arm
around her and pulled her against him. Her perfume drove him mad but it was
clearly not the time to pursue a dalliance.

Arthur’s house was dark and Wittering took forever to answer
the door. Sophia tugged her hood over her face and stayed close to Geoffrey. In
the foyer, with the door closed behind them, she looked around then drew back
her hood.

Arthur trudged down the stairs, still sleep-addled, but
perked up the instant he saw them.

“Wittering, go wake up Mr. Phillips, please,” he said as he
reached the bottom riser.

“Yes, my lord.”

Sophia ran to him. “Arthur! I had nowhere else to go!” Her
eyes were studded with tears.

“Geoff.” Arthur raised a brow in query.

“Arthur,” he responded with a shrug.

“The library might still be warm.”

Arthur wrapped his arm around Sophia and steered her through
the door. Geoffrey tried to get her to sit but she declined, preferring to
wring her hands and pace while Arthur stirred up the dying embers.

The door opened. Sophia stood stock still for only a second
before she ran into the arms of a stunned and sleepy Joseph, kissing him full
on the mouth. He kissed her back, initial surprise swiftly melting into
surrender, his practiced hands skimming her curves.

Geoffrey stared, bereft of breath, as if he had been kicked
in the gut. Finally he snorted an exhale. “I should have known something was
up,” he said, folding himself into an easy chair, attempting a smile.

“Geoffrey!” Sophia gasped. “No! It’s not what you think.”

He chuckled, crossing one leg over the other. “It looks a
great deal like what I’m thinking.” He sobered. “However, you were running away
from something, Sophie. I think I deserve an explanation.”

“Please forgive me,” she said softly. “I had to leave as
soon as I could.”

Arthur turned to her. “What happened?”

“Royston. Mama tried to foist me off onto Royston.”

“What?” Arthur gaped.

“Shit,” Joseph muttered.

“Will someone please let me know what is going on?” Geoffrey
inquired politely.

Arthur flashed a glance first at Joseph then at Sophia. They
nodded.

“My parents have a notion to marry Sophie off to the Duke of
Royston, as you know.”

“I do and I still cannot believe I’ve been bested by such as
he.”

Sophia smiled. “You’ll always be the better man, Geoffrey.”

“You also know Sophie’s never been interested and I wasn’t
altogether pleased but I suppose we were both ready to accept our parents’
wishes. Until a month ago.”

Interesting news. “Oh?”

Arthur looked at his sister. “May I?”

She nodded.

He let out a juddering breath. “Sophia was beaten and almost
raped by Royston at the Wrexham ball.”

“Good God.” Geoffrey made a move to get up but she indicated
he should stay put. “Sophie, I had no idea.”

“Joseph came to my rescue. And Arthur. Mama and Papa made
sure everything was kept a secret so no one would know.”

Geoffrey was incredulous. “And they still expect you to
marry the man?”

“It’s frustrating and strange really,” agreed Arthur. “But
they are equivocating on the matter so it’s not a done deal. Still they have
not shut him out. But that’s not all. Royston was instrumental in Henny’s
death.”

“What? Henny?” The story grew more fantastical by the
moment.

“He accosted her, she tried to fend him off and in the
tussle she fell down the stairs.”

Geoffrey trawled his fingers through his hair. “Jesus. Does
the marquess know this?”

“No. He would just say it is her word against Royston’s and
the fact of the matter is she’s dead. But we have already reported the rape of
a servant and have since been informed of another incident.” Arthur swallowed
hard. “The attack on Sophie should have been enough to change the marquess’
mind. It wasn’t. But it was enough to change
my
mind.” He sucked in a
shuddering breath. “And Henny’s revelation that Royston insulted her when she
was just a child simply reinforced my decision. Now I know I will do anything
to stop the marriage of my sister to that man. Anything.”

Sophia stared at him blankly. “He hurt Henny when she was
young?”

“His abuse was the real reason she refused to marry him.
Luckily she had a supportive father.”

Knowing Arthur, there was more. “So what is the ‘anything’
you are willing to do, Arthur?”

“Ah, this is the awkward part,” muttered Joseph.

Geoffrey turned to him. “How so?”

“Well you see,” Arthur started, “it turns out Sophie’s had a
case on Joseph here and the feeling is mutual—”

“I gathered that.” Geoffrey shook his head, ever the fool.

“Yes well,” Arthur stammered. “You see, Royston has a
particular letch, divulged to me by Henny—” He stopped, stared blankly at
Geoffrey, flushing crimson. “For virgins.”

Geoffrey could almost feel what was coming. “And?”

Sophia’s voice surprised him. “Arthur and Joseph thought
that if I were not a virgin, the duke would no longer want me.”

Arthur smiled weakly at his sister. “And the best way to
announce a woman is no longer a virgin is for her to be…well…with child.”

“Jesus,” Geoffrey hissed. Unbelievable. Joseph was quite
possibly the luckiest man alive. For a second the fantasy of them sharing her
bedeviled him.

Arthur’s voice snapped him back to reality. “We hope that
would force our parents to reconsider their ill-advised choice of husband.”

“And that they would let me marry the father of my child.”

They were all mad. But a villain’s evil would render one so.
Geoffrey stood and sauntered to the hearth. “Phillips, how old are you?”

“Twenty-one.”

“Look—if what you want, what you wish is to get Sophia with
child, then do that. However, as you are twenty-one, there are easier ways to
avoid parental consent laws.”

“Such as?” asked Arthur.

“The banns. More than likely the Richmonds will choose to
ignore such a public declaration so as to avoid any attention.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” admitted Arthur. “But Royston
being in the same parish allows him to object. We can’t chance that.”

True. “All right. I suppose you could go overseas to America,
although I don’t know what the marriage laws are over there,” he said
thoughtfully. “And you,” he said, turning to Joseph, “might be accused of
seduction. Unless Arthur accompanied you.” He stared into the glowing embers. “You
could spend the requisite twenty-one days in Scotland.” He chuckled darkly. “It
might appear suspicious if Sophia were with you but I’m not sure how you would
get her with child otherwise.”

Arthur chewed distractedly on a finger. “Looks as if we need
to think this through a bit.” The worry lines on his face deepened.

Geoffrey approached Sophia and took her hands. “Sophie,
we’ve been friends for a long time. I’m happy for you and Joseph. Believe me, I
am.” He only partially lied. “If there is anything I can do for you, please let
me know.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a lingering kiss
to her palm. She blushed.

He let go of her. “I’ll return to the Hawkhursts’ and look
for Lady Richmond. I’ll let her know I brought you here and that you are safe.”

He nodded Joseph’s way. The American looked dumbstruck.

Sophia threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank
you, Geoffrey. For everything.” She kissed him again, this time on the lips.

Christ!
She shouldn’t arouse him so. He gently urged
her away from him.

“Sophie,” Arthur interjected, “I’ll also send a message
around to Mother and Father letting them know you were not feeling well and you
came to me.”

“Thank you, Arthur.”

Arthur offered a sympathetic smile and grabbed Geoffrey’s
arm. “Shall I see you out?”

“Thank you, my lord.”

Geoffrey glanced behind as he left the library. Sophia was
back in Joseph’s arms, looking quite comfortable.

He really had to stop thinking about the three of them
together.