Chapter Eight

 

 

 

‘Yes. John, give them their heads,’ Hal called. As he pulled up the window glass he saw the tension on Sophie’s face, saw how she clutched the edge of the rug as if for comfort. God, he was a fool. Why had he lost his head like that and kissed her? He remembered again the softness of her lips, her evident innocence and trust in his arms. Despite her bold statements, Sophie was no ruined woman – not that he had needed to kiss her to confirm that.

‘Sophie, there is no need to be afraid,’ he began. Somehow he needed to reassure her that he was not going to take advantage of their situation and make love to her again.

‘I cannot help it, I just keep remembering. It was awful.’ She could not conceal the sudden shiver that convulsed her.

Hal was both taken aback and, he realised, piqued. She had not seemed that repulsed when she was in his embrace. In fact, he seemed to recollect with some pleasure that she had responded with enthusiasm to his kisses. ‘Oh? It did not seem so bad to me at the time,’ he drawled. ‘In fact, I quite enjoyed it.’

Sophie stared at him as though he had lost his wits. ‘Enjoyed it? Have you lost your memory? It was I who had the bump on the head, was it not? How could I be expected to enjoy being thrown head over heels into a muddy ditch and knocked out cold?’

Hal laughed out loud. ‘We are at cross-purposes. You are worried about another accident happening?’

Sophie was still looking at him as though he was raving. ‘Of course. What else would I be worried about?’ Her green eyes were puzzled and innocent as she asked the question.

Hal decided that there was no point in beating about the bush. He took off his hat, tossed it onto the seat beside him and ran his fingers through his hair as he sought the right words.

‘To be frank, I thought you might be concerned about being alone with me in a closed carriage after what happened this morning.’

‘Oh, no, Hal,’ she said immediately. ‘How could you believe I would not trust you? Why, I trust you more than any man I know. Although I do not know many,’ she added with disarming honesty.

‘You have certainly trusted me with your honour,’ he said dryly, studying her pretty, intent, face. She suddenly looked much younger than the twenty-one years he knew her to be.

‘I have not got any honour to lose,’ she said firmly. ‘I keep trying to explain to you.’

Hal leaned over and took both her hands in his. They were warm and soft and fitted comfortably inside his curled fingers. He restrained himself with an effort from stroking the tender swell of flesh at the base of her thumb. She really had no idea just how alluring she was.

‘Sophie, I despair of getting this through to you. You are not ruined, merely in disgrace with your family for a silly escapade some years ago. If your brother had had even half his wits about him it would all have been smoothed over without anyone being any the wiser. When I kissed you, it was quite evident that you are a – ’ He stopped himself and chose his words with more care. ‘I mean, it was obvious to me that you are inexperienced in the ways of love.’

‘Oh,’ she said flatly.

Damn, Hal thought, I have really shocked her now.

‘Was the kiss so unpleasant? I suppose, now I think about it, it must be the sort of thing which needs practice.’

Hal released her hands and sat back abruptly against the squabs. He shut his eyes and thought determinedly about suppers at Almack’s, the tedium of his estate accounts, of shooting pigeons on a cold wet autumn day – anything unerotic he could call to mind. This mixture of innocence, intelligence and piquant beauty was testing his resolve to the limit.

A short silence ensued. ‘I am sorry, Hal, perhaps I should not have spoken so frankly.’

Hal opened his eyes and found it impossible not to smile. ‘You may say whatever you like to me, Sophie, you are hardly likely to shock me. But just remember, it is not a good idea to wake up sleeping gentlemen quite so abruptly and in that style.’

Sophie blushed and glanced away. Hal noticed how her lashes fanned her cheekbones and thought what a pleasure it would be to make those eyes close in ecstasy.

‘So you only kissed me because you were three-quarters asleep?’ she asked, disappointment tingeing her tone.

Hal sat upright in a very passable imitation of his late father in magisterial mood. ‘Of course, Sophie. Surely you did not think I would presume to make advances to you?’

‘I thought rakes always did that sort of thing. I thought that is what made them rakes in the first place.’

‘And as I told you, I am a reformed rake.’ He cast round for something to change the subject. ‘Ah, look, a fingerpost. Two miles to Towcester, if I read it right.’

He watched the first straggle of cottages come into sight. They passed a pompous looking red-faced man driving a dog cart and Sophie gave a small snort of laughter.

‘What is it?’

‘George. That man reminded me of him. I keep forgetting all about him and what must be happening at home,’ she explained. ‘I wonder when they will receive the note. Even George and Lavinia will have noticed I am not in my room by now, it must be quite three o’clock.’

‘I would have thought they would have noticed at breakfast time,’ Hal said.

‘Not necessarily. Fanny would have done her best to cover up for me, and anyway George would not notice a troop of the Household Cavalry passing through the breakfast room provided his steak was cooked to his liking. Lavinia and the girls went to a party last night so they probably had breakfast in bed.’

‘But surely they would have wanted to tell you about the party? Wouldn’t your nieces tell you about their evening and ask about yours? And wouldn’t you discuss your plans for the day with your sister-in-law at some point during the morning?’

Sophie clearly struggled, but could not keep the bitterness out of her voice as she said, ‘Lavinia cares nothing for me. She would only wonder where I was when she wanted some errand or task doing. Otherwise she has no interest in me, my life or my hopes for the future.’

Hal was appalled. ‘I had no idea things were so bad for you, Sophie. I am sorry. What are those hopes you hold?’

‘I know I can never marry because of... You know all about that. My mother left me a substantial inheritance, but it is in trust for me until I marry, or reach the age of twenty-five. On my twenty-first birthday I asked George if he would not release the capital to me so that I could employ a lady companion and set up my own establishment. A cottage in Chelsea perhaps, because the air is so clean and the countryside so beautiful and unspoiled there. I also want to travel abroad, to go Italy, not that I would confess that to George, of course.’

‘What did he say?’ Hal asked, but he could guess.

‘He said that I had shown such moral instability that I could not be trusted not to bring yet more disgrace upon the family and that he had the gravest misgivings about what would happen if I was not under Lavinia’s scrutiny. He threatened that if I did not become more conformable he would consult the family solicitors about extending the time during which he had control of my affairs, perhaps until I was thirty. Still,’ she added with a worried frown, ‘perhaps he will not consider me running off for a holiday with a respectable young lady as a companion quite so bad. Although he can hardly consider it conformable behaviour.’

‘Does your brother George ever box at Jackson’s or one of the other saloons?’ Hal enquired.

Sophie laughed. ‘George? Box? Of course not!’

‘Pity,’ Hal said. ‘I have an overwhelming ambition to encounter him there and punch him firmly on the chin.’

The laugh became a giggle. ‘Oh, yes. I know I should not say it but I would love to see you do so. Do you box then?’

‘At Jackson’s saloon in Bond Street. I even have the occasional sparring session with the great man himself.’

Sophie cast a glance at his shoulders and he reminded himself that discussing boxing with ladies was quite beyond the line. Her disturbing scrutiny was cut short by their arrival at the Woolpack. This time Sophie jumped down after him and followed him into the inn parlour as he questioned the landlord.

‘Let me think now.’ The man rubbed one hand over his chin. ‘Small hours of this morning, young couple in a carriage and hired pair? Yes, I remember, sir. The young lady bespoke a chamber for an hour, but the young gentleman would not stop for longer, kept saying they had to press on.’ There was a knowing gleam in his eye as he spoke.

‘Yes indeed, they would have been in a hurry,’ Hal replied calmly, refusing to be drawn.

Sophie, coming through the parlour door behind him, clearly felt this was somewhat bald if he hoped to suppress speculation. She slipped her hand through Hal’s arm and gushed, ‘Our poor cousins! So anxious to reach their dear mama in Northampton – the doctor despairs of her, you know – why, they would not even wait for my husband’s return but insisted on setting out at once, with quite inadequate resources for a change of horses.’

Hal responded only by placing his left hand over hers to hide the fact that there was no wedding ring under the tight glove. Sophie prattled on, ‘Oh dear, I do hope you were able to give them a good pair for the next stage.’

‘Northampton, you say, ma’am?’ The man took a rag from his belt and began to polish the bar counter in a desultory sort of way. ‘Can’t have been the same couple then, ’cos these two reckoned they were going to Stamford.’

‘Stamford? Are you sure?’ Hal asked sharply.

‘Well, that's what they said after they had the row. Wasn’t listening too carefully, of course, sir,’ he added, slyly watching Hal from the corner of his eye.

Hal sighed. ‘I see. Will this help your memory?’ He slipped a couple of coins from his pocket and jingled a few more. The man stopped pretending to polish and gave them his full attention.

‘The young lady went upstairs with my missus for a wash and that, and I sent her up a cup of coffee and some bread and butter. And the young gentleman – your cousin, was it you said? – he had a pint of porter but he wouldn’t settle, walked up and down, pulling out his pocket watch and cursing her for being so long. I never thought the gentry knew such words.’

‘Distraught,’ said Sophie hastily. ‘Poor cousin Clarence.’

‘Distraught, that’s as may be. Anyways, after an hour he marched up the stairs – them over there – and fair pounded on the door. She let him in and they had a right set to. Woke up Squire Thompson in the next room, I can tell you, ’cos he complained about it. The young lady – your cousin, sir,’ he added slyly, ‘she was stamping her foot and saying she wasn’t going nowhere and she regretted the whole trip and she’d been deceived and just wait until Hal arrived.’

‘That is my husband,’ Sophie cut in. ‘I did tell them to wait for him, but they would not listen and just see, she was soon regretting it. Young people these days, you cannot advise them!’

Hal gave her fingers a squeeze which was none too gentle and she subsided. ‘Thank you, landlord, you have been most helpful.’

They retreated with what dignity they could retrieve. John joined them as Hal was handing Sophie into the carriage. ‘They are heading for Stamford, Your Grace. I had a word with the ostler and he heard young Fanshaw telling the postillion to make for there. Don’t understand it, why aren’t they going to Gretna?’

He swung himself up on to the box without waiting for an answer, but Hal’s face when he sat down opposite Sophie must have betrayed his thoughts.

‘What is it, Hal? Isn’t it a good thing that they’re not going to Gretna? Although I am confused – if they were heading for Stamford, why not set on the Great North Road to start with?’

‘I would guess because Fanshaw realised he has not the funds to enable them to outrun pursuit. If they are heading for the Border he dare not stop long enough for him to – ’ He broke off, but saw that Sophie had no doubt of his meaning. ‘But Mr Fanshaw senior is a keen huntsman, rides regularly and I think has a hunting box somewhere in the Stamford area. If Justin has changed his plans and is taking her there, it may be too late before I find them.’

 

Sophie was fast asleep when the clatter of hooves on cobbles woke her. ‘What... where are we?’ She peered out of the window but all she could see were the lights of an inn yard and darkness surrounding it.

‘Wellingborough.’ Hal scooped her up in his arms and carried her straight through the front door and upstairs. Sophie sleepily snuggled into the warmth of him and in reply his grip tightened before he set her on her feet in a pleasant bedchamber. ‘I will get the landlady to send you up a maid and something to eat. Then go to bed and get as much rest as you can. We will be up betimes.’

‘But, Hal, shouldn’t we keep going?’ Sophie protested.

‘John’s exhausted, you are exhausted and it has started to rain. We are not going to get anywhere crashing about in the dark trying to find a hunting lodge when we do not even have its direction. Sleep well, Sophie.’ He hesitated, looking at her and Sophie caught her breath. Then he bent forward and kissed the tip of her nose. Almost before she was aware of it he was gone, leaving her staring after him down the now empty landing.

 

Hal took a private parlour for breakfast the next morning. When she ventured downstairs Sophie found him poring over a book. The bruise on the side of his face was developing into an angry purple and she gave a little exclamation of concern, touching it gently with her fingertips.

Without looking up, Hal caught her hand and kissed her fingertips. ‘Good morning, Sophie. And, yes, it does hurt.’

To cover her confusion at having both her mind read and her hand kissed, Sophie sat down hastily and poured herself a cup of coffee. ‘What have you got there?’

‘A route book. I think our best plan would be to go into Stamford and enquire there after Mr Fanshaw’s hunting lodge.’

‘Very well. More coffee? Would you like a slice of ham?’

‘Yes, please,’ Hal responded, his eyes still on the map.  ‘Thank you.’ As she put the plate by his side he suddenly looked up and smiled at her. ‘You are being very domestic this morning, Sophie. Practising being the Duchess? Somehow I do not think you convinced the landlord yesterday.’

Suppressing the warm glow that the thought of being the Duchess of Weybourne produced, Sophie said tartly, ‘I do not think it would be good to persist with that idea, especially if you had to insist on separate bedrooms last night.’

‘I told them you were my sister. Have you had enough to eat? If you will excuse me, I will go and see what sort of change of horses John has managed to secure.’

‘Hal, we would do so much better if we left the carriage and rode instead, would we not?’

His dark brows rose in surprise. ‘Well, of course, but how can we? You can hardly go careering around the countryside with me on horseback and beside, side-saddle for the distances we may have to go would be too tiring.’

‘That is true,’ Sophie conceded meekly, her mind racing with a new idea. ‘May I have some money, please? I need a change of linen and a toothbrush, and if I hurry I will not keep you waiting.’

‘Here.’ Hal fished a roll of notes from his pocket and handed it to her. ‘Please will you buy me another couple of shirts and a toothbrush and powder too?’

‘What about a razor?’ Sophie asked, then realised that he was clean shaven.

‘I have bought one from the landlord, thank you. Now, off you go.’