Deeper in Sin (29 page)

Then he kissed her. A sweet, swift kiss because she was holding her son. “I wish it could be so,” she whispered. “I wish it so much.”

 

Two weeks later, Sophie was walking outside with the children when she saw Cary riding up the road on his enormous horse.

She swallowed hard. There was something of great import she must tell him.

Then she saw his glowing smile as he rode up to the cottage. He was grinning at her, and he jumped off his horse and ran to her.

The Duke of Caradon was swinging her around out in the yard in front of the cottage. He cupped her face, and his mouth closed over hers.

She pulled back. Blushed. “Not in front of the children,” she whispered.

He clasped her hand and walked her to a small bench between an apple tree in front of the cottage. “You did not tell me your fiancé had acquired a license. It was his intent to marry you—and you exchanged vows.”

“I know, but we did it without permission. The rector indulged us, with no idea that we would consummate our pretend wedding. He was very old, and Samuel convinced him to let us do this. Since Samuel was an earl's son, he tended to get his way. But I was too young—I was not quite sixteen, and I needed my adoptive parents' permission to marry.”

“And if it could be claimed that you had their permission, you would be legally wed. That way, your son is legitimate and you are a war widow, my dear.”

“But I was going to be a courtesan.”

“And you have been my private mistress. There have been other men who have married their mistresses, my dear. As I've said, Grey is one. And the world has not imploded.”

“When did you see the rector?” she asked, filled with curiosity.

“These last two weeks I went to see the rector. And I went to visit your adoptive family and your fiancé's family.”

She gaped in shock. “You went to see them? And during this time you were supposed to be finding a wife.”

“Deep in my heart, I knew I'd already found her. I have convinced your adoptive parents and the family of your fiancé to support the story that you both had permission and were legally married. The rector, who is eighty, has prepared the registry appropriately. No one will doubt you were legitimately a widow, and your son is the child of a hero who died in battle. With your position as a duchess—and wealth and power, not to mention your strength and good character—you will be a success. No one will dare cut you, I assure you.”

“But how did you convince our families to agree to this?”

“Your adoptive family can bask in the prestige. I can't forgive them for turning you out, but if it buys us a future, I am willing to help them advance socially. Because that will put them on our side, and they will support the story that you were married. I have made the same promises to your fiancé's family. They lost a son and are starry-eyed at the idea of preference from a duke.”

“All this—for me?”

“For you and your son. And some of my motivation is selfish. I want you, Sophie. I want to spend my life with you. And that is worth any cost. If you will have me.”

“If I'll have you? Of course. I love you. I've loved you all along. I just—feared I would have my heart broken again, so I was being careful. But I love you so deeply! And there is something I must tell you, Cary. It is possible that you are going to be a father.”

He stared at her, stunned. Then let out a joyous whoop. He hugged her, lifting her right off her feet. Then quickly set her down. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't do that to you in your condition. Thank God, we can marry hastily then.”

She gazed at him hesitantly. “It's very early. I've only just missed my courses. It might be—well, just a false alarm.”

“Either way, I have you. And together we have Alex,” he said. “And someday, more children, if we're fortunate. I couldn't be more blessed.”

 

Bells rang out from St. George's church. The sun shone down upon the guests arriving by carriage. Theirs was an intimate wedding—just family and friends. Sophie arrived with Belle and the children. She had decided to invite her adoptive family, but she also invited Nell. She saw Nell as soon as she alighted from the carriage. Sophie held on to her veil with one hand and clutched her bouquet with the other. Nell hugged her.

Dressed in a beautiful, subdued satin gown and pelisse, with a feather-trimmed hat, Nell glowed with delight and looked remarkably elegant.

Of course, Cary's friends, the Wicked Dukes, were in attendance, along with Helena and her and Grey's brand-new baby boy.

Outside the church, the Duke of Sinclair bowed over her hand. “You look truly like an angel, Miss Ashley.”

“Thank you.” Her wedding dress was a gown of pale ivory silk. Beneath, her tummy was still flat as she was just over a month into her pregnancy. On the bodice and skirt, roses and leaves were embroidered with silver thread and dotted here and there with pearls. Her veil tumbled down her back, a river of handmade lace held in place by a band decorated by pearls and tiny diamonds. She felt like a fairy princess—that was what Alex had called her.

“I have to thank you, Miss Ashley, for making Cary so happy,” Sinclair said. “He's changed so much thanks to you. You helped him clear his name and solve the mystery. And you helped him heal finally from the trauma of the kidnapping, which none of the Wicked Dukes knew about. Grey, Sax, and I are forever in your debt for what you have done to help Cary.”

“Sophie. Please call me Sophie.”

“You must call me Sin.” He winked. “No one uses my first name, least of all me.”

She saw him glance at Cary, and she said, “You all truly have been very worried about him, haven't you?”

“Yes. Again, you have our eternal gratitude.”

“Thank you, but I also did it for me.” She felt her cheeks go red. “I love him so much, I couldn't bear him to be unhappy.”

“He is right. You are so ingenuous, you are irresistible.”

She was startled.

“I don't mean in that way. I mean—you have my heart, but in a platonic way.” A grin revealed the Duke of Sinclair's dimples.

Nell bustled over then. “Two of the Wicked Dukes are wed. You two are going to be chased by girls who are pursuing you with a vengeance.”

The Duke of Sinclair looked around nervously, and she and Nell laughed. Nell pointed at two young ladies who were whispering behind their hands and who began giggling. “They will pounce soon enough.”

“And miss,” the duke said. “I'm quick enough to evade matrimony.”

“But why would you want to?” Sophie asked. She couldn't imagine anything more wonderful than being in love and being married.

“Ah, but not everyone is as lucky as Cary, to find you.” With that, Sin left to join Grey and Saxonby.

“Nell, I do have something to give you.” Sophie had carried it with her, wrapped in white paper, tied with a white bow. “It is your book, Nell, that you wrote about your life. You left it for me, but I never saw it until I found it by accident. My adoptive mother hid it away.”

“Did she?” Nell sighed. “I told her not to read it. That was one of the stipulations for the money I gave to her. That the book was for you, when you were older. I wanted you to know I had been desired by the most famous and handsome peers in England. Of course, I suppose I put in a bit too much naughty information for a young woman to read.”

Sophie colored but said, “Perhaps. But it is a very compelling story. It's really a tale of love.”

“Many loves,” Nell said, lifting a wry brow. “And you read it while you were pursuing the duke, didn't you? Perhaps I should finish it and fill it with more advice. Perhaps I should include some of your delicious story and title it:
How to Catch a Wicked Duke
.”

“Nell, you mustn't.”

“I won't.” She smiled. “I won't cause scandal for you. I won't tell anyone I am your mother either. It would be much better if Society thinks your parents are the doctor and his wife.”

Sophie bit her lip. “I would rather be honest.”

“We had both best be wise. We know the truth. It hardly matters if others know our business.” Nell held the book, stroking the ribbon gently. “I hid this away with you because I was afraid one of my gentlemen might find it and destroy it. I was rather dramatic then. But if it has helped you find true love, then it was a worthwhile labor.”

“It did,” Sophie said, and hugged Nell.

As Nell left, Cary's mother came to her. In front of the waiting guests, the duchess—who would soon be the dowager duchess—embraced her. “Welcome to our family, my dear.”

“Thank you,” Sophie whispered, “I know this was a shock for you.”

“My son is happy. I have learned, over the years, that I want him to be happy and to have love. I almost lost him twice—when he was young and was taken from me, and then in Ceylon when he was at war. I was the one who pushed him to be married. I finally realized he deserves love more than anything. He loves you deeply, Sophie. And there is no one more deserving for my good and wonderful son than
you
. For you are a good and wonderful young woman.”

“Thank you.” Sophie brushed away tears.

The dowager handed her a delicate lace-trimmed handkerchief. Cary's sisters ran up. They both hugged her too. Claudia, the eldest, who was now twenty, whispered, “Thank you for making my brother so happy. And Mama is so happy too. I have decided I am going to marry too. We were so often in the country. Mama was so protective of Lydia and me—”

“She never let us do anything,” Lydia agreed in a whisper.

Both girls looked like Cary with their blue eyes and blond hair.

Sophie understood. “She just wanted to keep you safe. You will both have more freedom now. Cary and I intend to ensure you attend every Society event you can.”

“We should go inside, dears,” Cary's mother said to her daughters.

Then, as Sophie watched most of the guests enter the church, Dr. and Mrs. Tucker came to her. Her adoptive mother wore a fussy gown festooned with lace and ribbons, and an elaborate turban with a large feather. “Oh, my dear, you look so lovely,” she gushed. “My adoptive daughter, a duchess! What a feather in all our caps.”

The doctor rolled his eyes. “Sophie, I am so sorry for what we did. It was wrong to turn you out. Wrong and unforgiveable.”

“But it's all worked out for the best,” said his wife. Then after meeting Sophie's gaze, she changed her tune and gave several effusive apologies.

All her life, Sophie had been kindhearted. But she faced the woman who had sent her away, knowing she must be blunt, honest, and harsh, for this was important. “I know you feel I committed a sin. Perhaps I did. But I gave birth to Alex, and every time I look at my son, I see Samuel in him. Samuel has left a lasting legacy to the world through his son. I cannot feel that is wrong. If you wish never to see me again, I am content with that. I don't care what you did to me—but you turned your back on an innocent baby, and that I cannot forgive.”

“Please, Sophie. My dear child—”

“I never was your dear child.” Then, she could not help it. “Perhaps I can forgive you. If you are very, very good and respectful to Alex. You must treat him no differently than any other children I hope to have with the duke. At first, Caradon wanted to punish you for your treatment of me. I convinced him to not do so. He has now asked for your help.”

Mrs. Tucker said, “I just feared you could end up bad, like your mother—”

“That is the problem. My mother wasn't bad. She had to survive too. And she tried to give me a respectable future. But I
will
try to forgive,” Sophie said. “The duke has said you have promised not to reveal the truth. If there were scandal, or Alex were hurt in any way, I know the duke would be very angry.”

“Our lips are sealed,” the doctor said. “All I feel is tremendous guilt for what you have been through. We were foolish and proud. And so very wrong. We shall do our best to make amends, and we will begin by vowing to never speak of anything hurtful to you or your child.”

“Thank you.” She touched her adoptive father's hand. “Now you may take me down the aisle to my soon-to-be husband.”

To my wonderful, perfect Wicked Duke,
she thought as she entered the church with her father. She gazed around her. She was used to country churches. St. George's was enormous. So many elegantly dressed people sat on the pews—they could not all be friends and family. Flowers decorated the end of each pew and sat upon the altar.

She gazed down to Cary, who was standing in front of the reverend and waiting for her.

It was all she could do not to run to him. But here, she had to be sedate and ladylike.

It felt like an eternity. She knew people were watching her, but she only had eyes for Cary.

She reached him, dimly aware of her adoptive father agreeing to give her away—or something like that.

The reverend cleared his throat. He read rather a lot of poetic-sounding things, but Sophie was too nervous and excited to hear. Then he got to the best part.

“Do you, Sophia Elizabeth Ashley, take this man, Fitzwilliam Augustus Flavius Montcleif, to be your husband?”

She was deliriously happy, but her eyes widened at his names. A faint blush touched his cheeks, and she couldn't help it. She giggled. It was just her joy trying to burst out. The reverend looked rather shocked. She choked down her giggle and said, “I do.”

Then it was Cary's turn. Under his breath, just for her, he whispered, “God, how I do. How very much I do take you, Sophie.” Then out loud, he said, “I do,” and her heart took flight.