Major Wyclyff's Campaign (A Lady's Lessons, Book 2) (27 page)

"It is dark, Major. Will she be wantin' t' speak with you now?"

Anthony changed direction again and glared out the window at the dismal night. "No."

"Then, perhaps 'twill be better in the morning."

Anthony stomped back to his tiny room, unable to deny the truth. Sophia would be sound asleep right now, likely dreaming of a life spent alone in Staffordshire. Without him. Without his child.

It was enough to make him slam the door.

"Wake me at first light," he called out. The batman's reply was muffled.

* * *

Sophia woke with a splitting headache and dismal thoughts. She felt like a sodden lump of barren ground. The last thing she wanted to do was entertain houseguests. Thankfully, most everyone had left. The gossip had died down, and with no expectation of anything new, Drusilla and her husband had taken themselves off. Similarly, many of their fellow vipers had packed up and left the county. Percy and his fiancee remained, sneaking time alone whenever Lydia's mother nodded off, and, of course, so did Lord Kyle, her most devoted entertainer. He had, in fact, been so pleasant that she could not ignore him as she had yesterday. It would be too rude.

She got out of bed and performed her morning toilette, although each movement felt as if it were through molasses.

"'Ere, miss," said Mary, as she brushed out Sophia's hair. "Put this on your eyes."

Sophia accepted the cool cloth in silence, only now noticing how red and blotchy her face was from crying. Goodness, she could not appear before Reg looking like this. Not after two weeks of blissful peace. He would certainly guess something was amiss, and then it would be a small step to the truth, especially for such a bright man.

In the end, she resorted to her paint pot and the hope that the bright day would dim somewhat.

By the time she made it downstairs, she was already thoroughly disgusted with the day. So it was that, when she pushed open the door and saw the major calmly sitting at her breakfast table, she lost all sense of decorum.

"I do not know why I bother thinking of you as out of my life, Anthony," she snapped. "Every time I come downstairs, here you are." He looked up, his face carefully blank, and Sophia bit her lip. Good Lord, what had she said? "I... I do beg your pardon," she stammered, mortification heating her face. "I do not know what came over me."

"More animation than you have shown in a fortnight, is what," returned her aunt as she calmly buttered her toast. "But why you choose to come out of your stupor with acid on your tongue is beyond me."

Sophia turned and blinked. She had not even realized anyone else was in the room. Looking about, she saw not only Aunt Agatha, but Lydia, her mother, and Percy all staring wide-eyed at her. She would have said something, but she could think of nothing relevant or social or even civil. Instead, she turned back to the major, and the other people quickly faded right out of her thoughts.

Anthony did not look at all well, she decided. In fact, he looked rather haggard. His skin had a slightly gray cast, and his eyes seemed pinched, as though he were in pain.

"You have been riding again, Major." It was not a question. "A great deal, I wager. Really, can you not try to be moderate? You are recovering from a nearly mortal wound, and the strain on your leg—"

He did no more than raise an eyebrow at her, and she looked down at her hands in consternation.

"Sophia," he began, his voice chill, "I came to speak with you. If you have—"

"Good morning, all!"

Sophia squeaked in alarm and practically leaped across the table to avoid being hit by the door as Lord Kyle burst into the room.

"Oh, goodness, my dear, I had no idea..." His voice trailed away as he caught sight of the major.

"Yes, Reg, apology accepted," she said in rather curt tones. Then she turned back to Anthony. "You were saying, Major?"

But Anthony was staring frostily at Lord Kyle and slowly drew himself upward. "I was saying that I came to inform you of my recent appointment to India, despite my bachelor status. It will be some time before I depart, but I knew you would be anxious to hear—"

"That you shall be leaving this portion of the globe," interrupted Lord Kyle. "I am sure Sophia is most relieved."

"Reg," snapped Sophia, "really, I can comment for myself." Except, of course, that she had no comment whatsoever. Her thoughts were consumed by a strange feeling of emptiness. And while everyone stared at her, waiting for her to say something, all she could do was look at Anthony and wonder what was wrong with her.

The silence dragged on.

Finally, she said the only polite phrase that came to mind. "I wish you all the best in your new appointment." Then she frowned, knowing that was not at all what she wanted to say.

"At Uncle Latimer's." That was Reg, but Sophia was certain she could not have heard him correctly.

"I beg your pardon?" Aunt Agatha asked, looking as perplexed as everyone else in the room.

"I was just thinking that we should visit my friend's uncle today. I believe we shall all fit in there nicely."

"I beg your pardon?" Lydia's mother asked. Her tones were frosty.

"Why, he used to be quite a one for the ladies, if I recall correctly. At the very least, it will be a diversion, what with him running the women 'round the table and all that." Then he winked at the major. "Why don't you come along, old chap?"

"I beg your pardon!" Percy spoke up. His tones were even more frosty, if a bit higher pitched, than that of his future mother-in-law.

"Well, the major is merely waiting to be shipped off," continued Reginald. "Deadly dull, waiting, you know. And here we all are in the country. Why not pass the time with a visit to Uncle Latimer's?" He added in an undertone that was nevertheless heard throughout the room, "He is said to be quite insane, but I have been given to understand that is only a rumor."

Sophia took a deep breath, determined to stop this absurd farce before it went any further. "And why," she asked, her words clipped and distinct, "would you imagine that we should benefit from seeing that?"

He turned and fixed her with an amused glare. "Because, among the insane, one can act however one wishes without anyone thinking it odd. You are merely partaking in the..." He waved a casual hand in the air. "The ambience."

"Reg-"

"And, you do wish the major to accompany us, do you not?" Lord Kyle asked, his dark eyes penetratingly intense. She returned the look, recognizing that there were more levels to his question than she cared to admit.

She looked back at Anthony, noting his expression was carefully blank, his manner stiffly formal. Two months ago, she would have thought him too rigid, but now she knew the truth about why. He was indeed reserved, but it was because he was hiding emotions that were perhaps too strong for safe expression. Underneath all that stiff formality, he was kind, tender, and exceedingly passionate.

And she loved him to distraction.

Sophia felt her breath catch in her throat. After a fortnight of suppressing that tiny corner of her mind which admitted her love, here it was again, clamoring in a voice too loud to be denied.

She was smitten with Anthony. It was not possible. It could not be possible. But it was.

The world began to spin and contort dizzily. She felt her legs go weak, and everything seemed to splinter before her.

"Sophia!" The major cried out, scrambling across the room to catch her and guide her to her seat. She just stared dazedly at him, her left hand going up instinctively to touch the worry lines etched in his face.

The world fell into order at the very moment his arms encircled her.

She loved him. Yet all she had ever done was fight him and cause him endless misery. Sophia blinked, her eyes suddenly awash with tears as he deposited her gently into a chair. What was she to do now? She had fought him for so long; he was likely sick to death of her.

"So, we shall all make a party of it, hmm?" exclaimed Lord Kyle in overly cheerful tones.

Sophia turned, her eyes seeking out her friend's. He met her gaze, his eyes steady, and Sophia experienced another moment of wrenching shock.

Reg knew. Good lord, the man had known she was in love all along. Sophia felt her chest squeeze tight as she saw the truth in his slow smile. Not only did he know her feelings, he was using this outing as a way to throw her and the major together. And in a neutral environment, no less. One where she and Anthony would be slightly less constrained.

It was so ridiculous that she nearly laughed out loud. Lord Kyle, fashionable fribble, was in truth more clear-sighted than she had ever been.

Gathering herself, she smiled. "Yes," she finally said, her voice steady. "Yes, I think that would be an excellent excursion. And of course the major must come along." She turned to Anthony, her smile as warm as she could make it. But as she looked into his shuttered expression, her hopes dimmed.

She was a fool to think that she could erase all the arguments, the nonsense that she had put him through. He did not love her, and probably never would. He had been passionate at the start, but whatever tender emotions he may have had for her, she had systematically crushed.

It was hopeless.

And yet, there was no time to change her mind as Lord Kyle began discussing the arrangements for their trip with singular devotion and good cheer.

* * *

"Pssst! Reg!" Sophia peered around the corner of the hallway and motioned frantically to Lord Kyle. He noticed her immediately, of course. Indeed, how could he not when she was jumping up and down like a maniacal frog?

Still, he took his time, leisurely setting aside the newspaper and casually removing himself from his chair. Sophia was tapping her foot in severe annoyance by the time he ceased stretching and had made his way to her.

"Really, Reg, I swear you would have stopped to eat had food been available!" she snapped when he finally made it to her side.

He winked at her and peered toward the dining room. "Has lunch been served yet?"

"Reginald, be serious!"

Lord Kyle merely folded his arms and grinned. "But, I thought it was my job to be charming and frivolous."

Sophia clenched her hands into fists and glared at him. "I swear, you make me want to hit you!"

"Oh!" he cried. "Please, I would not wish you to hurt your delicate hands on my muscles of iron!"

"You mean on your thick head," she muttered.

To her total disgust, Reginald burst into laughter.

"Reg!" She was near her wits' end. They were to leave for Uncle Latimer's home directly after the noon repast. The major had departed to change into more "appropriate" attire—although what one wore to a purported mental patient's home, she had not the slightest clue. Perhaps he would change into something drab; his uniform's bright colors and his handsome physique might be too stimulating for Lord Kyle's sick uncle. Heaven knew, she certainly found them exciting enough.

In any event, the major had departed, leaving her behind to listen to Percy and Lydia's insipid chatter and ponder the revelation that she was in love—all the while not revealing the fact to anyone. Which was enough to make any sane person go mad.

"Reginald, please," she pleaded. "I believe I am going insane."

"I know," he agreed with another grin. "That is precisely why I suggested the outing. You can have a look around and see if you like how the insane are cared for."

"But—"

"Come, my dear," he said as he neatly caught her elbow. "Perhaps we should go walking about your aunt's lovely garden."

Sophia nodded with a grateful sigh. She needed to speak with someone levelheaded enough tell her she was confused, that she was not in love at all. She was positive that Lord Kyle was just the man. Unfortunately, as soon as they made it outside, they met up with Aunt Agatha, who was pruning a flowering bush.

"There you are, my dear," called the sweet lady as she peered around a large purple blossom. "Are you sure you are well? You look a trifle flushed."

"I—" began Sophia.

"She has just discovered she is in love," Lord Kyle said with a laugh.

Sophia pulled back with a start. "Wha—"

"Well, I must say it is about time," interrupted her aunt. "Really, my dear, I had thought you were the intelligent one, but you have taken such a long time at this, I was beginning to think you a lackwit."

Sophia spun back toward her aunt. "I—"

"I could not credit it at first," agreed Lord Kyle. "But it is too obvious, and I am much too chivalrous to allow her to continue deluding herself—despite my desire to keep her away from such entanglements. They change one's personality. So naturally, I have a vested interest in keeping the major and Sophia apart..."

Both Sophia and her aunt stared at Reginald.

"What the devil are you talking about?" snapped Aunt Agatha.

"Hmm? Oh nothing. Merely that Sophia is in such a muddle now, she has completely lost her composure. Why, she was jumping up and down in the hallway just a moment ago."

"Indeed!" exclaimed Aunt Agatha as she peered anxiously at her niece. "Are you sure a trip to this Uncle Latimer's is appropriate?" She peered suspiciously at Lord Kyle. "Have you ever been there?"