The Husband Season (26 page)

‘Yes, almost back to the man I was, thanks to you.’

‘I did not do anything that someone else could not have done.’

He took her hand. ‘Oh, yes, you did. I may not have shown it, but I knew you were there. All the time I was aware of you. You gave me the strength to fight and exhausted yourself in doing it. But why did you come?’

‘Mr Farley sent for me. He said you needed me.’

‘I shall have to have words with that gentleman.’

‘Why, did you not want me to come?’

‘I did not want you to see me in that unmanly state.’

‘You were never unmanly, Adam, and no one could have prevented me from coming as soon as I knew you were in mortal danger.’

‘I thank God for it, but now I am better you can leave me in Alfred’s capable hands. Go and rest. You look tired.’

‘You don’t want me anymore. I can understand that,’ she said miserably. ‘You are here, in your own home, surrounded by memories of Anne, and there is no place for me. I shall ask Mark if we can go home now.’ She scrambled to her feet and ran up to the room next to his where she had been sleeping, ready to wake and go to him the minute he stirred. She sat on the bed, put her face in her hands and wept. How could she hope to make him forget his first wife? How could she live with him among all those memories? She got up and began throwing clothes into her portmanteau.

‘Just what, in God’s name, do you think you are about?’ Adam stood in the doorway, breathing heavily from the exertion of climbing the stairs.

‘Packing. My job is done. It is time to go home.’

He strode across to her, grabbed her by the shoulders and fell with her onto the small bed. ‘Sophie, I would spank you if I thought it would do any good. Perhaps this will do instead.’ And he kissed her long and hard.

She began to struggle, but he was stronger than he looked and held her firmly, and gradually she relaxed and sank into a kind of euphoria that soon became something else as his kisses roused her, something sublime yet fiery, sweet yet passionate. There was a new feeling in the core of her, an opening out and at the same time making her want to draw this man into her, make herself one with him.

He moved back at last and smiled at her. ‘Still want to go home?’

‘Adam, you make me so confused. I don’t know what I want.’

‘Then I shall have to try again.’ And he did, until she was aching.

‘Why are you confused?’ he murmured.

‘I was looking round the house—’

‘I was going to have it made ready for you.’

‘I saw all the evidence of Anne and that picture in the drawing room,’ she went on, ignoring his interruption. ‘She was so beautiful. I cannot compete with your memories, Adam.’

‘You don’t have to. Do you know what Mark said to me weeks ago, when we were in London? He was urging me to marry again and I was telling him I would not.’ He put his finger on her lips to stop her speaking. ‘He said we are all unique in our own way, loved for different reasons. And he was right. I loved Anne, I cannot pretend otherwise, but I love you very, very much, indeed.’

‘Do you? You never said that before.’

‘Didn’t I? How remiss of me. I’ll say it again, shall I? I love you, Sophie Cavenhurst. I also remember you telling me that you would not attempt to make me forget Anne, but would try to make me look forward to a new life with you. Did you not mean it?’

‘Yes, I meant it, but...’

‘Sophie, you can do what you like to the house, change things to suit yourself. I intended to have Anne’s things moved before I brought you here, but circumstances intervened. I am sorry if you were upset by them. I want this to be our home, yours and mine, not a mausoleum to a dead wife.’

‘Oh, Adam...’

‘Of course, I will still have to send you home,’ he said, grinning. ‘There is still the little matter of a wedding.’

* * *

October was a lovely time of year for a wedding. The uncomfortable heat of summer had gone, but it was not yet cold. The trees in the park and bordering the lanes were a glorious explosion of russet and brown and deepest red.

Greystone Manor was humming with activity as all the arrangements for the wedding came to fruition. Thanks to Jane’s expertise the gown was a triumph. The scent of flowers filled the house, and down in the kitchens the food preparation was nearing completion. Sophie’s fear that Adam would be prevented from coming either because of a crisis at the mill, or worse, that he might have a relapse and been too ill, had been unfounded. He had arrived at Broadacres the day before and had been over to the manor to reassure her. Together they had gone to the church and rehearsed their responses and received a little homily from the Reverend Caulder about the duties required of each of them as a married couple. They had left hand in hand, laughing joyously.

Sophie wondered how she could ever have thought of Adam as austere, nor how she could have been so naive as to lay down rules about falling in love. Jane had been right: falling in love was not something you can order like a new bonnet or a new pair of shoes, it just happened. And it had happened to her. She could not believe her good fortune.

Tomorrow the rest of the guests would come to the church: Aunt Emmeline, Lord and Lady Martindale with Lucy and Sir Reginald Swayle, to whom she had recently become betrothed. Likewise the Malthouse family with Cassie and Mr Richard Fanshawe. They were to be married in the New Year. Cassie had declared she was grateful to Sophie for introducing her to him, and they were friends again. They would be joined by friends and relations from far and wide, including most of the village. She would miss Teddy, of course, and Issie and Drew, but that could not be helped.

Her last evening as a single woman was spent quietly at home with her parents, though perhaps
quietly
was not the right description as the servants were still busy with last-minute preparations and Sophie was so nervous she could not sit still. ‘I shan’t sleep,’ she told her mother. ‘I am far too excited.’

‘Bessie will give you a potion.’ Bessie had agreed to go to Blackfriars as her maid and companion and help her to settle in. ‘We cannot have you yawning through the service.’

‘Who is that?’ Sophie wondered aloud as the sound of horses and carriage wheels sounded on the gravel outside. ‘Are we expecting anyone as late as this?’ She rose and went to draw aside the curtains to peep out at the drive. A travel-stained coach was disgorging its passengers in the light from the flambeaux on either side of the front door. Sophie squealed. ‘It’s Issie and Drew! Mama, it’s Issie and Drew and Aunt Emmeline.’ She ran from the room and tumbled into the hall just as her sister came in from outside, followed by her tall handsome husband and their aunt. ‘Issie, you came. I am so glad. Now the day will be perfect.’

Issie laughed as she hugged her. ‘We could not miss your big day, could we? Let me look at you.’ She held her at arm’s length and studied her face. ‘You have changed, little Sophie.’

‘I have grown up.’

‘Indeed you have.’ She turned as her parents came out to greet the travellers with hugs and kisses.

The remainder of the evening was spent catching up with everyone’s news while the travellers were served with a meal. Issie and Drew had already started for home and had reached Calcutta when they’d received the news of Sophie’s engagement. They had known nothing of the postponement of the wedding due to Adam’s injury until they’d arrived at Lady Cartrose’s house in Mount Street. ‘We knew if we set out again straight away we could be here in time.’

‘They offered to bring me,’ Emmeline said. ‘So I shan’t miss it after all.’

‘There is only one person missing,’ Lady Cavenhurst said a little sadly.

‘Teddy,’ Issie said. ‘We have seen him.’

‘When? Where? Is he coming home?’

‘We were on the docks in Calcutta waiting to go aboard
The Lady Isabel
after stopping off there on our way back to England,’ Issie went on. ‘There was a convict ship berthed nearby taking on water and supplies. Naturally no one on board was allowed off and the miserable sinners were crowding the decks. I heard someone shouting my name and looked up to see Teddy leaning over the rails, waving to me and shouting. I could not believe it was him.’

‘There was so much noise going on, we could not hear what he was trying to say to us,’ Drew said. ‘I managed to go on board and speak to him.’

‘How is he? Is he well? Did you fetch him off?’

‘I offered to, but he would not come. He said to tell you he is well and learning to be a good seaman. When the captain realised he was an educated man and not the usual sort of pressed man, which happened about halfway round the Cape, he made him a clerk in charge of the ship’s stores.’

‘Did he not want to come home?’

‘He said he would come home when he had redeemed himself. He is deeply sorry for all the pain he has caused you and for letting Sophie down. I told him we had heard of Sophie’s betrothal and were on our way home and he laughed and said, “Good old Sophie. I told her that was her best bet. And mine, too.” I don’t know what he meant by that.’

‘I do,’ Sophie told them, and explained about the wagers. ‘They each owe him a thousand pounds.’

‘In that case, it can go towards repaying Adam,’ Sir Edward said.

‘I doubt he will take it,’ Sophie said, smiling. ‘He said it was a small price to pay for me.’

‘I think it is time we all went to bed,’ Sir Edward added. ‘Tomorrow is going to be a long day.’

* * *

The wedding was a happy affair, shared by the whole village. Sophie looked radiant and Adam proud and handsome. Everyone said they had never seen such a well-matched couple. The wedding breakfast and the music and dancing went on late into the night, but Adam and Sophie were oblivious to it. They retired to the bedchamber that had been prepared for them in a distant part of the house, eschewing the help of valet and maid.

‘Well matched, I heard them say,’ Sophie said, giggling as Adam set about removing the beautiful gown.

‘So we are.’ The gown was set aside and he started on the ties of her petticoat. ‘I am dull and staid and you are young and exciting and unpredictable—two halves of a whole.’

‘You are a long way from being dull, but perhaps you are the unpredictable one. Do you remember ever saying you would never marry again?’

‘No, did I?’ He chuckled. ‘Do you remember ever saying you would not be a second wife?’

‘If I did, I was very foolish.’ She was almost naked now and was doing her best to redress the balance by unbuttoning his shirt and slipping her hands inside. She could feel the ridge of his scar, the result of his caring for others. It had healed well. She ran her hands down his torso and down inside his breeches.

‘Sophie,’ he said, ‘do you know what you are doing to me?’

She smiled. ‘I think I am about to find out.’

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from A FORTUNE FOR THE OUTLAW’S DAUGHTER by Lauri Robinson.

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