A Bright Particular Star (11 page)

She found him waiting for her in the parlour, where the covers had been already laid.
He had shed his driving coat and cha
nged his shirt and cravat.
The summer twilight had not yet given way to moonlight, but c
andles had been lit and placed about the room, their glow reflected in the rich hue of
his ha
ir and in his
eyes
, which met hers the moment
she walked in.

Her heart gave an
unmistakeable leap at the sight of him, a reaction w
hich wrought a rueful smile on
Sophie
’s
lips.
Mr
Cavanagh might be secretly wishing himself elsewhere, but Sophie could not bring h
erself to feel likewise, in spite of knowing
she was on her way to
James.
Her e
very nerve ending felt abraded and her skin tingled.
Beneath her gown, heat
swept over her
traitorous
body.

****

Theo, too, was pleased with what he saw.
More than pleased.
His heart sped up of its own accord, as it seemed to each time he looked at Sophie, and h
is breath caught in his throat
.
She
had exchanged her
pelisse and trav
elling dress for a
plain
but faded
muslin gown
which clung to her curves
.
Her hair had been brushed and gathered into a
knot held in place with the cornflowe
r-tipped pin.
Several
wisps had escaped to
tickle
her
neck.
She was
as fr
esh and fragrant as a flower and when
she
looked at
him
,
a
smile curving
her mouth
and lighting her eyes
,
it
re
minded him of the sun
coming out
on a winter
’s
day
.
He could not banish th
e memory of her body against his, nor could he forge
t how
her scent
had
assa
iled his senses
, j
ust as
it was
now
.
Sophie Devereux was an exquisite
temptation.

Desire, raw and unfettered, crashed
through him like a tidal wave and he
cursed inwardly, knowing it was
going to be a struggl
e to contain his response
.
His awareness of her was unbearably acute.

Theo, who
had always considered himself a g
entleman, knew the
sudden and
over
powering
urge
to behave like
rake.

He was used to
ladies throwing out lures
—
he might only be the younger
son of an earl
but he was still considered an eligible catch
—
and w
hile a few had aroused his
inte
rest, it had soon dissipated.
T
his felt
very
different.
E
very minute
he spent
with
Sophie, he wanted her more.

If their circumstances h
ad been
otherwise
,
he would have embarked on a serious courtship for the first time in his life,
but it was out of the question.
H
e could
not
abuse the
responsibility he ha
d shouldered.
He swallowed
, mustering as
much self-control as he could and
acknowledg
ing he must keep his feelings to himself
, at least until they
had
reache
d London and she was
out of his care.
Giving no hint of
his inner turmoil, he
led her
over to the table
and
the
servant
s
began to serve the meal.

Later, w
hen the plates and cutlery had been removed
, a tray of tarts
and candied fruit was placed at Sophie
’s
elbow, and a decanter of bran
dy and glass next to Theo.
H
e declined her offer to withdraw
to her room while he enjoyed his brandy, so
Sophie
stayed, sighing
co
ntentedly as her fingers hovered
over the s
weetmeats.

“
T
hat was delicious,
”
she said.
“
Is the food here always so good?
”

“
Always,
”
replied
Theo, watch
ing her.
“
T
he Pelican
is famed
for its comfort and hospitality.
”

A
mischievous twinkle
gleamed
in her eye.
“
Perhaps I should have asked for weak tea and bread and butter to restore my shattered nerves but,
as you are aware,
my nerves are
resilient and they demanded better sustenance!
”

“
G
lad t
o hear it,
”
he said
, laughing
.
“
Why anyone would want to unsettle their stomach
with that rubbish is beyond me!
”

“
My aunt does occasionally, but it
’s
more for effect than any other reason.
”

‘
S
peaking of your family, there are matters we need to discuss.
”

‘
S
uch as who was following us earlier?
”

“
Yes, that
…
and other things.
”

Sophie swallowed the last of an apricot tartlet and b
rushed the crumbs from her fingers
.
“
Oh?
I thought I had told you everything.
”

“
You have not said
who you are going to stay with when you reach London.
”

A
slow blush
stained her
cheeks.
“
I suppose I should
—
you will be obliged to take me there after all
—
but I fear you will think me foolish.
”

“
I am
not so eager to
find fault as you seem to think
.
”

“
Very well
then
, I
’
ll tell you
.
I’m
going to London to get married.
”

Theo had been leaning back in his chair but at this, he jerked forward,
almost knocking over his
glass
in the process
.

“
Married
!
”
he expostulated
hoarsely.
Then, he
drew
in a deep
, ragged
breath,
cleared his throa
t and echoed
,
“
Married?
To whom?
You said your aunt had deterred
all
your admirers!
”

‘
S
he did, those in Bath
, bu
t
I’m
going to marry Lord
Verney.
James was
…
is
…
my childhood sweetheart.
”
Seeing his stunn
ed
expression, sh
e hurried
on,
“
James and I swore an oath to marry when we were children.
His father
’s
estate bordered ours and we were in
separable until
he left for Eton.
We exchanged occasional letters during that time, and I know he went up to Oxford aft
er finishing school.
After
that
, I believe he planned to go on the Grand
Tour, although
I’m
not
certain because we lost touch.
If he has been abroad he may not know of my
father
’s
death or my
move to Ludstone.
”

“
When did he leave Oxford?
”

‘
T
hree summers ago, I think.
”

Theo
’s
brows rose.
‘
D
ash it,
I know him!
Verney left Oxford
the year before me.
”

‘
D
id he?
”
cried Sophie, pleased.
‘
T
hen you already appreciate
what an excellent man he is!
”

“
We were
never introduced
, but
from what I recall
he seemed a reasonable
sort,
”
he admitted.
“
H
eard he went on the Grand Tour after
Napoleon
’s
defeat.
”

Sophie nodded.
“
T
hat would explain why I haven
’t
heard from him recently.
”

“
But how
do you know he
’s
back
?
”

“
I saw a notice in Aunt Eudora
’s
cop
y of the
Morning Post
which said
J
ames and his mama were in London for the Season
.
I hope they are still there and haven
’t
gone to Brighton or one of the other resorts by now.
”

“
You mean he doesn
’t
realise
you are coming?
”
he said, incredulous.

“
Well, n
o,
”
confessed
Sophie
.
“
But how could I have sent him a letter?
Aunt Eudora and Peregrine check all the mail and if I had written to him, they would have been suspicious.
I thought it would be easier to speak to James in person.
”

“
Easier to appear on his doorstep and suggest marriage?
”

Sophie flushed darkly.
“
I knew you would think me stupid!
”

“
Not stupid
,
neve
r that
,
but you must admit
it
’s
impulsive.
”

“
Yes,
you’re
right
.
Olivia thought so too.
”
She made a helpless gesture
with her hands
.
“
But what else could I do?
Despite our childhood pledge, I dare say I would not have thought of marrying James if my situation had not been so desperate.
I
’
ve alre
ady told you what Aunt Eudora and Perry are like.
They force people to fall in with their
plans in
the most odious way, but I am determined not to
oblige them
.
James is the only person I can turn too
.
He
is also the
man who means most to me
.
”

“
But marriage!
”
Theo
’s
hand c
lenched
into a fis
t. Then, a moment later, he asked
in a husky voice,
“Do
you still care for him?
”

“
I was immensely fond of James,
”
she mused.
“
T
hat has not changed, and marriage to him would be infinitely prefe
rable to being married to Perry
.
”

“
And what of Verney
’s
feelings?
”

“
I can
’t
be certain how he feels now, of course.
He
’s
an honourable man though, so I don
’t
think he would back out of the
oath.
Naturally
if he really didn
’t
wish to marry me, then I wouldn
’t
hold him to it but when he hears of my circumstances
I hope
he will at least want to help.
”