The Accidental Mistress (6 page)

The housekeeper regarded Sophie, eyes resting on the torn bodice of her gown. She gave the kindliest smile Sophie had yet seen from the woman. ‘You must be half starved. Sit yourself at the table and I’ll wait on you myself Miss.’

Sophie blinked up at the woman, bemused. ‘But… his lordship…’

‘He’s resting,’ Mrs. Chambers said firmly, ‘Don’t you worry. Master Dev will be feeling more the thing in the morning. He’s got a hard skull and it’s not the first time he’s knocked it.’

‘He’s been hit by
other
women?’ Sophie said incredulously.

Grey eyes twinkled down at her. ‘No, but I daresay it was overdue. I was more talking about him coming off his horse and all the other mischief he used to get up to. Master Dev was a right tear-away when he was young and not a deal has changed since Miss. Now let me fix your gown and then we’ll get some food into you.’

Sophie rose obligingly and allowed herself to be fussed over by the housekeeper. She fetched a workbasket and had Sophie’s gown tacked together in minutes. Her expression changed a little when she saw the bruises around the girl’s throat, a frown gathering but she didn’t comment and Sophie was grateful. She was seated at the table and, as promised, the woman served the meal herself. At the end of it, pleasantly replete, Sophie felt as if she were far more capable of facing up to anything. When Mrs. Chambers came to clear away the dishes she eyed her curiously. ‘Mrs. Chambers?’

‘Yes Miss?’

‘Has his lordship no family here?’

The woman sighed. ‘None. His father died three years ago and his mother when he was but a child. Terrible sad it was, seeing her go like that. He was nine at the time and it did the lad no good.’

‘Perhaps his son takes after him.’ Sophie murmured, touching a hand to her throat and remembering the darkness that had seemed to take hold of Roxburghe.

‘No,’ Mrs. Chambers’ voice softened, ‘You can believe me when I say that the young master is
nothing
like his father.’ And with that, she swept from the room.

Sophie sat back in her chair and looked around. It was a very
big
house for just one man. A house one could easily become lost in. Her own family home in Cumberland was never silent and often almost
over
full of people. Sometimes Sophie regretted the lack of privacy but she’d never felt lonely. Still, she reasoned, if Roxburghe ever did, he had another house in London and dozens of women to keep him company.

‘Perhaps that’s why he gets up to mischief,’ Sophie murmured to herself, ‘too much time on his hands and not nearly enough purpose in his heart.’ Her father, a man who was kept busy with the needs of his tenants and his large, boisterous family, was an enthusiastic supporter of keeping busy.

Fortified with food, Sophie knew she must go and look in on her host, just to reassure herself that he was still breathing if nothing else. Rather selfishly, she hoped that he was still unconscious because he would be far from pleased to see her. But at least he now knew she was serious. If a woman was desperate enough to knock a man out to prevent him from having his way with her, surely it was enough to give the would be seducer cause to think. Bolstered by this thought, she asked a maid for directions and soon found the Marquis in his bedchamber, half lying, half sitting in the great bed, propped up by a mound of pillows. As Sophie crept forward she saw with relief that his eyes were closed. She would just reassure herself that he was still breathing and then she would return to her room for the evening…

Sophie sighed and came forward to stand a little way from the bed. His valet had removed his master’s clothing and Roxburghe wore a linen nightgown, open at the throat. It wasn’t in the least bit proper for a lady to visit a man in his bedchamber but, as this entire escapade had been less than proper, Sophie hardly thought it mattered. She could only be ruined once. His lordship must still be drunk – not enough time had elapsed to make him sober – but he was far more lucid than he had been and she could see at a glance that the madness had gone.

He didn’t miss the dry tone in her voice and grinned. It faded when she moved her head and he caught sight of her neck. ‘Come over here,’ he demanded, voice abrupt.

Sophie pursed her lips. Rational or not, moving closer to the man did not seem like a good idea. Despite their brief, volcanic history he still seemed to be having an impact on her body that she was at a loss to explain. It thrummed gently through her, keeping time with the beat of her pulse, as if being merely being in the same room as the Marquis was having an effect. Moving closer seemed like a decidedly rash thing to do. ‘I feel safer out of your reach.’

‘Don’t be a little idiot. I’m not saying that I don’t still want to get you in my bed – God knows I do after what occurred downstairs! - but right now we have other things to discuss. One of which is your neck,’ he snapped impatiently, ‘Let me look at it.’

Sophie hesitated, wondering at the sense of anything other than retreat considering he had just admitted that his intentions were still far from honorable. Cautiously, she took a step forward. He studied the bruising, vivid against the whiteness of her skin and she heard him let out a long breath. ‘There are times,’ he observed softly, ‘when I am not fit to be around. I hurt you and for that I am deeply sorry.’

‘At least you stopped before you did any real damage.’ She hadn’t expected an apology. Nor had she expected herself to defend him. After all, he
had
behaved like a brute.

‘If that’s the best that can be said of me, then I am damned. I have a hell of a temper.’ He was silent for a moment, staring up at her. ‘You say that Alice is your cousin?’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘I have met Felicia Gaskell. I regret to tell you she is not good ton.’

Sophie’s face darkened. ‘My aunt is the best of women! She invited me up to London to share in Alice’s Season and she has behaved with the utmost generosity towards me.’

‘Why shouldn’t she? All women blessed with a beautiful daughter like to have a less attractive one at her side to show them off to their best advantage,’ he observed cynically, ‘But the actual connection; it
is
Edward Gaskell that is your relative, is it not?’

‘Well, yes.’ Sophie admitted, ‘The connection is on my mother’s side. My name is actually Hartwell. But Alice is no less my cousin because of it.’

‘You should do your research a little more thoroughly before you abduct somebody next time,’ she returned frostily, ‘Just to ensure their family connections are not likely to cause you difficulties afterwards.’

‘I didn’t abduct you.’ He pointed out, ‘You came with me willingly.’

It was quite true but never the less, Sophie was annoyed. ‘You
know
what I mean.’

‘I suppose I do.’ He was silent a moment, regarding her and she shifted uncomfortably, aware that her being in his presence was unwise. Not only unwise, but also scandalous. She dreaded to think what would happen if her mama ever discovered this night’s work. Never before had Sophie been so pleased that Cumberland was such a distance away. It seemed that his lordship’s thoughts had been heading in more or less the same direction.

‘Was this mad scheme of yours really something you and Alice cooked up between you?’

Sophie hesitated. It was one thing to lie in the heat of the moment, quite another to continue on when things had calmed down. And truthfully, could he think any less of her? ‘No. It was entirely my idea. Alice doesn’t know that I’m here.’
No-one does
, she thought bleakly.

‘You did it to protect her.’ It wasn’t a question.

‘I did it because she thinks you mean to marry her. My cousin is not… the cleverest girl when it comes to other people’s motives. I daresay she believed your promises.’

‘I never once promised to marry Alice,’ Roxburghe objected, ‘Far from it, I said that I intended to take her away to some place that we could be quite alone together. I also told her that I intended to make love to her.’

Sophie flushed, the words elevating her heightened senses even more. Really, Roxburghe was far too good-looking a man for her to deal with after all that had happened. ‘She undoubtedly misunderstood your intentions.’

There seemed to be a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Suddenly, it seemed charged with all the fizzing, breathless energy of a summer storm. Sophie’s certainly found herself breathless and she tried to suck in more air because there didn’t seem to be nearly enough of it in the room. A prickling excitement slid along her skin, charging her body a shocking awareness of the long, lean one in the bed before her. ‘I’m going back to my room, my lord,’ she managed, after the silence extended far too long, ‘And tomorrow, if you could be so kind, perhaps you can take me home.’

‘Well now little Sophie, that’s the one thing I cannot do.’ Roxburghe shook his dark head, ‘Unless you fancy life as a ruined woman.’

‘It need not come to that. My aunt has no idea where I’ve been and she has no need to know. I will say…’ Sophie wracked her brain, wondering what it was that she
would
say. Nothing could really explain her disappearance during the night or her continuing absence from the house. ‘No, I shall tell her the truth. There is no reason not to. She will surely not be displeased that I saved Alice from ruination.’

‘Don’t be too sure,’ Roxburghe said, voice dry, ‘Like Alice, she’ll think that you’ve tried to take me for yourself.’

Sophie was shocked. ‘Of course they would not!’

‘Of course they will. I think a far better plan, until I can come up with something else, is that we arrange for you to return to Cumberland.’

‘A marvelous idea. I’m sure my mother will not think to ask any difficult questions.’

Roxburghe grinned. ‘Little cat! But trust me, Sophie, I know the likes of your aunt. Spite will ensure that a scandal comes from this. If Alice can’t secure a marquis, then she’ll try and ensure that a little thing from the wilds of Cumberland does not and she’ll use any methods available. Women like that can be the very devil.’ He gave her a lazy smile. She could see that he was growing sleepy. The dark eyes certainly looked as if they were ready to close. ‘Do not let it worry you. I’ll make sure that you come to no harm. Now then… give me your hand.’

Sophie shook her head. ‘You’re wrong about Aunt Felicia. And I am most certainly
not
giving you my hand.’

‘Scared, sweetheart?’

Sophie narrowed dark blue eyes at him. ‘Certainly not.’

‘Then take me down a peg. You know I deserve it. I’m arrogant, conceited and far too used to getting my way. Women have always fallen over themselves to please me. Prove that you’re immune, sweet Sophie. Let me kiss that little hand goodnight.’

The mocking tone was exasperating. And he
was
conceited, ridiculously so. ‘I am not in the least bit interested in you.’

‘So prove it. It’s only your hand. It’s not like I am going to strip that oh so proper gown from your body and explore the more intriguing places.’

He was abominable, determined to make her feel as uncomfortable as possible. Sophie moved forward, thrusting out her hand defiantly. ‘Goodnight, my Lord!’

Roxburghe took it and drew it slowly to his lips, turning it palm upwards at the last moment to press a kiss in the palm. A jolt of desire slammed through Sophie, so powerful that she gave a soft gasp, molten fire sliding along her veins. Roxburghe had been right; sparks really
did
fly whenever they touched. She’d never experienced anything like it before and it terrified her just as much as it aroused her.

Abruptly, she dragged her hand away, the warmth of his lips lingering there. ‘G-goodnight, my Lord!’

The amusement had disappeared from his face, leaving an expression that made her want to join him in the bed as much as run away. ‘Do you know?’ he said, eyes holding her own, ‘I have never felt that with anyone before?’

Much as she might want to ask him questions, she was far too alarmed to stay any longer. Her body had taken leave of its senses. It was no longer just Roxburghe that terrified her and she turned quickly, hurrying towards the door.

It was herself she feared.

For the first time in almost twenty-two years, Sophie wanted to throw caution and breeding and manners to the wind and explore the extraordinary attraction that this man held for her.