Read The Reluctant Bride (Regency Undone) Online
Authors: Claire Firth
The Reluctant Bride (Regency Undone) (10 page)
The recollection of his hands on her body reminded her only too readily how hard the latter might be to resist and too late she realised that to choose to stay in her bedroom could not only be misconstrued as a desire to entertain him there, it was also putting her in a vulnerable position should he decide to take advantage of it.
She rose quickly from the chaise-longue deciding to go down for tea after all but froze when the door suddenly opened and Ralph appeared bearing a tray himself in his hands.
‘As you are so obviously indisposed, I decided to bring the refreshments to you,’ he said calmly.
‘I was just coming down,’ she said flustered. ‘I ... I have changed my mind.’
‘It is of no consequence,’ he assured her, kicking the door closed behind him. ‘Indeed we will have more privacy here - and I have come to like your room.’
The look that accompanied these words made her lick her lips nervously. She sat swiftly down on the little chair by the window and tried to compose herself.
‘Shall I pour?’
She waited as he poured the tea and for want of anything better to do, accepted a sandwich from the plate he offered.
‘So, Sophia. I feel we might benefit from talking, you and I - and perhaps you might begin by explaining to me more fully what it is you have been doing on your excursions?’
‘I have already explained that, Ralph,’ Sophia said, determined not to be intimidated. ‘I have been visiting those on your Estate who were in difficulty - trying to help so that I may redress the sense of shame I feel on your behalf.’
Ralph stiffened. ‘That remark is uncalled for.’
She glared at him defiantly, grateful for the opportunity to fuel her anger and keep some distance between them. ‘Is it? I must speak as I find.’
‘You certainly do that! But I feel you could wont to respect me more.’
‘And I think you ask too much Sir. You blackmailed me into a marriage I did not want, you have done little to change my opinion that you do not take life seriously, and now you have ... you have
forced
your attentions upon me.’
She broke off uncomfortably at the look of dry amusement on his face.
‘I do not remember much
forcing,
Sophia ... you were
pleading
with me I seem to remember? Your soft little gasps of
oh please, Ralph ... oh yes Ralph, that is so nice ...
were such music to my ears.’
Two spots of warm colour stained her cheeks. ‘It is not gentlemanly of you to say such things,’ she said crossly. ‘And anyway,’ she tossed her head, ‘if I recall, it was not only I who was …
indiscreet
.’
He chuckled, his good humour apparently restored. ‘Indiscreet? Is that what you would call it?’ He leaned forward to trace a finger lightly down her arm, his eyes darkening at the involuntary tremor of reaction that ran through her.
‘You cannot deny Sophia that you enjoyed being
indiscreet -
as indeed did I. However, I feel we digress ...’
Embarrassment made her angry again. ‘Indeed we do. But as you choose to disbelieve the information I have imparted to you concerning Browning, I feel there is little more to be said on the subject.’
‘Did I say I disbelieved you?’
She lifted her brow in surprise.
‘After our conversation,’ he said, ‘I made enquiries and visited a couple of my tenants to ascertain some facts for myself
.
’
His face tightened. ‘It would appear that you are right - our friend Browning has not only been evicting those tenants you spoke of but for a small fee he has been housing members of his own family and friends in their places. I have dismissed him instantly and now it appears you will get your wish; it is clear I must settle here at Avalon and involve myself in my Estate a little more actively than I have done in the past.’
Sophia was looking at him in astonishment.
‘I am glad to hear that my Lord,’ she said in a faint voice.
‘But still it is not enough for you? I can hear it in your voice...’
Her eyes were rebellious. ‘I would wish also to continue with my visits. I enjoy visiting the hamlets and meeting the people – I have got to know them. They are no threat to me.’
‘I cannot allow my wife to wander around the countryside unaccompanied.’
‘Oh, but that is
ridiculous
– I have done so all my life. Why must you take away the only activity that gives me pleasure?’
‘Undoubtedly because I am a monster who treats you badly and forces his unwelcome attentions upon you. For that is how you view me is it not?’
His expression was tight, his tone bitter and Sophia bit her lip suddenly aware that while that was how she used to view him, there was no denying that her feelings had undergone a radical change – and not only because of the intimate love making they had shared. He had been tender then, considerate - even at the height of his passion. And afterwards as they had lain together through the night he had made her feel cherished and protected. But her feelings had been slowly changing even before then, she realised.
She found she was holding her breath as the true realisation hit her with incredible force. Isabelle was right, she
loved
Ralph. These past few weeks he had not at all acted like the irresponsible and brash man she had believed him to be. He had been good company, showing her kindness and respect despite her hostility towards him. And she had sensed in him an unhappiness not dissimilar to her own – one that was based on a sense of loneliness. She had been happier with him these last few weeks, she was forced to acknowledge, than her entire time at home with her parents. He had treated her as an equal and that was something she was not used to.
She looked at him uncertainly. ‘No Ralph,’ she said softly, ‘that is not how I view you - I know you are no monster. I have always recognised the generosity you have displayed to my parents - and to me - though I may not always have shown it. And that was because I was so angry with you and them for treating me as if my opinion was worthless.’
Her eyes sparkled with indignation. ‘All my life my father has treated me as if I was of no importance – making it plain I was a disappointment to him because I was a daughter; but to sell me like a
chattel
to the highest bidder, to pay off his
debts.
That was worse to me than the fact that you were
buying
me just so I could produce an heir
.
’
She broke off, looking at her husband through incensed eyes.
‘Your parents’ loss was my gain,’ Ralph said steadily, an unfathomable light in his eye. ‘And from what I have seen of your father, I doubt your mother had little say in the matter. Do not be too hard on her.’
He looked down at his wife. She looked beautiful in the blue taffeta gown she wore and he was overwhelmed by a sudden urge to take her in his arms and console her. He knew only too well the isolation and sense of hurt that came from feeling one had constantly disappointed. Had he not spent the last few years rebelling against his duty and the expectations of parents it had been impossible to please? Yet now ... with Sophia at his side, suddenly taking up his responsibilities seemed not only possible but a way of life to be embraced.
If only she might learn to reciprocate his feelings.
Incredible though their lovemaking had been it had shaken him how vulnerable it had left him feeling.
‘This marriage was never about heirs for me Sophia,’ he said cautiously.
‘
Oh I do not deny that is what my mother wanted and I saw it as a way of healing the breach between us, but I have two cousins who are perfectly capable of carrying on the Earldom, one of whom already has a son. The great family name is not likely to die out in a hurry.’
He hesitated and his eyes softened as they regarded her. Could he trust her with his feelings? He would undoubtedly feel a fool if she threw them back in his face, yet some instinct told him she would not do that. And he felt he could not longer continue in the situation of impasse they seemed to have reached.
‘That first time I saw you,’ he said slowly, ‘I could not believe it when you rejected my offer - and I didn't comprehend why I should feel so put out. I hadn’t really wanted a wife after all. Yet when you came back with your father I found myself holding my breath, glad of the second chance. And I was so proud of you when you walked down the aisle on our wedding day. You looked beautiful and I began to think that maybe this marriage was not such a bad thing after all.’
His eyes were clear and steady as they regarded her. ‘That view has not changed, but it has altered.
The more we have been together the more it would appear I have enjoyed being with you. Indeed I fear … though I have been fighting it … I have fallen very heavily and deeply in love with you. I cannot imagine my life without you now - to have children would be wonderful but if it is not to be, you are all I need.’
‘Oh.’
Sophia eyes were round in her face as she looked up at him astounded. ‘I cannot believe it. And … how can you say that when I have been so
horrible
?’
‘You have not said anything that is not true. I
have
been wasting my life - neglecting my estate - and it has taken the accusations of a wise and wonderful woman to show me that.’
Although his eyes held a hint of amusement there was a note of uncertainty in his voice that made her want to jump up and reassure him.
‘I know full well the reputation I have,’ he continued, ‘but all I can say is that such reputations are much easier to acquire than they are to lose, and I wish you to know that since Deborah - although my life has been somewhat frivolous - I have behaved as a gentleman should at all times. If you can find it in your heart to … return some feeling for me, I promise you I will be constant in my love for you and always true.’
Sophia found she was rising from her seat without being aware of it.
‘Oh Ralph!’ she whispered, ‘do you mean it? For I already do love you, despite the fact that I have tried so hard not to. These last few weeks I have come to realise how content I have been here at Avalon – how much I have enjoyed your company - but I have been so miserable, expecting that at any time you would return to London and leave me here alone.’
She saw the hope spring to his eyes as he reached out to pull her gently into his arms. Her heart was pounding and so was his, she realised, as he held her against his chest in a long, hard embrace.
‘Can you really love me Sophia?’ he murmured into her hair.
She buried her head into his chest, her lips roaming freely over the soft cloth of his shirt as she said. ‘To prove it to you I will even stop my visits to your tenants if you particularly wish me to. Although ...’ she drew slowly back and smiled; a sweetly knowing smile that made him catch his breath. ‘were we able to come to some arrangement about that I feel it would greatly increase my desire to please you in whatever way you might find desirable?’
He laughed – a sound of pure happiness as he looked down into her teasing eyes.
‘I fear it is as I always suspected, Madam. You are a minx – and I will have to show you who is Master in this house. However ...’ his voice dropped to a husky growl as he lowered his head. ‘I’m sure we can come to some arrangement about that...’
And as his lips claimed hers in a kiss that seemed to reach into her very soul, he swung her into his arms and carried her swiftly across the room, setting her on her feet again and ripping her gown off with one rough tug that dispatched it over her head and onto the chair.
‘I’m beginning to think that I shall need a larger allowance,’ she murmured as he tipped her onto the bed and crushed her body with his. ‘Either that or I’m going to have to teach you a few lessons in self control my love.’
She gasped as he swiftly adjusted his clothing and entered her fully.
‘Oh, I think I have as much self control as I need,’ he murmured, watching her face as he buried himself deep within her. ‘And all we require is for
my
self control ...’ this as he thrust powerfully into her, ‘… to last just a little longer ... than your own.’
‘
Oh
...’ she breathed, rising eagerly to meet each thrust.
‘
Oh yes Ralph
.
You are right - that
is
exactly
what we need.’
THE END
I do hope you’ve enjoyed reading this novella as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. Do pop over to Amazon to leave a Review if you’d like to.
Coming Soon: Desperate Measures – Isabelle & Guy’s Follow Up Story.
Five years on and Ralph’s cousin Guy is divorced from his wife Charlotte and Sophia’s friend Isabelle is now widowed. Two people with a lot of baggage - both determined never to marry again. But circumstances force them together. Are they both destined to lead lonely reclusive lives or will passion thaw their cold hearts and allow the seeds of love to grow?
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