LITMIR.BIZ

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As my lawful bride.’

Chapter Ten

      ‘Richard, what is going on? Hannah returned practically in tears because of your cruelty this afternoon. How dare you!’ His mother’s voice assaulted Richard when he walked into his rooms later that evening.

      Myers gave him an apologetic look, but Richard merely smiled at his valet. He patted his coat pocket which held the special licence. Nothing was going to disrupt his happiness, not even his mother and her accusations. Sophie would be properly his tomorrow. He had done it. Sophie would belong to him. His refuge from the world would be secure.

      As he had suspected, the Bishop of Durham had been more than happy to oblige the son of the Marquess of Hallington and had even offered to perform the ceremony tomorrow morning at eleven. Before he left the Bishop, Richard penned a note to Sophie to be ready and sent his coachman off to Sophie’s house to deliver it.

      Tension flowed from his shoulders. Sophie would know now what tomorrow would bring. Things had worked out better than he’d hoped this morning. He had succeeded—even his mother and her accusations of cruelty towards his sister could not change his future.

      He looked forward to initiating Sophie tomorrow afternoon in the art of bedsport, but first he had to deal with his mother.

      ‘Congratulate me, Mother, I am going to marry.’

      His mother’s face pursed like she had just swallowed a sour plum. ‘To the common chit whom you have used as a decoy when you were negotiating Hannah’s marriage? But how? Why? You have barely spent any time with her beyond your duty.’

      ‘To Sophie, yes.’ Richard frowned. His mother had no right to speak of Sophie in that fashion. And he had kept his visits with Sophie private. Sometimes his mother was a worse snob than his aunt. ‘You will like her when you meet her. You will find her an admirable daughter-in-law. There is nothing common about Sophie at all. You will see why I married her once you are acquainted with her.’

      His mother raised an eyebrow. ‘I have heard from your sister that Miss Ravel is a classic Beauty with a friendly unaffected manner. However, Hannah is no judge of character. I thought we had agreed—there is no need to actually marry the girl. If a woman wishes to ruin herself, allow her. You did the honourable thing. You proposed, she refused. You have squired her to a few amusements, but you were well chaperoned.’

      ‘She has accepted my offer. My second offer.’

      ‘This woman was merely the excuse you were going to give your father if he required an answer.’

      ‘You chose to believe that, Mother. I saw no need to correct your assumption.’

      ‘Are you telling me that there was more to it?’ His mother paled visibly. ‘What have you done, Richard? How did she trap you?’

      ‘Mother, my relationship with Sophie is none of your business.’ Richard breathed deeply. His mother had never met Sophie. She could not possibly understand why he needed to be certain that she would remain in his life. He wasn’t even sure he understood. He only knew that he had to have her. ‘Why did you allow Hannah to go to the match today? I asked you to prevent it.’

      ‘She wanted to. Ronald wanted her there.’ His mother ran a finger along the oak table. ‘I don’t see why you had to take rooms here in Granger Street. Your man does not clean properly. You could have stayed with us. It would have been good to have you there when you were needed, rather than me having to seek you out.’

      Richard gave a faint shudder at the thought of staying any length of time with either of his parents. With his father, they were at least able to be in separate wings. His mother’s house on Charlotte Square was a reasonable size, but not overly large. And given his impending marriage, these rooms would have to do as a bridal suite. He withdrew the licence from his coat pocket.

      ‘I will be married tomorrow, Mother, and that is the end of it. Remember, Sophie is my chosen bride and address her civilly. Otherwise don’t bother.’

      ‘May I come to the wedding or am I to be forbidden as unfit for society? My father was a baronet. And now every door is shut to me.’ His mother slammed her fists together. ‘Why? Because of your father and his vindictive nature.’

      ‘I haven’t told Sophie about you and Hannah yet,’ Richard admitted between clenched teeth. Trust his mother to hit on the nub of the problem. His plans had moved at a breathtaking rate after Sophie melted in his arms. He had to trust Sophie would understand why he hadn’t told her before the wedding. ‘Events rather overtook us. If there was any trapping to be done, it was me who pushed. I want her for my bride. You who followed your heart and abandoned your family surely must understand this?’

      His mother digested the news with difficulty. ‘Do you love her?’

      ‘What does love have to do with it?’ He refused to discuss his feelings for Sophie with his mother of all people! They were far too new and raw. He had never felt like this about anyone before. All he knew was that he wanted her in his arms for always. He also knew he’d forced the marriage, rather than trusting Sophie to make the right decision.

      ‘I know what it is like to be in a loveless marriage, Richard. I suffered dreadfully. You have no idea how it can suffocate you. I thought I’d go mad if your father mentioned his pigs again.’

      He crossed over to the desk. ‘My father has written. The letter arrived this morning. He is coming to Newcastle. I have no idea when he will arrive. I thought you should know. He is apparently prepared to leave his pigs to meet Sophie.’

      His mother went white and she staggered over to the sofa. ‘You swore this wouldn’t happen. He never travels up here. He knows I am here. Whatever am I to do? Do you suppose he knows about Hannah’s impending marriage? Could Parthenope have heard a whisper? That woman is a menace! She has always aided and abetted your father.’

      ‘He wants to meet Sophie. He makes no mention of you or my sister.’ Richard’s mouth twisted and he clenched his fist. He’d been the one to taunt his aunt at the At Home. Now, he potentially had both his parents thinking Sophie was beneath him. ‘I suspect my aunt did not send a favourable report. And I do not intend to have any of his interference in my marriage.’

      His mother nodded as she withdrew a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. She gave a shuddering sigh before she continued. ‘Perhaps you are wise. It is best your bride meets your father without knowing about your sister or me.’

      ‘Why? I would have thought Hannah would want to go to my wedding.’

      ‘Your bride-to-be is the one who was supposed to be keeping your engagement quiet, but before twenty-four hours were up, she announced it to the packed Assembly Rooms in a very dramatic fashion. If she meets your father, she might suddenly take it into her head to blurt out about Hannah and her engagement.’

      ‘There were circumstances beyond her control.’

      His mother gave a faint shudder. ‘Can you trust this Sophie with the secret? With your father in the same city as me? After all these years? Don’t you care about your sister and her happiness?’

      ‘Mother! You are speaking about the woman who will be my wife. If I didn’t trust her, I would hardly marry her.’

      His mother raised her hands in supplication. ‘Let me get your sister properly married first. After that, your father can’t touch her. Please, for Hannah’s sake. I’ve told you how vengeful your father is. How he hounded me and wouldn’t rest. How he refused to hand over any of my dowry. He will destroy Hannah out of sheer spite, if he realises the true reason why you travelled up here. I know he will. Is this such a little request to ask of you?’

      Richard pressed his lips together. The excuse would serve. The last thing he wanted was Sophie having to deal with his mother’s unwarranted snobbery on her wedding day.

      On

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