Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street Runners #2)(74)

“I am sorry to hear it.”

He gave a brief laugh. “I see that you’re still put out with me. Allow me to apologize for leaving so precipitately when last we met. I had received word of some urgent business that had to be attended to.”

Contempt flared inside her. “Involving your wife, perhaps?”

He smiled a bit sheepishly, as if at a minor faux pas. “My wife had nothing to do with us.”

“You asked me to marry you when you were already married. A bit deceptive, don’t you think?”

“I only did that to nudge you into doing what you already wanted to do. There was a strong attraction between us, Sophia. In fact, I sense that it is has not vanished entirely.”

She was astonished by the appraising glance he gave her. Good Lord, how easy it was for him to renew all the self-disgust and shame she had tried to dispel. “If you sense anything from me, it is loathing.”

“Women,” he replied, clearly amused. “You always say the opposite of what you mean.”

“Take it as you will. But stay away from me, or you will have to deal with my husband.”

“I don’t think so,” Anthony murmured with an insolent smile. “Cannon is a gentleman, and a cold fish besides. His kind always looks the other way.”

If Sophia had not been so outraged, she would have laughed scornfully at the notion that Ross was too much of a gentleman to protest being cuckolded. “Stay away from me,” she repeated, her voice unsteady despite the tight control she maintained over herself.

“You intrigue me, Sophia,” Anthony remarked. “You are far more spirited and worldly-wise than you were before. The change in you is quite lovely. It bears investigation, I think.”

“Investigation?” Her voice held utter bewilderment.

“Not now, of course, as you’ve just been wed. But sometime in the future, I may persuade you to renew our… friendship.” His smile was taunting and arrogant. “I can be very persuasive, as you well know.”

Sophia inhaled sharply. “There is no possible inducement to make me spend five minutes in your company.”

“Isn’t there? I would hate for certain rumors about you to circulate. What an embarrassment for your husband and his family. Perhaps you should consider being pleasant to me, Sophia. If not, the consequences could prove most distressing.”

She turned white with fear and rage. No doubt Anthony was enjoying the exchange, toying with her like a cat with a mouse. Whether his threats were serious or not, his efforts to set her off-balance were very effective. And she herself had given him that power by once having been stupid enough to trust him. If Anthony ever chose to tell people that he had known her intimately, she would not be able to refute his claims. An embarrassment to the Cannon family, indeed. Wretchedly Sophia contemplated the solemn portraits before her—the faces of her husband’s distinguished ancestors. How ill-suited she was to join such company.

“There, now,” Anthony murmured, seeming to relish her silent despair. “I see that we have reached an understanding.”

As Ross brought a glass of champagne punch to his mother, he saw Sophia standing near the entrance of the portrait gallery. She was conversing with a young man whom Ross had never met. Although a casual observer could not have read the expression on Sophia’s carefully blank face, Ross knew her too well.

“Mother,” Ross asked casually, “who is that?”

Catherine followed his gaze. “The blond gentleman speaking with Sophia?”

“Yes.”

“That charming boy is Mr. Anthony Lyndhurst, the son of Baron Lyndhurst. I have become quite attached to the family this past year. Such delightful people. You would have met them at your grandfather’s birthday weekend, but the baron’s sister was quite ill, and of course the family did not wish to leave her until she was out of danger.”

“Anthony,” Ross repeated, studying the slim, golden-haired man. There was no doubt in his mind that he was the same Anthony who had seduced Sophia.

“The youngest of three sons,” Catherine informed him, “and perhaps the most accomplished of the lot. He sings in the most lovely tenor—it would give you chills to hear him.”

Ross was far more interested in giving him chills. “Audacious bastard,” he said beneath his breath. Whether Anthony was apologizing for the past or, more likely, throwing it in Sophia’s face, Ross was going to set him straight on a few points.

“What did you say?” Catherine asked. “My goodness, the way you and Matthew have taken to muttering to yourselves of late, I am beginning to wonder if I have become hard-of-hearing.”

Ross tore his glance from Anthony Lyndhurst for one moment. “Forgive me, Mother. I referred to Lyndhurst as an audacious bastard.”

Catherine was obviously taken aback by the blunt comment. “Mr. Lyndhurst is merely chatting with Sophia, dear. There is no need to carry on as if he has done something ungentlemanly. It isn’t like you to be jealous and possessive. I do hope you will not make a scene.”

Instantly Ross adopted a bland smile. “I never make scenes,” he said mildly.

Pacified, Catherine beamed at him. “That’s better, dear. Now, if you will come this way, I want to introduce you to Lord and Lady Maddox. They have purchased the old Everleigh estate and are refurbishing the entire east—” Catherine broke off in perplexed surprise as she realized that her elder son was no longer with her. “All this mysterious dashing about!” she exclaimed to herself, vexed by his sudden disappearance. “Perhaps he has forgotten that he is not at Bow Street this evening.” Shaking her head in exasperation, she drank the rest of her champagne punch and headed toward a circle of friends.