Never Courted, Suddenly Wed (Scandalous Seasons #2)(81)

“Yes?”

“If you hurt her again, I’ll kill you.”

Christopher bowed. “If she’ll take me back, I intend to spend the rest of my life earning her forgiveness.”

“See that you do.”

A short while later, the viscount’s carriage rattled on. Christopher had two matters of business to attend to: one on Fleet Street, and the other in Rochester, Kent.





Lady Ackerly’s Tattle Sheet





James Gunter was suitably outraged when Miss S.W. purchased ambergris frozen cream and fed it to her pug…inside Gunter’s Tea Shop. The dog has been banned from Gunter’s establishment.


25

Sophie shuffled back and forth on her feet. She glanced back at her carriage to the black double-doors of Meadowbrook Estate.

When she’d taken her leave of Milford House two mornings ago, it had seemed like the ideal place to escape. She’d briefly considered returning to London but shame had prevented her from going to face the obvious disappointment and the deserving blame her brother and mother would heap upon her shoulders.

Instead, she’d taken Christopher’s carriage to her family’s neighboring estate, and from there, her brother’s barouche. In doing so, she expected her husband would likely not ascertain her whereabouts.

She sighed. It had seemed like a good idea.

Now it seemed like she were nothing more than an interloper on her dear friend Emmaline and Lord Drake’s intimate family moment. Emmaline had given birth to a baby girl several weeks ago. And here was Sophie, infringing upon their privacy.

She really should leave.

Duke reared up as best as he was able on his stubby legs and scratched at the door.

“No, Duke,” she scolded, and reached for him.

Of course, with the time of it she’d had these past two days, Duke wouldn’t be obliging. A crow circled above. Duke’s ears perked up and he bounded down the steps, in pursuit of the high-flying bird.

She raced after him. “Duke!”

The driver, an older, portly gray-haired man set out after the dog.

“I’m so very sorry,” Sophie called to Bennett.

“Don’t think anything of it, my lady,” he managed between gasps for air.

Alas, Bennett had clearly come to expect moments such as this as commonplace.

They hurried after the dog.

Duke drew in great, big snorting breaths, and then seemed to tire of chasing the crow overhead. Instead, he’d identified a new game.

“No, Duke,” she pleaded when he danced back and forth on his short legs.

He barked, then set off down the drive.

Sophie grasped the edges of her skirt, and ran after him.

“Sophie?”

That one, shocked word brought her to a sudden, jarring halt. She spun around.

Emmaline stood on the front steps alongside her husband, Lord Drake, her mother, the Duchess of Mallen, and brother, the Duke of Mallen.

Sophie’s gaze collided with the duke’s, and all the humiliated hurt she’d carried since she’d discovered Christopher’s betrayal rushed to the surface.

Then, Duke gave an excited yelp and she made a desperate grab for the dog, just as Bennett reached for him.

Sophie and Bennett collided with a solid bang.

Sophie grunted. Swaying on her feet, she threw her arms out to catch herself from falling.

Alas, she landed with a solid thump upon the gravel drive. Bits of dust and pebble bit into the soft flesh of her palms. Duke must have taken Sophie’s fall as indication that whatever pug-game he’d played had officially ended. He licked her cheek.

“Sophie!” Emmaline called out and raced toward Sophie.

“Emmaline, you shouldn’t be running. Not so soon after…” Lord Drake called sternly. His words ended on the exasperated sigh of a man who knew he had no real control over his wife’s actions.

The duke started after Emmaline. To help? He must have seen something in Sophie’s eyes for he jerked to an immediate halt. A dull flush stained his neck, and she suspected that he’d gathered the reason for her visit.

Bennett had just helped Sophie to her feet when Emmaline hurled herself into Sophie’s arms.

Sophie held on tight to her friend.

“Oh, Sophie, I’ve missed you,” Emmaline whispered into her ear. “I missed your wedding.”

And because Sophie had felt oh so very alone, and because she feared her heart would never mend from the damage inflicted by her undeserving husband, Sophie promptly burst into tears.

“Sophie!” Emmaline pulled back and took Sophie’s hands in hers. “What is it?” She looked over Sophie’s shoulder toward the conspicuously empty carriage. Sophie knew the moment her friend had pieced together the reason for her visit. Her dark brown brows knitted into a single line. “What did he do?”

Sophie glanced over at the trio on the steps.

Emmaline followed her gaze. “Come, we’ll speak inside.”

Again, the imposition she posed registered. She pulled back. “I shouldn’t have come. You’ve just had the babe. You should…”

Her friend shot her a dark look. “Don’t be daft, Sophie. You are my dearest friend in the world. Is your opinion of me really so low?”

Sophie shook her head. “No. It isn’t that. It’s just,” she held her hands up. “I’ve intruded.”