‘Of course, I shall be happy to do so. As it happens, we are all engaged for dinner with Lord and Lady Otterham this evening, but would you and Jane care to dine with us tomorrow? To celebrate this most wonderful news?’
Robert glanced at the lady who would soon be his wife, and when she smiled, he thought she had never looked more beautiful. ‘We would be delighted.’
‘Excellent.’ Lavinia was positively beaming. ‘I am so pleased everything has worked out. I do not think the story could have had a happier conclusion had dear Miss Austen written the ending to it herself!’
Chapter Thirteen
The meeting with Lord Longworth and Sophie’s brother went better than Robert could have hoped. Though Antoine was quiet to begin, once Robert convinced him of the depth of his affection for Sophie, he seemed to relax and accept the news, and even to appear happy about it. Longworth had no such reservations. He shook Robert’s hand and told him how pleased he and Lavinia were with Sophie’s choice, then he assured Robert that they were very much looking forward to having everyone together at dinner the following evening.
Robert thought it an encouraging start.
Given that Sophie was engaged for the evening, he decided to take his sister to Vauxhall, as much to celebrate her good news as his own. It went without saying that Jane’s mood had improved immeasurably since learning that her reputation had been restored, though she was deeply troubled at hearing it was Lawrence Welton who had been falsely named as the villain in the piece.
‘I would not have believed it of Mr Welton, even if you hadn’t told me the truth,’ Jane said as they strolled arm in arm down the Grand Walk. ‘He always struck me as being such a fine, honourable young man.’
‘He is,’ Robert said, tipping his hat to an acquaintance. ‘Unfortunately, no one is going to challenge Oberon over it. Everyone’s afraid of him.’
‘With good reason.’ Jane was silent for a moment. ‘I would not have thought him so evil. Arrogant, perhaps, and vain, but not cruel and hurtful. To destroy a man in such a way…’
‘If you could have seen Lawrence that night, you would have understood my desire to call Oberon out.’
‘And yet, what crime could you have accused him of, Robert? Nothing was known for certain. You could not have laid the blame for the rumours at his feet, any more than you could have accused him of lying to you when you asked him about them. But it is truly unfortunate that Mr Welton chose to leave London when he did,’ Jane said. ‘By doing so, he lent credence to Mr Oberon’s story.’
‘Indeed, but I’m sure that was part of Oberon’s strategy.’
‘Poor man. I hope he fares well in the country,’ Jane said. ‘Still, we must not dwell on it when there is so much happier news to celebrate. You are to be married to dear Sophie and I am so very pleased for you.’ Then, he felt her stiffen. ‘Robert, look!’
Oberon was coming towards them. He had a doxy on his arm and was laughing as though he hadn’t a care in the world—until he spotted them. Then a cold, calculating look settled in his eyes. Stopping a few feet in front of them, he touched the brim of his beaver. ‘Evening, Silverton. Miss Silverton.’
‘Mr Oberon,’ Jane said, her voice cooling noticeably. ‘I understand I am in your debt for having restored my good name.’
Oberon’s acknowledgement was perfunctory. ‘It was my pleasure. It would have been a crime to allow a good lady’s name to be dragged through the mud while the perpetrator was allowed to go free. What say you, Silver?’
‘I’m not so sure the perpetrator of this crime will ever be brought to justice, but I’m very glad to see my sister absolved of all wrongdoing.’
Oberon did not smile. ‘Not exactly the thanks I had in mind, but it is of no consequence. The only thanks I seek will be found in another quarter. Good evening.’
‘Will you not congratulate my brother on his good news, Mr Oberon?’ Jane said. ‘He is to be married.’
Robert squeezed his sister’s arm, but it was too late. The cobra had turned and stood poised, ready to strike. ‘Married? Indeed, I had not heard. Who is the lucky lady?’
‘Miss Vallois,’ Jane said.
Did Robert imagine the soft hiss? ‘’Pon my word, Silver, I hardly know what to say. You made no mention of this the last time we spoke.’
‘There was no need. I thought we understood each other well enough.’
A shadow of anger rippled across Oberon’s face, transforming the handsome features into a stone-like mask. ‘A moment in private if you please, Silverton.’
‘I would rather not leave Jane—’
‘I said a moment, sir!’
Robert felt Jane stir uneasily at his side. ‘It’s all right, Robert. I shall walk on to the Cascade and wait for you there.’
Oberon didn’t bother looking at the female at his side. ‘Be gone,’ he snapped, and she was.
Robert waited until Jane was safely out of distance before remarking, ‘How gallant, Oberon. Do you dispense with all of your harlots with such tact and diplomacy?’
‘Do not try my patience, Silverton! I am not in the mood.’ Oberon took a threatening step towards him. ‘How dare you go behind my back and ask Miss Vallois to marry you. She was already promised to me!’
‘No, sir, she was not. And do not think I am unaware of the terms you tried to exact from her.’
Oberon’s face went white. ‘I would have you explain your self!’
‘You promised to restore Jane’s good name in return for Miss Vallois’s promise of marriage.’
‘Which she gave me!’
‘On the contrary, you asked her to marry you and gave her a week to consider your proposal. I asked her to marry me today and she agreed.’
For a moment, Robert thought Oberon would strike him, so vicious was the anger that flashed in those obsidian eyes. ‘You’ll be sorry you did this, Silverton. I will make you pay.’
‘There is nothing more you can do. You cannot defame my sister again and you have already destroyed your good friend, Lawrence Welton.’
‘Lawrence was a fool,’ Oberon spat. ‘But there are others who can be made to suffer. I will not allow you to stand in my way again.’
‘I don’t care for threats,’ Robert said. ‘And it is you who would do well to take care. The aristocracy is not above reproach. Society will turn its back on any man if the crimes are heinous enough.’
Oberon’s face could have been carved from stone. His anger vanished, replaced by a quiet loathing that was far more dangerous. ‘I will bring you down, Robert. And by God, I’ll enjoy watching you fall.’
Robert stood his ground, but he felt a chill run down his spine. The façade of the elegant dandy was gone, devoured by the snake and lost for ever. He had no doubt the creature would strike again…and that when it did, it would strike more viciously than ever before.
Sophie was emerging from Clark and Debenham’s the next morning when she saw Mr Oberon leaning against a lamp-post, looking in her direction. She was tempted to go back inside, but it was too late. Oberon pushed away from the pole and came towards her. There was a thin smile on his lips, but his manner was as cold as a blast of Arctic air. ‘Miss Vallois, what a pleasant surprise.’
‘Mr Oberon.’ She was eminently grateful for Jeanette standing quietly behind her. ‘I was just on my way home.’
She went to move past him, but was stayed by his words. ‘I would have but a moment of your time.’
‘Lady Longworth is expecting me—’
‘This will not take long.’
‘I’m sure it will not. But first, there is something I must tell you—’
‘Say nothing. Have your maid stay well behind us and keep your voice down,’ Oberon advised. ‘I shall walk you the length of this street and then back to your carriage. What I have to say will take no longer than that.’
Aware that there was nothing she could do, Sophie handed her maid the few packages she was carrying and instructed her to follow them at a distance. Then she fel
l into step beside Oberon and they began to walk.
‘It has come to my attention,’ he said in a conversational tone, ‘that you have agreed to marry Mr Silverton. No, do not answer. Simply smile and nod, as though we were discussing the weather.’
Sophie did, though the knot in her chest tightened until it threatened to choke her.
‘It also strikes me that in doing so you have failed to honour your side of the bargain,’ he continued.
‘I was not aware we had entered into a bargain.’
‘Were you not?’ He turned to her, his beautiful smile unbearably cruel. ‘I thought I’d made it plain. I was to restore Miss Silverton’s good name and you were to accept my proposal of marriage.’
‘You said you would endeavour to restore her good name, and you gave me a week to consider my answer.’
‘Spare me the argument, Miss Vallois. I was to exonerate Miss Silverton and you were to marry me. Simple. Had you told me at the time that you had no intention of agreeing, the outcome for your friend would have been very…different.’
In that moment, Sophie knew she was dealing with a man without conscience, a man who would not hesitate to use any weapon in his arsenal to secure what he wanted. ‘You made me believe you cared as much for Miss Silverton’s reputation as I did,’ Sophie said, keeping her eyes on the road ahead. ‘Now I see it was simply a means of buying my affection.’
‘Call it what you will, the end result is that you have accepted Mr Silverton’s proposal and do not think to hear mine. Well, I am here to inform you that you will hear my proposal, and that you will agree to it.’
‘That, sir, I cannot do. I have given my promise elsewhere.’
‘A promise that need mean no more to Silverton than yours did to me.’
‘He asked for my hand and I was free to bestow it. I am not in that position now.’
‘And if he had not spoken to you and I had come to you as agreed? Would you have accepted my proposal?’
Sophie stopped dead, forcing him to halt as well. ‘I would not, sir. I told you I did not love you and that has not changed. If I led you to believe my answer would be yes—’
‘Say no more, Miss Vallois. It is I who must now speak my piece,’ he said, taking her arm and forcing her to walk again. ‘Perhaps it will help soften your heart towards me.’
‘There is really no point—’
‘There is always a point, dearest Sophie.’
‘Please do not address me in that way—’
He raised his hand to silence her objections. ‘It has not escaped my notice that you and your brother are very close. And, indeed, he is a fine fellow for all his being French. But it has also come to my attention, through the most reliable of sources, that in the past he committed an act which, to certain factions of the government, might be viewed as treasonous. No, keep on walking,’ he said when her step faltered. ‘See, there is your carriage just ahead. We only have a few more minutes in each other’s company and there is still much I would have you know.’
‘What do you want?’ Sophie said, dreading what he was about to say.
‘What I want is your agreement to be my wife. I thought after what happened at Lady Chiswick’s to make you my mistress, but that would still leave you free to marry Robert Silverton and I’ll see hell freeze over before that happens. So, you will agree to be my wife or I shall make known your brother’s doings to certain people in Paris who, I think, would be very interested in knowing the whereabouts of a man who once saved the life of a much sought-after English spy. For if your brother would do that, who knows what other conspiracies he might have been a party to?’
‘You’re bluffing! You don’t know anyone who would wish him harm!’
He smiled, coldly. ‘You seem to have forgotten that your former charge, Miss Georgina Grant-Ogilvy, married a Frenchman who just happens to be in an area of government very interested in the activities of men like your brother. And since that illuminating night at Lady Chiswick’s, I have taken it upon myself to develop a close and most useful relationship with both the lady and her new husband while they are here in London.’
‘You would not dare!’ Sophie whispered fiercely. ‘Antoine has done nothing to you!’
‘Ah, but you, dear Sophie, have. You have bewitched me and I intend to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you.’
Knowing that love would have nothing to do with it, Sophie said, ‘I will not marry you!’
‘I think you will. Because you are no longer the only one whose future hangs in the balance.’ Oberon turned to bestow an angelic smile upon her. ‘If you do not agree to marry me, I shall see to it that the moment your brother returns to France, he will be apprehended and clapped in irons. And from what I understand, life expectancy in a French jail can be…alarmingly short.’
‘This will never come to pass!’ Sophie whispered furiously. ‘I will tell him of your monstrous plan. If Antoine knows you conspire to trap him—’
‘Ah, but you will not tell him or anyone else of our conversation this afternoon, for if you do, I will make life very difficult for two other people I know you hold in high regard. In case you fail to realise it, the lives of an English spy and his wife are never completely without danger either. Not to mention dear Robert. Who knows what manner of…accident may befall him?’
Sophie felt the blood drain from her face. ‘I don’t believe you! Even you would not be so vicious as to threaten them in such a way.’
‘My naïve child, I would threaten anyone who stood in the way of me getting what I want—and I want you. But I prefer to think of it as having the upper hand. I always do, you know,’ Oberon said amiably. ‘As I once told Silver, everyone has secrets. All one has to do is find out what they are and then put them to use. I make it my business to find out as many secrets as I can, and you would be amazed at how many people’s lives I could destroy. Titled ladies and their lovers. Grand dukes and their paramours. Shady businessmen and dissatisfied bankers.’ He smiled, as though the conversation was of the most trivial in nature. ‘So you see, Sophie, you really cannot win. Refuse me and I will cause you more pain and heartache than you can imagine. Accept, and everything goes on as normal. Your brother can safely return to France, the Longworths can go on as usual, and Robert and Jane will continue with their boring little lives. And you will become my beautiful viscountess and the envy of all society.’
Sophie could think of nothing to say. The proposal was monstrous, as was the creature who uttered it.
‘I can see I have given you a great deal to think about,’ he said as they approached the carriage. ‘So I will honour my original commitment and formally call upon you tomorrow. That is fair of me, don’t you think?’
She turned her head away, unable to look at him, so great was her loathing.
‘What, no kind words to offer your future husband?’
‘If I had words,’ Sophie ground out, ‘they would not be kind.’
‘Ah. Then I suggest you find some. I expect you to convey all appearance of happiness when I inform Lord and Lady Longworth of our betrothal.’
As the world around her began to spin, Sophie placed her hand on the side of the carriage. ‘I am surprised at your determination to marry me, Mr Oberon. I would have thought a viscount’s son could do better than to marry the penniless daughter of a farmer from Bayencourt!’
‘A farmer’s daughter?’ The look he gave her was one of amused disbelief. ‘Come, come, Sophie, surely you do not expect me to believe such a Banbury tale.’
‘You mean you didn’t know?’ She wanted to laugh, even as fear and indecision tore at her insides. ‘Your reliable sources failed to inform you as to the details of my birth?’
‘There is nothing to tell. Your conduct betrays you for what you are.’
‘I was born to Gaston and Aimee Vallois in the kitchen of their farmhouse,’ Sophie said. ‘I grew up helping my mother keep house and sometimes helping my father in the fields.’
‘Rub
bish! A farmer’s daughter would never be able to speak such impeccable English! She would never appear so elegant in manner and dress!’
‘Have you forgotten about my employment with Mrs Grant-Ogilvy? You were there when it all came out. She taught me English so that I might speak to her daughters. And because I was often required to accompany the family when they went visiting I was given thorough instruction in deportment, elocution and manners. I may have been taught to behave like a lady, but I can assure you, my origins are quite humble. Only think what society will say when they learn the truth about that!’ she flung at him.
For a moment, Oberon said nothing, clearly unwilling to believe that she was telling him the truth. His pride and his belief in his ability to control others would naturally prevent him from seeing it as anything but lies. But the longer he looked at her, and the firmer she stood, the more Sophie realised he was coming to accept it. ‘So this has all been a sham,’ he said, his eyes narrowing to slits. ‘An elaborate ruse to trick an unsuspecting public into believing a lie!’
‘Not at all. Nicholas and Lavinia never tried to make anyone believe I was anything more than I am. You are the one whose motives have been suspect. You’ve never loved me. Your interest in me has always been as a result of my appearance. You said as much the first time we met.’
During the long, tense silence that followed, Sophie felt as though her breath was cut off, her heart thudding noisily within her chest.
‘Does he know?’ Oberon enquired nastily.
Anxiety shot through her. ‘Who?’
‘You know damn well who! Silverton! Does he know you’re a farmer’s brat?’
For the first time, Sophie began to smile. So, the polished veneer was finally being stripped away to reveal the ugliness beneath. ‘Yes, he knows. I told him.’
‘Yet you did not think to tell me. Pity.’
She knew a fleeting moment of hope. ‘Then you withdraw your proposal.’
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