Theo’s face fell. “I didn’t realize you were hosting a house party. Wouldn’t have come if I had known.”
“That would have been a pity since our guests are Freddy and Julia,” said his brother.
Theo’s expression brightened magically. Even before Freddy Isherwood had married his sister, he had been well liked by all the Cavanagh clan. Freddy had been Hal’s closest friend for years and their mother, Marguerite, the Dowager Countess, had known him since he was a child. He was also a favourite with the youngest Cavanagh siblings, twins Lukas and Hugo.
Two years ago, Freddy had proved instrumental in bringing two love affairs to a happy conclusion: Hal and Isabella Vane, and Sir Seymour Dinniscombe and Harriet Forster, Isabella’s aunt. Freddy’s long-standing passion for Julia had been realized in the process. The three couples had married soon afterward, and the extraordinary events of that summer were still vivid in Theo’s memory. Freddy and Julia and their baby son were now regular visitors to Chenning to see Hal, Isabella and their children. So, too, were Sir Seymour and his wife.
“It will be good to see Freddy and Julia again. They’ve not been in Town much lately. I’m hoping to persuade Freddy to join me at the hunting lodge in Leicestershire next month,” said Theo, adding with a smile, “That is, if Julia will allow it.”
“I’m sure she can be convinced,” said Hal, with a wink. “Although Freddy, like me, prefers not to be away from his wife for too long.”
“Dash it, Hal—you, Freddy and Sir Seymour give the male species a bad name!” complained Theo. “You’re all deeply in love with your wives and there’s no sign of the affliction ending. In fact you’re getting worse!”
Hal laughed. “But we have no wish to be cured and when Cupid fires his arrow you will feel the same.”
Theo’s lips twisted into a rueful smile. “Well, I don’t know if it’s the work of some half-naked fellow with a bow and arrow, and I wasn’t looking for it to ever happen to me, but I’ve been struck down with the same sickness.” His expression sobered and he thrust his hands into his pockets, admitting in gloom-ridden accents, “I’m in love.”
Hal was silent for moment.
“So it’s happened at last,” he said, subjecting Theo to a searching look. “By the look of you, you’ve fallen as hard and as quickly as I did. But why are you miserable? Does the lady in question not return your regard?”
“No. At least, I don’t think so. The truth is I’ve made a wretched mess of things and now I might have lost her forever.” Sighing, Theo ran his fingers through his hair and slumped onto a chair. “I had no choice, though. To declare my feelings before she met Verney would have been wrong.”
Frowning, Hal sat down again at the desk. “We had better start at the beginning. How did you meet?”
“She dropped out of a tree into my arms.”
Hal stared at his brother. “Indeed?” he said with a quiver of amusement in his voice. “She sounds most enterprising! I approve of her already. Tell me the whole.”
Theo did and when he had finished, Hal observed quickly, “You did not tell Sophie how you felt before you left?”
“No. I reasoned it was better to let matters with Verney take their course, for a short while at least. What right did I have to ruin her hopes by suggesting they might both have changed? She wouldn’t have believed me, and would have thought me a brute and possibly a fortune hunter to boot. And I could hardly have abused my position by making love to her. Not,” he added, flushing, “that I didn’t want to.”
“So she has no reason to suppose you are in love with her?”
Theo shook his head. “There were times I thought she was not indifferent to me, but I could not be certain and, as I said, I was unwilling to take advantage.”
“I see. And what about Verney?”
Theo shrugged. “He’s respectable. Handsome, I suppose.
Rich, too, blast his eyes, but—” “But?” prompted Hal.
“He’s a veritable coxcomb!” expostulated Theo. “It was as plain as a pikestaff he didn’t believe Sophie’s story about the intruder. His manner toward her was deplorable.
“And you left Miss Devereux at the mercy of this coxcomb?”
“What else could I do?”
“What else could she do if you haven’t told her how you feel?” replied Hal, rolling his eyes heavenward. “For an experienced man, you have been a great fool, Theo. I will be amazed if Miss Devereux and Verney decide to marry. Whatever their past history, Verney hardly sounds the type to appeal to a girl like Sophie now. She may already be regretting her decision to go to him.”
Theo started forward in his chair. “Do you think that is possible?”
“I think it probable, but the only way to know for certain is to go back and find out. Sophie is not straight out of the schoolroom, but her knowledge of the world is limited and she could hardly be expected to know what you were about. No doubt she assumed your forbearance was indifference. I should add your conduct in helping her to escape was reprehensible—”
“Dash it, Hal—!”
“And I would have done exactly the same,” concluded Hal with a grin. “I do not blame you and agree your situation was difficult. You were in a position of trust and your scruples do you credit. Even so, you should have declared your feelings at a suitable moment. A kiss is usually a good place to start.”
His companion uttered an unwilling laugh. “Are you mad? It would not have been right, situated as we were.”
“Theo, if Sophie cared for you, she would not have given a fig for your honourable intentions. As it is, she thinks you indifferent at best. Why, in a moment of madness, you even told her you wished you had never met! Now the poor girl is trapped under Verney’s roof with few options. Would Verney marry her simply to gain this sapphire?”
Theo shook his head. “He’s wealthy enough and, to give him some credit, I don’t believe greed is one of his faults. Sophie planned to set up her own establishment if they did not suit.”
Hal pondered on this for a moment, and then remarked, “Verney won’t allow it. It would be highly unusual, scandalous even, and he sounds a sticker for the proprieties. No, marriage is the only outcome that will suffice. She will be fired off into the ton and most likely bullied into a quick match.”
Theo regarded his brother with a look of horror on his face. “No, by Jupiter, she won’t!” He jumped to his feet and gave a lowpitched growl as he paced about the room. “I can’t bear to think of
Sophie marrying anyone but me. I can’t live without her.” Observing his brother’s agitation, Hal gave a deep chuckle. “Theo, there is no doubt you have joined me, Freddy and Sir Seymour in losing your heart. I wondered if it would ever happen, but Isabella was convinced that when you fell in love it would be a lifetime’s passion. After all, loving without limits is the Cavanagh curse—it should be incorporated into our family motto.”
Theo paused and pushed his fingers through his hair again.
“But what if Sophie doesn’t care for me?”
“Confess and give her the chance to speak. Only then will you know how she feels. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Theo, struck by Hal’s reasoning, wondered why he had been unable to view matters in the same way. A spark of hope flared in his eyes. “Yes! Yes! I need to speak to her.”
“Make haste though. If Verney is not to marry Sophie
himself, he will want her future settled as soon as possible.”
“I’ll travel back tomorrow. It’s been over two weeks since I left her in Brook Street.”
“Enough time for her to realize the promise of the youth has fallen short in the man,” said Hal. “Did you talk to Dinny before you left?”
“Briefly. I told him what had happened, but I doubt he’ll dig up much. He knows Grey already, of course, but said he couldn’t reveal any more until he had permission to do so. He promised to talk to some people at the Home Office, of all places. Sounded dashed mysterious to me.”
“Dinny wouldn’t be secretive with you unless he was obliged to be.” Hal frowned. “How odd. There must be a great deal more to Lucius Grey than meets the eye.”
Theo agreed, adding, “Grey was mightily interested in Sophie too, blast him! Can’t help thinking the Star is at the bottom of all this. It’s well hidden, but I wish it was still in the lawyer’s office.”
“It’s too late to worry about that now. Get yourself back to London as soon as possible.”
Just then a blonde-haired young boy came rushing in, his face glowing with excitement. He held a cricket bat in one hand and a black and white dog scampered at his heels. Seeing Theo, the boy let the cricket bat clatter to the floor, uttered a squeal of delight and ran to embrace him. Then, blushing at this unmanly display of affection, he pulled back, saying, “Uncle Theo! I was out playing when I heard Robbins telling Mama you were here. I thought it must be fudge until I saw your curricle and pair being taken down to the stables. How fast do they go? As fast as Papa’s greys? Surely not! Papa’s greys are the most amazing creatures, everyone says so. Did you know Lord Skeffington offered Papa two hundred guineas for them only last month? He will not sell though, will you, Papa?”
Hal laughed at this breathless speech. “I give you my word I will not sell to Lord Skeffington, Dominic.”
“He could not manage them as well as you do,” said Dominic with an adoring glance at his step-father. “No-one in the world drives as well as you do. Not even Theo.”
“Here, that’s coming it a bit strong!” said Theo, grinning and trying to stop Dominic’s dog licking the shine from his boots in an effusive welcome. “Hal’s a mere whipster compared to me.”
“He’s not! He’s good at cricket too. Hit a ball clean into the orchard this morning,” said Dominic proudly. He sidled round the desk and slipped his hand into Hal’s.
“Did he, by Gad?” Theo raised his brows as he idly scratched the dog’s ears. Aesop, a canine of dubious parentage and Dominic’s constant companion, sat at the side of the chair, falling into a blissful state under these expert ministrations.
“Would you like a game?” Dominic asked, anticipation glinting in his eyes. “I bet you would like to try hitting the ball farther than Papa. Freddy tried and he couldn’t do it.”
Hal began to remonstrate with Dominic, pointing out Theo had not even changed his clothes yet, but Theo interjected, “Is that so? Well, it’s a matter of urgency I prove myself more accomplished than Freddy. Never live it down if I don’t!” He stood up, much to Aesop’s disgust, and flexed his shoulders. “Lead on, Dominic—smashing the deuce out of a cricket ball is exactly what I need at the moment!”
Delighted at having enlisted his uncle’s services, Dominic was explaining through the kitchen was the shortest route to the south lawn when his mother entered.
Isabella, Countess of Bramwell, had been considered the most beautiful woman in London during the season she spent there, but Theo reflected that marriage to his brother had accentuated her loveliness.
The reserved, slightly aloof air that had once clung to Isabella, a consequence of her unhappy past and the reason, along with her ethereal looks, that the ton had referred to her as the Ice Angel, had melted away. A happy marriage and motherhood had moulded her into a woman of simple elegance and breathtaking beauty.
Dressed plainly in a white muslin gown, a silk shawl and silk slippers, Isabella looked as lovely as a newly unfurled rose. Her golden hair was dressed in a simple style. Her flushed cheeks and sparkling blue eyes suggested she had hurried to the study. In her arms, she carried a child who, although she had only recently passed her first birthday, threatened to rival her mother if her features and colouring were any measure of future beauty.
They presented a delightful picture and Theo couldn’t blame Hal for leading Dominic by the hand and going to them at once. There had always been a fierce, tangible attraction between Hal and Isabella which Theo had never completely understood.
Until now.
Now he appreciated it because he felt the same way about Sophie. He was compelled to be near her in the same way Hal was drawn Isabella.
Unheeding of his audience, Hal greeted Isabella with a kiss. She smiled up at him, and then laughed as their daughter gurgled at their visitor.
‘Theo, how wonderful that you are here and, as you see, Elise thinks so too,” said Isabella. ‘Dominic has been forever asking when you would visit.”
“I have explained to Theo his timing could not be better since Freddy and Julia are here also,” said Hal.
“Yes, a delightful coincidence! They are out visiting Aunt Serafina at the moment, but will be back for dinner,” she replied. “How are you, Theo? Did you go to Bath as planned?”
“I did, but my trip did not turn out as anticipated,” said Theo.
Hal laughed. “Theo has some news, my love. We’ll order tea to be served outside and he can tell you himself. I think you will be intrigued.”
“Very well. I’ll ask nurse to take Elise for her afternoon nap.”
Isabella went out and soon returned alone, at which point Dominic led them all into the garden, punctuating his progress with jumps and whoops of excitement.
An hour later, Theo had not only beaten Hal’s record by sending the cricket ball clean over the orchard, but recounted his adventures with Sophie to his sister-in-law. She listened with a sympathetic ear while Hal and Dominic attempted to outdo Theo’s achievement by hitting the ball into the ha-ha at the edge of the lawn.
Like Hal, Isabella thought it unlikely Sophie would be enamoured enough of Lord Verney to marry him, adding, “I cannot believe from what you have said she is indifferent to you but, whatever her feelings, she needs your help. I know what it is like to feel alone and unsure what to do next. Thankfully I had Harriet to advise and encourage me during my most difficult times. Of course, Harriet and Dinny will protect Olivia’s interests as best they can—she is their guest—but who is to do the same for Sophie? Certainly not Peregrine, and it sounds like Verney and his mama cannot be relied upon either.”
Theo mused on this. It had cost him all his resolution to stay away from Brook Street. At first he had continued with his life, visited his usual haunts, sought out the company of his friends, and thrown himself, without any enjoyment but with a great deal of bravado, into an excess of diversions. He had tried almost every distraction London had to offer. It had been to no avail. Unable to think clearly, the feeling of desolation did not leave him and as time went by, he missed Sophie more. The comfortable, carefree days he had enjoyed before meeting her might have returned, but he no longer had any zest for them. The succeeding hours and days had passed in depressed and occasional drunken misery, with Theo tortured by images of Sophie and Lord Verney together. In his unhappy state, he had fallen deeper into despair and grown increasingly convinced he had been mistaken and they would marry after all.
Now, Hal and Isabella had ignited a spark of hope that all might not lost. Over dinner later that night, Theo’s mother, Freddy and Julia added their encouragement. By the mysterious process affecting every close family, they already knew the details and, amid much banter and good-natured teasing, agreed Theo should return to London as soon as possible.
“It pains me to admit it, but she’s a ninny if she prefers Verney to you,” declared Julia, her dark eyes twinkling. “Freddy and I are a little acquainted with the family. He’s handsome to be sure, but Lord Verney is so puffed up with his own consequence he is unable to forget it even for a moment and, while his mama is an amiable creature, she is too meek to point out his deficiencies. As for Miss Devereux, she sounds delightful—too delightful to throw herself away on Verney.” She laughed then, and teasingly observed, “Does she talk as much as I do?”
“More,” admitted Theo.
At this, Marguerite, the Dowager Countess, who had been studying her son thoughtfully, dabbed her napkin to her lips to hide a smile, but said nothing.
Julia was not so circumspec
t. “Really?” she said, her eyes dancing. “And to think you used to talk of marrying a mouse of a girl who would give you a quiet life! Well, I am relieved you have not decided upon an insipid Almack’s debutante because you would be bored within a month. Sophie sounds exactly the sort of girl I would have chosen for you.”
Freddy, smiling indulgently as his wife delivered this candid observation, held up his hands when Theo’s gaze shifted to him. “Don’t ask me for advice!” he said, laughing and shaking his head. “Useless where ladies are concerned, and that’s the sum of it.”
“Darling, that’s not true—” began Julia.
“Oh yes, it is,” said Freddy bluntly. “Never been able to understand them! Not that it matters anymore because I’m married to the only woman in the world who understands me, and I adore her for it.” He swept his wife’s fingers to his lips before adding, with a wink in Theo’s direction, “Besides, I wouldn’t want to make a greater mull of things for you, Theo. I took your advice on a previous occasion as I recall and it led to a disastrous evening with Julia.”
Theo grinned at the memory. ”So it did!”
“I can safely say that we will never be understood by men and a good thing too, for how else can we hope to keep them intrigued?” observed Marguerite.
More laughter followed this remark, and although the rest of the meal passed in a lively fashion, by the end of the evening Theo felt unbearably restless. He was in an agony of hope and despair. Allowing Sophie to meet her childhood sweetheart before declaring himself might have been well intentioned, but it had also been a mistake. His preoccupation with doing the honourable thing meant he had lost sight of what was important. Now he had to fight for his future.
He would have preferred to drive back through the night, but resigned himself to an early morning departure when he would make better time. The thought of Sophie marrying anyone else was excruciating. He felt overwhelming despair at the prospect of her becoming betrothed, then married and all that marriage entailed.
Three Secrets and a Scandal (Regency Secrets and Scandals Book 2) Page 16