He turned back to her. Perhaps there was time for a few more kisses, a few more touches.
He looked down at her and realized he could almost make out her face. Time was short.
Matson sat up in the boat and said, “The fog is lifting. Let me help you straighten your clothing.”
“No, I’ve got mine. You take care of yours.”
He stuffed his shirt back into his trousers and rebuttoned his waistcoat while he watched her smooth down her skirts. Her back was to him, so he touched her shoulder. “Are you all right, Sophia?”
She looked up at him and gave him a sweet smile. “I am fine,” she said.
“I think we should talk about what just happened between us.”
“Why should we? Are you sorry about what we did?”
“No, never,” he said, surprised by her response.
“And neither am I. I knew perfectly well what I was doing, so I don’t think words about it are necessary. Look,” she said, pointing over his shoulder, “there is the blur of a light.”
The gray was dissipating quickly. “Finally,” he said, forcing his fingers back into his gloves, “a beacon to show us the way to shore.”
She touched his arm. “Thank you for chasing all the smoke away.”
He expected her to be nervous or shy, but she wasn’t. He looked closely at her features, wanting to make sure there were no hidden regrets behind her smile.
He smiled. “It was my pleasure, Miss Hart, but I fear your lips look ravished, and there’s a healthy blush to your cheeks.”
“No doubt the wind caused it. It’s been blustery out here on the water for an hour.”
“Do you think Double and Trouble will buy that?”
She smiled again. “I will immediately fall into Aunt June’s arms. I’ll tell her I’m wet, cold, and near frozen to death, and ask her to please rush me home. She’ll not suspect a thing.”
“Sophia—” He stopped.
“Don’t, Matson. As far as I am concerned, nothing has changed between us.”
She picked up her gloves and started putting them on.
“That’s not true,” he objected. “A lot just changed between us. Something just changed for you. You are no longer a virgin.”
She looked up at him with imploring eyes. “I am well aware of that. I knew that when I encouraged you, and I don’t regret it. What has not changed is that I am committed to marry a titled man, and I will.”
Matson’s temper rose. “Then why did you let me touch you?”
“Because I wanted to.”
“Is Sir Randolph forcing you to marry a title?”
“No,” she whispered and started putting on her other glove. “It was a vow I made to my father while he was dying, and I will keep that vow. That is why I said nothing has changed between us. It will be as if nothing happened between us. Please.”
Matson could argue further or be a gentleman and accept things the way she wanted it. “All right,” he finally said. “Nothing has changed between us. That is the way we both want it.”
“Yes,” she said and picked up her bonnet and placed it back on her head.
Matson helped her fasten her wrap around her shoulders, and then threw on his cloak before moving to his seat at the front of the boat. He picked up his oar and started rowing, feeling very empty inside.
A few minutes later they reached the shore. The footmen were there to help pull in the boat.
“Sophia, we were so worried about you,” June said, grabbing her and hugging her as soon as she stepped out.
“Are you all right?” Mae asked, patting her on the back. “You look near frozen to death.”
“Yes, I am cold,” she said, “but otherwise I’m perfectly fine, Aunties.” She glanced at Matson and gave him a shy smile. “Mr. Brentwood took excellent care of me.”
“Didn’t you hear us calling out to you?” June asked, giving Matson a disapproving look.
“Not in time to make it to shore,” Sophia said quickly, not giving Matson time to answer. “It was quite scary at one time, Aunt June. The fog was so thick, I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. I wanted to get close to Mr. Brentwood, but he insisted I stay where I was for fear any movement could cause the boat to tip over and land both of us in the water.”
“Oh, my, he was right,” Mae said in alarm. “How frightful that would have been.”
“It is my fault we were caught in the fog, Miss Shevington. I should have been paying more attention to the skies.”
“Indeed you should have,” June said.
“But thank you, Mr. Brentwood,” Mae said kindly, “for keeping our Sophia safe. I shudder to think what would have happened if Sophia had fallen in the water.”
“She was very brave.” He smiled at her. “I think what she needs is to get home and have something warm to eat and drink.”
“And then I shall be fine,” Sophia said.
“Absolutely,” June said. “Come, dearest.”
Sophia stopped her aunt and looked back at Matson. “Thank you for teaching me how to row, Mr. Brentwood. Perhaps we can do it again before May Day Fair Day?”
Matson’s breath leaped in surprise. “I would like that, Miss Hart.”
“No, no,” June said. “I’m afraid that won’t happen. Sophia does not have the time to spend another afternoon on the Serpentine. Her schedule is simply too full.”
“Perhaps you can practice for the wheelbarrow race next time,” Mae said. “Mr. Brentwood can come to our house for that. You can practice in the back garden, where it is much safer.”
“Mr. Brentwood?” Sophia asked.
“I’d be pleased to do that, Miss Hart.”
“Good.”
Matson helped the ladies into the carriage, said his good-byes, and shut the door. He stood and watched the landau until it was out of sight. The fog had almost completely faded away. Nothing changed except that Miss Hart was no longer a virgin, and while she seemed all right with that when she left, he wondered if she’d still feel that way in the morning. It couldn’t be made right.
He suddenly thought about his mother and Sir Randolph. What was it the old man had said to him? It was something that just happened. We were not in love, and there had been no long, unrequited desire between us. The time and the place were right, and we couldn’t stop what was happening between us. That’s all there was to it. There was no long affair, no other times, just that one chance meeting that resulted in twins.
Matson finally knew what the old man meant.
Sixteen
Zeal is fit only for wise men but is found mostly in fools.
—Ancient Proverb
Sophia sat on the wide-striped, brocade settee in Sir Randolph’s house, sipping tea and listening to Lord Bighampton talk about his horses, his lands, and his latest attempt to see the ill King. It was easy for her to smile, nod, and show concern in all the right places. Thankfully, it was quite unnecessary for her to say a word. Lord Bighampton was happy to do all the talking.
Occasionally, Sophia would look over at her aunt Mae, who was seated in a straight-back chair near the fireplace, seemingly enthralled with every word the earl spoke. They had not had much luck in getting a gentleman interested in her by inviting them to call on Sophia. Mae needed to let gentlemen know she was open to being called on, but Sophia didn’t know how she was going to talk her into doing that when she was determined that June not know of her desire to be courted.
Because Lord Bighampton required her to say little, Sophia found it easy to let her thoughts drift to a gentleman who was far more intriguing than the earl. Every time Matson Brentwood crossed her mind, her breasts tightened and her lower abdomen quivered. Her chest ached from her heart pounding against the back of it, because she wanted to see him and be with him again. She’d lain awake the past few nights, thinking about their afternoon in the boat. The air was heavy with a damp chill, but she had never felt so warm in her life.
In her wakefulness, she had wondered if she woul
d have been so bold and encouraged him to touch her in such intimate ways if the encompassing fog hadn’t forced her to relive the horror of the night her house burned down.
Yes, she had concluded. She had needed to be wanted, to be touched by a gentle hand, and to be reassured that even when life was unfair and took away something loved, it would give something special back to you at another time.
That afternoon she was reminded of how much she’d already lost: her mother and all her belongings, her father, and the right to marry whomever she chose. Sophia couldn’t bear the thought of losing the opportunity to have Matson show her how a man desires a woman. That was something she had control of, and she wasn’t sorry about her decision. She knew it meant she would not be an innocent for her husband, and in a way, perhaps that was a betrayal of the man, whoever he might be, but she would never be sorry she had that time with Matson.
She hadn’t seen Matson at any of the parties she’d been to since the afternoon in the boat. She hadn’t seen him at the park either. He’d told her he rode his horse every afternoon at the same time, but he hadn’t been there yesterday when she walked in the park with her aunts after a most uninspiring visit with Mr. Alfred Boyd. The man had been so boring, not even her aunt Mae was interested in him.
“What about you, Miss Hart? Were you surprised by Lord Tradesforke’s choosing couples for his May Day Fair Day event?”
Sophia cleared her throat and set her cup down on the tray. “I’m still so new to London, I think everything surprises me, my lord. I was just thinking I should send for hot tea. Would you like that?”
“Splendid idea,” he said. “Lord Snellingly told me that you like to have poetry read to you. Perhaps you could ask Miss Shevington to speak to your cook about the tea, and if she doesn’t mind, perhaps she could look for a book on poetry for me. I would love to read to you.” He turned to Mae. “Would you do that for us, Miss Shevington?”
Mae jumped up. “Oh, yes, of course, your lordship. I’d be happy to.”
Lord Bighampton rose too. “Thank you, Miss Shevington, so kind of you to be so willing.”
“Oh, no,” she said, beaming. “Not at all. I know exactly where the poetry books are in Sir Randolph’s book room. Did you have a favorite poet? I’m sure Sir Randolph will have it. His collection of books is quite extensive.”
“Any of them will do. I’ll leave it to you to choose.”
“I’ll take care of it right now,” she said eagerly, already halfway to the door. “And I’ll see to the tea too.”
“Take your time,” he called to her as she walked out of the drawing room.
Lord Bighampton surprised Sophia by sitting down very close to her on the settee. He picked up her hand from her lap and kissed it.
She smiled nervously as she pulled her hand away. “Now what were you saying about Lord Tradesforke?”
“Nothing of any consequence, Miss Hart,” he said, and without warning, grabbed her upper arms, jerked her to him, and planted his lips on hers.
Sophia was so stunned at first all she could do was shudder while his lips pressed harder and harder on hers. When she realized what was happening, she tried to pull away from the earl. His big, puffy hands tightened on her arms, alarming her. She flattened her hands on his chest and pushed as hard as she could, but he didn’t budge. She twisted her face away from his, but all that did was allow him to kiss her cheek, over her jaw, and down her neck.
She squirmed, and with the palms of her hands, tried to shove his full cheeks away from her face as she exclaimed, “What are you doing, my lord?”
“I’m kissing you, my dear,” the earl huffed breathlessly. “I know you are an innocent, but surely you know what a kiss is.”
Sophia jerked down hard with her arms and broke his hold on her. Wrenching her body to the side, she jumped up and rushed to the other side of the settee, putting it between them.
“How dare you, Lord Bighampton!” she admonished. “You should be ashamed of yourself for forcing a kiss on me.”
He rose from the sofa. “Then come willingly into my arms and favor me with another stirring kiss.”
Stirring kiss?
“I will not. You are not behaving like a gentleman, my lord.”
Lord Bighampton quickly rounded the corner of the settee toward her. Sophia moved at a fast walk in order to keep the small sofa between them.
“I know ladies like to be chased, Miss Hart, but there is no time for that today. Miss Shevington will return soon.”
Not soon enough!
“I do not want to be chased,” she managed to huff out while she sped around the settee.
“I’ve already made my intentions clear to Sir Randolph, my sweet cherry blossom, and soon you will be mine.”
Sophia gasped. She rounded the corner of the settee again as the earl continued to pursue her. “I know nothing about your intentions. I have not agreed to marry you or anyone else.”
“You don’t have to,” he said, reaching out and grabbing hold of a ribbon on the waistline of her dress.
For a moment Sophia’s forward momentum was stopped, and she was yanked backward, but fearing she might be caught in his gripping arms again, she used all her strength to hurl away from him. The ribbon ripped from the fabric of her dress, but she safely darted away from him again.
“Your guardian and I will take care of everything. It’s merely a matter of formality, and we will be betrothed. Now, stop scampering away from me and stand still and let me kiss you again before Miss Shevington returns.”
“I will not allow you to kiss me again,” she said firmly, knowing that if he continued she would have to embarrass him and seek the aid of her aunts to control him.
Winded, Lord Bighampton stopped and held on to the back of the sofa. Sweat beaded his forehead and upper lip. “Stop this nonsense immediately, Miss Hart. I am quite out of breath. You might think it is amusing to lead me on a merry chase, but I do not. Now come let me kiss you.”
“Lord Bighampton, was there something you needed from my niece?”
Sophia let out a sigh of relief. She was never so thankful to hear her aunt June’s cold, judgmental voice.
The earl spun and cleared his throat loudly. He pulled on the hem of his coat and the cuffs of his shirtsleeves before saying, “No, Miss Shevington. I was just telling Miss Hart that it’s time I must be going.”
“Very well,” June said. “I’ll be happy to show you out.”
“Thank you,” he said and tried to pull the lapels of his coat together, but his large girth made that impossible. “Do say hello to Sir Randolph for me, Miss Hart. Tell him I’ll look forward to talking to him soon.”
Sophia refused to answer, and for once her aunt didn’t remind her of her manners.
The earl lifted his chin unusually high and strode out of the drawing room with her aunt on his heels. Sophia wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly chilled. She couldn’t believe she’d actually considered the possibility of making a match with that odious man. She would have to see Sir Randolph as soon as he came in and make sure he knew that she had no designs on Lord Bighampton and he could not be considered an acceptable match for her.
Sophia walked over to the window, brushed the sheer panel aside, and looked out at the hazy afternoon. Lord Bighampton was stomping toward his carriage. That meant she would soon have to make a choice between Lord Hargraves and Lord Snellingly. Neither man excited her senses.
A wave of sadness washed over her. She was caught in a trap of her own doing. The man she wanted was forbidden to her by her vow to her father. She couldn’t break that vow, and she had grave doubts any man would measure up to Matson. She feared the truth was that she had not only given her body to him, but her heart as well.
Mae walked in, carrying a book. “Where’s Lord Bighampton?”
Sophia turned away from the window. “Aunt June is seeing him out.”
“But I have a book of poetry by John Donne for him to read. I have hot tea coming.”
<
br /> “Mae, where have you been?” June asked sharply as she walked into the drawing room.
Startled by her sister’s accusing tone, Mae stuttered for a moment before saying, “I was getting Lord Bighampton a book to read to Sophia, and I asked Cook to bring hot tea.”
“You left Sophia alone with Lord Bighampton, and he was not being a gentleman.”
“No,” Mae said, looking from Sophia to June. “What are you saying?”
“When I walked in, he was chasing her around the furniture, trying to kiss her!”
Mae looked stricken. “He wouldn’t.”
“He did,” June said. “I saw him. Thankfully, Sophia had the good sense to run from him.”
“Did he hurt you, Sophia?” Mae asked.
Sophia laughed lightly. “Of course not, Aunt Mae. I’m perfectly fine. I am not in the least traumatized by his behavior. Aunt June is making far too much of this. But I do think I will mark him off my list as a possible match.”
“You don’t think you’re being hasty, do you?” Mae asked. “He is so handsome and titled. I don’t think you can hold it against a gentleman for wanting to kiss you. That’s what men do.”
“That’s quite enough about kissing,” June said.
“I agree,” Sophia said. “Now, I know we don’t have another gentleman scheduled to call on me this afternoon, so would one of you mind walking with me in the park? It’s such a lovely day, and I feel the need to be outside for a little while.”
“Of course, dear,” her aunts said in unison.
“Good,” Sophia said. “I’ll go change my dress and get my bonnet and wrap.”
***
Matson sat atop his horse and surveyed St. James’s Park again. The blue sky and warm afternoon had brought many people out to enjoy a stroll or refreshments. He quickly scanned the faces of the people he could see, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sophia. He’d ridden all over the damn park twice, looking for her. He’d told her he rode Dash every afternoon about the same time. Surely she knew he wanted to see her.
Amelia Grey - [Rogues' Dynasty 06] Page 17