Brendon rolled his eyes.
“Who’s not able to stand up to a strong woman now? Though I must say, I’ve never seen my mother quite so agitated. Father must have done something dreadful to make her swear like that.” He paused before speaking again. “I know that I have been a fool with Sophia and you are quite right to berate me, but I will make it right between us. I swear that I won’t let her down again.”
James stared at him for a long moment before giving a brief smile.
“No, I don’t think you will. That’s always supposing she gives you another chance, of course.”
Brendon felt his heart lurch in his chest. It would serve him right if she didn’t, but he couldn’t think like that. Faint heart never won fair lady. He gave James a purposeful nod and strode to meet his parents.
Sophia lay in bed and twiddled her toes. She smiled as the sheets moved, and she twiddled her feet again.
She couldn’t quite believe it, but she had woken to shouts from Mrs. Lawson and then Brendon had arrived still wet from his bath and his robe stuck to his shoulders. He had picked her up and laid her in bed, all the while begging her forgiveness, but she had said nothing. She had been far too amazed at the sensations that suddenly came flooding back into her legs.
She hadn’t revealed her good fortune to him, had still not spoken to him. She didn’t want to give him hope. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to remain with him. Oh, she loved him still, but the way he had walked away from her, when she was practically begging for him to stay, had hardened her resolve.
The anonymity in busy London and secret breakfasts with fun and flirty Lucas Caruthers suddenly seemed far preferable to facing a brooding, unfathomable Brendon Spencer everyday at Fallows.
A commotion on the drive below the terrace caught her attention through the open window. She sat up straighter. Had Felicity come to see her with the babies? She almost swung her legs out of the bed and made for the stairs in excitement, but something held her back. She wasn’t able to walk far, of that she was sure. The movement in her feet was gratifying, but she was hardly back to normal.
She had attempted a few paces around the bed, but even that short distance had been painful and exhausting. If it was indeed Felicity come to visit, a few more days exercising her muscles without letting anyone know of her improvement wouldn’t hurt.
If his hair follicles had ears and listened to his mother, Brendon was sure that he was about to go bald. If she would just let him get a word in, he might be able to explain part of what had gone on, but every time she asked him a question, she simply carried on speaking, answering her own questions with more. He gave up and let her say her piece.
“And you haven’t even been to visit you nephew and nieces! What can Algernon be thinking of you? Well, I know what he is probably thinking of you. That man is nothing if not loyal. More’s the pity. Perhaps if he gave you an earful you might take some notice!”
Brendon opened his mouth to speak.
“Mother, I...” He immediately shut it again as she continued.
“And Felicity must think you a complete brute for keeping her friend from her. Which you are! Your poor sister is coping with three, yes three babies! And you have not even taken her best friend to see her,” she ranted on.
Brendon took a breath.
“Mother, if you would just...” She waved her hand impatiently at him and he gave up completely, deciding to simply go with it and take what she dished out. It seemed the simplest option.
Lady Spencer was just getting into her stride.
“And don’t get me started with your behaviour towards Sophia. I cannot believe you were so stupid as to leave her unattended! Didn’t you think to call someone before you acted so callously? Poor, dear girl! You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t decide to leave you. It is what you deserve.”
Lord Spencer gave a small cough.
“I say, dear. That’s a little harsh.”
His wife turned towards him and he quickly slumped down into his chair as if wishing to become invisible.
“Harsh! Don’t you give me, harsh! After the trick you pulled you are lucky I haven’t taken you to Bath for the season.” She waggled her finger at her husband.
Brendon pricked up his ears. His father detested Bath. Avoided it like the very plague. The man must have done something truly terrible for her to threaten him with such a thing.
A panic stricken Lord Spencer rallied at the dastardly threat.
“Now see here, dear. I did what I did for good reason and it worked too. Now we just have to make sure the rest of the plan works out. Blaming Brendon for things beyond his control is not going to help.”
An uneasy sensation suddenly crept into Brendon’s stomach.
“What plan? What did you do, father?” He almost didn’t want to know from the way his father’s face had paled.
“Oh, nothing really. Just setting something up that I hoped would jog things along. You know, planning for the future and all that.” Lord Spencer said vaguely and rubbed his shoulder as his eyes wandered everywhere about the room except to look at his son.
“Still paining you, father?” Brendon asked with genuine concern.
Lady Spencer snorted.
“Serves him right for being so stupid. He’ll get no sympathy from me, and you shouldn’t give him any either.”
Brendon cocked his head.
“Stupid? Well I suppose you could call challenging someone to a duel foolhardy, but it hardly gives you reason to call him stupid. It was in the name of honour after all.”
His mother snorted again.
“Oh really! You think that.” She turned to her husband. “I am going to see Sophia and find out exactly what has been going on here. You can tell Brendon the truth. All of it mind, not just the selective version.” She strode purposefully from the room.
Brendon glanced at his father.
“Sounds as though you have done something you shouldn’t have.”
Lord Spencer narrowed his eyes at the closing door, making sure it shut firmly before he spoke.
“I don’t know what she is complaining about. I only did what she asked... In a bit of a roundabout way, I’ll admit, but she is the one who has been going on about heirs and grandchildren. Only glad that Felicity has given her three in one fell swoop. It has taken the pressure off for a bit, but it won’t be long before she gets her teeth into you. I don’t think your mother has considered it yet, but Felicity’s children are Algernon’s heirs, not ours, though at least there is the chance you might come good, now you have married Sophia. That’s if you haven’t spoiled it all for yourself by arsing things up. If all my plans have gone to waste because of you...”
Brendon suddenly felt slightly sick.
“What have you done? Tell me all.”
Lord Spencer shook his head and studied the ceiling in minute detail.
“I’d really rather not say. Not until I know that you haven’t mucked everything up. We can have a brandy while we wait for your mother to come back down. Well, I am presuming we can as I discovered two cases were missing from my own supplies and the rest of the staff swear blind that none of them took it.”
Brendon opened his mouth, closed it again, and walked to his drinks cabinet, looking slightly sheepish as he poured them both a healthy measure from one of his father’s own bottles.
“Ah! Well, it was Andrews’ idea. He guessed that there wouldn’t be stocks of anything here and we needed something to fortify us during all the work being done. By the way, I want to ask you about that. Mr. Johnson? Where did you hire him?” He handed a glass to his father.
“Harrumph! Ah, yes, well, that’s another thing I’d rather not discuss right at this moment. I’d rather drink your health and congratulate you on your marriage.”
Brendon shook his head sadly.
“Better not do that yet either. She’s not spoken to me since she fell from her bed last night, and has barred me from her room today. With the way things are going, ther
e might not be anything to congratulate me over.” He wished he didn’t feel so miserable as he said it.
Lady Spencer tapped lightly on her own bedroom door and waited. It was only a few moments before it opened and Molly popped her head round it. She bobbed a curtsey before stepping back and letting her in. Sophia lay in the bed, her eyes wide, and with an embarrassed flush on her cheeks.
“I am so sorry, Lady Spencer. I know I shouldn’t be in your bed.”
“Sophia! When did I suddenly become Lady Spencer to you? Please call me Marianne as you usually do. And I don’t mind you being in this bed at all. Consider it your own. I simply come for a quick visit.” She walked across the room and leaned down to kiss her new daughter in law.
Sophia accepted the warm embrace.
“Thank you, Marianne. But I didn’t expect you. What are you doing here?”
Lady Spencer sat on the edge of the bed as she took Sophia by the hand.
“Just came to see what that idiot son of mine has been up to. I can tell you that I wasn’t best pleased to find out firstly that you were paralysed and secondly that you were married to Brendon, from the lips of none other than Lucas Caruthers. Humiliating, to say the least when in the company of friends.”
Sophia lowered her gaze.
“I am sorry. I wouldn’t have agreed to marry him, but Brendon stayed after my fall and...”
Lady Spencer interrupted.
“Sophia stop! I don’t mean that I am not happy that you are married to Brendon. I am more than delighted. It has been one of my dearest wishes ever since you were tiny. I knew that you were perfect for one another even when you two didn’t.”
Sophia lifted her head again, warmth rushing through her.
“I am so glad to hear you say that. I have been worried about what you would think of me. I swear that I didn’t do anything to make him, but he has been extraordinarily stubborn over it. He didn’t want to write while I am still ill. We were hoping for better news, but we had forgotten that Lucas wouldn’t be able to keep quiet.”
Lady Spencer laughed.
“He does like to be the bearer of good news. But I really wasn’t expecting to find you like this. Did Brendon think it a good idea to let you split your head open?” She studied the bandage. “It can hardly assist your general well being. We met the doctor at the door and he told us what happened last night.”
Sophia raised her hand to her temple and winced as she touched the sore spot, suddenly regretting being so unsympathetic of Algernon when he had banged his head on the new gatepost.
“It was an accident. I simply tumbled from the bed while trying to reach for a book. It wouldn’t have happened if I could have used my legs. You must not blame Brendon.”
Lady Spencer huffed out a breath.
“But he had left you unattended.”
“In all fairness, he had rung the bell, but with so few staff, and with me lying about like a stranded fish, there has been a strain on everyone’s time. However, something has happened because of his negligence that might cheer you.” She couldn’t keep the secret from Lady Spencer and pointed down the bed as she wriggled her toes. “They are not back to normal yet, but at least I have some movement and feeling now. I am trying to exercise them all the time.”
Lady Spencer’s squeal of delight surprised even Sophia.
“Oh my dear! Thank goodness! I had thought...Oh, I don’t know what I had thought.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “Brendon must be so relieved for you. I know that he would never mean you any harm.”
Sophia let out a sigh.
“I haven’t told him yet. I know it sounds childish but I don’t want him to think he can ever walk out on me like that again. He had just given me the most wonderful massage and then he just jumped up and left me. He went on about wanting our first time being perfect, but then it was as if he couldn’t bear to touch my useless body.”
Lady Spencer gave a chuckle.
“More like he was scared to death.”
Sophia tilted her head.
“Scared? Of what? I am hardly likely to attack him, especially in this state.”
Lady Spencer shook her head and squeezed Sophia’s hand again.
“I think he should be the one to tell you his secrets. Not me.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Degrees of Separation
“So will you help me?” Sophia asked James.
James looked at her doubtfully.
“You want to go to Sommersford to see Felicity and the babies. And that’s all. You are not attempting to do anything else?”
Sophia crossed her fingers beneath the sheets and shook her head.
“Of course not, but I don’t want to ask Brendon.” She lifted her chin stubbornly.
James looked thoughtful.
“But he would want to go with you. They are his nephew and nieces too.”
She frowned.
“Well he doesn’t seem that keen. He’s not mentioned them since they were born.”
James raised an eyebrow.
“And you would know that how? You’ve not let him anywhere near you for days. He’s pacing about the place like a bear with a toothache.”
Sophia bit the edge of her thumb nail.
“I should have left with Lord and Lady Spencer. They would have taken me with them to visit Sommersford.”
“You still had your head wrapped in a bandage and the doctor said that you shouldn’t travel. There was no way that they were going to go against his instructions.” He didn’t sound as though he would either.
“But that was days ago. If you won’t help me, I’ll ask your mother.” She knew it wasn’t a serious threat. Mrs. Lawson was unlikely to go behind her master’s back.
James laughed.
“I can’t see her driving a carriage somehow. Besides, she is all tied up in the hothouse at the moment. Some of the blooms are at their peak for her perfumery. You should ask Brendon to take you. He is your husband and you can spend the journey trying not to argue with one another.”
Sophia let out an annoyed huff and folded her arms over her chest.
“I thought one was meant to able to rely on one’s brother.”
“Not over your husband. I’m afraid I gave up responsibility when I gave you away on your wedding day, if you remember.” He stood up and walked to the door. “Shall I send him up?”
She wanted to say no, but unless she revealed that she could walk again she didn’t have any other choice. She still wasn’t ready to forgive Brendon for leaving her that night.
“All right. I’ll see him.” She jumped as Brendon suddenly burst through the door. Clearly he wasn’t adverse to eavesdropping.
James grinned and left the room as Brendon took his place beside the bed.
“We can go tomorrow if you like. You know I wasn’t keeping you from seeing them. I just wanted you to be better before we travelled.”
Sophia felt guilt grip her heart. Should she tell him yet? No, he hadn’t yet proved that he wasn’t about to leave her again.
“I am well enough now. I don’t think a few hours in a carriage will be too strenuous.”
“And we can stay for a couple of days before we come back here. Just to make sure the journey isn’t over taxing.” The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Though I doubt it will be restful staying at Sommersford what with triplets and that crew of orphans. Feels like there are hundreds of them running about.”
Sophia laughed for what felt like the first time in days.
“There are only about fifteen and as you appear to have stolen one recently there are now even less.”
Brendon grinned.
“James says that William is a natural with the horses. It seemed right to offer him gainful employment.”
Sophia’s curiosity got the better of her.
“And you can afford that now? Your father has let you have full access to the finances for Fallows.”
Brendon nodded.
“I convinced him I could mak
e the place pay. We’re going to expand the livery and take advantage of Mrs. Lawson’s skills. Mother has many contacts in London who would love to get their hands on those oils and perfumes.”
Sophia flushed as she looked down at her hands, the memory of Brendon’s hands all over her back and his gentle kisses down her spine suddenly flashing back.
“Yes, I can imagine.” She hesitated. “So does that mean we are staying here permanently?”
Brendon gazed into her eyes.
“I confess that the place is growing on me. I didn’t realize how indolent I was in town. It feels good to have purpose.”
Sophia nodded, her heart breaking at the same time. Brendon had found his place and discovered that he liked working towards something better, but he could do all of that without her there. He was already doing it without her. She had to change the subject before the tears leaked from her eyes. She couldn’t let him see her so weak.
“So a few days in Sommersford won’t upset your schedule of plans?”
Brendon’s brows dipped.
“Not at all. It is only for a few days. And then when we get back, perhaps you would like to think about how you would like some of the rooms decorated. Most haven’t seen the light of day in years and, now that the repairs to the fabric of the house are being done, are in dire need of an update.” He tapped his chin with a long finger. “We also still need to sort out someone to come and help with your exercises.” He smiled at her, but Sophia’s heart split even more.
He was shoving her to one side, not including her in his plans, because he refused to have anything more to do with her.
She refused to give in to the tears that threatened to fall. One thing at a time. Seeing Felicity and the babies was her goal of the day. She would concentrate on that before aiming for anything else.
“All right. Could you send Molly up so that we can prepare for our visit to Sommersford?”
Brendon stood up again and bowed over her hand. He really wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her all over for letting him back into her life, but he wouldn’t press his luck.
A Promise of Pure Gardenias Page 22