by Regina James
Sophia jumped down from the carriage seat into the mud and sank up to her ankles immediately in the muck. The horse was agitated, and her movements were only making the carriage slip closer to the river. Sophia needed to free Batsheba, but she didn’t know how to do that without being kicked or dragged into the river with the horse.
Sophia called out for help as loud as she could. She was sure that it would not do any good, but she had to try to get someone's attention. The village was not far, and the road was well-traveled. She hoped that someone might hear her over the sound of the rushing water.
In the midst of screaming, she also tried to unbuckle Batsheba's harness, but it was a struggle. Batsheba could feel her panic, but Sophia wouldn't give up. The mud continued to slide down the embankment, and Sophia found a rock with her foot that saved her from slipping all the way down into the rushing water
Batsheba tried with all her might to flee the situation, which only made it worse. The weight of the carriage was dragging both of them backwards.
Although she could likely save herself, she wasn't willing to let her loyal companion drown. Batsheba calmed down slightly, but her erratic movements amplified when the carriage finally slid into the water. The powerful current was tugging at the carriage; a few more minutes, and river would carry it away.
Sophia was desperate. She screamed as loud as she could, but didn't cease working on freeing her beloved horse. Tears of desperation slid down Sophia’s cheeks as she prayed for a miracle.
The river current tugged harder at the carriage, and the back wheels slid up to the axle in the water; it would not be much longer now.
"Stand aside!" said the strange man as he came charging down the embankment.
He pulled a knife out of his boot and walked to the horse.
Thinking the worst, Sophia screamed, "Sir, you mustn't. I am trying to save her."
"What do you think I am trying to do? Now move!" he ordered.
The stranger did not waste time trying to unbuckle the harness from the panicked animal. He quickly cut the leather straps, freeing the mare. The mare struggled to find her footing, so the stranger got behind the horse and pushed with all his might. The horse climbed to the top of the embankment at last.
The carriage was lost, and Sophia was covered in mud, but she and the horse were still alive, and that was all that mattered. This man had saved them.
He reached out his hand and helped Sophia to safety. His efforts to help her up the embankment seemed effortless, which indicated his strength.
He was tall in stature, and even though he was wet from the downpour of rain, Sophia noticed his handsome features: a rugged jaw, big blue eyes, and dark hair that was almost black.
Breathless from the physical feat she had just endured, Sophia managed, "Sir, I cannot express my gratitude at your act of bravery and selflessness."
"Miss, what kind of man would have left you and your horse to perish?"
His humility touched Sophia.
"I hope to never know anyone capable of such lack of compassion, but that does not detract from your bravery."
"I feel I must offer you my apologies for yelling at you. I did not intend to speak to you in a disrespectful manner. I assure you that it was not my intention to offend you by my harsh language."
"Sir, on the contrary, your words and actions were perfectly in line with the gravity of the situation."
A sudden splash from the river signaled the end of the carriage. Sophia and the stranger watched as it was seized by the current and swiftly washed down river.
"If it had not been for you and your timely arrival, I fear that carriage would have taken Batsheba and me to a watery grave."
Her fair blonde hair had evidently been washed and dried, as it was now practically gleaming with a golden glow. Her skin was still very pale, although he could see a slight pinkness to her cheeks that had not been there the previous evening.
“How is she fairing?” he asked the maid, not wishing to intrude if the woman was still sleeping.
“Resting, Your Grace,” the maid replied. “She was awake not long ago.”
Relieved that he could push the unwanted task of conversing with his unexpected guest to another occasion, he nodded at the maid and made way to leave the room.
“Who are you?” A thin, wan voice reached his ears.
Cursing his misfortune, Robert turned to smile reassuringly at the woman in the bed.
To his utter astonishment, he stared into the bluest eyes he had ever seen. They were the colour of a newly bloomed bluebell from the valley, enchanting, delicate. Her astonishing gaze was framed by long dark eyelashes.
Florid cheeks and flawlessly sculpted lips, as if crafted by angels themselves. All these features set together on a delicate, almost angelic face.
In short, the woman he had rescued from the ocean was utterly breathtaking, and, for the first time in his life, the Duke of Daventry found himself completely speechless.
Sophia realized that she must look disheveled in her current state. Every part of her body, even her hair, was covered in mud. Although ineffective, she attempted to wipe the mud off her skirt and move her wet hair off her face.
The attempts to regain her composure and look the part of a lady were useless. This man had just saved her, and he was covered in mud as well, but he still managed to look dashing. He ran his hand through his dark hair as he surveyed the river.
"Miss, you may have to find an alternate route home. This road may be out for a while."
"I will manage. At least now I have the opportunity to return home, thanks entirely to you," she said as she walked over to move her hands over Batsheba in comfort. The mare was also caked in mud, but other than that, appeared to be unharmed.
"I must find a way to repay your kindness. Please tell me sir, where is your family's home?"
"I live north of here, Miss."
"I don't believe we have been introduced," said Sophia.
"I have forgotten my manners entirely; I am Christopher Roderick of Brighton Hall."
"Brighton Hall? Are you employed there?" asked Sophia.
"Yes, I suppose you could say that," he said with a laugh. "I am Lord Roderick."
"I beg your pardon; I did not mean to be rude. It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Lord Roderick. I am forever in your debt."
"Please, Miss, I must insist that I only did what any gentleman would do. Let's dispense of this preposterous idea of you owing a debt to me."
He smiled, "Now then, you know who I am, but you never did tell me your name."
"I am Lady Sophia Astor."
"Ah, the daughter of Lord Astor, I presume?"
"Do you know my father?"
"I do, but only as an acquaintance. Now, I must escort you somewhere to find clean clothes and warm up by a fire."
Lord Roderick walked to the wood line, untied the reins of a chestnut stallion, and led the horse by the reins to the road. He handed the reins to Sophia as he collected Batsheba.
Together, they walked towards the village accompanied by their horses. Despite the extraordinary circumstances of the occasion, Sophia enjoyed walking with this handsome man. He did not say very much, but she did not mind.
"Lady Sophia, we are nearing the village. Where would you like to go?"
"You may escort me to my aunt’s house, Lord Roderick. They will welcome my arrival."
Upon her arrival at Camden Manor, Lord Roderick bid her farewell. He promised Sophia he would get a message to her father about her safety. She thanked him, and even though she did not verbalize her wishes, Sophia hoped to see him again.
Chapter Four
Ever since meeting Lord Roderick, Sophia was unable to think of much else. A man that was also handsome and well-bred, had come to her rescue. He reminded her of Henry; he was so kind, so gentle.
He was not especially forthcoming with any details, so Sophia knew very little about him. They had never been introduced at a social gathering; Sophia was sure of
that as she would have remembered him.
Upon her safe arrival home, Sophia enquired about Lord Roderick. Her father knew him, but only as an acquaintance.
What her parents were inclined to agree on was Sophia's lack of judgment. The fact that their daughter was still alive was the most important matter at hand, but they were distressed about the loss of a carriage and the scandal of their daughter being seen driving around the village on a public road without a chaperone.
"What were you thinking?" her mother demanded.
"Mother, my only thoughts were of the villagers and their suffering. I just wanted to make sure they had enough to eat," Sophia said.
Her father, who had always been the voice of reason, said, "Sophia, I can appreciate your position, but why didn't you at least enlist the help of a driver? Your behavior was foolhardy. With flooding of that extent, the roads near the river are always perilous. Do you realize you could have been killed?"
Sophia's mother fanned herself furiously before verbalizing her disappointment again, "Do you not appreciate the gravity of your situation? It's unfortunate enough to be seen by villagers, but to be seen by a member of society in that state? "
Sophia's mother paused, only to remind Sophia of her fate, "You have been promised to the Duke of Langley. We can only hope that he does not hear of this."
Sophia’s father always seemed to remain calm and collected. Sophia's mother always kept her composure in front of guests, but within the privacy of her family, she was freer with her feelings.
"Father, why have I never been introduced to Lord Roderick? His estate is not far from here, yet I cannot recall meeting him. Does he not attend dinners and balls?" Sophia asked.
Her father answered, "The Earl served in the Navy. From what I understand, he has only returned home recently."
The prospect of seeing Lord Roderick again excited Sophia.
"You said he is home now, does that mean we will be seeing him at social events?" she asked eagerly.
"Yes, I suppose it does," said her father. "It was lucky for us that he did return home and he happened upon you that day."
"I think it would be a fine idea to invite him to dine with us to thank him," said Sophia, hoping that her father would consider the prospect.
"Sophia, I understand that what you went through must have been terrifying, and I know that Lord Roderick came to the rescue. But your interest in him must stop there. You are to wed the Duke of Langley," her mother said.
Sophia smiled, "Of course, mother."
Lady Astor smiled as she said, "I know it is still months away, but your wedding will be beautiful. We all are looking forward to it."
Sophia kissed her father and mother on the cheeks, and headed upstairs to her room. She sat on a chaise near a window in her room that overlooked the garden. At least in her own thoughts, Sophia could be free.
Thinking about Lord Roderick, Sophia tried to remember everything he had said to her. She wanted to know everything about him.
Sophia blushed as the memories from the day he saved her raced through her mind. Lord Roderick was a hero, but Sophia thought she must have appeared to be very foolish on that day.
Upon their first meeting, she was covered in mud, screaming in public and alone. Despite the fact that she had acted very unladylike, Lord Roderick had still been a perfect gentleman.
Her appearance or social stature didn't stop him from assisting Sophia in her time of need. Lord Roderick had saved Sophia's life, saved her horse, escorted her to safety, and informed her father of her whereabouts. He had behaved admirably.
She didn’t want to marry the Duke of Langley. Other than his money and title, he was undesirable. All Sophia knew was that the engagement was final; she couldn’t refuse.
When Sophia was told she had to marry the Duke, the tears did not stop flowing for days. The Duke was nearly thirty years Sophia's senior, a widower, and had children that were older than Sophia.
Sophia felt no attraction to him, and therefore, could not entertain the thoughts of being his wife. Being a Duchess didn't appeal to Sophia as it did to other women, but her family was thrilled at the prospect of Sophia marrying one of the richest men in England.
Sophia wanted a man who was young, strong, and handsome. The Duke didn't fit any of those descriptions. Lord Roderick came to mind. He was titled and had wealth, but Sophia felt there was something different about him, a wildness that couldn't be tamed.
Sophia imagined Lord Roderick to be everything she wanted in a man, but the truth was that she knew nothing about him.
Chapter Five
The next evening, Bessie asked Sophia how she wanted to wear her hair as Sophia sat at the dressing table. Sophia had no thoughts on her hairstyle, as she was not motivated to impress the Duke.
Bessie placed Lady Astor’s necklace around Sophia's neck, and the large pendant hung just above Sophia's breast, drawing attention to her bare skin. Sophia wondered if her mother had chosen the necklace for that purpose.
"M'lady, I have the red gown with the golden bead trim laid out for you to wear this evening."
"Thank you, Bessie. Mother will be pleased."
Sophia wished that she was dressing for Lord Roderick, instead of the Duke. Thinking about his taught muscles she felt as he pulled her to safety, Sophia audibly gasped.
"M’lady, are you well?"
Embarrassed, Sophia answered, "Quite well, Bessie. Thank you for your concern. I am just tired, but I am sure my disposition will change."
Bessie smiled at Sophia, and for the first time, Sophia divulged her feelings to her maid.
"Bessie, the truth is, I am frightened by the thought of marrying the Duke. I only dream of being happy, and this arrangement has brought me nothing but sadness."
"M'lady, I’m sure His Grace has some wonderful qualities that will bring you joy. At some point, you might even grow to love him."
"Thank you for your optimism, Bessie. Your words have made me feel better."
Sophia smiled at Bessie, and Bessie nodded. However, both women knew there was no truth in Sophia's words.
***
Sophia hugged the wall, keeping as much to the shadows as possible. She had to discover whether or not the Duke of Langley was there. Her stomach rolled with distaste as the man himself came into her line of view.
The Duke of Langley, of course, was known to be wealthy, and it was only because of his status that he was given so much leeway by society. However, Sophia found him utterly detestable. Shivering, she imagined his pudgy hand taking hers, his large fingers sealing her to him.
Shaking her head, she diverted her gaze. She could not allow this to happen.. To her horror, she saw her father shaking the Duke’s hand, his eyes searching the crowd. Sophia knew exactly who he was searching for, her stomach rolling with alarm and anxiety.
Her feet moved before she even thought about where she was going. Practically clinging to the wall, Sophia walked slowly, ducking behind tall gentlemen so that she remained hidden from view.
A blast of cool air hit her, making her heart beat a little faster. Moving as carefully as she could, she caught sight of the open doors.
Her breath hitched as she scrabbled for the door leading to the gardens, keeping herself low as she hurried outside. The darkness welcomed her like an old friend, wrapping itself around her and hiding her from the prying eyes of the Duke.
Sophia did not know what to do or where to go, realizing that she was only delaying the inevitable.
Sitting down heavily on a bench, Sophia put her face in her hands and tried desperately not to cry. She struggled to see any way out of her predicament while the Duke’s leering face swam into her mind.
If Sophia refused to marry the Duke of Langley, she would find herself without a home and without funds—and then what was she to do? Sophia was entirely alone, she realized. Her heart sank and moisture began to cling to her lashes. Her shoulders began to shake as she finally understood how desperate her situation truly was.
So lost was she in her sorrow that she did not hear footsteps, followed by a sudden gasp of shock.
“I do beg your pardon, my lady.”
The voice caught her attention at once, and, hastily wiping her eyes, Sophia glanced up at the tall figure in front of her. It was Lord Roderick.
“Oh, no, it is quite all right,” Sophia murmured.
“I do apologize for the intrusion,” Lord Roderick said. “But I have noticed that you seem to be in some distress. Can I assist you in any way?”
“Not unless you can prevent my father’s dictates from being enforced, no,” Sophia replied before she could stop herself. “Please, do not let me bother you.”
“It is of no trouble,” he responded, gesturing to another bench to her left. “May I?”
“Why are you not enjoying the ball? Won’t your parents be searching for you?” Sophia asked.
Lord Roderick sat down carefully, and the bench groaned loudly.
“I needed some fresh air,” he said.
A momentary pause left them in silence. “Might I ask what has upset you so?” he asked.
She let out a harsh laugh. “You may well ask, Lord Roderick, but given that there is nothing you can do, then I see very little point in discussing it.”
“It might help lift your spirits somewhat,” he responded.
Letting out another sigh, Sophia stifled a sob and, instead, cleared her throat. “You are a gentleman, and titled at that, so I do not think you will be able to understand the quandary in which I find myself.”
“Ah.”
“You may marry whomever you choose,” she continued bitterly. “As for me, my path is set.”
Brushing moisture from her lashes, Sophia tried not to give into the fresh tears that threatened to overwhelm her once more.
“Your parents have chosen your fiancé, then?”
“Sadly, yes,” Sophia answered.
“And you are hiding from them,” Lord Roderick finished thoughtfully. “A wise choice, Lady Sophia.”