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Lord Moreland turned back to find his family staring at him in consternation. “Burn my buttons, I wish that Aidan was back from Paris to assist me with this disturbance.”

“I think you are doing a fine job, Papa!” Uncle Hugh’s face relaxed in response to Lily’s encouragement.

“You will all go to bed. I will take charge of securing our home and discover Cecil’s whereabouts, but there is a wedding in the morning, so you must rest.” He raised an eyebrow in question. Sophia nodded to reassure him that this remained her desire. He nodded in acknowledgment and took his wife’s hand to settle it on his arm. “Come, my dear. We have a wedding to attend in a few hours. I shall take care of this situation, but now it is time for you to return to your chamber to get some sleep.”

Sophia realized her pulse was racing as she and Lily returned to the bedroom, her breathing rough with shock at what could have happened while Lily led her to sit on the bed.

“Why did you not tell me about Cecil?”

Sophia looked up into her cousin’s innocent eyes. “Mostly, I was … embarrassed. You have a wonderful brother who would kill any man who tried to harm you, and I … I …” To her horror, she burst into tears. Lily leaned forward to embrace her.

“Oh, Sophia, I am so sorry. You can share my brother! If Aidan were here in London right now, he would give Leech a sound beating!”

Sophia laughed through her tears. “Thomas looked more than happy to mete out some justice on the way out. And he had already gotten a few punches in by the looks of it.”

Lily grinned in response as she continued to hug her. “Good, that vile man will think twice before involving himself in any more plots. As it is, I am sure he will be forced to stay out of sight for a number of days with that face of his marred by bruises.”

Sophia nodded with a wan smile. Returning to a more serious frame of mind, she dried her eyes. “I know our grandfather was doing his best to look after his family, but the trust he set up … it did not take into account reprobate brothers and villainous lords who might take advantage of the terms.”

Lily sighed. “It is most fortuitous that you attracted Lord Saunton, I think.”

“I hate that as a woman with few legal rights, I must rely on someone else to protect me, but I could not think of another way. Cecil could attempt this again at any time. Marrying a man of my choosing seems the only way to … to be sure that I maintain control of my own future.”

Lily gazed at her. “I think you are able to protect yourself, cousin. You found a way to deal with this situation, and I think no matter the circumstances, you are resourceful and would always find a method to survive any situation. Not like me. I have never needed to fend for myself. But you, you are a heroine!”

Sophia raised her arms to hug her cousin back. “You silly girl, you have been reading too many novels. I am just doing my best to be my own person.”

“Your best is admirable, Sophia. I could never be so brave on my own. You took steps to protect yourself and you found a handsome husband who admires you. You are most clever and courageous, cousin! Are you going to tell me how you learned of Cecil’s plot?”

Sophia grimaced. “Can you believe he is involved with Lord Leech? The man is despicable.”

“He is a villain right out of a gothic novel. I could not believe it when I followed you into the hall and learned he snuck into our home. But tell me what happened. How did you know?”

They climbed back into the bed, and Sophia put out the oil lamp while she told her cousin about the conversation in the library. Lily gasped in horror. “I had no idea Cecil was so … so …”

“Evil?”

“Yes. I wonder what Papa will do about him. He takes family responsibility seriously, and I think Cecil is in for a world of trouble. Why is he so greedy? I thought Papa was quite generous in taking him in and providing him with an allowance. He treated him like his own family!”

“I think Cecil has been gambling away his funds … more funds than he actually possesses. He is determined to follow in our father’s footsteps, it would seem, and has been on a downward path since our father died. Maybe before, for I do not know what he and my father might have gotten up to together.”

Lily was silent for several seconds before responding. “I am very glad the men in my family eschew gambling. And I am glad you came to live with us. And I am even more glad that Lord Saunton took an interest in you. You already solved the problem, you clever woman!”

Sophia smiled into the darkness. She, too, was grateful for Lord Saunton’s interest. She reached up to touch her fingers to her lips, remembering the feel of his mouth on hers when she took that irrevocable step to compromise herself. This may have been a shocking evening—a shocking week—but tomorrow she would wed the devilish lord and she would begin a new life far, far, far from her brother’s influence. In fact, she would probably never need to see Cecil again.

Chapter

Six

“Marriage can only be happy where there is a perfect conformity in principles and taste.”

Dr. John Gregory, A Father’s Legacy to His Daughters

It disgruntled Sophia to see Cecil waiting in the vestibule. It was time to leave for Balfour Terrace and, apparently, Uncle Hugh had decided Cecil would still be attending the wedding for the sake of appearances.

Her brother looked pale and glared at her malevolently before casting his eyes back to stare at the floor in resentment. It appeared Uncle Hugh had already spoken with him about the prior evening’s incursion. She wondered if Cecil had spent the night in his room because there had been no sign of him when Leech was caught. The whiff of hard liquor seeping from her brother meant he must have gotten soused after letting Leech into their home. Perhaps a sign that he had some conscience, then? Not that Cecil ever needed an excuse to drink.

His presence that morning suggested that he was doing his best to hold on to his allowance and connection to the viscount, who was taking full advantage of his desperation to keep up appearances.