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“You overheard me mocking you about rumors that I paid attention to.”

His gaze shifted away, clearly troubled. “Your words were warranted. I am fortunate to have overheard them, or I would not have elected to change.”

“Richard?” She waited for him to look back at her. “I cannot have worked such a miracle. On some level, you must have been ready to shift your course. The reparations you are making … they were your decision. You are the one doing the work.”

Richard stared at her for several moments. Eventually, he nodded in agreement, but Sophia perceived he was still directing criticism at himself. Her husband was going to require patience so that he might heal and rediscover his self-respect. She felt honored that he was involving her in his transformation. He was an important man who influenced thousands through his estates and leadership. It was a terrifying responsibility to aid him in his endeavor.

Their ices arrived, and their discussion moved to their family histories while they spooned delicious, melting ice. As promised, Richard took up a portion of maple cream ice and brought it to her lips to sample. The chatter spiked as their observers witnessed the inappropriate sharing, but Sophia smiled up at him and accepted the offering with relish. Damn the gossips! She was sharing a wondrous afternoon with her new husband, and they could go to the devil.

Soon they left Berkeley Square, and he drove the curricle to Hyde Park. Once there, he disembarked and then reached up to lift her from the curricle and settle her onto her feet. They walked along the Serpentine, passing couples and families on the banks of the river as he showed her some of his favorite spots. The entire day was magical, and she regretted its end when they returned to the townhouse and he sent her up to her new chambers to prepare for dinner.

The day had been a great success. Richard’s bride was relaxed in his presence, and they had spent the day learning about each other. The ennui that had plagued him for years had been steadily dissipating since his initial encounter with her. With each apology he made, with each step he took toward Sophia, a little more life and energy loosened within him. His soul had been frozen in darkness, but now he was thawing out to feel more alive with each passing day.

He laughed to himself as he climbed the stairs after dinner. The flashes of discomfort and shame about his past still hit him unexpectedly, but they were lessening, and he was astounded to find he was optimistic about the future for the first time in many years.

Soon he would join Sophia in her bedchamber to enjoy a tender wedding night with his bride.

He reached the hall leading to his bedroom, whistling while he walked the long path. Hard work was still ahead of him, but every step he took brought him closer to a peace of mind he had never expected to find. He was learning that true joy was only possible with a clear conscience, and he was eager to continue clearing his.

Opening the door to his bedchamber, he was hit by an overwhelming wave of cloying perfume. He stopped abruptly, bewildered by the overpowering scent. The usually clean, refined air of his rooms was gone, replaced by something heavy and garish, utterly out of place.

“Milord, we have been waiting for you,” said an unfamiliar, syrupy voice. Richard whirled toward the bed, his breath catching in alarm. To his utter dismay, he saw three women draped across the bed, their attire and exaggerated makeup leaving no doubt as to their occupations.

“What is the meaning of this? Who are you, and what are you doing in my rooms?” His voice was firm, tinged with urgency, as his thoughts turned to Sophia preparing for bed in the adjoining room. Panic gripped him as he stormed across the chamber, carefully but resolutely urging one of the women off the bed. The stench of heavy perfume and spirits mixed with stale sweat made him recoil slightly, but he stood his ground. “You must leave at once! My bride is in the next room!”

“But we were hired to take care of you, and we know how to do it,” the woman said, her voice suggestive as she trailed her fingers down his arm. Richard recoiled inwardly, trying to clear his thoughts. He had always disliked those who frequented disreputable establishments. The memory of his father’s corrupting behavior when he was a boy came rushing back—how his father had once hired two such women when Richard turned fourteen, deeming him a man. Richard had spent the night hiding in a guest room, desperate to avoid them. It was a humiliating experience that had left a mark on him. He wondered, with a sinking feeling, if Perry had suffered something similar while Richard was away at Oxford. His brother had always refused to step foot in places where such women could be found.

Choking back his frustration, Richard gently grasped one of the women by the arm and guided her from the bed, hoping the others would follow suit. Forcing a polite but firm smile, he attempted to reason with them. “Ladies, I fear there has been some misunderstanding about my need for your … presence. It is time for you to leave. Immediately!”

The woman shuffled along reluctantly, her hands still lingering uncomfortably on his sleeve. Richard stiffened, a vivid memory of his father’s reckless indulgence flashing through his mind. He could not allow Sophia to be exposed to such a scene. He had to get them out of his chambers—at once.

Where was his valet?

Faith! Sophia could arrive any⁠—

He froze, squeezing his eyes shut as he heard the sound of the adjoining door creak open. Slowly, he turned, dread pooling in his stomach, to find Sophia standing in the doorway. Her expression was grim as her gaze swept over the women still lounging on his bed, their attire disheveled and their poses anything but modest. Then her eyes settled on the woman beside him, who was trailing her hands over him like the tentacles of an octopus.

“Sophia, this is not what it appears!” Her blue eyes met his to stare directly into his soul for what felt like an eternity. She tilted her head as if to ask a question.

“The young lady can join us if she wishes, but it will cost extra, milord.” The slurred voice cut through the silence, followed by a coarse, mocking laugh. Richard’s jaw tightened as he forced himself to remain calm, his anger simmering beneath the surface. The audacity of the remark was appalling, and his stomach churned at the thought of Sophia witnessing such an indecent display. He struggled to contain his rising frustration, determined to shield her from further humiliation.

A hand slid toward his thigh, and Richard swiftly caught it with his own before the woman’s actions could escalate any further—especially not in front of his new wife.

A clear voice cut into the drama of the moment. “Richard, pay these ladies their coin so they may be on their way.”

Had he heard her correctly? Perhaps his thoughts were befuddled.

Pay these women? Pay these women to leave. Pay these women to leave !

She was brilliant. His bride was nothing short of a genius! In hindsight, he felt like a fool for not thinking to simply offer the women coin to leave. Exhaling in relief, he released the lightskirt he had been holding and quickly reached for his purse. Clutching it firmly, he strode toward the bed with newfound determination.

“Time to go, ladies! I shall give you two—no, three guineas each if you follow me downstairs immediately!” he declared, his tone brisk but polite. The women blinked at him with bleary, unfocused eyes before the offer began to register. Slowly, they rose from the bed, the promise of such a fortune cutting through their gin-induced haze.

He would pay them more if they would move quicker. He handed coin into their hands, their fingernails chipped with grime underneath. What friend would think this humorous? Who would play such an ill-conceived prank on him? Had they known it was his wedding night—would Perry do this as a lark? He immediately brushed that thought aside. Perry would rather pull out his own teeth than come within speaking distance of these women. His brother abhorred Birds of Paradise and favored spending his time in the company of widows.

Do I need to talk to Perry about what happened while I was away at university? What did Father do in my absence?

The welcome sight of Richard’s valet appeared at the door.