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Richard brought up his hands to rub his face. She finally noticed the weariness. His lips were pinched, and he was pale. Was he sleeping, she wondered with a sharp pang of guilt at the recollection of the hours they had burned away in each other’s arms. She wished to ease his suffering, but she also wanted to hit him for being dense.
“I apologize, Sophia. None of this has been about your wits. It has been my shame to visit this on you and Ethan. My dark past has exposed the two of you to danger, and I am having difficulties with my conscience. But there is no time to sort it out because I must find the culprit behind this to protect you and Ethan. What if this worsens and the attacks become more dangerous … more lethal?”
Sophia stared at him. “We will work together to resolve this. We will increase our vigilance. Have you told me everything?”
That was when her dear, wonderful, exasperating husband looked her straight in the eye—and lied. “Yes.”
Sophia ground her teeth in frustration, forcing a smile onto her face. The lying reprobate still would not inform her about the note.
“I am going for tea with my aunt and cousin this afternoon. I will take the shorter John and a footman.”
Richard inclined his head. “Of course.”
Sophia forced herself to endure the formality of tea with her aunt, while in the back of her mind, she continued to fume. How was she to assist meaningfully if Richard insisted on keeping secrets from her? The question could not be answered while they sipped on tea and Lady Moreland informed her of the latest on dits.
I do not care! My family is in danger and my husband will not talk to me, she wanted to scream. But she smiled and nibbled on dainty biscuits and sipped her tea from a delicate cup while her aunt’s words flowed over her like water over a rock.
Lily gave her a light pinch. Sophia realized that the room was quiet and her elegant aunt was staring at her. “My apologies. I was woolgathering for a moment. What was the question?”
Her aunt, a handsome woman, tilted her head in bemusement. She had the same enormous eyes as her daughter Lily, and her hair was a deep chocolate brown with only a few strands of silver to mark her age under her jaunty turban. After a moment, Lady Moreland’s mouth curled into a knowing smile, and she discreetly picked at her bodice with slender, graceful fingers. “I recall that I had a tendency to woolgather in the first few months of my marriage to Uncle Hugh.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Sophia saw Lily wince and stick out her tongue to simulate gagging. Sophia herself did her best not to grimace at the thought of what her aunt alluded to. Her cousin cleverly interjected to change the subject. “Mama asked why you left the theatre early?”
“Oh. I was not feeling well, so Richard insisted we leave early.”
“Lord Stanford punching your husband in the face during intermission was not the cause, then?”
Sophia shut her eyes in defeat. She should have known her aunt had already heard the gossip. “Yes, Aunt Christiana. That is the true reason for our departure.”
“Well, not to worry, Sophia. I hear Richard has barely been seen about Town since he married you. The speculation is that the rogue has finally reformed and spends his evenings with his bride.”
That was good news, at least.
“I never had any doubt, niece. You are the perfect wife for the gentleman. I believe the earl has been bored, but a clever girl like you will keep his attentions at home where they belong.”
The sentiment rather touched Sophia, who smiled in acknowledgment.
Once the tea was over, she and Lily made their way to the garden. The spring air was pleasant, and the privacy of the garden afforded them an opportunity to talk. With a little coaxing from her cousin, Sophia confided all that had happened since the wedding, including the infernal note her husband kept from her.
Lily’s expression was perplexed when Sophia finished telling her of what occurred that morning, and the fact that Richard still withheld the note.
“Why do you not ask him? It is quite out of character for you to not do so?”
Sophia felt glum admitting the truth. “I suppose it was some sort of test. If he told me, I would know he truly considered me an equal and trusted me, so I could trust him.”
Lily pulled a face. “That is most dishonest of you.”
“What? I am not the one who is dishonest!”
“Sophia, Lord Saunton is under great strain. I do not think it is a good idea to be testing his sincerity at this moment. Inform him you were eavesdropping and you are aware of the note. Ask him why he has failed to inform you of it.”
“Lily, you are most unfair!”
“I am not, Sophia. You have a terrible habit of trying to solve matters on your own without any help. Look how you suffered under the threat of kidnapping from Leech but failed to obtain assistance from your own family. You did not even tell me why you were sleeping in my chambers. In fact, you outright lied to me about that. If you want Lord Saunton to trust you, then you need to extend the same courtesy to him. Ask him about the note.”
“Zooks, Lily, when did you get so demanding?”
“I care about you, cousin, and you know I speak the truth. I will not stand idly by without speaking my mind. Would you prefer I clutch your hand to commiserate and weep about the awful men of the world, or would you rather receive some useful direction on how to resolve the matter at hand?”
