Page 78 of The Duke's Only Desire

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Sophie!” Her fathermet her at the door of Granville House, his arms open wide in greeting.

“Oh, Papa,” she sighed heavily and rushed forward to embrace him. “You’re such a sight for sore eyes!”

He hugged her closely.

Relief cascaded through her to see him looking so well. His health had improved over the winter since she’d been away. Perhaps it was because he now had good nurses and doctors to look after him. Perhaps it was because her marriage settlement had eliminated his debts, allowing him to finally cast off the financial weight that had plagued him. Perhaps—this last came with a stab of guilt—he hadn’t been worried about her being unmarried anymore…until now.

Three days ago, she’d had no choice but to send a message ahead to tell him she was returning to London and leaving Shay behind at Ravenscroft. She let him read between the lines and come up with the realization that her marriage was over, practically before it had begun. She couldn’t tell him the truth. Not yet.

He held her away as he scoured his eyes over. “Are you all right?” His eyes narrowed with anger. “I’ll never forgive Malvern for sending you to London alone like this.”

“I wasn’t alone,” she corrected and nodded toward the door, where her maid carried their two travel bags inside. Through the sidelights, she could see the Malvern coach waiting in the street as it was unloaded, its driver and three tigers heavily dressed against the cold…and she knew, heavily armed beneath their thick coats. “And it wasn’t Shay’s idea. It was mine.” She pulled in a deep breath and uttered what was nottechnicallya lie, “Idecided to leave Ravenscroft Manor.”

Shehadmade the decision…just not the way she wanted Papa to believe.

But lying to her father—rather, letting him believe something completely different than the true state of her marriage—couldn’t be helped.

Five days ago, on their return from speaking to Miss Danvies, she and Shay decided to put their plans into motion. The moment they returned to the house, Sophie declared to both Henley and Mrs. Sexton that she would be leaving to return to her father’s house in London. At dawn. The two servants had stared at her, aghast. Oh, she hated it! But she had to let them believe that she and Shay had irreconcilable differences and that her trip to London would be permanent. And no, she told them, preempting any questions they might have about where to send her things but which were actually a way of ferreting out if the separation would be temporary—her things should not be sent to Malvern House but to her father’s town home.

Only Pearson knew the truth of what they’d planned, and only so he could uncover the spies in their midst.

That evening had been a flurry of packing, with Ravenscroft lit brightly long into the night in order for the staff to prepare for her departure at dawn. Sophie directed Smithson in the packing; her most important belongings and whatever she needed for traveling would be taken with her in her coach, while the rest of her things should be sent in a separate carriage.Allof it had togo, to keep up pretenses that she would never be returning. Mrs. Latimer busied the kitchens in preparing baskets of food, and Mrs. Sexton gathered bed linens, towels, and thick blankets for nights at public inns, as well as foot warmers that could be filled with a shovel of hot coals and thick fur lap rugs to keep the chill away while traveling.

The whole thing would have made Sophie believe she was preparing for a siege instead of a carriage trip, except that she was too upset to consider it. Yes, her leaving was merely a pretense to let Malcolm think she’d done his bidding, yet she couldn’t stop true worry from showing on her face, real tears forming at the thought of being separated from Shay, or the shame she felt at causing such distress for the servants. She trulywasgrieving, and all of it was made worse because she couldn’t see Shay at all that night, because he spent it pretending to sulk and drink in his study. Sophie was desperate to know that he was just as aggrieved as she was, except…well, she hadn’t had any contact with him since he helped her out of the sleigh and left her to address Henley and Mrs. Sexton. Alone. He hadn’t even bothered to be present at the front door to say goodbye when she stepped into the coach to leave the next morning.

But they’d had no choice. They had to fool Malcolm’s spies.She hoped.

“It’s been a very long trip.” She squeezed Papa’s hands reassuringly. “I have to send a message to an acquaintance in London to say I’ve arrived.” She handed over her coat, travel bonnet, and gloves to Saunders, her father’s butler. “And then we’ll have a lovely cup of tea and catch up, all right?”

Her father’s love for her showed on his face. So did his concern.

Ignoring a pang of guilt, she gave orders to the butler to bring a tea tray, then hurried to the old oak writing desk in the corner.She took out a note card, quill, and ink, and quickly scrawled out a short message:

I have arrived at Granville House.

Please come for me as planned.

—Sophie, Duchess of Malvern

She blotted, folded, and sealed the note, then wrote a name and direction on the outside. She handed it to the footman.

“Please deliver this,” she ordered. “Immediately.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” The young footman sketched a bow, then rushed off.

“Come, Papa.” Sophie linked her arm through Papa’s and led him to the settee. After five days in the carriage, she was grateful to be sitting without moving. “Tell me how you’ve been in my absence. How are you feeling?”

With a healthy gleam in his eyes, he told her all about the new nurses and doctors Shay had helped hire for him, as well as the other changes in his life…more long walks through the park for air and sunshine, less rich foods and sweets…endlessly teasing the nurses. The unbearable pressure of the earldom and its debts had been lifted from his shoulders, thanks to Shay, and the stress that had made him ill and nearly put him into his grave had seeped away. He now possessed more vigor and energy than he’d had in years, if ever.

Sophie beamed at him with love, knowing he would be all right.Finally.

The tea tray arrived, and as they continued to talk, Sophie poured out two steaming cups, adding the milk and honey exactly as Papa liked it. Doing this little gesture for him caused tears to well in her eyes. She loved him with her whole heart, and she hadn’t realized until then exactly how much she had missed him. She hoped to change that once Malcolm was stopped. Partof her was already scheming to bring her father to Ravenscroft Manor with her when she returned. Which she prayed would be soon.

Two hours later, Saunders arrived at the drawing room door and knocked quietly. “A visitor has arrived for Her Grace, but the gentleman refuses to give his name.” The normally staid butler appeared flustered. “I have left him on the portico. Should I send him away?”

“No.” Sophie scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding. “I was expecting him. I’ll meet him at the front door. Saunders, please fetch my coat, hat, and muff.” When the butler nodded and hurried to leave, she took her father’s hands as he rose politely after her. “I have to go out for a few hours. It can’t be helped.” She kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry. I’ll be in good hands.”