Jayson turns his glower on me. “What did Harper say?”
“She told me sex can be beautiful with someone you love. You don’t have to be married to be in love.”
I gulp, not liking the way Jayson’s eyes darken. “It’s late,” I say again. “Why don’t we go to bed and talk about this in the morning?”
He regards me with an unreadable expression for a long second, before transferring his attention to Loukas. “I will escort the boy home.”
Seeing Loukas tremble, I put a hand on Jayson’s arm. “I’m sure he can find his way home just fine, Jayson.”
“Yes, Kyria Satyros,” says the boy eagerly. He pauses long enough to squeeze Sophie’s hand before practically running down the stairs. His escape might be amusing if not for the heavy tension remaining between my husband and his niece.
“I’m going to bed,” says Sophie haughtily
as she spins on her heel and marches back into her room. The slam of the door echoes through the hallway.
I stand awkwardly beside Jayson. His silence is a worry, and I find myself trying to fill it. “It isn’t the end of the world, you know.”
Looking at me coldly, he says in a low voice, “I don’t expect you to understand our ways. I also wouldn’t have expected you to deliberately steer her down the wrong path.”
My mouth drops open. “I didn’t steer her anywhere, Jayson. She asked me a question, and I gave her the best answer I could.”
“No. You gave her a trite, Western answer that excuses promiscuity.”
I throw up my hands. “I can’t reason with you when you’re like this. I’m going to bed too.”
My anger is making my heart thump in my ears, louder than the stomping of my feet against the wooden floor. Sure I have a tinge of guilt, wondering if his words are correct. Did I give Sophie an answer based on the values of my society instead of hers? With a shake of my head, I close the bedroom door. Whether he likes it or not, Sophie is a part of both cultures. She’s also an adult, and Jayson will have to accept that.
Body still vibrating with anger, I go back to bed. The adrenaline is flowing, but the exhaustion sweeps over me, returning me to a deep sleep within minutes.
I awaken later in the morning to someone shaking me. Feeling heavy-headed, I blink open my eyes, staring at Sophie with a touch of confusion.
“He’s gone mad, Harper.”
I blink again, forcing my eyes to focus on Sophie as I sit up in the bed. “Who?”
“Theo Jayson is insane. He’s insisting I marry Loukas.” The younger girl’s lip trembles. “He’s gone to discuss the particulars with Loukas’s father.”
“What?” I shake my head to clear it, and rub the sleep out of my eyes. “That’s crazy.”
Sophie nods. “He insists it’s the only way to fix this.” She wrings her hands. “I don’t want to marry him, Harper. I love Loukas, but it isn’t the kind of love a person is looking for, for a marriage.” I blush. “I’m not exactly in love with him, if you understand what I mean? He’s handsome and kind…and I was curious.” Her blush deepens as she trails off. “I wanted him to be my first lover, but…not my only lover.”
I hug Sophie. “I understand. It probably wasn’t a wise decision in some ways, but it’s an understandable one.” I shake my head. “He can’t really mean to force you to marry that boy.”
Sophie nods. “He reserved the church for three days from now and sent for a seamstress to make me a dress! All that’s left is to negotiate the deal with Loukas’s father.”
Biting on my lower lip, I’m torn. Jayson sounds determined to force the marriage. I know how stubborn he can be, and getting him to change his mind will be difficult. It’ll be impossible with Sophie’s presence. Making a decision I pray I won’t regret, I say, “Pack a bag while I make arrangements for you to travel back to New York. Once Jayson calms down, I’m sure I can persuade him that trying to force you to marry Loukas isn’t the right answer.” I sound much more confident than I feel.
It’s something.
Sophie throws herself against me, hugging me hard. “Thank you, Harper.”
“It’ll all be okay,” I tell her, patting her back while hoping I’m not lying to her. The thought of facing Jayson’s anger induces a wave of nausea as I slide from the bed, forcing me to swallow hard. Please let him be reasonable!
“You did what?” Jayson’s roar fills the salon, making me wince. “You had no right to interfere, Harper.”
Squaring my shoulders, I face him straight on. “I did the right thing, Jayson. When you’ve calmed down, you’ll realize that. It’s foolish to try to make her marry Loukas. She’s only eighteen, for crying out loud.”
“You undermine my authority and then call me foolish?” His voice is arctic, cutting through me to the bone. “You’re the foolish one for interfering with my family.”