Please, she begged silently. Please do not say any more.
“I want to us to be together, Sophie, always. I want us to —”
“We cannot talk about it now,” she replied softly so as not to cause alarm, but she needed to change the subject and quickly before the tears began to fall. “I fear Marie is not herself and needs our help.”
Dane dropped his hands and stepped back. “Forgive me,” he replied, shaking his head. “I am being insensitive.” He nodded towards the closed door. “About Marie, I have an idea. Let us go and see if she approves.”
Dane began by relating the story he’d told the constable and the magistrate. He also told them of his plan for Marie to leave the country for a month or two. “You should have seen Delmont,” he mused. “The man should be on the stage. There is not a person in the whole of London who would dare question his version of events.” He smiled at Sophie. “Indeed, it is a shame I had not known him sooner, for there has been many a situation where I could have done with a man with his talents.”
“So they believed this story of yours?” Marie asked, still somewhat apprehensive.
“The magistrate had no choice. Delmont raved on about how disgraceful it was that two peers could be assaulted in such a fashion and demanded to know what was going to be done about it. Besides, the fact that the magistrate still appeared somewhat at odds, having been roused from his bed at such a ridiculous hour, helped matters.”
“But if they believed your story, then Marie can return to Labelles,” Sophie asked.
Dane pursed his lips and shook his head. “I’m afraid you can never go back there, Marie. Dampierre must have been working with someone else, someone abroad who brokers his deals. I’m sure once his partner hears of his death he will come to stake claim to his business.”
“But Marie has a claim to the business,” Sophie said. “Surely she should not be —”
“Lord Danesfield is right,” Marie interrupted, raising her hand by way of an apology. “I do not own anything and have no claim to make. Victor did have a contact abroad. I have heard him mention a man, heard tales of his cunning, of his cruelty.” She placed a hand on Sophie’s arm. “I will go to France and stay with Mr. Danbury until it is safe for me to return.”
“Danbury is a good fellow, a little rough around the edges, but he is more than capable of handling the situation,” Dane said convincingly. As though guessing Sophie’s next question, he added, “Haines will accompany you. He knows Danbury and will see you settled before returning home.”
Marie gave a weak smile. “Thank you,” she said. “I will not forget your kindness, but I must ask, what will happen to my girls?”
Sophie turned to stare at Dane. “You will do something for them, won’t you?”
Dane smiled at her and the warmth in his eyes warmed her to her core. “Of course, I will see to it that they are provided for and given an opportunity to improve their status, should they so wish.” He patted Marie’s arm and added, “I will write to you and keep you updated on their progress.”
Marie stepped forward took his hand and kissed it. “Thank you, my lord.”
Sophie could not have loved him any more than she did at that moment. Her heart was bursting, her body inflamed.
“I shall leave you to get ready while I write two letters to Danbury. I shall send one immediately and give you another, should there be any problem.” He took Sophie to one side and whispered, “We must leave in ten minutes. I shall see them safely to Dover and return as quickly as I can. I have spoken to James and he is happy to wait here until my return.”
This was going to be the last time she would be with him like this, Sophie realised. She could not stay and wait for him to return. She could not hear his offer marriage, as she did not have the strength to decline. She was too weak when it came to her feelings for him and she would crumble as soon as the words left his mouth.
“Take care,” she said, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tight. When her lips began to tremble, she relaxed her arms and kissed him softly on the mouth.
“I am only going to Dover,” he said with a chuckle as they stepped apart.
I love you, she whispered silently. I shall always love you.
“I know,” she shrugged. “I had best go and help Marie.”
Sophie breathed deeply when she heard the door close and distracted herself by helping Marie dress. When she was ready to go, Marie took Sophie by the hand and sat her down on the edge of the bed.
“Once, you asked me why I had not run away from Victor,” Marie began, “and I implied I had nowhere to go. Well, that was not entirely true.” She picked up the wooden box she’d taken from Labelles and placed it in Sophie’s lap. “Here, I would like you to take this, for the time being. Until I have use of it.”
Sophie met her gaze. “What is it?”
“Open it,” Marie urged.
Sophie opened the box. Inside she found a long, black iron key, a large quantity of folded notes and a diamond brooch.
“The brooch was left to me by a great aunt,” Marie began. “Other than my bible, it is all I have that connects me to my other life, the life I had before Victor.” She reached down into the box and removed the key. “This represents a dream,” she continued, twirling it between her fingers. “A foolish dream I thought would never come to fruition. It is the key to a small cottage, a cottage I bought without Victor’s knowledge. It is in the village of Marlow, just outside High Wycombe, a beautiful village where I spent many happy years. I could not go there while Victor was alive, for he would know exactly where to find me.”
“But you could go there now, you could live your dream,” Sophie replied eagerly.