One Night Scandal

“God, no.”

Somerton laughed. “I heard from Jennette you were a little foxed the other day.”

“I never want to see brandy again.”

“Why do you think I drink whisky? I had one very bad episode with brandy and can barely stomach the stuff now.”

Nicholas waited for Somerton to sit before prying. “Where exactly did she go?”

Somerton gave him Sophie’s mother’s address in Campo Santa Marina. “Her mother is a mistress to a count therefore Sophie may have found her own place by the time you arrive.”

“You couldn’t stop her?”

Somerton smirked and shook his head. “You couldn’t get her to marry you.” He paused before continuing, “She felt she was doing the right thing. I tried to convince her to at least stay in England but she refused.”

Nicholas sighed. “She could have come to me for advice.”

“No, she felt she had to leave.”

And with his father’s money. The idea that she would go to him for money still irritated him completely. He felt as if she betrayed him by doing so. He understood that she didn’t have enough to go on her own, but she might have come to him.

When they returned, he intended to give every pound back to the duke. Once she explained her reasons for taking his money.

“Tell me, Somerton”—Nicholas paused for a long moment—“do you think I can convince her to return home?”

“She believes she would only ruin you, Nicholas.”

Nicholas blew out a sigh. “I have told her repeatedly that I don’t care about that. I even told her I love her.”

“Nicholas, do you know Sophie’s biggest fear?”

Thinking back upon their earlier conversations, he couldn’t remember her speaking of anything except her fear that her father’s identity would get out. “Her father?”

“Not quite.” Somerton shook his head. “She would kill me if she knew what I was about to tell you. All her life, she has been abandoned by everyone she loved. First and foremost was the father who would never even admit she was his. Then, her loving mother who left Sophie with a nurse or governess in order to fuck some man until he tired of her. I was another great influence in her life. I would see her when it fit into my plans. Not when she needed me.”

“She does have her friends,” Nicholas reminded him.

“All of whom are now married and busy with their own lives.”

Nicholas remembered the loneliness he noticed in her gray eyes. “She had me.”

“Ah, yes. You. A marquess and future duke. In her eyes why would such a man take her for a wife? She’s a bastard.”

“I offered for her several times. Each time, she refused me.”

“Of course she did, you fool.” Somerton swore under his breath. “She doesn’t want to hurt you. She doesn’t want you to abandon her because marrying her ruined your reputation. She doesn’t want to watch you die, leaving her heartbroken and alone . . . again.”

“Watch me die?”

Somerton told him about her lack of visions with him and what happened with Lady Cantwell.

“She thinks I’m going to die?”

“Yes. So how will you persuade her to come home?”

Nicholas grinned. “I am bringing my secret weapon.”

Somerton laughed. “Emma! Of course. She cannot resist a child.”