“Harry?” Sophie asked uncertainly. “What are we going to do?”
He suspected she wanted him to come up with a long-term solution. Unfortunately, he hadn’t found one yet. “Pen’s given me a key for this house. Night or day, I can meet you here.”
Sophie looked no happier. “James watches me.”
“He’ll grant you more freedom if you agree to marry Desborough.”
Sophie wrenched her hands from his and lurched to her feet. “I can’t marry Desborough. Not when I love you. How can you ask it?”
Harry stood and swept her into his arms, feeling how she trembled. “I’m not asking it.”
“Then you want me to lie?”
He growled low in his throat. “Once we’re married, there will be no more hiding, no more secrets.”
“I hate it too,” she whispered, nestling into him in a way that made his heart expand with pride. How had this glorious creature come to love him? He wasn’t worthy, although nothing in heaven or hell could stop him loving her.
“We can’t go on like this. It’s tearing us both to pieces.”
Tears filled her eyes. “And our hour must be nearly over. I’m so lonely without you.”
“Me too,” he said glumly, tightening his embrace and kissing her.
Sophie’s lips were so soft and her sighs so sweet that minutes went by before Harry recalled that he had something important to say. And not much time to say it. He smiled into her flushed face. She looked like she floated in a blissful dream.
He heard a church clock in the distance strike the hour. “Sophie, we must make plans. If Desborough proposes, say you don’t want to rush things with him.”
She gripped his waist as if resisting their parting. He prayed this separation would be brief. “I don’t want to rush things with him.”
“Well, that’s good,” Harry said with a short laugh. He kissed her quickly, but withdrew before heat engulfed him.
She looked displeased. “Kiss me again.”
“I dare not. This is an empty house and that chaise longue fills my head with naughty thoughts.”
“I don’t mind.” Her voice wobbled. “Harry, I don’t want to go.”
“I don’t want you to go. But you must.” Very gently, he wrapped her in the voluminous cloak and replaced her bonnet, arranging the veils. “Pen’s outside.” He’d heard the rattle of the carriage a few minutes ago.
“I know,” Sophie said miserably.
“Be brave, my love.” He kissed her hands tenderly then passed her the gloves. “I swear we’ll find a solution.”
“I hope so.” He couldn’t see her expression, but he heard how emotion thickened her voice. ?
?Because, Harry Thorne, you’ve been reckless with my heart.”
“Never,” he said in shock.
Her tone hinted that she smiled through tears. “You’ve made me fall so deeply in love that I can’t live without you.”
“Oh, Sophie…” His voice wasn’t much steadier than hers.
She whirled away and rushed down the hall. He didn’t follow. Instead he stood in the empty room and listened to the door click shut.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Bad blood will always out, you know.”