The door was kicked open and there was Roderick, his face a picture of dark fury.
“Run, Christopher,” Sophia cried, grabbing his hand to drag him with her, though Roderick ignored her and rushed towards the Duke.
“He has a –“
The sound of a gunshot echoed all about them, finishing Sophia’s sentence for her, and when she looked back Roderick was on the floor, blood seeping from under him.
Chapter Nine
Roderick lay very still on the bed, attempting to keep every muscle still. It was not the pain that kept him that way, rather the pleasure of having Sophia sprawled across his chest.
I must have died and gone to heaven, he though to himself, before daring to crack open an eye to see where he was. It was a grand room, he lay in a large four-poster bed, with dark green hangings and a fire crackled cosily in the hearth.
The curtains were not pulled, and Christopher could see that dawn was approaching. The sleeping form upon his chest gave a little sigh as he stirred, then jerked suddenly as though it had received a shock.
“Christopher!” Sophia’s eyes were sleep filled still. “You’re awake!”
“Indeed I am, and you’re asleep beside me. Did I miss our wedding day?” Christopher asked.
“I wished to sit with you until you woke up,” she stammered with embarrassment. “Tell me how do you feel?”
She reached towards his waist, which was wrapped with white bandages – though hesitated at touching him, her shyness now restored.
“I feel perfectly fine,” Christopher lied, in truth every muscle ached with pain.
“Tell me what happened to the Duke of Langley?”
“After he shot you he turned his gun on himself,” Sophia whispered.
Christopher grimaced; he could well imagine how awful it must have been.
“Did he hurt you before we arrived?” he asked grimly, anger still coursing through him at the thought of the now dead Duke harming her in some way.
“No,” Sophia lowered her eyes; “A slap or two nothing more, though if you hadn’t rescued me I fear what he may have done.”
“Oh, Sophia.”
Though he was sore and in pain, Christopher sat up and drew Sophia against his bare chest. His breathing was laboured, though out of desire, not injury.
With a determined smile he dropped his head to Sophia’s and placed a kiss upon her lips. She responded eagerly, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Christopher sighed heavily but did not release her.
“Then let me say to you now, Sophia, that my heart is filled with love for you.”
His voice softened as he gently rested his forehead against hers, and Sophia felt her breath catch in her throat.
“I have fallen so deeply in love with you that I cannot bear to think of being apart from you. Our marriage cannot come soon enough.”
Sophia flung her arms around Christopher’s neck and kissed him deeply. She felt tears flood her eyes as their lips met, knowing that the same love was in her own heart. It had been growing slowly, rooting itself in her heart the first time they had met, and it was now fully blossoming.
Reluctantly, she broke their kiss, holding his dear face in her hands.
“Christopher,” she whispered, her racing emotions pushing at her already shaky composure. “You saved me so many times. I love you, too.”
He smiled gently. “I am very glad to hear it,” he murmured softly. “It seems we shall both go into this marriage with what we have always hoped for. You will marry me, won’t you, Sophia?”
She pulled back a little out of his embrace to look up at him as she gave her response, “Christopher, I think my answer is quite obvious.”