Kane, Samantha - Brothers In Arms 4 (16 page)

She thrust her arms into her heavy robe, determined to find a book in the library to occupy her until her maid came with breakfast. The sun had barely risen, she was sure everyone was still abed. She’d go mad if she had to stay in this room for one more minute. She quietly opened her door and snuck into the hallway. She was almost at the stairs when she heard a door open behind her. She scurried into the shadows of a small alcove with a bust atop a pedestal and looked in the direction of quiet voices.

A man she’d never seen before was leaving one of the bedrooms and being very

obvious about trying to be quiet. He wore nothing but trousers and Sophie’s heart literally stopped in her chest. He was without a doubt the most beautiful man she had ever seen. She’d thought that of Ian, but there was something so primitive about this man he was in a category by himself.

He was extraordinarily tall and had wavy dark brown hair, although it was hard to see in the dimly lit hallway. What color were his eyes? His shoulders were so broad they filled the doorway and she couldn’t see the person behind him with whom he was talking. His chest was full and covered in dark hair that tapered down to the low waist of his inexpressibles. He had what looked like two strange bruises on his chest. She had never seen so many muscles in her life, not even on the laborers on her father’s land. He was huge and magnificent and frightening.

“Of course I’m being quiet,” he hissed over his shoulder, and then he turned to whoever was behind him. Sophie caught a glimpse as he turned and was shocked to see that it was Ian. She listened harder.

“You’ll be there?” Ian was saying.

“I said I’d be there and I will,” the tall man snarled, and Sophie flinched.

“Derek, it means so much to me. I love that you’re doing it for me, and I know

ultimately it will mean a great deal to Sophie as well.”

78

At Love’s Command

Derek! So this was the elusive Mr. Knightly, Ian’s lover. Well, she could certainly see why he lusted for him. Sophie’s hand flew up to cover her mouth as a nervous giggle tried to escape. Good Lord! Where had that thought come from? Sophie couldn’t imagine lusting after anyone, not knowing exactly what the consequences entailed.

“You know I don’t give a damn about that,” Derek told him as he reached out a

hand and wrapped it around the back of Ian’s neck. Sophie tensed. Was he going to hurt Ian? “But I’d do anything for
you
, Ian, you know that.” Sophie couldn’t stop her gasp of shock when he pulled Ian’s mouth to his and the two men kissed passionately.

Her shock was so great at what happened next she fell back against the wall and had to grab for the bust before it fell to the floor. Ian grabbed a handful of Derek’s hair and pulled the other man’s head away, keeping a hold of his lower lip somehow until Derek whimpered. Then Ian let go. Ian’s hand leisurely trailed down Derek’s strong back until it cupped his buttock. “I know you’ll do anything I want, Derek,” Ian purred and squeezed the full, round cheek he held, making Derek gasp, “and you’ll like it.”

“God damn it, Ian,” Derek growled, “don’t start something you can’t finish.” He reached back and removed Ian’s hand from his backside and Ian’s laugh was low and seductive. Ian murmured something she couldn’t hear, and she saw the dazzling white of Derek’s answering smile as he leaned down to kiss Ian again, quickly this time.

“You can order me around some more later,” Derek hissed as he pulled away,

looking furtively up and down the hallway. Sophie pulled back, trying to blend into the wall behind her. He began to walk quickly away from her down the hallway, turning halfway down to look back longingly at Ian as he walked backward. Ian leaned casually against the doorframe until Derek ducked quietly into a guestroom at the end of the hall, then he went into his own room and closed the door without looking in Sophie’s direction.

Sophie waited for several minutes to make sure they didn’t come back out of their rooms, then she quietly drifted back to her own chamber. She’d known about Mr.

Knightly, of course, but she hadn’t really known, had she? It was one thing to think the two were lovers, quite another to see the reality of it. She smiled with glee and threw herself down on the comfortable wingchair in front of the small fireplace filled with glowing embers from last night’s fire. Ian certainly wouldn’t want Sophie very often with Derek around, would he? She’d make sure to make it perfectly clear it was

absolutely all right with her if he wished to bed Derek frequently. Surely it wouldn’t take that long to get her with child? And then Ian could leave her alone completely. She would take the first opportunity presented to assure Derek of this, as well. She’d heard servant gossip and knew he was jealous of her. Well, there was really no need, was there? He could have Ian if he wanted him, in that way. She just needed Ian to give her shelter—yes, that was it, a place to live her life quietly so she would never have to return to her father’s house. She’d never go back, never. And she would do whatever was needed to make sure Ian never had reason to send her back.

* * * * *

79

Samantha Kane

Sophie didn’t have a chance to speak with Ian before the wedding. Kate and Very and Kitty arrived and spent hours primping her for “her big day” as they called it. Their kindness and excitement only served to make Sophie more nervous than ever.

According to the three, all of Ian’s friends would be here today. What would they think of Sophie? She winced to imagine what they might think of her father. Hopefully he’d leave as soon as he was sure Sophie was off his hands for good.

Her preparations for the wedding had seemed interminable, but when Sophie stood at the doors of the large drawing room waiting for the footmen to open them so her father could escort her in she couldn’t believe the moment was here. Her heart was pounding in terror. Any minute she expected Harold to come charging through the entry, decrying her as an unworthy slut and dragging her back to the country. A cold trickle of perspiration made its way down her spine and she shivered.

“Stop your sniveling,” her father snarled. “I’ll never be so glad as when I finally wash my hands of the likes of you. Your pervert husband and his lover can have you.

As soon as I’ve made sure this wedding goes off and he doesn’t try to back out at the last minute when he realizes what he’s getting, I’ll be out the door. And don’t cry for me to save you, missy, when you’re missing your home and family. You’ve been

nothing but a trial since the day you were born. Why I listened to Harold and didn’t marry you off to someone else sooner, I’ll never know. It’s clear Witherspoon would have settled for any woman he could get a child off of.”

Well, what a heartwarming wedding day speech from a loving father to his

daughter, Sophie thought acerbically. At least one of her prayers had been answered.

He’d be leaving soon, thank God, and hopefully she’d never see him again. Her father wasn’t done however.

“And don’t think I’ll be giving my hard-earned money to that ungrateful bastard you’re about to marry. He said, in front of witnesses, that he didn’t want your dowry.

Well, he’ll not be getting it, not after the way he’s treated me. Ha! I’d like to see him try.”

Sophie was horrified. If her father didn’t give Ian her dowry, Ian might send her back! “Father, please,” Sophie whispered frantically, “you must give him the dowry! It’s in the contract. He could nullify the marriage, couldn’t he?” She clutched at his arm and he yanked it away from her.

“He can try! I’ll not be taking you back, so you’d better whore your way into his good graces if you don’t want to be out on the street,” he told her viciously, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Always thought yourself better than your family, didn’t you? All the times Harold lied for you, I knew! I knew you’d been out, acting the slut.

Well, I’ll not stand for it anymore. You’re Witherspoon’s problem now.”

Sophie was aghast. Was that the only way to make Ian keep her? To whore for him?

She shuddered in revulsion. She couldn’t do it, she couldn’t! And how she longed to tell her father of Harold’s lies—that he was covering up his own horrifying, shameful behavior, not hers. She’d never wanted it, never.

80

At Love’s Command

Someone cleared their throat and Sophie looked up at Montague standing by the

drawing room doors, close enough to have heard their exchange. She colored in

mortification. Montague smiled encouragingly and she nearly cried in gratitude.

“Are you ready, miss?” he asked quietly.

“Ready?” her father asked incredulously. “Of course we’re ready! Open the damn

door, you idiot, so we can get this farce of a wedding over with. Is Mr. High-and-Mighty’s lover going to be here, you think?” he asked Sophie snidely. She winced at how loud his voice was.

Montague opened the doors and Sophie couldn’t raise her eyes above the floor. She knew everyone in the room had heard her father’s words. Oh God! What must they

think of her? She could barely walk as her father moved forward, dragging her into the room. She blinked back tears. Halfway to Ian she felt the calm descend over her that had been her refuge for years. She could get through this. She wouldn’t let any of them know how embarrassed she was. She would not show them how much she cared about

their opinion, how much she wanted Ian’s friends to like her. She raised her head and squared her shoulders with a deep breath, and she met Ian’s gaze.

He was furious, she could see it. She felt her lip tremble and tightened her mouth in determination. Ian smiled at her. His smile was forced, but it was a smile. Sophie risked a glance at the people standing around the room to witness the wedding. She saw Kate crying and Sophie smiled weakly at her, which set Kate off on another crying jag. Very handed her a handkerchief and then winked at Sophie. Lord Randall tapped his hand under his chin as if telling her to raise her head and so she did, and he smiled at her with a nod. She darted her eyes around the rest of the room, looking for one person in particular. She didn’t want to look too closely at all the strangers there. She didn’t want to see condescension in their faces, or pity for Ian over the monstrously ill-bred mouse he was marrying. She looked around once, twice, and then realized that he wasn’t here.

Derek hadn’t come.

Suddenly she was in front of Ian and her father was handing her off, none too

gently. He turned and walked a few steps away with a scowl at the people there as they backed away and gave him a generous berth. Ian took her hand and pulled her close to kiss her cheek. When he whispered in her ear, she jerked her head slightly in surprise.

“If I kill your father after the ceremony, darling, will you hold it against me for a very long time?”

Sophie was shocked by the sharp burst of laughter that she couldn’t contain. Ian pulled away, smiling a genuine smile, and she returned it. Furtively looking at her scowling father out of the corner of her eye, she looked at Ian and shook her head. His grin widened. She said very, very quietly, “He is leaving immediately after the ceremony.”

Ian glanced over at the attractive young minister standing before them. “Did you hear that, Stephen? Please make it as brief as possible.” Sophie actually shook with laughter at the man’s grin as he nodded.

81

Samantha Kane

“I think it best for all concerned,” Stephen said solemnly, and Sophie nodded her head in thanks with barely suppressed mirth. What was wrong with her? She was never this merry.

The minister began with a short speech about the beauty of love and commitment, and Sophie’s eyes grew blurry with tears. Yes, yes, that’s what she wanted—someone to protect her, to care whether she lived or died, to actually concern themselves with her happiness. Was that so wrong? Ian suddenly squeezed her hands and she realized he was about to repeat his vows. She looked up into his eyes as he spoke.

“I, Ian Churchill Witherspoon, take thee, Sophia Terèse Middleton, to be my

wife…”

The rest of the words were lost as he repeated after the minister. She clutched his hands in hers tightly and the world narrowed down to just the two of them. He spoke fervently, and Sophie so wanted to believe the promises he was making. Without

realizing what she was doing, she stepped closer to him and held their bound hands to her heart. She heard her name and looked over at the minister.

“Are you ready?” he asked quietly. Sophie nodded and began to repeat the words

after him.

“I, Sophia Terèse Middleton, take thee, Ian Churchill Witherspoon, to be my

husband…” Something caught her eye and she turned to the French doors open behind the minister. Derek stood there, staring at her. And without thinking she began to repeat the rest of her vows to him.

* * * * *

She was bloody gorgeous. How dare she? Where the hell was the little mouse that’d prostrated herself on the study floor and begged Ian to marry her? This woman was a flame, a beautiful, mesmerizing flame of walking desire with her copper hair and full breasts and shining amber eyes. He hated her with a passion that surprised even him.

And then she did it. She looked at him. She looked at him and repeated her wedding vows,
to him
.

“With my body I shall worship…” Derek’s stomach clenched in a wave of

unexpected, unwanted desire.

“To love, honor and obey…” She spoke so earnestly, her expression guileless, he had to fight to hold on to his anger.

When she was done there was a moment of absolute, utter silence in the room.

Derek had to drag his eyes away from hers, the sensation like a physical separation. He saw their clasped hands pressed to Sophie’s breast, barely a breath of space between them. From their hands Derek’s eyes followed the line of Ian’s arms up to Ian’s face. Ian was looking at him with a mixture of gratitude, hope and joy, emotions suited to a man’s wedding day. In that moment he knew, as hard as it was for him, that he’d made the right decision to come today.