Kane, Samantha - Brothers In Arms 4 (6 page)

BOOK: Kane, Samantha - Brothers In Arms 4
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purposefully at Sophie. That smile, for some reason, made her think of a protective guard dog. She wasn’t sure she felt entirely comfortable being the object of it.

27

Samantha Kane

Chapter Three

Sophie was shocked at how quickly the week went by. She was getting married

tomorrow. She had almost accepted that it was indeed going to happen—almost. Kate and Very had been wonderful to her, and Kitty Markham as well. She was Kate’s best friend and she owned a dress shop. Apparently the dress shop used to belong to Kate, but after she married Lord Randall she sold it to Kitty. Not only had Kate and Kitty designed a beautiful wedding dress for her, they had also helped her order a lavish trousseau, insisting that Ian had the money to pay for it and would not mind. Ian…even now it was hard to think of him that way although he’d practically begged her to use his first name.

It was the trousseau that had finally caused angry words between Ian and her

father. Sophie had been so embarrassed because Kate and Very and Lord Randall had witnessed the scene. After they returned from Sophie’s first fitting, Kate had made the mistake of offhandedly telling Ian about the trousseau while Sir Middleton was in the drawing room.

“Ian dear, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve ordered an entire trousseau for dear Sophie. She simply isn’t used to how many clothes are required for London, I’m afraid.”

Kate had accompanied her comment with a smile at Sophie, who thought it very dear of her to phrase it that way instead of pointing out how outdated her ugly brown dresses were.

Sophie had made the mistake of relaxing too much here. She’d forgotten how her

father could be.

“What do you mean, Sophia, ordering clothes without Witherspoon’s approval?”

Sir Middleton had asked, outraged. He’d stalked across the room, grabbed her arm and started to drag her to the door. Sophie had immediately fallen back on years of training.

She’d closed down her face, she’d said nothing and she hadn’t resisted. She’d avoided looking at everyone else in the room, stoically hiding her shame behind that blank face.

Suddenly Ian was there in front of them. The look on his face frightened Sophie.

She’d never seen anyone so mad, not even Harold or her father. When he spoke she actually flinched at the anger in his menacing tone.

“Unhand her this instant, Middleton.” What did Ian mean to do to her?

Her father had tightened his grip and pulled her roughly to his side. “I’ll handle this, Witherspoon. You needn’t fear that she’ll be doing this kind of thing again. You’ve got to take a firm hand with Sophia. She’s the devil’s own temper and a mind of her own. If you let her get away with something like this she’ll be out of control in a month.”

28

At Love’s Command

“I said let her go.” Sophie was staring intently at the carpet, tracing the beautiful red swirls around and around, imaging she was lost there in the maze of them, far from that room and her awful, horrible pig of a father. Ian’s command made her jerk slightly, and her father shook her.

“A good beating will put her back in her place. Like all women she thinks to rise above her station every now and then. But she’s been trained well, Witherspoon. It’s just this loose atmosphere here in London, more license than she’s used to, I daresay.

Well, she’s not your responsibility yet. I’ll not have you thinking we’ve let her run wild, no sir. She’s been taught to be seen, not heard, to carry out her duties to her master and stay out of the way when she’s not needed.”

“If you touch one hair on her head in my house I will kill you.” Sophie’s head

jerked up and she stared at Ian incredulously. She’d never heard anyone threaten her father.

Sir Middleton was frowning, not understanding. “What do you mean, sir? Not

discipline my own daughter? You are not her husband yet, sir, and you haven’t got the right to do it.”

Ian reached out and grabbed Sophie’s other arm, yanking her away from Sir

Middleton, who tried to hold on tight. Ian’s grip was firm but he took care not to hurt Sophie. Her father had no such compunction. His fingers dug into the soft flesh of her upper arm as he fought with Ian over her.

“What do you mean, Witherspoon, interfering between me and my daughter?” He

was beginning to grasp that Ian was angry at him and not Sophie.

Sophie could feel her face burning with humiliation and she couldn’t stop her gaze from darting across the room to the other occupants. Kate looked ready to cry and both she and Lord Randall were holding Very’s arms. Very looked as if she wanted to hit someone, and with shock Sophie realized it was her father. From the look on Very’s face, if Kate and Lord Randall let go she would attack Sir Middleton. Sophie’s heart melted in gratitude. Ian’s voice brought her back to the confrontation between him and her father.

“Sophie is to be my wife in less than a week. We are betrothed, and I have met all my obligations in the marriage contract. In the eyes of the law we are already legally bound. Dowry be damned, if you hurt her again I will throw you out of this house and the wedding will go on without you.”

Sir Middleton let Sophie go and she stumbled into Ian, who wrapped his arm

around her protectively. “Fine,” Sir Middleton said gruffly, “take her. I wash my hands of her. She’s been a trial since the day she was born, and no amount of beating made her mind her betters. You’ll see. You’ll rue the day you let her get away with this. And don’t come crying to me for the blunt for all her fripperies, no sir. If you want her to dress like some high-class whore, you are paying for it, sir, not I.” He marched indignantly to the door but threw one last parting shot back. “I’ll not be leaving this house until she’s legally wed. I’ll not let the world call my daughter slut if I let her stay 29

Samantha Kane

alone with you. I’ve worked too hard to gain a foothold in society, sir, and I’ll not let some bitch I had the misfortune to whelp ruin it.”

The door clicked shut behind him and Sophie stood stiffly in Ian’s loose embrace, her eyes focused intently on the blue superfine of his expensively tailored jacket. She was drowning in so many emotions she didn’t know which to feel, so she felt nothing.

“Sophie?” Ian asked, his voice concerned. “Are you all right?” He put both hands on her shoulders and pushed her back slightly as he lowered his head to look at her face. She couldn’t meet his gaze. Humiliation and gratitude overwhelmed her.

Her voice seemed small and fractured to her ears when she spoke. “I…thank you,

Mr. Witherspoon. I never had anyone defend me from Father before. I…thank you.”

She was horrified to feel tears on her cheeks. She was crying again. Oh Lord, her father was right. Ian was probably already ruing his decision to marry her. “I’m sorry.” She stepped back and fumbled for a handkerchief. “I always seem to be crying around you, Mr. Witherspoon. I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with me lately. I’m not a

watering pot, I swear. You needn’t worry that I shall cry all the time. I won’t, really I won’t. It’s just…just things, I suppose.”

She abruptly turned her back to him and to the others. It was all just so humiliating.

At home at least no one had seen it but the servants. But now, now they all knew. Her own father thought her worthless—no, less than worthless. She was a troublesome slut was what they all must be thinking. Suddenly something barreled into her from behind, nearly knocking her down, and Sophie couldn’t quite contain the “Oof!” that escaped her. She was spun about and Very crushed her in her embrace.

“Oh, Sophie! Sophie!” was all she said, but it was enough. Of their own volition, Sophie’s arms came up and clung to the taller girl, and she found herself sobbing against her shoulder.

Kate had hurried over and bustled the two of them out and they had somehow

ended up in Sophie’s room with tea and cakes, and a cold compress for Sophie’s eyes.

She’d spent nearly every day since at Lord and Lady Randall’s, or shopping for more clothes and accessories and wedding necessities. She hadn’t seen her father once, and she hadn’t asked about him.

Sophie was brought back to the present by a knock on her door. “Come in,” she

called out, so excited she could barely sit still. Kitty was bringing her wedding dress today and Kate and Very were coming over to watch the final fitting.

“Hello, darling!” Kitty called out as she came into the room. Behind her one of the maids was carrying the dress carefully wrapped up, and Mrs. Jones, the seamstress from the dress shop, brought up the rear. “We’ve brought your wedding finery, my dear. I think I heard Kate and Very downstairs just now, so go on and take off your clothes so we can see it on you.”

Sophie didn’t need to be told twice. She kissed Kitty exuberantly on the cheek and disappeared behind the screen to take her morning gown off. She still didn’t like to undress in front of others. The first time at the dress shop no one had said anything 30

At Love’s Command

about the two or three scars on her back, so they must not be as noticeable as Sophie thought. She’d been relieved not to have to lie about them. Harold’s riding crop was small and must not have left large marks in spite of how much they’d hurt at the time.

“Did you bring the underthings too, Kitty?” she called out. “I don’t think my shift will fit right under it.”

“Of course, silly, they’re right here,” Kitty told her, peeking around the screen.

“Shall I help you with them?”

Sophie blushed and grabbed her discarded dress to hold in front of her. “No, no, I’ll be all right. Just put them there, Kitty. Thank you.” She smiled at the older woman to take the sting out of her words, not wanting to offend.

As soon as Kitty put them down and disappeared, Sophie heard the door open

again and voices raised in happy conversation.

“We’re here! We’re here!” Very called out excitedly. “Where’s the bride? Has she run yet? I know I would if I were marrying Ian and Derek.”

Sophie paused, confused. Ian and Derek? She must have misunderstood. She heard

Kate shushing Very.

“Very, do shut up. You’d run straight to the altar if you were lucky enough to

marry Ian, you little scamp, and you know it.” Kitty was laughing as she said it.

“Children,” Kate said mildly, helping Kitty and Mrs. Jones unwrap the wedding

dress, “behave. You’ll have Sophie thinking she’s fallen into a nest of Bedlamites. Here Very, grab the bottom and help us lift it over Sophie’s head.”

“I haven’t seen Derek in ages, Sophie,” Kitty said conversationally a few minutes later as they helped her into the dress. “Where is he?”

Sophie spoke from inside the dress. “I don’t know, Kitty. I haven’t met him.” The dress glided down around her and Sophie looked up into three incredulous faces.

“You haven’t met him?” Kitty asked slowly. “Not at all?”

Sophie shook her head. “I believe he’s avoiding me. I sent him a note the other day, but I don’t think he read it. I tried to assure him that Ian and I getting married needn’t change anything for him. I’ve told Ian that too.” She looked away from them all. “I mean, I assume you know that they are, um, close.”

“Close?” Very repeated. “Sophie, they are—”

Kate interrupted her. “Yes, well, I’m sure he’s been busy getting ready for the wedding too. Now do look at yourself, Sophie, really you must.”

Kitty wouldn’t let Sophie look until the dress was on properly. Kate started crying again and Sophie gave her a handkerchief. She’d taken several out and left them on the table since Kate invariably needed one every hour.

“Oh Sophie,” Very breathed, her eyes shining. “You’re beautiful. Look.”

Sophie was afraid to look. Kitty nodded at Very’s words and gestured to the mirror behind Sophie. “Look,” she urged with a huge smile. Sophie slowly turned around.

31

Samantha Kane

Who was that? It surely wasn’t Sophie Middleton. The woman in the mirror was

beautiful with shining copper hair and luscious curves encased in silk and lace. The dress was heavy gold watered silk falling from the bodice to pool on the floor around her feet slightly. The overdress was a rich cream Valenciennes lace which came to a vee between her breasts, leaving a triangle of the gold silk exposed. The lace covered her shoulders and back and ended in small, formfitting sleeves on her upper arms. It fell shorter than the gold silk to end about a foot above the floor. The effect was ethereal and bold at the same time. Sophie looked like a flame lit from within. The woman in the mirror looked like someone who should be marrying handsome Ian Witherspoon. That had been one of Sophie’s greatest fears. That she would appear next to him at the wedding in front of his friends and she’d see by the looks on their faces that they were wondering why he was marrying her. But this Sophie, yes, she could marry him and no one would question it. Her eyes met Kate’s in the mirror.

“Yes,” was all Kate said, as if she knew what Sophie was thinking.

“It fits perfectly, miss,” Mrs. Jones said, beaming. “Not a stitch needed.”

“Ian will be totally besotted,” Very laughed, “if he isn’t already. He’ll hardly be able to wait through the day to ravish you.”

Sophie watched herself flinch in the mirror and the color drain from her face. Oh God, all this week she’d been trying not to think about the wedding night.

“Let’s get you out of this before something happens to it,” Kate said briskly,

stepping up behind her. “Very, why don’t you go and make sure the staff has all their instructions for tomorrow.”

Very looked at her suspiciously. “Why? What are you going to talk about while I’m gone?”

Kate gave her a look over her shoulder that Sophie couldn’t see.

“Are you going to talk about the wedding night? Because, honestly, Aunt Kate, I’m sure you aren’t going to tell Sophie anything I don’t know already.”

“Veronica Thomas!” Kate said reprovingly. “As an unmarried young lady I

certainly hope you don’t know all there is to know yet.”

From where she was kneeling down at Sophie’s feet checking the hem of the dress, Kitty spoke up. “I don’t know, Kate, she’s got half the men wrapped around her little finger. I’m willing to bet they’ve told her anything she wants to know. And lord knows Kensington and Wolf don’t look like they need lessons in it.”

BOOK: Kane, Samantha - Brothers In Arms 4
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