And she felt her heart shatter in two.
After racing to her room to throw on one of Charlotte’s dresses, Sophie breezed into the drawing room as though nothing had happened. “Lord Danesfield has gone to sort out more refreshment,” she said in an atte
mpt to reassure them as to the reason behind their absence. Deferring to his title made their relationship sound more formal. “It appears Mrs. Cox has been waylaid performing other duties.”
“Are you feeling better?” James asked, his eyes searching hers with some skepticism. Observing her more modest attire, he did not pass further comment.
Sophie considered the question.
Being in Dane’s arms had eased all of her woes, for the moment. But she would have to find some other way of bolstering her strength in his absence. Of course, she could not say that to her brother and so smiled and said, “Yes, thank you. I just needed some air. All this talk of Dampierre left me feeling a little overwrought.”
Some minutes later, Dane strode in carrying another tea tray. “Sorry for the delay,” he said placing the tray on the low table, before putting the first tray outside the door to be collected without further disturbance.
“Miss Beaufort is feeling much better now she has had some air,” Annabel informed him.
He studied Sophie, a subtle smile playing on his lips, and then said with genuine emotion, “That is good news. I hope you found my words of reassurance somewhat helpful and know I am here to support you whenever the need arises.”
Sophie tried her best not to blush as an image of Dane holding her against the dining room door, her legs wrapped tightly around him as he thrust deeply inside her, flashed through her mind. “It was extremely helpful, thank you,” she beamed, taking it upon herself to pour the tea.
James eyed Dane with some suspicion. “In your eagerness to carry the tea tray, you seem to have lost a button.”
Sebastian glanced down at his waistcoat but gave not the slightest indication the remark revealed anything other than what it ought. He placed his hand on his chest and stared down at the floor, a frown marring his brow. “No doubt, Mrs. Cox will come across it.” He moved to the hearth and poked the fire before directing his attention to James. “Now, while your room is being prepared, perhaps we should continue our discussion.”
In an attempt to disguise the feeling of utter disappointment at not having Dane to herself, at not being able to leave her room and go to him for fear of being discovered, Sophie assumed the same confused expression as her brother and Annabel.
“Oh, I’m afraid you cannot leave,” Dane continued as though guessing their thoughts. “Dampierre has had a man watching this house for the last few days. He will have seen you enter.”
James thumped the arm of the chair with his fist and muttered something incoherent. “If I had known that …” he began.
“What? You would not have bothered knocking,” Dane interrupted with a smug grin. “I’m afraid it is a little late. Perhaps it’s time to discuss our options. But I should warn you, there is really only one logical solution to the problem.”
“I cannot give him the necklace,” James announced with a steely look in his eye.
Dane smiled. “I do not want you to give him the necklace and considering the fact I’m prepared to purchase it for … oh, at least double its market value, then that is clearly no longer an option.”
James frowned and pursed his lips. “Why would you do that?”
Dane did not reply immediately. “I was forced to part with all but one of my family’s heirlooms and so the necklace would be a welcome addition. Besides,” he shrugged, “I find it extremely pleasing to the eye.”
Sophie felt a sudden stab of resentment, for she knew what such a declaration truly meant. At some point in the future, she would be forced to see her necklace draped around his wife’s neck.
James’ lips curved into the beginnings of a smile, but he did not fully commit. “Then I shall look forward to hearing what you think it is worth,” he countered.
What! Sophie screamed silently. Why had neither of them stopped for a moment to consider how she might feel about it? It was one thing to give it to Dampierre in exchange for Annabel’s freedom — Sophie could live with that. But to sell it to Dane so he could start some new tradition with his new wife … well, she would have to do something about that. Perhaps she could steal it and persuade Dampierre to accept it.
As she sat in quiet contemplation, Sophie’s mischievous eyes drifted towards Dane and then to her brother, whose countenance, for some unknown reason, had suddenly altered, his expression darkening.
Dane’s mouth twitched at the corners. “I believe you have just realised there is only one option open to us,” he said confidently, his eyes fixed firmly on James. “And so the question we must answer now is … which one of us will kill the Comte de Dampierre.”
Chapter 24
Three pairs of wide eyes stared at Sebastian in disbelief.
“There is no other way,” he said, his tone merciless. “Even if you were to speak up and make a complaint, we cannot be sure those in office are trustworthy.”
He watched as James sank his head into his hands, knowing the truth in Sebastian’s words and knowing he was the one duty-bound to perform the wicked task. Sebastian would not let him do it, of course. He would find some way to extricate him from his obligation and carry out the task himself.
“But that’s not the only reason,” he continued. “As you rightly said, you cannot allow your wife to be drawn into such a scandal. Equally, we cannot stand aside and allow such a fate to befall another innocent woman.”