Now that he thought of it, she appeared vastly different from the girl he remembered.
Sophie Beaufort had been the most irritating child imaginable. She had an annoying habit of popping up at the most inopportune moments. At one particular party, he was in a secluded area of Beaufort’s garden, about to indulge in a passionate clinch with Melinda Albright when they heard a cough coming from the bushes. The sound brought the lady to her senses. His lasting impression was an image of Miss Albright dashing across the lawn, followed by a plump girl wearing a ridiculously frilly dress.
Once again, his gaze fell to the lady stretched out on his chaise, to the raven-black hair cascading over her shoulders, to the swell of full breasts as her chest rose with each deep breath.
Mrs. Bernard interrupted his reverie. “We need to get her out of those wet clothes, my lord.”
For once, his housekeeper’s thoughts echoed his own.
In a desperate attempt to focus on anything other than the removal of Miss Beaufort’s clothing, he said, “Give me a moment to change and I’ll ride over to Brampton Hall and collect some dry clothes.”
The figure on the chaise murmured, her eyes fluttering briefly before closing again.
“But she can’t stay here, my lord, not while you’re in residence,” Mrs. Bernard whispered.
“I have heard James Beaufort is away,” he said and they acknowledged him with a collective nod. Perhaps when Miss Beaufort woke she could tell him why her brother found it necessary to give him a priceless family heirloom. “There must be someone staying with her, a chaperone or someone in charge. I’ll simply bring them here.”
They all turned and stared at him and Amy put her hand over her mouth to suppress a giggle.
Sebastian threw his hands up. “And pray tell me what is so amusing?”
“Begging your pardon, my lord,” Amy said offering a curtsy, “but it’s just the thought of someone trying to take charge of Miss Beaufort. Everyone knows she takes care of things when his lordship’s away.”
Takes care of things? What was Beaufort thinking, leaving her alone while he gallivanted about town?
“Well, in that case, no one need know she’s here. It’s more than likely
she’ll be fit to return home after dinner and in the meantime I shall have her maid brought over.”
Mrs. Bernard sighed. “Well, I suppose a few hours can’t hurt.” She turned to Amy and Tom and wagged a plump finger. “And that means no loose talking down in the village. If I hear so much as a whisper, I’ll know where to come.”
Chapter 5
Sophie raised her head off the pillow and peered into the darkness. Other than a growl from her stomach, she could only hear a strange snorting coming from her maid as she slept in the chair.
Thank God. After lying awake for hours waiting for everyone to go to bed, her patience had all but up and left.
It was not easy feigning an illness in the hope of gaining unrestricted access to Dane’s house. Thankfully, the rainstorm had provided the perfect excuse. Although she really did feel cold to her bones, and her nerves were in tatters after the comte’s departure, which all added credence to her distressed state.
The memory of Dane holding her tightly in his arms flashed into her mind, the blood rushing to her cheeks when she recalled feeling a flicker of desire. Damn him. She guessed that scoundrels had a certain way of rousing unwanted feelings. Luckily, she’d had her eyes closed, making them much easier to suppress.
Peeling back the coverlet, Sophie eased herself out of the bed. Taking the chamber candlestick from the side table, she edged her way past her snoring servant and lit the wick from the fire burning low in the grate.
She tiptoed over to the armoire in search of her clothes but found it empty. It was too dark to go rummaging around for them now and she didn’t want to wake the whole household. Besides, if she was discovered wandering about in her nightdress, she could say she’d woken up dazed and disoriented from her illness. And in her bare feet, she had less chance of anyone hearing her footsteps.
Sophie turned the knob and opened the chamber door, glancing over her shoulder to ensure her maid still slept, before slipping out into the corridor and down the stairs.
After numerous attempts trying to locate Dane’s study and while having to conceal a groan when she stubbed her toe, Sophie’s hand settled on another door in the hope she had found the right room at last.
Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, she eased the door away from the jamb. The candle flickered as she entered and she sheltered it with her hand before closing the door softly.
Breathing a sigh of relief, for she had accomplished the most difficult part of her task, she stared through the muted light to the large, imposing desk sitting squarely in front of the window.
She moved closer, her footsteps light and slow, placed the candle on the desk and began flicking through the neat stack of papers in the hope there might be a letter from her brother.
There was nothing.
Such a solid, sturdy desk must hold a whole host of secrets. Where better to hide a letter or a necklace?