Seduction

Daregate was right. It must be gotten rid of immediately. Julian determined to remove it from Sophy's small jewelry case at once. It made him uneasy even to think about it being in her possession. She was far too likely to give into the impulse to wear it again.

Julian picked up a candle and went through the co

Julian walked over to the dressing table and opened the lid of the jewelry case. He stood for a moment surveying Sophy's meager collection of jewelry. The only item of value in the case was the diamond bracelet he had given her. It was carefully placed in a position of honor on the red velvet lining.

She needed a pair of earrings to go with the bracelet, Julian decided.

Then his gaze fell on the black ring in the corner of the chest. It was resting on top of a small, folded slip of paper. The mere sight of the ring aroused a quiet anger in Julian. Sophy knew the ring had been given to her sister by a heartless rake who had no compunction about seducing the i

Julian reached into the case and picked up the ring. His fingers touched the folded paper underneath. Motivated by a new uneasiness, he picked it up also and unfolded it.

Three names were written on the paper: Utteridge, Varley, and Ormiston.

The embers of Julian's quiet anger leaped into the white hot flames of fury.

"Will she truly be all right?" Harriett stood by the side of Fa

"I believe so," Sophy said, mixing another pinch of herbs in a glass of water. "She has gotten rid of most of the noxious food that was in her stomach and as you can see, she is no longer in much pain. I will keep watch on her until morning. I am almost certain the crisis has passed but I ca

"I will stay here with you."

"There is no need for you to do that, Harry. Pray get some sleep. You are as exhausted as Fa

Harriett brushed that advice aside with a casual flick of her hand. "Nonsense. I could not possibly sleep knowing Fa

Sophy smiled in understanding. "You are a very good friend to her, Harry. Fa

Harriett sat down in a bedside chair, absently adjusting her purple skirts. "No, no, Sophy. You have it backward. I am the one who is fortunate to have Fa

Sophy sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the bed and studied Harriett with sudden understanding. "She is the one person on the face of the earth with whom you can be free."

Harriett smiled brilliantly for a moment. "Yes. Quite right. The one person with whom I can be free." She touched Fa

Sophy's gaze followed the small gesture and she sensed the love implicit in it. A familiar sense of longing flared within her and she thought of her relationship with Julian. "You are very fortunate, Harry," she said softly. "I do not think there are many married people who share the bonds that you enjoy with Fa

"I know. It is sad but perhaps understandable. How could a man and a woman possibly understand each other the way Fa

Sophy laced her fingers together in her lap. "Perhaps," she said slowly, "perhaps complete understanding is not necessary if there is genuine love and mutual respect and a willingness to be tolerant."

Harriett looked at her sharply and then asked gently. "Is that what you hope to find with Ravenwood, my dear?"

"Yes."

"I have said before, he is a good man as men go, but I do not know if he can give you what you want. Fa

Sophy's fingers clenched more tightly together. "He is my husband and I love him. I do not deny that he is arrogant and stubborn and exceedingly difficult at times, but he is, as you say, a good man, an honorable man. He takes his responsibilities seriously. I would never have married him if I had not been certain of that much. Indeed, at one time I thought never to marry at all."

Harriett nodded in companionable understanding. "Marriage is a very risky venture for a woman."

"Well, I have taken the risk. Somehow or other, I hope to find a way to make it work." Sophy smiled slightly as she recalled the scene between herself and Julian in the garden earlier that evening. "Just when I am convinced all is hopeless, Julian shows me a ray of light and I regain my enthusiasm for the venture."

Fa

"I see I have been well attended by my guardian angels," Fa

Sophy chuckled, stood up and stretched. "I collect you are feeling much better now?"

"Infinitely better, although I vow I shall never eat cold turbot dressing again." Fa

The soft snoring from the other chair halted abruptly. "You, my dear Fa

"I shall endeavor not to repeat the incident," Fa

Sophy saw the undisguised emotion in the expressions of the two women and felt a sense of wonder. The affection between Fa

She rose to her feet and began repacking her medicine chest.

"Would you mind very much if I asked your butler to have your carriage brought around?" she asked Fa

"My dear Sophy, you must have breakfast," Harriett said immediately. "You haven't had any sleep and you simply ca

Sophy looked at the tall clock in the corner and shook her head. "If I hurry, I will be able to join Julian for breakfast."

Half an hour later Sophy walked into her own bedchamber, yawned again and decided that bed was infinitely more appealing than breakfast. She had never been so exhausted in her life. She sent Mary out of the room with assurances that she did not need any assistance and sat down at the dressing table. A night spent in a chair had not done much to improve her tendency toward dishevelment, she thought critically. Her hair was a disaster.