Chapter 25
Meanwhile Edward and the Earl of Duxbury had gone horseback riding on the Carlfield estate.
When they reached the river the Duke dismounted, and invited Howard to join him.
So that the horses could rest for a few minutes, and they could take in the view.
This was another of the Duke's favourite places on the estate.
The countryside was lush and green, while the sound of the water travelling across the rocks felt soothing whenever he came here.
His thoughts soon turned to Sophia. Unable to stop himself from wondering whether she had been here, before he realised that it would be too far for her to walk on her own.
Wishing then that he could accompany her, but which would of course be impossible.
Nevertheless she would love everything about it, as he did.
Then no doubt write a few lines of lovely verse in the journal she carried everywhere about nature this time, he thought sadly.
Trying also to put the image out of his mind of her standing bravely in front of an audience at his mother's instigation, apparently not being afraid to read her words, and which had impressed him immensely.
Increasing the stirring of love he already felt for her, he realised.
As he turned back to Howard who was by this time staring uneasily at the ground, and not as Edward had imagined he would be, at the view.
It had been easy to guess the underlying reason for the Earl requesting that they should meet this morning.
Edward had suggested Carlfield so that he could take his favourite horse out, but even though he had enjoyed the ride his heart sank, now that they were on their own.
It might have made the conversation he was about to have with his companion a little easier, if they had been with other people.
Maybe at one of their clubs, and Howard didn't waste any time.
He asked Edward straight away if he had given any more thought to making a proposal for Lucy's hand in marriage.
Without knowing the real reason why the Earl was intent on a betrothal being made as soon as possible, Edward still thought that it would be foolish not to consider marrying his daughter.
Primarily to please his mother, and strengthen his business connections.
Just then however, a different image of Sophia came to mind which he found impossible to ignore.
She was staring directly at him, and smiling sadly as she looked into his eyes.
He somehow felt that she was reminding him strongly of his desire to marry for love, as his parents had done.
So that the truth of the matter came rushing back to him.
Irrespective of his beautiful surroundings, and belief that being married to Lady Lucy would be the most sensible option, the Duke simply couldn't deny his feelings for his mother's companion which went far beyond a simple attraction.
Miss Sophia Barlow was the woman he wished to marry. Had he any choice in the matter.
Howard looked the Duke in the eye, and said that he had been intending to allow him to take as much time as he needed before reaching a decision.
However, following the events at Lady Cynthia's literary evening along with the gossip he had been informed by his wife was continuing across the salons in the ton and elsewhere, the matter had clearly escalated.
So that having the luxury of time was no longer possible.
Even worse was the suggestion being made that a scandal had taken place at Lady Cynthia's soiree, which didn't only include the Duke and a possible liaison with his mother's companion, but also his own daughter.
Lady Amelia had assured him that this was already being repeated, and considered, by the most reliable sources of gossip.
Furthermore, having been present on the evening concerned, the Earl could quite easily see how all this had come about.
However he couldn't stand back now, and see both his own good name and his daughter's tarnished by the Duke's seemingly inappropriate behaviour.
It was, to put it bluntly, totally inexcusable!
Also a matter of some surprise, that a titled gentleman like himself should have clearly become smitten with a mere ladies' companion.
Although he did of course understand how this had happened, given that Miss Barlow was a great beauty.
He also appreciated Edward's attempts at rectifying his mistake after the reading.
When he had returned to Lucy's side, and focused his entire attention on her which had been admirable.
The Earl smiled lasciviously then, and tried to make light of the seriousness of what had occurred.
Repeating that between the two of them, he could certainly understand the attraction of a beautiful woman like Miss Barlow.
Whilst Howard’s final comment had the opposite effect to the one desired by him, in that Edward soon felt the heat of jealousy coursing through him, which he tried his best to ignore.
It wouldn’t do any good to respond in the way he wished to.
Namely, that it was highly improper for a married gentleman like the Earl of Duxbury to show such an interest in Miss Barlow.
Had Edward been a violent man who believed that it would solve his current dilemma, his inclination might well have been to challenge the Earl to a duel.
Although this was a matter of honour, he also wasn't entirely certain that he had any right to pursue it.
Only from the point of view that his mother's companion was in his employment, so protection.
He could however imagine the gossip about him defending a servant's virtue.
Especially since fighting a duel involved a risk to life and limb, but he could tell from the look on Howard's face that he would have to do something. It wouldn’t be possible to delay making a decision any longer, regarding whether or not he was prepared to marry Lucy.
In desperation and just to see an end to the matter, it did cross Edward's mind to make a proposal immediately, but his heart held him back.
He simply couldn't do it. Marrying Lucy would be wrong when he was in love with Sophia.
It was also unlikely that there would be a good enough reason to withdraw the proposal later, so he would be trapped.
To do it then would cause more of a scandal and difficult situation than he was already in.
Moreover he also still wasn't entirely convinced that his mother would accept Lucy as her daughter-in-law, or the fact that she would be related by marriage to Lady Amelia, both of whom she clearly despised.
Not only that, but he would be obliged to terminate Sophia's employment, since this would be expected probably also by Lucy.
Whilst if he did make a proposal to Sophia, his earlier thoughts on the outcome of this remained the same.
It would be done for love but, unlike the Duchess, he wasn't entirely convinced that he would be able to protect her from the unpleasantness of being shunned by some of the other ladies.
Including Lucy, and her mother, he anticipated.
Nonetheless his heart reminded him again, that this was what he really wanted to do.
Apart from the birds singing and the sound of the river flowing across the rocks, neither the Earl nor the Duke had spoken again.
Until Howard decided that he had to break the silence.
Ultimately, he wasn't in any position to press Edward any further than he had done, and risk completely losing the marriage proposal.
Seeing the indecision in his eyes, he reluctantly said that he would give Edward three more days.
Although he didn't of course reveal it, this was the deadline he had to pay his creditor.
Leaving him in the awkward position of having to ask his future son-in-law for a loan immediately after he had consented to his marriage to Lucy.
Meanwhile, he would have to speak more sternly to his wife, impressing upon her the need to ensure that Lucy did everything in her power to capture the Duke's heart. Instructing her in the art of using as many of her womanly wiles as possible, to gain a proposal naturally from him. This would strengthen the bond between Edward and her, putting Miss Barlow well and truly out of the running. It would also encourage the likelihood of the Duke agreeing more easily to pay off her father’s debts, and prevent another scandal occurring in which he had unwittingly become involved.
Having reached an agreement of sorts, the two gentlemen finished their ride and Edward returned to Carlfield house to spend the rest of the day in his study.
Although it had to be said that he didn't get a lot of work done, since his thoughts remained focused on whom he should marry.
After changing for dinner, he joined Lady Cynthia and Sophia in the ballroom that evening.
The Duke's heart immediately began to race when he saw Sophia, and their eyes met.
She looked even more beautiful in the pure white gown she had worn to be presented to the Queen, which he hadn't seen before.
He couldn't fail to notice that it had attracted a number of envious glances from the ladies, and looks of admiration from certain gentlemen.
Candlelight twinkled in the large mirrors on the walls.
Making the ballroom appear as if it was inside a myriad of stars, as the dancers twirled across the centre of it.
However, much to his dismay, he also couldn't fail to notice the sadness in Sophia's smile.
He wished that he could talk to her about what had been happening between them without it being spoken of, but he knew that he couldn't. Some topics of conversation really were forbidden.
Even if this was because they were simply too difficult to be mentioned.
Asking her what was wrong would be crossing that invisible line, and pointless, since he already knew.
He could see the love which was also in her eyes.
Edward tore himself away from gazing at her when the Earl and Countess of Duxbury, accompanied by Lady Lucy, approached them.
Causing Sophia to move and stand behind the Duchess, much to Lady Cynthia's and his annoyance.
Whilst the Duke felt as if he was left without any choice, other than to politely request one of Lady Lucy's dance sets.
Since this would be expected. He couldn't help but notice that she seemed to be more forthright than usual.
Even though they had only been in each other's company for a couple of minutes she had already apologised for touching his hand accidentally.
When Edward was certain that this had been contrived, especially when she did it a second time, and Lucy's fingers lingered on his hand.
He tried not to recoil from her touch to offend her, but found it difficult not to.
Especially when they were in such close proximity on the dance floor a short while later, twirling around the ballroom.
Edward caught a glimpse of sadness on Sophia's face.
She was still standing discreetly behind his mother whilst the latter was engrossed in conversation with Lady Barton, another one of her friends.
He couldn't bear it. Sophia was standing by herself, no doubt feeling hurt and very much alone.
Looking back at Lucy, Edward realised that he would never be able to love her.
His heart belonged to Sophia. ...It always would.