Chapter 30
When Ned looked into Sophia's eyes, he could see nothing but fear in them.
Why she was afraid of being in a loveless marriage and under the control of a man who, if he was anything like Lucas, would treat her very badly indeed.
The mere thought of which made him feel sick to the core.
So without any further hesitation Edward Carlisle stepped forward, and demanded that Mr Lucas Barlow release his fiancee's arm immediately.
Lucas however stood his ground. "I am perfectly within my rights to demand that my sister comes with me.
Lord Dilley has kindly agreed to delay travelling abroad for a few days, to allow me sufficient time to collect her and for them to be married.
It is all arranged, Sir, and outside of your control.
Something else which may have escaped your notice, and I am willing to repeat, is that I am my sister's guardian until she is twenty-one years of age! "
Sophia found her voice then, and said as firmly as she could, "a fine brother you have been to me, Lucas!
You have even forgotten the date. I am twenty-one today.
It's my birthday, and I most certainly do not consent to the marriage you have arranged with Lord Dilley.
It was done for your own convenience, and what you will no doubt get from it. "
Lucas' anger caused him to tighten the grip on her arm, and Sophia to call out in pain as he began trying to drag her out of the breakfast room.
Despite Edward's surprise that it was her birthday and she hadn't revealed this to either his mother or himself, his own anger knew no bounds as soon as he realised that he should have reacted sooner.
Due to his failure to do so he was seeing the woman he loved with all of his heart being hurt in front of his eyes.
He quickly moved behind Lucas forcibly prising his fingers from Sophia's arm, as she continued to struggle.
When Lucas was obliged to release her, he tried to punch Edward who was this time too fast for him and averted the blow.
Further incensed, however, by seeing the bruise on Sophia's arm starting to form and her obvious distress the Duke couldn't help himself from hitting Mr Lucas Barlow as hard as he could.
Before he said, "you have less than two minutes to get out of my house and off my property, or I shall have you thrown off. "
Not taking his eyes from Lucas he quickly put his arm around Sophia's shoulders to support her, as she looked near to fainting by this time.
When he had helped her to sit on the nearest chair, Edward added that Lucas shouldn't even think of bothering his future wife ever again or he would face the consequences of such a rash action.
He should instead go straight back to London, and inform Lord Dilley that he was calling off the betrothal, if indeed either of them still believed it existed.
The expression on Edward's face dared Lucas to challenge what he had said.
However without further ado, Lady Cynthia appeared in the doorway of the breakfast room, accompanied by Jenkins and several of the footmen.
Closely followed by the gardeners' boy and two of the grooms who had been in the kitchen trying to persuade Cook to give each of them a slice of cake when the commotion began.
It appeared that the Duke needed assistance as Miss Barlow had been attacked by an intruder and Jimmy, whose heart was in the right place, had led the way to the breakfast room.
With his arm around her shoulders, Ned turned Sophia's face gently towards him, so that she wouldn't need to watch Lucas being escorted from the breakfast room by the large group of servants which had by this time gathered to complete the task.
During which her brother struggled and attempted to escape Jimmy's vice-like grip on his arm.
Causing him to receive a few extra kicks and blows as he was taken away from the house to the boundary of the estate, and told once again quite firmly by Jenkins that he must never return to Carlfield, in accordance with the Duke's instructions.
Miss Barlow had also become too well liked by this time by all of them, and none of them approved of what they had heard or seen her brother trying to do.
So Lucas could also expect to face their wrath if he was seen again.
Once he was out of sight, and Ned was carefully examining the bruise on her arm, Sophia asked him in a quiet voice why he had stood up for her when she had behaved so badly.
Deceiving Lady Cynthia and him. He removed his arm from her shoulders, glad to see the colour had returned to her cheeks, and reached for hand.
"I did it because I am in love with you, and although I should have listened to you trying to explain all of this to me which I deeply regret, I stand by what I said this morning before you agreed to be my wife. The past doesn’t matter, only the present. "
He hesitated for a moment before continuing since he was unused to talking about his own feelings.
"I also have my secrets, Sophia." Seeing the look of alarm on her face he quickly told her about Joey, and why he hadn't been able to marry his best friend's sister after his death.
I should have been there with him. We did everything together," he said, sadly.
"So you see, all of us have something in our past which we may not always get around to telling other people. "
He was staring tenderly into her eyes when Cynthia came back into the room, and coughed loudly to announce her return before saying that she would have run away too, if she had been in Sophia's position.
It must have been truly awful. She smiled at both of them, and said that she would arrange for the maid to bring them tea.
Maybe ask Cook to send up their breakfast now. Leaving Sophia and Ned alone again.
Having barely heard the Duchess' voice or known she was there, Sophia felt her heart thudding inside her chest when Ned drew her closer to him, and she heard him say that he couldn’t wait to be able to call her his wife.
The matter was sealed by them with the sweetest of kisses.
Leaving Sophia in no doubt whatsoever that she would be able to stay with her husband, and the woman she now thought of as the mother she had longed for.
Carlfield house would truly be her new home, where she would finally be safe, as both Ned and her knew that it really would be a marriage of love.
Whilst Lady Cynthia tried to have the final word when they were eating breakfast. "After everything you have been through, Sophia, I defy any of those dreadful ladies of the ton to try to turn what has happened into a scandal.
You are part of the Carlisle family now.
Neither Ned nor I will allow anyone to interfere with that.
You shall also soon have a title of your own by marriage, and I do hope with several volumes of your delightful poetry published.
Proving to them, and anyone else who might doubt the veracity of it, that love really does matter the most."
Ned raised his teacup to toast his mother's wise words.
The gesture was followed by Sophia, and all three of them realised that they now had the life they wanted.
Cynthia had her daughter, whilst Ned would no longer be lonely, and Sophia had found the true love she wished for.
There would also be many more adventures, with a kind and loving husband at her side.
However, it was for love to ultimately have the last word, for it had found its way into all of their hearts. Destiny had brought together those who were meant to be, once Cupid's arrows had been fired, and it had been given a helping hand by the Duchess of Carlfield.