The lady pursed her lips, once again putting her head to the side. All at once, comprehension seemed to dawn in her eyes.
“Frank put me in a hackney. When I arrived here, it was just after one a.m. Does that tell you what you want to know, Miss Edwards?”
Sophie did her best to remain erect as the blow pounded into her. Shrewsbury was right.
The world was spinning off kilter, but she managed to say, “I will show myself out.”
Holding tightly to the stair railing, she willed herself not to fall. The door to her future had just slammed in her face. Her insides twisted with this cruel betrayal of her trust. It was surely the worst thing that had ever happened to her. She barely caught herself in time to prevent a fall down the stairs. Her knee ached abominably.
When at last she gained the ground floor, she nodded to Sally, who waited for her on a bench. The butler opened the door.
It was raining, and she had not brought her umbrella. But she could not stay in this house. Moving as quickly as her knee would allow, she went out the door the butler held open. Sally followed.
Staring down at the muddy streets, she held up the hem of her skirt and tried to avoid the puddles. That was how she came to cannon squarely into a gentleman.
Startled, she looked up to see Frank observing her. His face shifted from surprise to concern. He grasped her arm and said, “Sophie! Angel! Share my umbrella. You are wet through.”
“I am not, nor have I ever been an angel. Particularly not your angel.” She yanked her arm out of his grasp, amazed she could tolerate the fresh pain lancing through her.
“But what are you doing out at this hour of the morning without a pelisse or an umbrella? Surely you could see it was going to rain.”
“I have been to see your mistress, Lord Trowbridge. Any relations between the two of us are now at an end. Good day.” She tried to move off swiftly, but her knee was painful in the damp and her limp most pronounced. She welcomed the flood of anger that now held the pieces of her heart together.
Frank followed her, sheltering her with his umbrella. “Sophie, she is no longer my mistress. I broke with her the morning after the Kents’ ball.”
“I do not believe you. You are capable of the very worst deceit. On the same day you kissed me, although I imagine it meant little to you, you spent the night in her arms!”
He put a hand on her shoulder and turned her so she faced him. The rain cascaded down over all sides of his umbrella. Frank’s face was tight and grim. “Who told you such a tale?”
“Lord Shrewsbury. And Lady Manwaring confirmed it just now.”
“It is completely untrue.” He shook her slightly in his vehemence. “Lady Manwaring came to me that night, pleading for me to take her back. She was the worse for drink. I left her on the sofa in my library to sleep it off, then went upstairs and spent the evening lost in dreams of you.” He put his gloved hand to her cheek and wiped the raindrops away with his thumb.
Sophie could not move.
“I forgot her completely, Sophie. When I remembered to check on her, it was past midnight. I saw her to a hackney. That is a true account. You must believe me, Sophie. I swear it on my life!”
His earnestness penetrated the sad fog in her brain, but she was unwilling to trust his words.
“I am very cold, and my knee is exceptionally painful. I will accept your escort the rest of the way home. But only because you possess an umbrella.”
“I fear you may have caught your death in such weather, darling. Here. Hold the umbrella. I will carry you.” Frank hoisted her into his arms. In spite of herself, she welcomed his warmth and the evidence of his concern.
“Did you get my letter?” he asked.
“Yes. But I did not read it.”
“Did you destroy it?”
Sophie wanted to tell him she had, but instead, she admitted she had not. As she began to tremble violently, she remembered poor Sally.
“My maid!” She looked behind her at the miserable girl huddled in her shawl.
“Yes. She is very wet,” he said. “But we are nearly there.” Frank held her tightly, but he could not still her trembling.
When they arrived at the Deal Townhouse, Frank walked straight in, addressing Perkins. “Go to your mistress straightaway. I found Miss Edwards walking in the rain. I am dreadfully afraid she has caught a chill.”
Sophie’s trembling only increased. Frank continued to hold her close. Her attraction toward him had not diminished. His arms were welcome. Could what he said be true? She was too cold and too tired to move out of his embrace.
“Fanny will take care of me now. I would appreciate it if you would leave.”
“I do not blame you for feeling as you do, but I will wait with you.” He sat her down carefully on a bench by the door.