Always the Rebel (Never the Bride Book 10) by Emily E K Murdoch

Author:Emily E K Murdoch [Murdoch, Emily E K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, romance
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2021-01-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“How wonderful this all is!” her mother said. “To think! In Bath a little earlier than we had originally intended, to be sure, but starting the Season early cannot be a concern when prompted by our dear Sophia’s attachment to the Earl of—”

“Mother,” Sophia interrupted. They had not even arrived at Philip’s home in Camden Place, and already her parents were utterly intolerable. “Mother, you are mistaken. There is no attachment between us.”

Her father snorted. “No attachment? We were not born yesterday. Sophia, do not treat us as innocents. Don’t think we do not know precisely why you stormed here just days ago.”

Sophia swallowed. Her anxiety was starting to play havoc with her stomach, and all she wanted to do was keep her mouth shut, but this could not continue.

“No, Father, it was—”

“A tad rebellious, and not something I would typically authorize,” Mr. Worsley continued without paying any heed, “I believe it will all work out in the end. Well done, Sophia. You are, I think, to be congratulated.”

Sophia rolled her eyes. “You suppose too much! My reason for coming to Bath was not precisely as you imagine. In truth—”

“The Countess of Marnmouth,” said her mother dreamily, her eyes looking out of the window as the carriage turned a corner. “What a title!”

Sophia sighed and desisted in her attempts to rein in her parents’ suppositions. Well, what harm would it do, really? They were too well-bred to speak these assumptions to Philip, weren’t they? She would not have to face him with such nonsense, would she?

“Oooh, we are here, we are here!” Mrs. Worsley almost jumped in her seat, making the carriage rock. “Sophia, look, we are here!”

Sophia smiled weakly.

The carriage slowed, and Sophia took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

It was difficult to untangle her emotions raging through her heart. Even now, sitting in the carriage as her father fussed about whether his cravat was straight, she was tempted to return to their rooms.

She was a grown lady, after all, and if she decided to just return home…

Her heart rebelled against her mind.

It was an intoxicating sensation, the realization that one’s happiness depended on another. She did not like it.

“Come on, Sophia.”

“Yes, thank you,” she said distractedly as her mother gazed up at the townhouse.

“What a fortunate thing it was that his lordship was able to find himself rooms at Camden Place,” Mrs. Worsley murmured as Sophia joined her on the pavement. “Such a prestigious address.”

Sophia spoke without thinking. “He did not acquire the rooms for the Season, Mother, ’tis his Bath townhouse.”

She regretted it as soon as she had spoken, but it was too late.

“What—his own townhouse?” Her mother collapsed into rhapsodies on the theme of her intended son-in-law. “My word, what a wealthy and well-placed gentleman—did you hear that, Arthur? His own rooms! Goodness, we shall have to be on our best behavior when—”

“Yes, please,” said Sophia hastily, taking her mother’s hand and squeezing it with a smile. “Best behavior all around, I think.”

Was that

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