Badcock by Debra Glass

Author:Debra Glass [Glass, Debra]
Format: epub
Tags: Short Novel, Erotica
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Legend
Published: 2010-07-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Shortly after noon, Sophia dragged herself downstairs. Her whole body ached and worse, her heart was shattered. In a matter of seconds, she’d gone from ecstatic to crushed.

Mistress.

She shuddered. She couldn’t imagine herself closeted away in some London flat, shunned by society while she waited for Jack to leave his wife and heirs to devote time to her. “Unacceptable,” she muttered aloud as she neared the breakfast room where her parents were still dining.

She stopped just outside the doorway when she heard her name mentioned.

“Lady Huntingdon seems to have taken quite a shine to Sophia,” her mother said.

Her father let out a harrumph. “Someone needs to take that girl under their wing and teach her how to behave.”

“I’m not certain Lady Huntingdon is the proper person for that but apparently she has invited our Sophia to go visiting with her tomorrow. Look at this invitation.”

No! Sophia clenched her fists. She would not go anywhere with that awful woman. Lady Huntingdon only wanted to taunt and torment her about Jack. Sophia had no doubt of it.

She just would refuse the invitation. Summoning all her courage, she strode into the breakfast room. “Good morning, Mama. Papa.”

“Sophia!” her mother greeted. “You’ve received the loveliest invitation from Lady Huntingdon.”

“I have no time for invitations. My wedding is Saturday next,” Sophia said blandly as a servant appeared to draw her chair out for her.

Her mother’s eyebrows knitted up. “Peter?”

“You’ll accept and you’ll go,” he barked.

Sophia seethed. “I found the woman detestable.”

He leaned forward. “You will accept and you will go. And you will keep your opinions of others to yourself.”

* * * * *

When Lady Huntingdon’s carriage arrived, Sophia was surprised to discover two other ladies would be accompanying them. Sophia knew the Honorable Miss Pansy Pettigrew but did not know the other young woman, introduced to her as Miss Lydia Markham, whose father was a baronet.

“My dear Sophia,” Lady Huntingdon greeted with false sincerity.

Sophia tried not to cringe. An elegantly attired footman stood by the coach to help her inside. Once she was in and seated, the carriage was underway.

“And to think,” Lady Huntingdon said. “By this time next week, you’ll be a duchess.”

Sophia didn’t need to be reminded. The wedding seemed as if it were hurtling toward her at breakneck speed and there was nothing she could do to prevent it from crashing headlong into her.

“I don’t know how your father managed it,” Lady Huntingdon said, still smiling prettily.

“Managed what?” Sophia asked and immediately regretted it when she realized she’d been baited.

Lady Huntingdon’s gaze flitted to Misses Pettigrew and Markham and then she contrived a look of shock. She leaned slightly forward. “To get Lord Wisbech to agree to uphold the contract—especially after what happened to you. Poor dear.”

Hot anger boiled in Sophia. She clenched her fists in the folds of her gown to keep from clawing the woman’s eyes out. How could Jack ever have mistaken her for this…this creature? The day had just begun and Sophia didn’t know if she had the resolve to continue.

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