CHAPTER19
Jeremy hurried across the ballroom, heading in the direction of the door, very aware of how Stephen followed behind him.
“What are you going to do?” Stephen asked, moving at Jeremy’s heels so that he accidently clipped the back of his shoe.
“Tell her how I feel.” Jeremy was resolute. All he could think of was the look of pain he had seen in Sophia’s face.
How could I do it? I wasn’t thinking straight!
He knew that he would have to tell her everything. He would have to tell her why he had the rule of never spending a night with a woman he knew. He would also have to tell her when she uttered those words just now, how it had triggered a memory from his past, and the pain of it.
He could see it all clearly, the memory of reading his last love’s letter, the one she had left behind when she had run off from him.
“Do you know how you feel then?” Stephen asked, pulling on Jeremy’s arm. “I’m not letting you follow her just to break a poor lady’s heart, Jeremy.”
“Don’t worry, Stephen. I have no intention of breaking her heart.” Jeremy smiled. There was something about the words that filled him with hope, it was hope for another life. One where he could spend his days talking with Sophia, smiling and laughing at some odd jest, then at night, they could retreat to his chamber and lose themselves in that passion. “Trust me.” Jeremy clapped his friend on the shoulder before he turned to the garden door.
“Good luck,” Stephen called after him.
Jeremy looked around the guests in the ballroom before he reached for the door. Enough people were gossiping already about the fact Sophia had abandoned him mid dance, he didn’t need anyone else whispering about him. Once he was certain people weren’t looking his way, he stepped out of the door and hurried across a stone terrace.
“Sophia?” he called, looking back and forth for her. Trees swayed in the breeze, their leaves rustling, the only answer he had.
“No… no!” Sudden words caught Jeremy’s ears. He froze at the bottom of the stone steps, certain of that sound.
That was Sophia’s voice.
“Release me. Don’t do this!” she was calling out, begging to someone.
Jeremy rounded the bottom of the stone terrace, passing a tall urn, desperate to see what was going on. At a little distance from him in the garden, Sophia was standing by a fountain, surrounded by frost-dappled plants, yet she was not alone. There was a man with her, trying his best to force her face to his.
“Let go!” She practically screamed the word, yet the man didn’t listen.
Wait… that is Lord Elkins!
Jeremy sprinted forward, such anger pulsing through his veins that he didn’t think to look at the plants he could be destroying beneath his boots. All he cared about was reaching Sophia’s side.
“No, Nick!” she called again. Lord Elkins had an arm wrapped around her, sandwiching in one of her hands so she couldn’t push him off her, as his other hand was in her hair, tugging her toward him. The one hand she had free was pressed firmly to his chest, trying to keep him away from her.
“Get off her!” Jeremy barked the words. He saw the two of them flinch, but Lord Elkins didn’t have time to do anything before Jeremy was there.
He tugged on the back of Lord Elkins’ jacket making him stumble so quickly away from Sophia that she fell over from the changed momentum. Lord Elkins staggered back on his feet as Jeremy swung back with his arm, not hesitating for a second.
How dare he touch her like that!?
The punch came quickly. Jeremy struck Lord Elkins square in the jaw, knocking the man back so far that he fell into the fountain, creating such a splash that birds nearby in trees cawed and took flight. Jeremy stood between Lord Elkins and Sophia on the ground, determined not to let the man anywhere near her again.
“What do you think you are doing?” Jeremy demanded to know, watching as the moonlight fell on Lord Elkins’ face. The Earl slowly pulled himself out of the bottom tier of the fountain, doused in water. He dried some of the water from his face, calmly with his sleeve, then he touched the smarting red mark on his cheek.
“This is none of your business,” Lord Elkins spat with the words. “She is my sister-in-law.”
“You think it’s not? Well, it is my business now.” Jeremy took a step forward. He was the stronger of the two of them, it was plain to see from one glance. That fact must have been the thing that made Lord Elkins step back, increasing the distance between them again. “Take another step toward her, and I swear, it will not just be a punch to your jaw you are left hurting from. Leave, this second.” Jeremy gestured to the house, ordering him away.
Jeremy watched as Lord Elkins’ eyes shot to Sophia, clearly trying to look at her. Jeremy was careful to adjust his stance, making sure Lord Elkins couldn’t see her.
“Do not tempt me to hurt you again,” Jeremy warned. He could hear the threat implicit in his voice, and in the deepening of his tone. Lord Elkins backed up this time, then he turned and scarpered, running away with an odd sort of lope to his gait, then he hurried up the terrace steps and hastened into the ballroom.
The moment the door was shut, Jeremy turned, dropping to his knees and reaching for Sophia.