Page 20 of Sophia’s Letter (Ladies of Munro #1)

T obias was watching Sophia read, her head bent in concentration. She tucked an errant curl behind her ear. A single gray strand threaded through the twist of dark hair. He knew she was self-conscious about her age and the subtle signs that gave it away. As far as he was concerned, it added character to her beauty. Just like the smear of ink on her elegant hand. Once it had even stained her chin. He grinned. She would be mortified when she discovered it. But he was enjoying the imperfection of her loveliness.

“What about this word here?” Sophia pointed.

Tobias did not look.

“I will not offer my opinion,” he said. “I have told you there is nothing more to be done. Your work is ready. I will take it with me today and have my uncle read it. He will know which publisher would want the honor of printing it.”

“I don’t know. You are hardly an unbiased judge.”

“Why? Because I love you? Or because I knew your work was excellent before we spent weeks polishing it?”

“Both,” she said, squirming a little.

Seeing her discomfort under the weight of his bold affection was nothing new to Tobias. She would just have to grow used to it.

“In that case, I defer you to my uncle. He will offer you an honest perspective.”

“Yes, I know. That is why I only want to present my very best to him.”

“And this manuscript,” Tobias declared as he began gathering up the pages, “is precisely that.”

Sophia’s grip tightened on the sheet she held.

“You may keep it if you wish.” Tobias shrugged. “I know all your poems by heart by now. I will simply rewrite that one and add it to the rest.”

Sophia released the page with a scowl.

“You always win,” she muttered sulkily.

“And you’re the only one who wants to.”

Tobias leaned closer and kissed her on the tip of her nose. She folded her arms.

He tilted his head and touched his lips to her cheek. No response.

His mouth opened slightly and slid down to hers. Her lips resisted for but a moment, then parted and pressed against the warmth of his. Her arms loosed and slipped around his shoulders, scooping his neck toward her. The silk of her dress rustled as she shifted her weight against him, the fullness of her breasts pushing against his ribs.

Tobias groaned as pleasure washed over him. He fought to think clearly. How he wanted her! But not like this. Not under her father’s roof.

He pulled back, drawing his fingers along the silky skin of her arms. He folded his hands around hers and brought them to his lips.

“You are not playing fair,” he murmured.

She flashed him a coy smile. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes, you do. Stop being irresistible. How am I supposed to keep my distance?”

“Who said I wanted you to?” Her voice grew husky and her lips gathered in a pout.

“Marry me, then, Sophia.”

At once, the shutters came down.

Her gaze dropped away. She tucked her hands into her lap. Her posture grew stiff, and her voice filled with starch.

“I’m not ready.”

“Don’t you want the same happiness as your sister?”

“I am not my sister.”

“Look, I know she followed a more daring path. But I will not ask that of you. Let me make my formal application to your father. I know I am not a wealthy man, but my connection to the Earl of Carthige must count for something. If we choose to remain at my uncle’s estate, you will even be near your family. I cannot imagine what protest your father might have. I do think it is time, my darling.”

Sophia remained unmoving. “For that which you ask, there will never be a time that is right.”

“How can that be? What could your father have against me?” Tobias halted abruptly as a worrying truth bubbled up. “We will not tell him of our secret meetings, surely? It was not how I wanted things. You know that. We must begin again. Do it right this time. Once he comes to know me, he will have no doubt that we are well-suited.”

“I fear that is exactly where the trouble will start.”

Tobias cocked his head to the side. “You have quite lost me.”

Sophia sighed. “Papa will never give me permission to marry you, Tobias.”

“Well,” Tobias said cautiously, “strictly speaking, we don’t need his permission. We are both of age.”

“But he won’t give his blessing.”

“Never? Not even if we are patient and show him how happy we can make each other?”

“ Especially not then.”

“That doesn’t sound very reasonable.”

“No.”

Tobias pondered this a minute. “Do we…?” He hesitated. “Do we need the blessing of an unreasonable man?”

Sophia turned her eyes upon him. Pain filled them, fathoms deep. “If I marry, he will cut me off completely. No inheritance. No contact. Not with anyone still in this house. Not ever again.”

A shocked silence rippled out across the room.

Eventually, Tobias managed to splutter, “But…but…but why ?”

Sophia rubbed her fingertips against her temple, then cupped her hand around the back of her neck, massaging the tension in it. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. “Because he mourns,” she said simply. “He mourns my mother still. He is lost without her. She brought balance to his life. Now he is like a man whose foot is nailed to the floor. He goes around and around in circles and makes no progress. Mother was the only one who could have talked sense into him. And we are all that is left of her. To lose any of us is to lose her all over again.”

Tobias sucked in his breath. “I see. Well, I can certainly sympathize with his sorrow.” His thoughts turned to his uncle. Their conversation was still raw in his mind. His loss had been so complete. At least Mr. Grant had a house full of children as comfort. Children who could marry and give him grandchildren. Why would he not welcome that? “It seems to me,” Tobias said with some confusion, “that marriage adds to his family rather than takes something from him.”

“He does not see it that way.”

“I’m afraid my compassion for him must be rather limited if these are his terms.”

Sophia shook her head. “There is no logic to it. His agony has necessarily become ours. Misery has corrupted our father’s heart. Already, it is forbidden to mention Adriana at all. It is as if she never existed. He has cut her out like a festering wound. But it is a wound of his own making.” Her fingers twisted into the black silk fabric of her skirt. “And we are all forced to share in his madness.”

“Then let me free you from it!” Tobias urged. “Perhaps your sister was wise, after all. She has escaped to a better life. You can do the same.”

“I am not my sister.”

“What if all five of you stood up to him together? Surely, he will not want to lose you all? He must relent in the face of such a terrible prospect!”

“And if he does not? If all of us are left homeless and penniless and fatherless? What will become of Bess? She will have no prospects. And Henry will be forced to leave Cambridge.”

“So, you would rather remain in this house where the shadow of death infects everything.”

“You think I want this?” Sophia’s eyes flashed with anger. “You think I enjoy having to choose between keeping my family and making one of my own?”

“No, of course not! I…”

“You think it is so simple. I should cast off my entire family for your sake. How is the price you are asking me to pay any lower than what my father exacts from me?” Her mouth twisted bitterly. “Sacrifice. Always sacrifice. My mother. My health. My freedom of choice.”

Silence sank like lead between them.

“Sophia…”

“What? What is it? What lesson do you want me to learn this time? What must I change to live up to your expectations?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all. It has been a shock. That is all. I had no idea. How could I have known? You kept it from me.”

“What choice did I have? Would you speak such secrets aloud?”

“I’m not blaming you. I am only asking for a little time to process what I have learned.”

Sophia covered her face with her hands. “I am sorry.” She moaned. “I should not take out my frustration on you. You have been true and constant.” She lifted her head. Red-rimmed eyes strained to keep back tears. “It is to no avail, Tobias. You understand now. It was but a dream. And we have woken up.”

“What are you saying?”

Sophia gave no answer.

Tobias leaned back in his chair, his hands on his knees. “I think you know me well enough, Sophia, to realize that this is not the end of it. Not by far. Happiness such as ours is rare indeed. I will not give it up. But I need to think on it further. And you need to rest. I will return next Monday, and we will speak more on this. You are right that I have woken up. My eyes are wide open. And I will seek a solution.”

A pale hope lit Sophia’s face, only to have it clouded over by the habit of helplessness. “There is no outcome that does not cause suffering,” she answered.

“We are suffering already. We can only move forward. Which way is best, I cannot yet say. But I am determined to discover it.”

He stood and reached over, planting a tender kiss upon her forehead. For a moment, the room was still, the mood one of fragile optimism.

For a moment.

Then, without warning, the door banged open, and Katie barged into the room. She all but shouted, “The master is on the drive!”

Sophia gasped, her face blanching with dread. “Get out, get out! Go, Tobias. Go now. Quickly!”

Tobias stood rooted to the spot. Indecision gripped him. Should he confront Mr. Grant? Was this a sign? But one look at the terror in Sophia’s eyes and his mind was made up.

Sophia was groaning and rocking her head between her hands. “Why is he back so soon? What will he say? What will he do ?”

Tobias snatched up the loose pages of the manuscript and quickly folded them as he made for the door. The sound of his boots crossing the floor was matched with footfalls approaching the room from without. Tobias froze.

Mr. Grant, his long hair wild from riding, strode into the room and halted in surprise. “Mr. Mannerly. What are you doing here?”

“I…uh…” Tobias floundered. He looked down for inspiration and spied Sophia’s pages gripped in his hand. “Ah! Yes! I have come with good news for Miss Grant.”

Mr. Grant’s eyebrows rose. “Indeed? And what, pray tell, is the nature of this news that it could not have been shared in a letter?”

“Oh.” Tobias hesitated. “Well…I confess I wished to deliver the news myself for the satisfaction of seeing the joy it might bring. As you know, I am an ardent admirer of Miss Grant.” He hurriedly cleared his throat. “Of her work, I mean.”

Straightening to his full height, Mr. Grant tightened his jaw and demanded stiffly, “I think you should explain yourself, sir.”

“Gladly,” Tobias answered. As you know, my uncle and I attended the excellent poetry reading last week. Finest event of its kind, if you ask me.” He beamed at Sophia.

Her father nodded impatiently. “Yes, thank you. What has this to do with your news?”

“Well, due to his fervent love of books, Lord Carthige has many contacts in the world of literature. And he believes he knows several publishers who would be very interested in Miss Grant’s next collection of works.”

“She already has a publisher.”

“But, Papa,” Sophia interjected, “you had to invest a tidy sum to win his interest. This would be someone who recognizes the merit of my poems for their own sake.”

“I see,” Mr. Grant said, a little sulkily. “Then our publisher is no longer good enough. A little ironic, actually. I just came from a meeting with him. He wanted to say they are ordering a third print because the books we requested at the beginning of the month have already sold out. I did not want to wait until this evening to tell you.” His lips tightened. “However, it is something of an anticlimax now, in light of Lord Carthige’s news.”

“Far from it!” Tobias cried. “It only speaks of the wisdom in your choice of publisher, sir, that they should invest further in their most talented client. More people should have the privilege of reading your daughter’s exquisite writing.” He gazed proudly at Sophia.

Mr. Grant looked at Tobias as if seeing him properly for the first time. His eyes narrowed.

“Thank you, Papa,” Sophia said hastily. “You have brought me such encouragement. Not only now, but when you invested in the first print. My success really began with you.”

Her father shifted his gaze to her.

“Nonsense, my dear. I simply did what any proud father would do—shamelessly boast to the world of his children’s gifts.”

“I must thank you, too, sir.” Tobias beamed. “Without you, I would never have known Miss Grant existed.”

“That is most kind,” Mr. Grant answered. But his eyes darted from Tobias to Sophia, and the mechanisms of his brain did not appear to produce pleasing conclusions. “Shall I see you out, Mr. Mannerly? You have done what you came to do. Please thank your uncle for thinking of us.” He looked at Sophia again. She sat primly, her eyes lowered, her mouth soft and undefiant. She was the very picture of an obedient daughter.

Tobias pitied her. How easily she slid into the role that was expected of her. It all made sense now. She was so willing to give up her own desires to appease others.

But enough was enough. She must shine in her own right. Not just as a poet, but as a person. He must see to it, no matter what.

He allowed her father to escort him out with only a polite bow to his dear Sophia. While Tobias waited for his horse to be brought to him, Mr. Grant stood like a sentry at the door. As soon as he had mounted up, the man took hold of the rein nearest him and looked Tobias dead in the eye.

“Mr. Mannerly, I thank you for your enthusiastic support of my daughter’s writing. However, to arrive without warning, no matter your desire to personally see the results of your news, is unacceptable. Your uncle has no doubt informed you that we are a very private family. We have our reasons. It means we seldom receive visitors, and then by written invitation only. You are a gentleman and will respect this.”

Tobias, despite his affable nature, was not one to be bullied. He returned the steady gaze and answered. “I am a reasonable man. All reasonable demands will be honored.”

Mr. Grant blinked. Then he stood back. “I believe we understand each other. Good day to you, sir.”

Tobias touched the tip of his hat, more out of habit than respect. He clicked his tongue and spurred his horse forward. As he rode down the drive, he could feel Mr. Grant’s glare burning into the back of his neck.

His skin crawled. Fifteen years under that tyrant’s thumb! It was a wonder Sophia had kept her bearings at all! Now, more than ever, he was determined to set her free from her gilded cage.

He must talk to his uncle. He needed the advice of a sensible person. If the earl didn’t hold Tobias back, he was bound to do something foolish. He set his horse into a canter, then a gallop. His heart thudded along with the hoofbeats.

When he reached the stables, he threw himself out of the saddle, leaving the reins trailing and the stableboy scurrying to grab them. Tobias marched into the earl’s study without knocking, causing the man to look up in surprise.

“Uncle, we must talk. Matters are worse than we thought.”

Lord Carthige cast a longing look at the pages before him, then sighed and removed his glasses. He leaned back in his chair and braced himself. “Very well, Tobias. I do not know how I have come to take on the role of advisor to young lovers. It is certainly an unenviable task. But I will help where I can. Tell me everything.”