the mention of the life she might have had. “He offered, but my father tossed him from the house and I thanked god he did. I cannot imagine a worse hell than being married to that horrible man.” She shuddered with another violent chill.
Dory stood and turned away.
Sophia’s heart sank. She had ruined one of only two friendships she had in London.
Dory’s back was rigid and her hands fisted. She turned and stared at Sophia with narrowed eyes. Maybe she would strike her. “He forced himself on you.”
Sophia only nodded. The night in her father’s study rushed back to her memory pushing more tears to the surface.
“How old were you?” Dory knelt before her again.
Sophia was surprised at how angry Dory seemed. Angry at a man she didn’t even know. “Sixteen. It was my first season out.” Her heart slowed its pace. Dory hadn’t rushed from the house the minute she heard of Sophia’s shame. She didn’t call her the terrible names that rolled through Sophia’s own mind. Dory had knelt before her with sympathy.
“He should have been shot for what he did to you. How did your father not kill him?”
For the first time since that horrible night, she had told someone outside her mother and father the truth. Her imagination had painted a picture of the result that included shame and remorse. Dory stared at her eyes wide and hands shaking as she gripped hers. Sophia’s heart lightened and the pain long in her chest eased. “I think father would have enjoyed exceedingly to have killed him on the spot.”
“I thought you Americans went around shooting each other willy-nilly.”
A small giggle escaped. She put her hand over her mouth. “Not generally.”
Dory paced with clenched hands. “All right, then. If you do not want to marry, then we shall devise a plan so you will not have to. Will your father not allow you a small income?”
“He would, but mother insisted I come to London and try to find a husband. She said I must put the incident behind me. But really, I can’t. I can’t stand the thought of a man touching me.” The night before rushed to her memory and her skin tingled. “Though, when the earl kissed me it was quite soft and enjoyable.”
“I wish I knew more about such matters. My mother has been very closed-mouthed on the subject. However, I must believe that a rape is not the same as whatever one would have with a husband. I’ll give the matter of your remaining unmarried some thought. In the meantime, do not worry so much. No one has offered for you, so there is no reason you should not enjoy your season. If someone does offer, then we shall think of reasons why each and every one is not suitable. I can be clever when I need to. I’ll send your maid in and order you a bath. I shall call on you tomorrow with Elinor.”
Sophia jumped up. “Oh, don’t tell Elinor. Please.”
“Of course not.” Dory hugged her. “We shall just come for a visit and discuss gowns for the Fallon ball.”
Sophia wanted to hug her new friend and never let go. She couldn’t have dreamed anyone would take her part, let alone fight on her behalf. “I’m glad you’re my friend, Dorothea Flammel.”
Dory smiled. “I am as well.”
Once Dory left, Sophia called for a bath and Marie helped her undress. She closed her eyes and sank deeper into the warm water. Perhaps everything would be all right. The idea of a small house, either here or in Philadelphia, crept into the back of her mind. She would like to be in the country, where she might grow a garden and no one would gossip about her lack of husband. That would be perfect. No husband meant, no children to ever call her mother and in turn, none of the grandchildren her mother coveted so desperately.
Perhaps not perfect.
* * * *
The dress glimmered in the color of rich butter and gave her skin a golden glow. Marie had outdone herself styling Sophia’s hair, entwining crimson ribbons and crystals through her dark tresses. The same color ribbons
Dory stood and turned away.
Sophia’s heart sank. She had ruined one of only two friendships she had in London.
Dory’s back was rigid and her hands fisted. She turned and stared at Sophia with narrowed eyes. Maybe she would strike her. “He forced himself on you.”
Sophia only nodded. The night in her father’s study rushed back to her memory pushing more tears to the surface.
“How old were you?” Dory knelt before her again.
Sophia was surprised at how angry Dory seemed. Angry at a man she didn’t even know. “Sixteen. It was my first season out.” Her heart slowed its pace. Dory hadn’t rushed from the house the minute she heard of Sophia’s shame. She didn’t call her the terrible names that rolled through Sophia’s own mind. Dory had knelt before her with sympathy.
“He should have been shot for what he did to you. How did your father not kill him?”
For the first time since that horrible night, she had told someone outside her mother and father the truth. Her imagination had painted a picture of the result that included shame and remorse. Dory stared at her eyes wide and hands shaking as she gripped hers. Sophia’s heart lightened and the pain long in her chest eased. “I think father would have enjoyed exceedingly to have killed him on the spot.”
“I thought you Americans went around shooting each other willy-nilly.”
A small giggle escaped. She put her hand over her mouth. “Not generally.”
Dory paced with clenched hands. “All right, then. If you do not want to marry, then we shall devise a plan so you will not have to. Will your father not allow you a small income?”
“He would, but mother insisted I come to London and try to find a husband. She said I must put the incident behind me. But really, I can’t. I can’t stand the thought of a man touching me.” The night before rushed to her memory and her skin tingled. “Though, when the earl kissed me it was quite soft and enjoyable.”
“I wish I knew more about such matters. My mother has been very closed-mouthed on the subject. However, I must believe that a rape is not the same as whatever one would have with a husband. I’ll give the matter of your remaining unmarried some thought. In the meantime, do not worry so much. No one has offered for you, so there is no reason you should not enjoy your season. If someone does offer, then we shall think of reasons why each and every one is not suitable. I can be clever when I need to. I’ll send your maid in and order you a bath. I shall call on you tomorrow with Elinor.”
Sophia jumped up. “Oh, don’t tell Elinor. Please.”
“Of course not.” Dory hugged her. “We shall just come for a visit and discuss gowns for the Fallon ball.”
Sophia wanted to hug her new friend and never let go. She couldn’t have dreamed anyone would take her part, let alone fight on her behalf. “I’m glad you’re my friend, Dorothea Flammel.”
Dory smiled. “I am as well.”
Once Dory left, Sophia called for a bath and Marie helped her undress. She closed her eyes and sank deeper into the warm water. Perhaps everything would be all right. The idea of a small house, either here or in Philadelphia, crept into the back of her mind. She would like to be in the country, where she might grow a garden and no one would gossip about her lack of husband. That would be perfect. No husband meant, no children to ever call her mother and in turn, none of the grandchildren her mother coveted so desperately.
Perhaps not perfect.
* * * *
The dress glimmered in the color of rich butter and gave her skin a golden glow. Marie had outdone herself styling Sophia’s hair, entwining crimson ribbons and crystals through her dark tresses. The same color ribbons
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