Chapter Twenty-One

The ball was everything that Sophie hoped it would be. She was a wife, married to a man she loved, and so happy her heart could burst at any moment.

She stood beside Harlow and Lila, their discussion on the ton and their plans foremost.

"Our ball is being held soon, but the orchestra I normally use has been reserved by Lady Smale, who decided her rout would be best held on the same evening as our event. I'm much vexed," Lila said, looking at them both for support.

"I have a list of musicians one can hire," Harlow said, sipping her champagne. "I shall send a list around tomorrow with my footman."

Lila threw her sister a small smile. "Thank you, that would be welcome."

Sophie half-listened to her cousin's conversations as the sight of Lord Carr and Henry speaking caught her attention more.

What was Lord Carr doing at their ball at all? She had gone over the final numbers and names only last week with her soon-to-be housekeeper, and she certainly knew that Lord Carr and his wife were not on the list.

But they were here now, and she could not help but feel for his own nefarious reasons.

"What is it about Lord Carr that you dislike so much, Sophie? I have noticed that your disfavor of the man often makes your pretty visage slip."

Sophie turned to Harlow and took a fortifying sip of her champagne. She had never told anyone other than her mama what his lordship had done, and nor would she. No one needed that burden but herself, and she would bear it alone as she had for many years now.

"Lord Carr was very high in the instep and did not associate with many who were not as rich and lofty as he believed himself to be. He's a viscount, I know, but the title is not as old as many in the ton, and he often talks down to people. I do not like that about the man nor his wife, who seems to be of similar character."

Lila nodded, glancing in the gentleman's direction. "I have noticed that myself and I have been in town but a moment." She paused.

"So why invite him? Would it not have been best that they find other entertainments to attend than yours?" Harlow asked, watching Sophie with a directness she was not used to.

"We did not invite either of them, so his being here is an anomaly." She noted her mama gesturing for her from across the room. "If you'll excuse me a moment. Mama is after me. I shall return shortly."

Sophie made her way over to her mama, pausing several times when guests stopped to congratulate her. Their happy tidings soothed a little of her annoyance at Lord Carr being at her wedding ball, but only a very little.

"Darling." Her mama reached for her hand, hers shaking. Sophie studied her parent, watching as the color drained from her visage.

"What is it, Mama? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"Lord Carr, my dear. He's …"

Before she could answer and explain his presence, the words she never wanted to be uttered by his mouth murmured behind her.

"Lady Holland, may I congratulate you," Lord Carr said, interrupting what her mother was about to say. "I have not had the opportunity yet to say how wonderful it is that an old friend such as you has married so well."

"You were never friends with my daughter," her mama spat, clasping Sophie's arm as if to save her from a highwayman in the park.

"On the contrary, Mrs. York. We were old friends, as you well know. Friends for some time before I married." He sighed as if remembering happy memories. "I suppose my inability to offer you my hand in marriage turned out to be a welcome reprieve since you're now loftier than most of us in London, and far wealthier."

Sophie flinched and glanced around, hoping no one heard his absurd words. "I never sought your hand in marriage. I never sought anything from you, as you well know. I think it would be best that you leave, my lord."

"I think it would be best that I do not. Not until I tell you what I came here this evening to impart."

"You can say nothing to my daughter that she wishes to hear. Leave," her mother growled, her words brooking no argument.

"No," he quipped, playing with the cufflink pinned to his superfine coat and appearing as a man who looked like nothing in the world bothered him. Not even them telling him to leave. The gall of the man was beyond words.

"As we're old friends," he smirked, "I wished to ask now that you're married that I should think you've come into a great sum of money. Or at least you can get your common grubby little hands on it, should you ask."

The pit of Sophie's stomach curdled, and she swallowed, not wishing to cast up her accounts all over the parquetry ballroom floor. "I do not know what funds I have available to me. I have not questioned the Duke of such things."

"That is the optimal word, is it not? Duke. He is one of the richest gentlemen in England. Now, I do not know if you're aware of that, but he is. He has properties in London, Kent, and even a hunting lodge in Skye, Scotland. There is much coin available at your disposal, and I'm going to help you dispose of that capital to your old friend. Me," he said, pointing at his chest.

Sophie frowned, hoping she was not imagining what he was alluding to. He could not possibly! He dare not be such a bastard.

"What is it you want?" Sophie asked when he did not elaborate.

"You will pay me what I want. A lump sum that shall keep my mouth shut in regards to us being lovers all those years ago," he whispered. "What a good jolly time we had, yes?" He tapped her upper arm in a too-familiar way he had no right to.

"Do not dare touch my daughter," her mama growled.

Sophie jerked away from his touch and took a step back. "I will not pay you a farthing, Lord Carr. And we were never what you accuse. That is not how I remember the situation at all."

"Do you not?" He thought upon her words a moment. "But you begged me. You were quite lively if my recollection is correct. Like a spirited filly begging to be broken in, freed of your virtuous bounds."

Sophie closed her eyes, the memories of that night swamping her, threatening to crumble her to her knees. Her head swam, and she felt the reassuring pressure of her mama's clasp upon her arm.

"That is not what happened, and you know that, Lord Carr," she snarled. "How dare you say that was the way of it. You ought to be hung for your actions."

"And yet I shall never be. But I do enjoy replaying them in my mind. You were a wonderful lay."

"You're a bastard," her mother whispered savagely, a word Sophie had never heard her utter. "You are to leave before I make a scene, scandal be damned."

Lord Carr threw back his head and laughed. Several guests smiled over at them, unaware of the threats his lordship was presenting to them.

"There will be no scene because your daughter, Mrs. York will do as I say, or I shall be forced to tell the duke of her conduct when she lived in Highclere. I shall tell the duke how she would come to the great house, my home, and flirt and flutter her eyelashes at me until I gave her what she wanted."

"I was there to give your grandmother company in her ailing days. To read to her and care for her because no one in your family wished to do such a kind thing to an older woman. I never indicated that I wished for you to court me. I blinked like every other woman in the world. I never fluttered anything in your direction, sir."

He smirked and shrugged. "I remember things quite differently, and I shall tell the duke my version of events if you do not do as I wish. I want one thousand pounds before the end of the month. If you can satisfy my fee, then after some consideration, I shall consider whether you're required to pay more for my silence or if I'm satisfied by our trade."

"You're going to blackmail me for the rest of my life? Make me pay for something that was not my doing but yours? And for how long? As long as you deem it necessary? What will ever satisfy you, Lord Carr, for I do not think you ever will be so."

"Well," he drawled. "It is a start, and your funds will keep my wife and me quite well entertained here in London. Unfortunately, money does not go as far as it used to, but with the help of my good friend, the duchess, I shall soon cover my London expenses without delving into my own coffers."

Sophie ground her teeth and ignored his words. "Please escort your wife out of my house, Lord Carr. Now," she said, not willing to hear a word more from his mouth.

"Of course, Your Grace. I'll look forward to receiving a missive from you in a day or so, but do not delay. Should you not do as I say, I shall not look kindly upon you." He smirked. "I have little doubt that your husband will either. What would he think? Other than you're a charlatan and whore, not the example he wishes for the new Duchess of Holland."