Page 85 of Love Unraveled
Sophia could hear the clatter of wheels in the courtyard. She’d thought all her guests had arrived. She walked toward him to see who it was.
“No,mon amour, there is no time. Come.”
He grabbed her hand, pulled her to the front door and out onto the landing. The carriage was unmarked and shuttered. The coachman jumped to the ground and opened the door. There was a flourish of movement, and two men in top hats alighted, their faces shadowed by their brims. She looked at Gaston questioningly, but he simply squeezed her hand and urged her to the top of the stairs.
The taller of the two men looked up. Lord Liverpool? He smiled and tipped his hat. Liverpool leaned in to say something to the other man, who then looked up. Sophia stopped, and a tremor raced through her body. “Non, ce n’est pas possible,” she whispered to Gaston.
“Oui, it is him,” he said quietly, his glazed eyes mirrors to hers.
She let go of his hand, and her legs found their strength as she flew down the remaining steps. “Papa!” she cried, bursting into tears as her father wrapped his arms around her.
“Sophie,” he said gruffly, over and over into her hair.
Her mind was in turmoil, but her heart knew the truth. This was no fantasy. Her father had been returned to her. She pulled back and looked at him, and he wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“Ma petite fille,” he said, tears glistening on his face. “Though not so little anymore. You are a grown woman now,non?”
He was the same age as the duke but looked much older than him. And thinner. Gaunt, with hollowed cheeks and features too big for his face. But she could see her dear papa in his eyes and his smile.
“But how?” she asked, looking from him, to Gaston, to Lord Liverpool, who, hat in hand, looked exceedingly pleased with himself.
“It would seem your father is as resourceful as you,” Lord Liverpool said. “But I will leave him to tell you his tale.” He looked at Gaston. “My apologies for our delay. No doubt you have been stressed about it. The ship was late, and we had to get the man cleaned up and into some decent clothing. It is a wedding, after all.” He returned his attention to Sophia and her father. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Monsieur Auclair. And to see you again, Countess Tessaro.”
“Madame Armand,” she corrected with a smile, still wiping at her eyes.
Lord Liverpool nodded in acknowledgment.
“You will, of course, join us.”
“Unfortunately, it would not be wise.” He put his hat on. “A seeming relationship between us would not benefit any future work you might consider.”
Her father’s arm still around her waist, Sophia leaned into him, unable to process it all. Gaston thrust out a hand. “We owe you a great debt, my lord.”
“Not at all. You may have saved my life and that of the regent. We can call it even.” Lord Liverpool shook Gaston’s hand and her father’s, bowing toward her before climbing into the carriage. The three of them stood side by side and watched the carriage roll away.
“I believe there is a wedding today,non?” Papa said.
“But I cannot grasp…I do not comprehend…how—”
“Sophie, you have not changed. You do not need to understand now. It is enough I am here.” He looked fondly at Gaston. “That we are all here. There is plenty of time to share our stories later. Years, I hope.” He leaned in and kissed each cheek.
She held a hand from each man as they climbed the stairs of Château Nouveau and entered the grand hall. Raimondo stood, as ever, waiting for her.
“Signore Auclair,” he said, shaking her father’s hand. “I will outline the plans for the ceremony.”
“You knew?”
“I know everything,” Raimondo said and winked at Gaston. Sophia’s world had truly turned upside down. She said so to Gaston as Raimondo led her father into the receiving room.
Gaston pulled Sophia into the drawing room, closing the door behind them.
She turned on him. “How long have you known?”
“Liverpool had a lead on it when the duke was brought in, but he was not entirely sure if it was true, so I said nothing. I did not want to get your hopes up.”
“Is it why you delayed this celebration?” Sophia’s head was spinning, trying to sequence all that happened these past few months and make a single picture of it.
“Oui. I would have married you in front of everyone, the duke’s trial be damned. But I thought if there was a chance for your father to be a part of it, the celebration could wait. On the other hand, you being officially my wife could not.” Gaston tried to pull her close for a kiss, but she was not done.
