Page 43 of To Redeem an Earl

When she walked into the room, she feigned surprise to see Perry sitting in one of the plump armchairs and bid him good morning before turning back to her husband. Her deceitful, prideful idiot of a husband. Keeping her face composed, she greeted him pleasantly, certain her cheeks were flagged with color at the memory of their night together. Richard looked happy to see her, at least.

“I was wondering if you and I could take Ethan to the park this morning? The boy is used to living on a farm, and I think it would be good for him to enjoy the outdoors.”

Richard appeared torn for a moment, clearly thinking about the threat to their safety that he refused to discuss with her. He looked over at Perry. “Would you like to join us?”

“In the park? You must be funning—” Perry stopped abruptly at the expression on Richard’s face. Her husband must want an extra presence with them, but he was unable to state it with her present, so he threatened Perry with a vicious glare. “I would be … delighted”—the younger brother grimaced—“to join you. It is high time I met my nephew.”

Richard turned to smile at her. “We will all go to the park with Ethan, then.”

She smiled back. Sophia wondered how her former scoundrel of a husband had got under so many skirts in his past. She saw no evidence of the subtlety required for such endeavors. Perhaps he was losing the glibness of his shallow charms? Or perhaps most people were too unobservant to notice what was happening right in front of them. She did know she was learning to read him like a book. She would allow him to think he fooled her, but only for a little while. And only if it was something mildly dishonest, such as not disclosing the mysterious note. Heaven help him if he tried to stray from her. She would take him apart with her bare hands if he attempted it.

So it was that Sophia found herself in a very crowded carriage. Her husband and his brother sat on the bench across from her, while she, Daisy, and Ethan were jammed together on their bench. Besides the coachman and the customary footman on the box in the front, the two Johns were crammed onto the rumble in the rear.

Apparently, one woman and one small boy required six men and a nursemaid to protect them. She would be exasperated with Richard for being overly cautious, but it reminded her of how she had recently gone to extreme measures to defend herself from Leech—which had turned out to be the exact right amount of caution, or she would now be wed to the murderous lord. She could not blame Richard for being a little overzealous. Nay, she blamed him for failing to inform her of the note.

Squashed into the corner of the squabs, with a pelisse adding bulk over her walking dress and a large bonnet blocking her peripheral vision, she compared the brothers. She knew her husband was two years older than his brother, but it was hard to believe. Perry was a fraction taller and slimmer. They both possessed the artfully cut brown curls, deep green eyes, handsomely symmetrical faces, and strong jawlines, but Peregrine’s face was that of a sulky, indolent spare. Richard displayed a lightness of spirit and smiled frequently, while his brother often looked cold, haughty, or sarcastic—sometimes all three at once. His immaturity was obvious to her sharp eyes.

Thinking of Richard’s request on the morning of their wedding, Sophia observed that Perry’s greatest issue appeared to be his lack of purpose. While Richard maintained several estates, overseeing thousands of tenants as well as several successful investments that had grown the wealth of the Balfour family, Perry had no discernible or worthwhile activities that he engaged in. Sheer boredom was likely the cause of his sour moods.

When the current situation settled down, she would mention to her husband that, despite the fashionableton’sideas, Perry needed to find an occupation of some sort if he was going to find his way in life.

Perhaps Richard should involve him in his estates or teach him how to handle investments. It would do the spoilt young nobleman a world of good to have a greater purpose to steer his days. She had never thought much of the idle lives of most of the peerage, or their neglect of children relegated to servants’ keeping.

In her experience, the most competent, purposeful members of their world appeared to be the most satisfied. Not to mention, the most interesting. Her own uncle and aunt were quite productive. She did not always agree with them, but she had observed that they conducted life with a stable, predictable character unlike her own temperamental parents who lost their unstable lives far too young.

“Mama, which park are we going to?” Ethan’s youthful voice cut into her thoughts. He was on his feet with his face pressed against the opposite window. Richard watched him closely, clearly ready to grab the boy at the slightest hint of danger. She sighed at the expression on her husband’s face. It was obvious he was on edge. If only the stupid man would share his burden with her, perhaps together they could find a solution.

Perry quirked an eyebrow in sarcastic comment, presumably because Ethan called her Mama. Sophia ignored it. She appreciated that Perry was assisting her husband with recent events, but she felt she had more to contribute. She knew she would be the better choice of confidante.

Did her husband see her as a weak-minded female despite his assurances that she would be his partner in life? Is that why she was being kept in the dark, while he conspired with his brother?

“We are headed to St. James’s Park, Ethan.”

“Where thepelly-kinslive?”

She gazed at him in surprise. “How do you know of the pelicans?”

“Emma said if I was good in London, then I could ask to be taken to see the pelly-kins at St. James’s.”

“Yes, we will probably see the pelicans in the canal.”

“Emma would be so jealous if she knew.” Ethan’s little face became mournful. Richard must have noticed, too, because he scooped the boy into his arms and plonked him down on his leg. The child giggled and squirmed in delight while Richard jostled his leg up and down to simulate riding a pony. Perry grimaced in displeasure, trying to move away but finding no room to do so. He was forced to endure the play of his brother and his nephew with his lip curled in disdain.

Not for the first time, Sophia wondered if her husband had handled Ethan’s move to London in the most considerate manner. The little tyke kept bringing up this Emma of whom he was so fond, and despite making time for the child every day, she was unsure they were providing the same level of attention he had received on the working farm where he had lived amongst a large family.

Her well-meaning, hulking idiot of a husband was mishandling her, so surely he must have mishandled the situation with Ethan? She should seek details on how Ethan’s familial transference had been dealt with so that she could assess what else the boy might need from them as parents.

The carriage came to a stop, and Sophia was grateful to climb down onto steady ground. The additional weight of so many passengers had made the journey rougher than usual. Richard waited for her while holding Ethan’s hand, stepping forward so she might slip an arm through his free one. Together, they set off to the canal.

Perry joined the guardsmen and was scanning the vicinity, while Sophia did her best to ignore the large men, and perplexed nursemaid, following them en masse. A veritable army surrounded them to protect them on a simple walk in the park. She sighed. Richard felt it was necessary, but that did not prevent it from being irritating.

They walked along a path with rolling green lawns spread in every direction while above their heads mature trees laden with fresh spring leaves cast shade. Couples and groups of ladies passed by, and at the canal in the distance, boys were floating toy boats under the watchful gaze of their nursemaids. Nearing the canal, Ethan’s excitement mounted, and he tugged eagerly on his father’s hand to walk faster.

“Are those boats, Papa? Where did they get them?”

“From a toy shop, I should think. Would you like one?”

Ethan’s eyes widened in delight. “My own boat? That I can put in the water?”

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