Evan sat next to the bed, concern in his gaze. “First, I’m sorry for what I said last night and before that in the greenhouse. It was all uncalled for. I hope you can forgive me at some point.”
Sophie said nothing, just stared at him. She didn’t plan to make it that easy for him.
Evan cleared his throat. “So, how are you?”
“How do I look?” Sophie bit back a laugh. It would hurt too much.
“Not so good. What happened?” He studied her. His hair was disheveled, and he looked as if he hadn’t slept at all. Somehow, that made him more handsome than usual.
“I started feeling terrible—hot and crampy. I knelt down near the staircase, because I felt like I was going to collapse if I didn’t.” Sophie took a deep breath. “Then, someone pushed me, and I fell down the stairs. I managed to stop myself.” She closed her eyes, trying not to relive the nightmare.
Evan’s face had gone pure white like cream. “Someone pushed you?”
“Yes, I know they did. I didn’t imagine it.” Her voice was sharp, but Sophie was sick of being doubted.
“Dear God,” Evan said, closing his eyes.
“Yeah. So, I’m not feeling very trusting of any of you right now.” Sophie shivered. Evan himself could have pushed her, and he was just inches away.
“I can understand that. I can’t get over it. You know our mother died that way. Well, she fell in the official version of the story, but many people thought it wasn’t an accident.” He clenched his fists on his thighs.
“What? No I didn’t know that. John didn’t tell me.” Sophie realized there was a lot John wasn’t telling her. He was secretive, closed inside of himself. Who was this man she was marrying anyway? Would she ever understand him?
“Yes, we were young children and were downstairs, but our father was upstairs. No one could pin anything on him, and he was wealthy, so things went nowhere. But it wouldn’t surprise me if he had a hand in her death. I’m not saying he meant for her to die, but maybe they were fighting and—” He swore under his breath.
“That’s quite a thing to say about your own father.” Sophie swallowed hard.
“He’s more monster than man. I’m sure even John told you that.” Evan shook his head.
Sophie nodded. “In so many words.”
Evan stood with an air of finality. “Be careful, Sophie Banister. I know your life was hard before you came here, but you might consider what would happen if you stay.”
Was that a threat? Sophie was speechless as he walked out of the room, and she wondered if she should try to call a cab and get a plane out of here, back to Chicago.
* * * *
“Something’s arrived in the mail for you,” John said as he came in to see Sophie later that afternoon.
She was cuddling Maya in her arms and mulling her options of staying or going. If she left, she would do it in the night—call a cab and take Maya away in the middle of the night. She would worry about fighting John legally later over the marriage contract, if he even bothered. Sophie wasn’t sure he would.
“Yes?” Sophie’s voice was brittle, but she tried to hide her feelings. She wouldn’t give away her intentions or the battle raging in her head about staying or going.
“Well, see what it is.” There was a glow of excitement in his dark eyes.
The logo on the envelope was all the she needed to see. It was the divorce papers, sooner than expected. Her hands shook as she opened the envelope. Yesterday had thrown everything into doubt. Did she want to marry John, or should she leave as soon as she was well enough to travel? A life of poverty would be better than no life at all. Sophie remembered Evan’s words that morning. “The divorce is final,” Sophie said flatly.
“I thought that must be it. This is great news!” John said, taking the document and reading it for himself. He stopped, gazing at her. “You don’t seem very enthusiastic.”
“It’s a little tough to be after what happened yesterday.” She swallowed hard, biting back harsher words she wanted to say.
He frowned. “I promise you, you aren’t in danger. I’ll keep you safe.”
She laughed. “I almost died, and you don’t believe me.”
“Sophie, I believe you.” He stopped for a moment as if he were choosing his words carefully. “I think you believe firmly that you were kicked, but I just don’t know who would do such a thing—not over the inheritance or anything else.” John shook his head, looking confused.
Sophie almost pitied him but not quite. “Right. Well, it happened. I’m not losing my mind. And what about Maya? What if there’s a madman here who wants us dead?”
“I’m handling it, Sophie. I will take care of it if there is any danger to you. I swear I’ll make sure you’re safe. I’m checking into everything, and I’m going to have a guard for you here at Haven House and for Maya if you want them,” John said, his lips tight. He looked angry.
Sophie wanted to believe him. He looked sincere, but she was still frightened.
“A guard?” She laughed shortly. “That sounds like a dream come true.” Sophie couldn’t keep the bitter note from her words. “That might be too little too late. If anything else happens that frightens me, I’m leaving. The wedding will be off,” she said.
“Please, Sophie. Please trust me.” He stood up, laying the cane in front of him aside. Then, John knelt down by the bed in a swift motion considering his impediment, surprising her. He cupped her chin in his hands and gently kissed her lips at first. The heat of his lips stirred the feeling in her his touch had the day before—latent passion. Sophie responded in spite of herself, and his lips moved against hers more urgently.
When he pulled away, they were both breathless. “Let’s not put it off any longer,” John said.
