Free Badcock by Debra Glass Page A

engagement.
    Sophia knew far more than she wanted to about the legendary beauty of Countess Hilda von Kesselring.
    Ralph had leveled a blank stare on her for most of the night and Sophia wondered if he recognized Jack as the masked highwayman who’d humiliated him.
    Rapt in worry, she’d never been more miserable in her life. The entire time she’d searched the crowd of guests for Jack but he’d obviously quit the party after their meeting in the garden. In one night, her entire world had been upended. She’d thought Jack was a highwayman.
    Far from that, he was an earl—a devastatingly handsome earl who was clearly attracted to her. Her heart sank. He’d thought she was that hateful Lady Huntingdon. And yet, Sophia’s insides tensed into a knot as she recalled the kiss they’d shared.
    Just when she’d resigned herself to the fact she’d never see his face or feel his kiss again, there he’d been in all his tanned skin, blue-eyed glory. Even though she’d been confused and angry, she’d been powerless to resist him.
    Ralph cleared his throat. “Why do you think Lady Huntingdon was so interested in the goings on between Stafford and the countess?”
    Heat swarmed into Sophia’s cheeks. Although she’d been thinking about Jack, hearing his name mentioned brought on a merciless wave of shame. “I can’t imagine,” Sophia said, letting her gaze drift out the window. The night was so black she couldn’t see a thing.
    Ralph shifted. He inhaled sharply. “I wonder if it had anything to do with why you were talking to him in the garden.”
    Sophia gasped. “I wasn’t—”
    In an instant, Ralph was across the carriage with his fingers curled around her throat. Startled, Sophia stared.
    Ralph’s eyes blazed in the dimly lit coach. “I saw you. I saw you. Do not lie to me.”
    Sophia gulped. “I…I went out to get some air. I may have spoken to him in passing. Really, darling, I…I don’t know why you’re so upset.”
    “Why I’m so upset?” he mocked her as he returned to his seat. He snorted. “You have thoroughly disgraced me. Everyone in England knows I’m marrying damaged goods. You’re not fit to be my wife any longer. You’re not fit to be any man’s wife.”
    Sophia trembled with anger and fear. “Then, why…why are you marrying me?”
    “Are you really that stupid?” he sneered.
    Sophia remained silent.
    Ralph laughed and the mirthless sound of it chilled Sophia to the core. “Your dowry,” he said as if she were a fool.
    His words stung but she refused to give him the satisfaction of watching a single tear fall. A confession of the whole incident with Jack threatened to gush forth but she kept her tongue in check. It wouldn’t lessen her plight to sully Jack’s engagement.
    “After I told you what a lothario he was, you still rushed to steal a moment alone with him,” Ralph chided. “Did a taste of forbidden fruit turn you into such a whore that you cannot see fit to wait until our wedding night?”
    Sophia shrank with the realization that in one week she would be wedded to this cruel man. He would want to do the things with her that Jack had done.
    Her stomach churned and she gagged.
    “Is the thought of fucking me that reprehensible to you?” he asked.
    She didn’t answer.
    “Fear not. Once I get an heir on you, I’ll seek my pleasure elsewhere,” he continued.
    So will I , Sophia thought dismally as the coach rolled to a stop outside her home. Outside, the footman scurried to pull down the steps. Sophia started to move toward the door but Ralph seized her wrist and squeezed so hard she winced despite the satisfaction she knew her discomfort gave him. “If you ever embarrass me again, I will kill you,” he seethed.
    Sophia jerked her arm away from him and alighted from the coach. Shaking from head to toe, she hurried into the door a servant held open for her. She didn’t look back as she heard Ralph’s driver kiss to the horses. Her heart pounded as she gathered up