Free Distracted by her Virtue by Maggie Cox Page A

He’d rung her on her mobile only a couple of hours ago, to tell her that he was driving down from Suffolk on his way to visit an antiques market in London and wanted to pay her a flying visit to see how she and Charlie were settling into the house—did she mind that it was at such short notice?
    Of course she didn’t
.
    Sophia simply felt blessed that she was able to renew their relationship after being separated for so long by the unhappy restrictions of her marriage. Tom had been so possessive of her that towards the latter months of his life he’d even banned David from visiting her. The only reason that her brother hadn’t fought harder for the right to do so was because he’d feared the consequences for her and Charlie if he did.
    ‘I’ve missed you, Sophia … I can’t begin to tell youhow much.’ Holding her at arm’s length, so that he could make a thorough reconnaissance of her face, her handsome sibling smiled a dazzling smile that had the look of a child on Christmas morning having just opened the gift he’d been hoping to receive above all others. ‘You’re looking really well … the best I can remember seeing you look for a long time. I’d almost forgotten how pretty you were! Did the two rooms I got ready for you work out all right? I’m sorry that I didn’t have more time to make them a bit more welcoming.’
    ‘They worked out just fine. After what I’d endured, trust me … a tent pitched in a field would have been welcome if no one had access to disturb me or try to control me and tell me what to do.’
    They both knew who she was referring to with that comment, and some of the colour in David’s face drained away a little. He dropped his hands down to his sides.
    ‘I’m so sorry, Soph. So sorry that I didn’t try and get you and Charlie away from him long before the bastard went and died.’
    ‘Please don’t beat yourself up about that. I know you must have been thinking of us. But the truth is the situation was a nightmare, with no easy solutions to bring it to an end. I know you would have done more if you could have. Besides, you had your wife and child to think of—and you know how vindictive Tom could be. I wouldn’t have wanted you or your family to be at risk in any way. Look, let’s not talk about this today, hmm?’ She laid her hand on the soft suede of his jacket sleeve and lightly squeezed his arm. ‘Let’s just enjoy our time together knowing we’ve at last got the freedom to be brother and sister again without interference—agreed?’
    He scraped his fingers through the cropped fair hair that highlighted his strong square-cut jaw and glanced back a little uncertainly into her eyes, as if debating whether anything he ever said or did could help take the sting out of the horrors of the past, no matter how much he wished that they could. ‘Okay … I only want to do whatever makes you feel safe and secure again. God knows that’s long overdue. Why don’t you tell me how you and Charlie are doing? Where is he, by the way?’
    ‘In the garden … he practically lives out there when the weather’s fine. I’ll call him in shortly to come and say hello to you.’
    ‘As long as he’s well and happy—that’s the main thing. This place must seem like a veritable castle to him it’s so big! You’ve certainly got your work cut out if you’re planning on eventually renovating the place.’
    ‘That’s an understatement.’ Sophia grinned. But then she frowned as she remembered something she’d badly wanted to address since being left the house by their relative—something that had been playing on her mind ever since she’d heard the news. ‘Did you mind very much that Great-Aunt Mary left High Ridge to me instead of to us both?’
    ‘Did I mind?’ Her handsome brother was already shaking his head in disbelief. ‘Are you mad? I was absolutely delighted. Especially when I knew that that poor excuse of a husband of yours had left you and Charlie practically