A Taste of Paradise Read Free

fractious of late. I have little control over her.”
    Rigby shrugged. “It’s up to you, of course, whether or not you force her to obey. You could remind her that your wife will have no husband if you go to debtor’s prison.”
    Caldwell winced. He didn’t care a fig about Claire. He had left her in the country because she would hinder his activities in Town.
    Well, there was no help for it. Sophia would have to swallow her pride and face the inevitable. She was on the shelf. No man would offer her anything but an improper proposal, he now realized. Selling Sophia’s favors was the only viable solution to mending his finances.
    After Rigby had his night with Sophia, Caldwell intended to offer her favors to other men. Perhaps one would even keep her as his mistress. It wasn’t as if Sophia would suffer as a rich man’s plaything. She would be kept in style, have servants to wait on her, jewels she could sell later, and live a life of luxury. It wasn’t a bad life, and Caldwell would make sure he shared in the profit. All he had to do was convince Sophia.
    â€œSophia will do as I say,” Caldwell assured Rigby.
    â€œI thought you would say that. I will call on Sophia tomorrow night. Make sure she knows what I want from her.”
    â€œDon’t come until after ten; that’s when she usually retires. I’ll give the servants the night off and leave the house when you arrive. But I’ll want my vowels returned before you visit her room.”
    The agreement made, Rigby took his leave, strutting off like a cocky rooster. Caldwell remained in his study, planning Sophia’s ruination.
    Sophia emerged from the kitchen when she heard the front door close. While she had no idea what the obnoxious Sir Oscar wanted with Rayford, she knew instinctively that it involved money. The man made her skin crawl. She headed for the study, intending to speak to Ray about leaving London.
    â€œWhat did that man want?” Sophia asked as she strode into the study. “You’d do well to stay away from men of that ilk.”
    Caldwell sent her a sullen look. “You don’t even know him.”
    â€œYou’re right, and I don’t want to. There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
    â€œAnd I have something to discuss with you, so speak your piece first, and then I will speak mine.”
    Sophia felt nothing but disgust for her stepbrother. Ray’s mother had been her father’s first wife. She had brought her son from a former marriage with her. Rayford had inherited the title of viscount at an early age.
    After Ray’s mother died, Sophia’s father married her mother. She had been their only child. Unfortunately, her father had grown so fond of his first wife’s son that he made Rayford Sophia’s guardian. Ray was an unrepentant gambler and indifferent provider, and her father had been no better. Both Ray and her father had put their own needs before those of the family, leaving the women who depended on them destitute. Sophia could barely stand Ray and knew the feeling was mutual.
    â€œIt’s time to return home,” Sophia said. “There’s nothing to be gained by remaining in London except accumulating more debt. We both knew that trying to find me a husband was doomed to failure.”
    â€œWhy did you agree to come to London if you thought it was futile?”
    She looked away. She had had several reasons, but only one she was willing to admit. “I wanted to prove to you once and for all that I’m unmarriageable. I wanted you to stop hounding me about snaring a rich husband to benefit your empty pockets. Let’s put all this foolishness behind us and return home. You should concentrate on providing your estate with an heir.”
    â€œWhy do I need an heir to a bankrupt estate?” Caldwell snarled. “
You
could save us if you put your mind to it.”
    â€œYou’re going to have