A Taste of Paradise Read Free Page A

to get yourself out of this one, Ray.”
    â€œWhy should I put myself out for you when you’re the reason the family has fallen so low?”
    Guilt rode Sophia. She’d spent years trying to forget the event that had sent her fleeing from London. But one thing she had never forgotten was the man she had fallen in love with when she was seventeen.
    â€œOur family would be fine today if you hadn’t gambled away everything but our home and land. It’s time to leave London, Ray. The estate still brings in rent and money from crops. You could make it prosper if you tried harder.”
    â€œI’m not a farmer and never will be,” Caldwell contended. “No, Sophia, you’re the only one who can save me from debtor’s prison.”
    â€œMe! How do you figure that?”
    â€œI’ve lost more than I intended at the tables. My creditors are hounding me. One man in particular is demanding immediate repayment of the debt I owe him. He has threatened to send me to debtor’s prison if I don’t come up with the blunt.”
    â€œYou’re an irresponsible fool, Ray,” Sophia spat. “Debtor’s prison is too good for you. Even though Claire and I never saw eye to eye, I pity her.”
    â€œI’ve received an offer for you that could help repair our financial difficulty.”
    Sophia stared at him, mistrusting anything he said. “What kind of an offer, and from whom?”
    â€œHear me out before you refuse. Your cooperation could save our family.”
    â€œYou never cared about anyone but yourself,” Sophia charged.
    â€œI married that cow Claire, didn’t I? Do you think I would have offered for her if I didn’t need her blunt?”
    â€œBlunt you managed to squander in a relatively short time.”
    Caldwell cleared his throat. “Sir Oscar—”
    â€œNever say that toad offered for me!” Sophia spat. “The answer is no, no and no.”
    â€œSir Oscar said he will tear up my vowels in exchange for a night in your bed,” Caldwell continued over Sophia’s objection. “He was quite taken with you.”
    â€œHow dare you! You should have challenged him for the insult, or at the very least showed him the door.”
    Caldwell’s mouth flattened; his eyes became cold as ice. “You always were a troublesome chit. It’s not as if you’re a sought-after deb. You’re on the shelf, and even if you weren’t, you’re tainted by scandal.”
    â€œI won’t do it, Rayford. I don’t need your support. I received a very good education. I can support myself as a governess if need be.”
    â€œWhat about Claire? Would you leave her without support? The estate is bankrupt.”
    â€œI won’t do it, Ray, not even for Claire. She has her parents, while I have no one. I’m not going to prostitute myself for you or anyone else. I’m going to place an ad in
The Times
tomorrow, advertising my services as a governess.”
    Turning on her heel, she swished past Caldwell and out the door.
    Sophia spent the rest of the day avoiding her brother, and when he joined her for dinner that night, he didn’t bring up the subject of Sir Oscar, much to Sophia’s relief. She retired directly following the meal and didn’t see Rayford again until dinner the following night.
    â€œI gave the servants the night off,” Caldwell said when Sophia finished eating and excused herself.
    Sophia stared at him. It was so unlike Rayford to be generous that she could scarcely credit it. “Did they request the night off?”
    â€œThe maid asked permission to spend the night with her mother, so I decided to give Jeeves the night off, too. And of course, Cook always returns to her family after dinner is prepared and served.”
    â€œI bid you good night, then,” Sophia said. She paused at the door. “By the way, my ad should appear in
The