They had not found her lying unconscious along the path, Sophy reminded herself. "Not quite, my lord. I started to slip from the saddle at that point but, uh, I believe the mare carried me for some distance into the woods before I finally lost my seat altogether."
"Would it make this any easier for you if I told you I have just now returned from a ride along the path to Old Bess's cottage?"
Sophy eyed him uneasily. "You have, my lord?"
"Yes, Sophy," he said very gently. "I have. I took a torch with me and in 'he vicinity of the pond I discovered some rather interesting tracks. There appears to have been another horse and rider on that same path today."
Sophy leaped to her feet. "Oh, Julian, pray do not ask me any more questions tonight. I cannot talk right now. I am far too distraught. I was wrong when I said I felt well. The truth is I feel absolutely wretched."
"But not, I think, because of a blow on the head." Julian's voice was even softer and more reassuring than it had been a moment ago. "Perhaps you are making yourself ill with worry, my dear. You have my word that there is no necessity to do that."
Sophy did not understand or trust the tenderness she heard in his words. "I do not take your meaning, my lord."
"Why don't you come over here and sit with me for a moment while you calm yourself." He held out his hand.
Sophy glanced longingly at the offered hand and then at his face. She steeled herself against the lure he was offering. She must be strong. "There… there is no room on the chair for me, Julian."
"I will make room. Come here, Sophy. The situation is not nearly so bleak nor as complicated as you appear to think."
She told herself it would be a major error to go to him.
She would lose whatever strength of will she possessed if she allowed him to cosset her just now. But she ached to feel his arms around her again and in the end his outstretched hand was too much to resist in her tired, weakened condition.
"I should probably lie down for a while," she said as she took a step toward Julian.
"You will rest soon, little one, I promise you."
He continued to wait with that subtle air of limitless patience as she took a second and then a third step toward him.
"Julian, I should not do this," she breathed softly as his fingers closed over her hand, engulfing it.
"I am your husband, sweetheart." He tugged her down onto his lap and cradled her against his shoulder. "Who else can you talk to about what really happened today, if not me?"
At that she lost most of what was left of her fortitude. She had been through too much today. The kidnapping, the threat of rape, her narrow escape, the moment when she had held the pocket pistol in her hand and found herself unable to shoot Waycott—all conspired to weaken her.
If Julian had shouted at her or if he had been cold with rage, she might have been able to resist, but his soothing, tender tone was irresistible. She turned her face into the hollow of his shoulder and closed her eyes. His arms tightened comfortingly around her and his broad shoulders promised protection as nothing else could.
"Julian, I love you," she said into his shirt.
"I know, sweetheart. I know. So you will tell me the truth now, hm?"
"I cannot do that," she said starkly.
He did not argue the point. He just sat there stroking the curve of her back with his big, strong hands. There was silence in the room until Sophy, succumbing to the temptation once more, began to relax against him.
"Do you trust me, Sophy?"
"Yes, Julian."
"Then why will you not tell me the truth about what happened today?"
She heaved a sigh. "I am afraid, my lord."
"Of me?"
"No."
"I am pleased to hear that, at least." He paused for a moment and then said thoughtfully, "Some wives in your situation might have reason to fear their husbands."
"They must be wives whose husbands do not hold them in high esteem," Sophy said instantly. "Sad, unfortunate wives who do not enjoy either the respect or the trust of their husbands. I pity them."
Julian gave a muffled exclamation that sounded like something between a groan and a chuckle. He retied a velvet ribbon that had come undone on Sophy's dressing gown. "You, of course, are excluded from that group of females, my dear. You enjoy my esteem, my respect, and my trust, do you not?"
"So you have said, my lord." Wistfully, Sophy wondered what it would be like to have Julian's love added to the list.
"Then you are right not to fear me for, knowing you, I know very well that you did nothing wrong today. You would never betray me, would you, Sophy?"
Her fingers clenched around a handful of his shirt. "Never, Julian. Never in this life or any other. I am very glad you realize that."
"I do, my sweet." He fell silent again for another long moment and once more Sophy relaxed under the soothing stroke of his hand. "Unfortunately, I find that, although I trust you completely, my curiosity is not assuaged. I really must know what happened to you today. You must make allowances for the fact that I am your husband, Sophy. The title causes me to feel somewhat protective."
"Please, Julian, do not force me to tell you. I am all right, I promise you."
"It is not my intention to force you to do anything. We will play a guessing game, instead."
Sophy stiffened against him. "I do not want to play any games."
He paid no attention to the small protest. "You say you do not wish to tell me the full story because you are afraid. Yet you also claim you are not afraid of me. Therefore, we can safely conclude that you are afraid of someone else. Do you not trust me to be able to protect you, my dear?"
"It is not that, Julian." Sophy lifted her head quickly, anxious that he not doubt her faith in his ability to defend her. "I know you would go to any length to protect me."
"You are right," Julian said simply. "You are very important to me, Sophy."
"I understand, Julian." She touched her stomach fleetingly. "You are no doubt concerned because of your future heir. But you need not worry about the babe, truly—"
Julian's emerald eyes flickered for the first time with a show of real anger. It was gone almost at once. He cradled her face between his palms. "Let us have this clear, Sophy. You are important to me because you are Sophy, my dear, unconventional, honorable, loving wife—not because of the child you carry."
"Oh." She could not tear her eyes away from his brilliant gaze. This was as close as he had ever come to telling her he loved her. It might be as close as he ever got. "Thank you, Julian."
"Do not thank me. It is I who owe you thanks." He covered her mouth with his and kissed her with slow thoroughness. When he finally raised his head, there was a familiar gleam in his eyes. His mouth curved faintly. "You are a powerful distraction, my dear, but I think that this time I will endeavor to resist. At least for a while longer."
"But, Julian—"
"Now, we will finish our guessing game. You are afraid of whoever was on the path by the pond this afternoon. You do not seem to fear for your own safety, so we must conclude that you fear for mine."
"Julian, please, I beg of you—"
"If you fear for my safety, yet you will not give me a fair warning of the danger, it follows that you do not fear a direct attack on my person. You would not conceal that important information from me, would you?"
"No, my lord." She knew now it was hopeless to keep the truth to herself. The hunter was closing in on his prey.
"We are left with only one other possibility," Julian said with inevitable logic. "If you are afraid for me but you do not fear I will be attacked, then it must be that you are afraid that I will challenge this mysterious, unknown third party to a duel."