The Reluctant Countess by Wendy Vella Read Free Book Online

the highest bidder, Sophie. A lecherous old man more than three times her age.” Letty sipped her tea before she continued. Her usually happy face was now serious.
    “To the eye, Lord Pette was a very wealthy titled peer, Sophie. He married Minerva and took her from London to his estate in the country. She had told me how scared she was and of course there was little I could do or say to alleviate that fear; I just prayed that Lord Pette would take care of my friend.”
    Sophie could see by the expression on Letty’s face that Lord Pette had not taken care of her friend. “What happened?” she whispered, almost fearing what she was about to hear.
    “He beat her and gambled every penny he had away. His estates were entailed and she was left penniless.” Sophie could hear the tremor in her sister-in-law’s voice.
    “How did you find out?”
    “When Minerva did not respond to my letters, I decided to pay her a visit,” Letty said, her face set in rigid lines. “Henry was courting me at the time, so he offered to take me. We arrived tofind my beautiful friend, bruised and beaten, bearing absolutely no resemblance to the sweet young woman who had left London mere months previous.”
    “Dear lord, Letty, what did you do?”
    “I found him, her husband. He lay in a drunken stupor on his bed with his pants down around his ankles,” Letty said, and Sophie could see the anger that still smoldered inside Letty.
    “I threw a basin of water over him to make him wake up,” she said, “then I told him I was taking Minerva back to London and if he tried to follow, she would expose him for the animal he was.”
    “My God!”
    “Of course he yelled and tried to hit me, but Henry had followed me and, astute man that he was, took in the situation with one glance and knocked Lord Pette to the ground.”
    Sophie had been on the receiving end of Letty’s protection and knew exactly what she had done for Minerva.
    “I think I would have liked your Henry, Letty.”
    “Yes, he was the very best of men.” Letty sighed, dabbing the corners of her eyes before she continued with her story.
    “We gathered her up, along with her terrified maid, and left. On the journey back to London, she told us everything he had done to her, all of it, Sophie.” Letty’s eyes looked bleak, which told Sophie more than words could say about just what had happened to Minerva Pette.
    “She was a pitiful wreck, a shadow of my Minerva,” Letty continued. “Eventually we reached London and I brought her to my house. My parents were shocked, obviously, but were reluctant to get involved in something that was no concern of theirs. It was actually my brother Melton who came to my aid. He had always been in love with Minerva and he talked them into letting her stay.”
    Sophie sat quietly; she knew Letty’s story was far from over.
    “Two weeks after we reached London, Lord Pette died in a hunting accident. He left Minerva alone, pregnant, and in debt. Her parents found out she was with me and came for her and I could do little to stop them.”
    “But why do you not see her now, Letty?” Sophie asked.
    “I do not know whether it was from embarrassment or a need to forget those awful weeks, but Minerva has not spoken to me since.” Letty said the last bit softly, and Sophie could see she was holding back tears.
    “But you saved her!” Sophie cried as she got out of her chair and rushed over to hug Letty.
    “Minerva will not even look at me, Sophie,” Letty said sadly.
    “We shall see about that!”
    “Now, Sophie, you will not champion this cause. I only hope that Minerva has been a good mother to Amelia, although I fear she has not.”
    “I am afraid you are correct, Letty, if Amelia’s dress sense is any indication,” Sophie said, wrinkling her nose as she regained her chair.
    “I will accompany you to see Amelia, Sophie, because I will not let Minerva mistreat you because of her dislike of me. I will make polite conversation, but there