Her British Bard (Dream Come True Sweet Romance Book 2)

by Darci Balogh

  The next morning Sofia woke up with a full-blown head cold. Thank goodness Luna was there. Her sweet younger cousin took such good care of her, cooking for her, making sure she took medicine and drank herbal teas, running her hot baths and even finding her menthol rub for her chest that helped her breathe. Under Luna's care, Sofia was able to at least make it to work and get through the next few days. Although Luna would have preferred if she stayed home.

  "I cand miss days, Luda," Sofia explained. When she spoke with her stuffed up nose, all of her 'n's' and 't's' sounded like the letter 'd'. "Dot with Professor Shipley breathing dowd my deck."

  Together they got through the week and Sofia was on the mend. She even managed to slip the invitations to the fundraiser at Castle Claymore for Tawnyetta into Professor Shipley and Dr. Clara's in boxes while they were out. At the end of the week, she and Luna received an invitation to another of Bea and Travis' increasingly infamous dinner parties.

  Luna was thrilled. Sofia less so. In her short time in London, one of the staples of a Bea and Travis dinner party was Ian Law. And she wasn't sure if spending an evening with him was something she wanted, or even could handle at this point.

  "We don't have to go," Luna offered. Though her mood was definitely dampened at the idea of refusing an evening with friends.

  "I'll be fine. We should go," Sofia reassured her cousin. At least her nose wasn't as red and stuffed up as it had been during the week. Luna had tried to get her to talk about her feelings for Ian since Sofia brought him up on the first night. Luna already had her suspicions regarding their relationship since Thomas had shared the picture of Sofia and Ian on the London Eye a few weeks ago.

  "So..." Luna said cautiously over a bowl of chicken tortilla soup she had whipped up while Sofia was at work. "You don't really like him after all?"

  "No," Sofia said with assurance.

  Luna gave her a little scowl. "I don't believe you."

  Sofia's eyes flashed at being outed. She waved her soup spoon around in the air as she spoke. "I like him, okay? He's a nice person. He's fun and handsome and exciting. I'll give you all of that." Sofia pointed her spoon at Luna for emphasis. "But he's not for me. We are too different. I'm not a groupie type and he's, you know..."

  "He's what?"

  "He's an artist!" Sofia exclaimed, as if announcing he was an alien life form and could not be considered as a possible mate.

  "Okay, okay," Luna chuckled and changed the subject.

  On Friday night as they entered Bea and Travis' home, Sofia was both anxious and excited to see Ian. Her stomach clenched at the memory of the first time she was there and he let her in the front door. The memory of him walking down the hallway at King's College the last time she saw him made her feel a little queasy. Too much had passed between them for her to be perfectly fine during dinner, but she was willing to do her best to be normal and polite for the sake of Bea and Travis and their hospitality. Plus she wanted Luna to have a nice evening out.

  "How have you been?" Bea exclaimed as she hugged Luna and ushered them both into her home.

  "I'm well, thank you," Luna answered. "How are you?"

  "Oh, busy, busy, busy, as always," Bea's eyes shone. She loved having people over, this was obvious. "Well, come in, take your coats off. Travis is pouring the wine!"

  As they entered the dining area and greeted Travis, Sofia steeled herself to run smack into Ian. To her surprise, they found Travis alone in the dining room pouring wine into four wine glasses. Four wine glasses placed neatly on a table set for four. Only four.

  Sofia's resolve to be strong and calm while dining with Ian morphed into a need to act normal in the face of acute disappointment. As much as she had not wanted to deal with Ian and all of his tattooed good looks and sex appeal tonight, she felt a stab of bitter sadness when she realized he was not going to be there at all.

  "Do tell me everything that's happening with everyone," Bea said to Luna.

  Luna accepted a glass of red wine from Travis and thought for a moment before responding, "Oh! Thomas is dating someone new."

  Bea's eyes flew open with delight. "Really? Who is the lucky girl?"

  "Her name is Marin. She's very nice," Luna said before taking a sip of her wine. She swallowed and said, "Bridget hates her."

  They all laughed. Bridget didn't always like it when anyone else got too much attention.

  "And is Bridget seeing anyone?" Bea inquired.

  "Actually, she's dabbled in online dating a bit."

  "Really?" Bea lifted her eyebrows in surprise. "Does she like it?"

  Luna shrugged, "A little. She gets a lot of attention, but not always the best kind."

  "Just us four for dinner?" Sofia asked. All eyes turned to her and she realized that it was an awkward question.

  Bea and Travis shared a nearly imperceptible look, but not so imperceptible that Sofia and Luna didn't see it. Sofia blushed.

  "Yes, dear," Bea said sweetly. "It's just us four tonight. Even numbers are good luck!"

  Sofia nodded and tried to act like she hadn't just upped the awkward dial in the room. Luna watched her, a queer look in her eyes.

  "Speaking of numbers–" Travis started, turning to Sofia.

  "I suppose you're used to having Ian here with us," Bea interrupted.

  Sofia blushed harder and said, "Yes, I guess that's it."

  "Of course," Bea's bright demeanor dimmed with sympathy. "He would have made it I'm sure, if he'd been able." She leaned toward Luna and confided, "Ian's a good friend of ours. Very entertaining. But he's becoming quite the big rock star these days. Can't always make it to little get togethers like this anymore. He's being interviewed on the radio next week!"

  Travis watched to make sure Bea was finished talking before addressing Sofia a second time, "Speaking of numbers–"

  "We'll just have to do without him tonight I guess. Have our own sing-alongs!" Bea exclaimed delightedly. Travis sighed and waited as Bea started toward the kitchen. "More stuffed pork, stewed apples, and goat cheese mashed potatoes for the rest of us," she declared as she disappeared into the kitchen.

  "Can I help you with anything?" Luna asked, following her.

  Travis watched the two women until they were both safely in the kitchen. Then he gave Sofia an apologetic smile. He lifted the wine bottle and offered Sofia a top off. She declined with a shake of her head. He topped off his own while glancing at her empathetically.

  "I don't suppose you really want to know about Ian?" he asked.

  She shook her head again, "No, not really."

  "Very well," Travis set the bottle of wine back on the table. "Speaking of numbers..." he began and led a grateful Sofia into a thoroughly Information Technology based conversation about her work, avoiding all references to the rock star missing from the dinner party.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Luna's trip was short, but needed. When she flew back to the states the following week, Sofia watched her go with a healing heart. Her cousin had shown up at a low point and not only nursed her back to physical health, but helped Sofia rebound from homesickness and lovesickness.

  "I'll be back in less than two months for the fundraiser and everyone will be together again at the castle," Luna told her when they were saying their goodbyes.

  "I know, that will be fun," Sofia said. And she meant it. She had that visit to look forward to and she felt invigorated to face the challenges of her job for the next few months on her own.

  The weather was shifting into fall in London. This meant a drop in temperature and more rain than she was used to coming from the more arid climate of Colorado. Sofia spruced up her wardrobe a bit with a new wide collared, button up, Burgundy wool jacket. She thought the splash of fall color would help improve her mood. She also made more than a few visits to The Red Lion book shop and bought several new and gently used titles to keep her mind occupied during the fall nights at home.

  Work was improving. Or, more specifically, work with Professor Shipley was improving.
She didn't make any more inexcusable mistakes and he was pleased with her work in general. He was also more receptive than she expected him to be upon receiving the invitation to Tawnyetta's fundraiser ball.

  "Claymore Castle?" he asked from the doorway of his office after he found the invitation in his inbox.

  Sofia smiled nervously. "Yes, my friends asked me to invite you and Dr. Clara."

  He tilted his chin down so that he was peering at her over the top of his glasses. "You're friends with Lord and Lady MacBrody?"

  She nodded. Liza and Henry had stopped their work and were observing the exchange with wide eyes. Dr. Clara appeared in the doorway to her office holding her invitation.

  "I think it's marvelous. What a chance to see the Scottish countryside and go to a gala," she smiled widely, her tiny eyes squinting with the pleasure of it all. "We should all go together!" She looked to Sofia for a response and Sofia could only nod in agreement. Dr. Clara then realized a potential problem. Turning to Henry and Liza, she asked, "Would you both be interested in going to a fundraiser ball?" Henry and Liza looked at each other then back to Dr. Clara.

  "In Scotland?" Liza asked.

  "Yes, yes, in Scotland," Dr. Clara's deep voice was benevolent.

  Liza looked shyly at Sofia and nodded. "That would be very nice indeed."

  "How about you, Henry?" Dr. Clara encouraged the young man to speak up.

  Taking his cue from Liza, Henry nodded and said, "Yes, sure, why not?"

  Dr. Clara pointed at Sofia with her invitation and asked, "If Frederick and I bring them as our plus ones, will that do for Lord and Lady MacBrody?"

  Sofia, though a little surprised at how the fundraiser ball had suddenly become an office retreat, didn't see why Tawnyetta or Michael would mind. "I don't think that would be a problem."

  Dr. Clara beamed. "Excellent. It's settled then. We'll take the train. I'll check the dates."

  "What if I want to bring someone else as my guest?" Professor Shipley asked, insulted at Dr. Clara's presumption.

  "Oh, Frederick, you don't have a plus one," she said lightly as she waved her invitation at him, dismissing his argument.

  "I beg your pardon–" Professor Shipley began to argue.

  "Stop being a curmudgeon," Dr. Clara called out to him as she retreated back into her office.

  Professor Shipley called after her, "Clara!"

  "You don't have a plus one, Frederick. Stop pretending that you do!" Dr. Clara's voice emerged from somewhere out of sight.

  Sofia, Henry, and Liza sat in stunned silence as Professor Shipley harrumphed, stepped back into his office and slammed the door shut.

  Henry was the first to speak. "What the hell just happened?"

  Liza looked from Henry to Sofia and then at Professor Shipley's closed door. "I guess it's all settled, then," she repeated Dr. Clara's words.

  They all cracked up laughing.

  Everything wasn't quite settled, however, because Sofia needed to find a dress for the ball. And she had very little money to spend. As it turned out, Liza was in the same predicament. Dr. Clara had 'an old black velvet number that should do nicely', so she was covered. Sofia turned to the only person she thought might be able to help her and Liza with their predicament. Bea.

  "Oh, yes," Bea told her excitedly when she called. "I know some great places we can go to get second hand dresses that you would never guess had been previously worn. I could use a new gown myself, come to think of it. I think my old evening wear has outgrown me...or vice versa!"

  That's how Travis, Bea, Sofia, Liza and Henry ended up on a Saturday afternoon shopping spree in Fitzrovia. Travis had come along to carry their packages and Henry had been invited as a companion for Travis while the ladies shopped. Although Sofia and Bea believed he agreed to accompany the shopping party because he had a crush on Liza. Which was adorable.

  "Liza, do you like this blue?" Bea held up a bright blue gown with piles of ruffles falling like foam to the floor. Liza paled at the sight of it.

  "I think that might be a bit bright for Liza," Sofia suggested. "And with all those ruffles it might swallow her up."

  Bea turned the gown back to look it over again. "True, true."

  As they searched through racks of gently used discounted designer dresses, Travis and Henry sat in the waiting area looking at their phones.

  "What color do you want, Sofia?" Liza asked in her thin, high voice.

  "Black," Sofia answered without a thought. "I love black and then I can wear it again and again."

  "Isn't black a little dreary?" Bea piped up. "I mean, you have such beautiful skin tone, you could wear brighter colors if you wanted."

  Sofia spied a beautiful vintage grey lace tiered dress that looked about Liza's size and pulled it off the rack. Just as she was lifting it to show the younger woman, an uncanny sound reached her ears. It was the sound of Ian...singing.

  Sofia spun around to see where the music might be coming from, but there was no stage in the large, well-lit thrift store. There wasn't even any music pumping through the speakers for the discount shoppers to enjoy. No, the music was coming from someplace else nearby. That's when she spied Henry holding his phone up for Travis to see and, apparently, hear what it was playing. Sofia went to them, unable to contain her curiosity. Her heart beat harder than she would care to admit the closer she got to them.

  Sure enough, as she got nearer she could hear the chorus.

  Shine on me, shine on me, bring me your light.

  Take my heart, take my breath, take my life.

  Travis did a double take when he saw her approaching, but Henry was controlling the phone.

  "Sofia, have a listen. Have you heard this band? The Tellers?" Henry asked.

  Sofia nodded, "Yes, I have."

  "So has Travis! What are the odds of that? They were playing at the club a few weeks ago. Bloody awesome, they were," Henry pushed his finger on a button on his phone and the song Sofia was almost positive Ian had written for her stopped playing. "That song's a bit slow. Here's a good one." Another song Sofia recognized started up. Travis was watching her with concern.

  "We don't have to listen–" Travis started to say.

  "No, it's fine," Sofia insisted. "I like them." She smiled at Henry who did not notice her reaction to hearing Ian. Travis noticed, but when he looked like he was about to say something to Henry to change the music, Sofia shook her head at him. "It's fine," she smiled insistently.

  But it wasn't fine. Not really. She'd gone days without allowing any thoughts of Ian to enter her head. Hearing him sing brought everything back. Memories of him on stage electrifying her and an entire crowd of people, singing alone with his guitar with such emotion she felt like her soul was being pulled out of her body, in Bea's living room sitting so close to her she could feel the heat emanating from his body while he sang her song. All of this and more flooded through her mind and swept through her core. She missed him. She missed him so much.

  "What have you got there?" Bea's voice cut through Sofia's misery.

  Bea had joined them and was looking at the dress Sofia held in her hands. The grey tiered dress she thought might be perfect for Liza. She held it out and managed, "For Liza."

  "That's perfect!" Bea exclaimed then held up her own discovery for Sofia, a white tulle sleeveless dress with a pattern of black birds in flight sewn across the top layer. The birds flew thinner at the hem and neckline and closer together at the waist, making it two toned–very sleek and elegant. "And this would be perfect on you!"

  The next few weeks were astonishingly busy. It took a lot to organize a train trip for seven people across the United Kingdom and have them arrive prepared to spend a full weekend and attend a black tie event. The ladies even had to have their gowns shipped ahead of time because they wouldn't have room to pack them onto the train. When Sofia thought they were done planning everything, Luna called and told her she wanted to come to London first and travel with her to Claymore Castle. So their party of seven became a pa
rty of eight.

  "We must take the Caledonian Sleeper train," Dr. Clara insisted during a working lunch when they were finalizing plans for the trip. "It's nearly 13 hours to Inverness. I hear their new cars are outstanding."

  Sofia was excited about that idea. Traveling across the countryside in a train sounded lovely. Romantic. Ian crossed her mind and she squelched the thought, which made her sad. She sighed and muttered a rebuke under her breath, "Stop it."

  "What's that?" Dr. Clara's beady eyes blinked at her.

  "Nothing, the sleeper train sounds nice," Sofia answered.

  There was the uncomfortable issue of dual occupancy. Bea and Travis would share a berth, naturally. Now that Luna was joining them, Sofia would share a berth with her cousin. That left Dr. Clara, Professor Shipley, Henry, and Liza. There was no automatic pairing that made sense except to split them up by gender. That meant Liza would bunk with Dr. Clara and Henry would bunk with Professor Shipley.

  "Bloody hell," Henry complained. They had all grown much more comfortable with each other over the past weeks of working and planning together. Plus, Professor Shipley wasn't present at this lunch, so Henry felt free to express his feelings. "I've got to share with Shipley?" He grimaced at the idea.

  "Now, now, we can't very well push you and Liza in a berth for a work trip. That wouldn't be exactly proper, would it?" Dr. Clara explained in her upbeat way.

  Liza blushed and Henry fidgeted. Sofia was pretty sure they would rather be with each other than with Professor Shipley or Dr. Clara. But this way was more professional.

  "How is this a work trip again?" Liza asked.

  Dr. Clara leaned back in her chair and used her best lecture voice, "Well, we have been asked to this event as representatives of King's College. And you," here she indicated Henry, Liza, and Sofia with a sweep of her arm, "are going along as representatives as well...except you," she nodded at Sofia with a smile. "You're friends with the Lord and Lady already."