“Oh, the same old,” Hugh chortled. He held his empty glass up and a servant scurried over as if from nowhere, refilled the glass with juice and then ducked out of sight. ‘When is Robert going to end this deplorable behavior? He’s too old to be acting so foolishly. I didn’t raise a rake. He’s turning himself into the Laughing Stock of Tamway, not the Viscount...’ that sort of thing.”
“Lovely.”
“And she even had the gall to blame me, do you believe that?” Hugh continued. “Apparently my getting married wasn’t the good influence it was supposed to have been. If anything, you’ve gone even more off the rails since. At least that’s how she sees it.”
Robert groaned to himself as he rubbed at his temples in an effort to subdue the pain. As he did, the same servant that had refilled Hugh’s glass hurried toward him, pouring jug held aloft. Robert shooed him away. He would have much preferred a drink with some liquor in it.
Robert didn’t resent his mother’s words, despite how he acted whenever he heard them. She just wanted what she thought was best. Unfortunately, what she thought was best didn’t align with Robert’s values at all. Where she wanted him to get himself married, settle down and start a family of his own, he wanted the exact opposite.
“Did you tell her that you getting married had the exact influence on me that was expected? Namely, I saw how ghastly the experience is and decided then and there to do everything in my power to avoid it?”
Hugh responded with a bark of a laugh, clearly reveling in his friend’s pain. “You’re more of a drunken fool than I thought if you believe that. Emma and myself have never been happier. We radiate it actually.”
“Yes, I believe the sun is only shining this morning on account of you two.”
“I’m telling you, married life isn’t the sham you think it is. You remember I used to frequent the bordello just as much as you...” Robert raised a contemptuous eyebrow at his friend, forcing Hugh to take a step back, just a touch. “Granted, maybe not as much. But still enough that I know what it’s like. Believe me when I tell you that I don’t miss it. Not a bit.”
“Well, all the more for me then,” Robert concluded. He looked around the room, spotting the servant in the corner. Robert raised his glass, indicating for the servant to instead fill it with something a little harder. The servant understood immediately.
“Oh, I forgot. Emma is having a masquerade ball next week you’re going to attend.”
“Really? A masquerade ball? How fun.” Robert sighed with derision at the invitation.
It wasn’t the ball that he hated so much. Robert loved a party as much as, if not more than the next man. What he didn’t like was being forced into social events with the aristocratic elite. Robert was what was known as ‘new money.’ He bought his station, rather than being born into it. Even though Robert was insistent that this actually made him better than his fellow man, they didn’t see it that way.
Robert already knew what the night was going to entail. It would involve a lot of snickering behind his back, a lot of off-hand remarks about his upbringing, his current bachelor status and a less than entertaining time for him.
“Is that a yes?” Hugh asked, choosing to ignore the obvious look of contempt on his friend’s face.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Of course not!”
“Well then, sign me up,” Robert took a very deep sip of the drink he had been poured. Brandy by the taste, although what it was mixed with he didn’t have the foggiest. As the liquor ebbed and flowed through his body he felt somewhat rejuvenated, and a sudden idea came to mind. “Tell me, is that strumpet from Devonshire coming to said masquerade ball?”
“Scarlett, you mean?” Hugh asked with a grin.
“The very same. Now there’s a lady I’d happily waste five hours of my night just to get close to.”
“She’s one of Emma’s new friends, so I dare say that she will be.” There was a twinkle in Hugh’s eye, indicating that he knew exactly what was on his friend’s mind. Not that Robert was doing much to hide it.
“Excellent,” Robert beamed. He held his glass in the air and toasted Hugh. The day had started off splendidly, taken a turn for the worse, only to bounce back in a marvelous fashion.
He was told at least once a day that he should consider getting married, that the bachelor life wasn’t suited to one of his station. But every time the argument began to seem valid, a Scarlett came along to remind him why he was single. At those times, he couldn’t help but think on just how lucky he was.
Chapter 3
The ball was as elegant an affair as Sophia had ever seen. Held at Bellington manor, the entire living space had been transformed to a magical paradise. A silver and gold theme abounded, draping the walls, chandeliers and tapestries, bedecking the tables and décor. Sophia had been inside the manor a dozen times at least, but found it nearly unrecognizable as she’d walked through the front entry.
To offset the regal motif, the guests were costumed in colors and dress styles of every conceivable variety. The women all wore exuberant gowns, many which were cut dangerously low in the bodice and tapering to fashionably tiny waists before flowing out around the hips and turning into lavish trains that trailed them from behind.
The men were all equally resplendent. Those that had come with a female companion made sure to wear a suit with matching lapels and color coordinated cuffs. The men attending alone dressed in any way they pleased, the only rule being that it was appropriate for the type of party they were attending. As Sophia looked around the room, she saw that not a soul had transgressed this rule.
Then there were the masks. Every single guest had a mask on. These were all small masks, held on the face by either a piece of string tied at the back, or a small handle running down the side and held by the wearer. The theme was a simple animal one, meaning that all the masks were stylized after an animal of some kind. Birds were the most popular, but by no means the limit. Sophia was lucky enough to spot one guest wearing a colorful lion mask. It was moments like this which reminded Sophia of the joys of going out on occasion. Something which she had long since given up.
Even though she had kept her word and attended the ball, she made sure to stay as invisible as she possibly could. Her gown was a simple silver affair. It was well fitted but covered her form considerably better than the more fashionable dresses she saw around her. Her mask was a silver bird, with a long beak and small slits for her eyes. Her dark black hair hid from view in an unadorned knot at the nape of her neck. Her goal was a simple one, to avoid being seen.
It wasn’t that Sophia didn’t like the people she found herself with. On the contrary, she would love nothing more than to be able to throw her mask to the side, reveal who she was and join in on any number of conversations currently taking place around her. But she knew she couldn’t, and that was because the people that attended these events simply didn’t want her to join in on the conversation.
When she first arrived, she had taken her mask off to greet Emma. In doing so she spied an elderly lady she recognized as Lady Juliette gasp at the very sight of her. It was as if Sophia’s being there had brought the party down to a deplorable level.
Consequently, Sophia was resigned to standing in the corner, watching a world that she could never be a part of. All because of one stupid mistake she had made as a young girl. Life could be so cruel.
It was just getting onto 10pm, and she had taken to watching Emma and Hugh from across the room. Although she did love her best friend, and she was happy for her, she couldn’t help but find herself becoming morbidly jealous at the same time. They seemed so happy. She was aware of the trouble they’d had at the start of their marriage, but now watching them together made her heart ache. She told herself constantly that she didn’t care for that life, but she knew it wasn’t true. Seeing Emma and Hugh together only made her realize what she was missing.
“Hiding from someone?”
The voice was dark like chocolate, and
smooth like velvet. It was a whisper, snaking its way over her shoulder and slithering into her ear. Her skin tingled as the words registered, and when Sophia turned around, she had to work not to gasp in shock at who had spoken them.
Viscount Robert of Tamway was as desirable a man as one could hope for. Not only was he a Viscount and richer than half the men in the room put together, but he was quite handsome. Sophia had thought so from the first time she’d spied him while on a visit to Emma. He’d been by to speak with Hugh, but the two men left on business almost immediately. Sophia doubted he’d even seen her. In the brief interaction she’d witnessed, he had a boyish charm to him that most other men didn’t have, and there was a playfulness behind his eyes that Sophia admired.
“Oh... just waiting for the right person to find me,” Sophia somehow managed. She allowed herself a sigh of relief as the words escaped her lips, shocked at how well they had come out.
“Consider yourself found,” Robert said. As he did so, he held his hand out in invitation. She accepted, and he brought the back of her hand to his lips, kissing it ever so gently. The warmth from the kiss spread up her arm, and her knees began to shake.
“What are... how are you, sir?” Sophia asked as she gently slid her hand from his grasp, the kiss still burning the back of it.
“I’m very well, my lady.”
There was a pause following these words. Robert’s mask was a simple white eye piece, covering the top part of his face but leaving the entire bottom exposed. The mischievous smile she remembered was on full display.
Sophia hesitated, feeling that he had more to say. But when he didn’t speak, she opened her mouth, desperate to fill in the growing silence. “I wasn’t aware that you were —”
“Would you care to dance?” He didn’t wait for an answer, but rather took her hand and led her toward the dance floor. Sophia didn’t object.
As Robert guided Sophia onto the floor, she found herself thinking how strange it was that they had never actually been introduced. She was more than aware of Viscount Tamway of course. His reputation as a playboy and scoundrel wasn’t exactly a secret. But where most shuddered at this notoriety, Sophia had always been more curious than disgusted. Being a victim of social hate was something she was used to, and she couldn’t help but respect Robert for ignoring the rumors, rather than letting them define him.
“Do you know this dance?” Robert asked as they reached the floor. It was a simple waltz. Robert wrapped his hand around Sophia’s back, pulling her in close as the music began.
“I do,” she offered, hoping she didn’t sound as breathless as she felt.
“I knew you would,” he said simply. Then the music began and there was no more time for chatting as he whisked her out into the crowd.
Robert was an excellent dancer, moving across the floor with amazing ease and a level of comfort that suggested he did this kind of thing often. Luckily, Sophia was equally skilled. In her bid to be accepted by society, she had taken many a lesson on how to dance, how to be led and what was expected of a lady on the dance floor.
Sophia and Robert glided across the floor like they were born to it. Although there were at least a dozen other couples dancing around them, in that moment it was just the two of them, content in each other’s arms, without a care in the world. To Sophia, it was magical.
As they danced, she found herself thanking Emma for inviting her here. And her father for allowing it. And her maid for readying her dress, and the carriage driver for ensuring that she arrived safely. If she hadn’t come tonight she wouldn’t be dancing with Robert, and if she wasn’t dancing with Robert... well what would have been the point in coming?
Eventually, the music stopped. Sophia had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t even noted the waltz as it had happened. By the time she registered that the dance was over, Robert was releasing her from his grip and bidding her adieu.
Regretfully, Sophia managed a dainty nod and curtsy in his direction as he disappeared through the crowd. After he’d left, and Sophia was back where she belonged in the corner of the party, she found that a small smile had formed on her lips and refused to go away. It definitely wasn’t there earlier, and there could only be one reason for the change.
To say that she was in love with Robert would be ridiculous, but at the very least, the man had given her a few moments in which she had felt like she belonged. She hadn’t been an outsider, or a ‘strumpet,’ as she was so often made to feel, but a lady. For that feeling alone she felt indebted to Viscount Robert of Tamway. She just hoped that one day she might be able to find a way to repay him.
Chapter 4
If one wishes to find his way under a lady’s skirts, he must first learn how to dance,” Robert exclaimed to the small group of men he currently found himself in conversation with. As expected, the small group exploded with laughter. Some clapped him on the back, others shook their heads with knowing smirks.
“Is that why I saw you gliding across the floor earlier with a young strumpet?” Lord Kensington chuckled as he wiped at his eye.
Lord Kensington was everything that Robert hated about the aristocracy. In his sixties, he had a wife of forty years, a mistress of thirty, and still had the gall to act as though he were a prime specimen of gentlemanly conduct. Why? He was rich. Robert put up with talking to him because of his wealth, knowing that was where a person’s reputation was made, but hated the feeling of losing his own sense of self-worth because of it.
“The very same reason,” Robert responded, offering the group a fake smile. “Her name is Scarlett of Devonshire and after the way I moved earlier, I wouldn’t be surprised if she were currently seeking me out.”
The group of men again exploded with laughter. It was always that way, Robert had found. In normal situations, these men couldn’t stand to be seen with him. They were all old money and thus better than him in every way. But when it came to drinks, laughter and women, they were willing to lower themselves to Robert’s level for the evening. He hated it.
However, he didn’t let a little thing like social peculiarities get him down. Not now. Not when he was in such a good mood.
The reason for his high spirits was none other than Scarlett of Devonshire. As he had hoped, she was here tonight. As he had further hoped, she was alone and willing to be seduced by his charming ways.
He was surprised by how easily he had done it too. There she was, standing alone in the corner of the room, as if waiting for him. He didn’t notice her at first, her body and face were so thoroughly covered. After a few moments of watching, he was sure of who she was. So, he approached, they spoke for less than a moment and then they danced.
What a dance. Robert had always been a good dancer but found it odd how poor his partners usually were at the concept. He had some inkling that women didn’t think it proper to move their bodies in such a fluid fashion. They were always so stiff and upright, never letting themselves go to the music and rhythm. Not Scarlett.
Scarlett mirrored him on the dance floor. In fact, he had never found a partner he was so comfortable with. The two glided as one, never missing a beat or taking a wrong step. Robert became slightly giddy just thinking of it again, because he knew what that meant.
That was why he left her as he did. It was all part of his game plan. Leave a good impression on her, disappear for an hour or two and then surprise her just when she’s beginning to suspect that she’s been forgotten. Robert’s lips would without a doubt find their way onto Lady Scarlett’s tonight. And once they did he would have to send a thank you card to his good friend Hugh for making him come to this event in the first place.
“Did anyone see that Lady Sophia of Trenworth is here tonight?” Lord Kensington was saying.
“Oh yes,” another of the party guests gasped. “I can’t believe she came.”
“It’s her friendship with Duchess Emma that’s the reason,” Kensington continued, sounding serious now. “I do say that I might have a word with Bellington later.
It’s reasonable to indulge in a wife’s fantasies every now and then to keep her happy, but that really is taking it a bit too far.”
“Yes, yes,” the others in the group all agreed, taking swigs of their drinks as if this confirmed the matter.
By that point in the conversation, Robert had stopped paying attention. It was because of conversations like this one that Robert hated coming to these things. Everyone was so blasted arrogant. He knew of Lady Sophia of course, everyone did. He had never actually met her, but he thought all the fuss around what she had done was a little over the top. So what if she had kissed a boy when she was thirteen? It was ridiculous to say the least.
“… and her father even sent an emissary to Scotland to see if anyone up that way would have her. Lord McKale of the Highland’s...”
Robert was now well and truly finished with the conversation. He bid the men goodbye before disappearing into the crowd. It was about time he found his Lady Scarlett again and finish what he started.
Lady Scarlett was exactly where Robert had left her. He thought it somewhat odd, that she hadn’t left her little nook in the corner. It was almost as if she were hiding from someone. For a moment he even considered she might be hiding from him, but then she turned, spotted him, smiled broadly and all fears of that were gone.
Robert glided across the room toward her. She really was ravishing... at least what he could see of her. Her smile was perfect, her body sublime. He had seen her face before too, so there was no fear in what hid behind the mask.
When he reached her, he didn’t hesitate in wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her on the cheek. He felt her body tighten beneath his grip, and her breathing intensify. He loved knowing what he was doing to her.
Then he leaned into her ear, whispered that they should vacate to somewhere a little more private and, as suspected, she didn’t so much as pause before nodding her agreement. Robert took his Lady by the hand, strolled with her through the busy party, ignoring the staring eyes, and exited out the back of the house in the direction of the stables.
Perfectly Mismatched Page 2
