by Fran Baker
“It pleases me to see you happy,” he would tell her. “I feel that I am really home again.”
One evening, to Sophie’s delight, Lady Biskup agreed to attend the theater with her, the weather being a bit milder, though the snow still drifted down relentlessly. When they were ready to depart from Vaile House, however, Sophie discovered, to her surprise, that Jonathan was occupied elsewhere for the evening and Nicky had been enlisted to escort them.
“Had to agree to this outing to get the mater off m’ back,” he told the two ladies. “Dashed shrew, is what she is. Told her umpteen times I’ve no intention of denying Ellen—love the little widgeon and mean to offer for her when my next quarter’s funds come due and I can buy her a proper gift.”
“I’m delighted to hear it,” Lady Biskup said. “Charming girl.”
“Oh, yes,” Sophie agreed. “But shouldn’t you be escorting her somewhere tonight instead of wasting your time with us?”
“No, no,” Nicky said, waving a hand. “Won’t be a waste. You ain’t such a feather-headed little peagoose as you appear. And James Brooks tells me this is a cracking good play.”
He had no sooner deposited them comfortably in their box, however, and the curtain had risen, than he proceeded to fall asleep, dozing fitfully throughout the entire performance. Sophie only roused him from time to time when he began to make snorting and snuffling noises.
It was during the first interval, while she was wishing that Jonathan were present to chat with her—about Vaile Priory and things of genuine value instead of boxing and wagering and the subjects that appeared to occupy Nicky’s every waking hour—that she discovered Albert in one of the boxes across from them. He was in the company of a stiffly starched, middle-aged couple and a mouse-like girl. Though the girl kept curling and undulating around him in what Sophie considered a manner that was guaranteed to offend any young man, Albert gave the appearance of cherishing every moment with her. When he discovered his family in the opposite box, he smiled and bowed, but he made no attempt to seek them out and speak to them.
“That is Julia Woodson, poor creature,” Lady Biskup explained. “I know her parents only slightly, but I understand that they are thoroughly tiresome.”
“Dashed rich, though,” Nicky observed.
“The perfect wife for our Albert,” Lady Biskup said.
“Good God, yes!” Nicky agreed.
When the final curtain had been rung down and Nicky had returned them to Vaile House, Sophie hurried to Jonathan’s room and rapped on the door. There was no answer. She retired to the library and summoned his batman, Tom.
“No, miss, he has not returned home as yet,” the batman told her.
Sophie put a hand to her breast. “But it’s so terribly late! Surely some evil has befallen him.”
“No, miss,” Tom assured her. “You’ll forgive me for saying so, but it’s early for men to be about with their friends. Card games go on till the small hours of the morning.”
Sophie flushed slightly. “Then I’ll not be concerned about his well-being.”
He gave her a gentle smile. “He survived the Peninsula War, miss. We’ve no reason to believe that London is more perilous than that.”
With a nod of her head she dismissed him and made her way back to her bedroom, where Anna was awaiting her. After shedding her evening clothes and sipping a cup of warm milk, she snuggled down under the covers to enjoy a soothing sleep. She had barely laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes, however, when she heard a strange hubbub below her. There were running footsteps and scraping sounds and a babble of muffled voices. She sat up with a start.
Heavy feet were hurrying about and she could hear Tom’s voice raised in command. Bounding out of bed, she dashed to the door, opened it and put her head out to listen.
“Stand back, fellows!” Tom ordered. “Here now, sir, settle easy. That’s it. Leeds will have some brandy for you and you’ll soon feel better. Let us carry you to your room.”
“No,” Jonathan protested. “I’ll be all right in a moment.”
“That’s quite a cut on your head,” said a voice that Sophie recognized as Fairmont’s.
“Indeed,” Tom agreed.
“You saved my life, Roger,” Jonathan said.
Sophie sped to the head of the stairs and looked down. She could see Tom and Lord Fairmont, but not Jonathan. Moving across the landing, she finally saw him slumped in a chair. His head, which was leaning back against the wall, was smeared with red. The backs of both his hands were also smeared, and the front of his shirt was heavily stained.
With a gasp she bounded down the staircase. “Jonathan!” she cried. “Oh, Jonathan!”
Tom stepped out to intercept her. “Please, miss,” he protested. “You’d best not look. It appears much worse than it is.”
But Sophie shoved past him and threw herself into Jonathan’s arms. He half rose to receive her. As her arms went around him, he returned her embrace and leaned his bloody cheek against hers.
“How nice,” he purred. “It’s worth the pain, to be comforted by my loving family.”
She drew away and looked anxiously into his face. “You’re dreadfully hurt! We must send for a surgeon.”
“No,” he said. “Tom’s right, it’s not so bad as it seems. A head wound bleeds like the devil. I’ll have a nasty headache tomorrow, no doubt, but I probably won’t even have any scars.”
She shuddered. “You look dreadful! What happened to you?”
“I was set upon by footpads. I gave them my purse. Why shouldn’t I? I’ve no need to horde every penny I possess. But they were not content, and I quickly realized it wasn’t money they were after. They attacked me, and I wonder if they’d have managed to kill me.” He frowned for a moment and then shrugged. “At any rate Roger appeared out of the fog and the snow flurries, and together we drove them off.”
“How terrible!” Sophie said. “Lord Reginald often said that London was not a fit place to live in. Could he have meant that one’s life is in constant peril?”
“It’s possible,” Jonathan said. “At any rate, in the future, we shall be sure to have a few stout men in our company whenever we venture out.”
Chapter 9
“There,” Anna said, fastening the last hook and turning Sophie around in front of her. “Coo! You’re beautiful, Miss Sophie, if I say so m’self.”
Sophie stepped over to the pier glass and, holding her gloved arms away from her sides, turned slowly. With her hair arranged á la grecque and a cluster of silver butterflies fastened over her left ear to echo the flight of silver wings that swept up her skirt and bodice, she did not recognize herself for a moment. Then she inhaled deeply.
“My goodness, Anna,” she agreed. “I look quite well.”
“Indeed, miss,” her maid agreed. “Princess Charlotte ain’t so beautiful.”
Sophie smiled. Wrapping her cloak carefully around herself to prevent crushing her butterflies, she hurried downstairs to show her new gown to Jonathan. He was already seated in the yellow salon, one long leg crossed over the other. Sophie stopped in the doorway to smile at him, and he rose to his feet. She opened her cape.
“Is it not beautiful, Jonathan?” she said. “Have you ever seen anything like it?”
He shook his head slowly.
Sophie held out her arms to him and started across the floor. She intended to embrace him, but before she could reach him, he retreated behind a sofa.
“Don’t,” he warned her.
She stopped and tilted her head. “Why not? Is this not the most beautiful dress you’ve ever seen?”
He nodded. “I’ll crush you,” he said, then added, “I’ll crush your butterflies.”
“Oh,” she said, turning away. “That’s true. It would be dreadful to arrive at Countess Dangerfield’s with all my butterflies flattened.”
Pulling off her cloak and dumping it unceremoniously onto a chair, she held out her skirt with one hand, pretended to place her other hand on a
partner’s shoulder, and began to waltz by herself.
“Jonathan?” she said. “Will you waltz with me for a moment? May I practice with you?”
“No,” he said.
She stopped and turned to him in surprise. He was still standing behind the sofa, watching her steadily.
“I must speak to you,” he said, and there was a smoky note in his voice that sent a shiver racing down her spine. “I had intended to wait, but I find it’s impossible. I love you, Sophie.”
She nodded. “But of course I love you, too.”
He shook his head impatiently. “I don’t mean, of course I love you. I mean that I’m in love with you and want to marry you.”
To her surprise, she felt a rush of elation. But she had barely opened her mouth to accept him, when she realized that Lady Biskup was standing in the doorway.
“Well!” her ladyship exclaimed in a hearty voice. She marched into the room and gave both of them a stiff smile. “It is as I had hoped. Sophie’s gown is quite delightful.”
Jonathan was silent.
Sophie, for some reason, felt guilty, and her cheeks flushed hot.
“Sophie’s gown is delightful, is it not?” Lady Biskup repeated.
“Yes, it’s very nice,” Jonathan answered. “And she’s very beautiful. In fact, I’ve just told her that I love her and wish to marry her.”
Lady Biskup’s smile hardened. She tilted her head archly to one side. “It is early times yet, is it not?” she said. “When all is made clear to us . . . well . . . come along now, let us put such serious things out of our minds and turn our entire attention to Countess Dangerfield’s ball. We shall speak of love and marriage and family ties at another time.”
There was a long tense moment during which Jonathan considered his aunt and his beloved, and Sophie turned from one to the other, her mouth opening and closing. Then there was a commotion in the vestibule, a clatter of feet across the floor, and Lady Englewood trotted into the room with Lord Edgar, Nicky, Jeanette and Fairmont trailing behind her.
“Ah!” she exclaimed. “Here you are. We have come to carry you off to the ball. There is just enough room for two more. Jonathan, you will be obliged to find other transportation.”
“My dear!” Jeanette said. “Your gown is wonderful. I expect to see the butterflies take wing at any moment and go off in a flurry. Is it not wonderful, Roger?”
To Sophie’s amazement, Fairmont smiled. “Yes, Miss Althorpe, it is thoroughly enchanting.”
Lady Englewood caught Nicky by the hand and led him to Sophie’s side. “Is it not the most delightful gown, my love? Have you ever beheld a more beautiful girl?”
Nicky nodded, smiling. “Dashed pretty, Sophie. Never thought I’d see you looking so fine. You’re as pretty as Ellen.”
“What!” Lady Englewood screeched. “Ellen, indeed. Our Sophie is infinitely prettier!”
Nicky shook his head solemnly. “Dashed pretty—both of them.”
“Pooh!” Lady Englewood snapped. “Put on her cloak and come along. And I shall ask you please to spare me the sound of that odious Ellen’s name henceforward.”
“Very well,” Nicky said. “But one is as pretty as the other.”
Sophie stole a glance at Jonathan and found him covering a smile.
Lady Englewood waved a hand at Lady Biskup. “Come along, Ruth. We must arrive during the next half hour if we wish to make a fashionable entrance.”
“No, Aunt Blanche,” Sophie contradicted, smiling slyly at Lady Biskup. “The moment which we choose to arrive at the ball will be the fashionable time for all the others. My Aunt Ruth has explained it to me.” She cast a mischievous glance at Jonathan, who promptly chuckled.
Lady Biskup laughed. “Yes, yes, it is true that our prestige will carry us whenever we choose to grace the party with our presence. But let us be on our way. Sophie will ride with you and I shall accept Jonathan’s gracious company in the Vaile landau.”
“No, no,” Lady Englewood protested. “You must come with us, Ruth. Jonathan can hire a chair.”
Lord Englewood took his wife’s arm and guided her out into the vestibule.
“Do you hear me?” she called back to them. “You are to come in our carriage, Ruth!”
Snow was falling steadily as they descended the front steps. Sophie kept her hood drawn over her head and leaned heavily on Jonathan’s arm to keep from slipping on the icy stones. When the carriages drew away from Vaile House, she was wedged between the baron and baroness. She feared for her butterflies and wished with all her heart that she had declined their invitation and ridden with Jonathan and Aunt Ruth. It would have given her an opportunity to hold Jonathan’s hand in the dark.
“Sophie?” Jeanette said. “Are you ill, my dear? I have asked you three times if you wish to view the Elgin marbles tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh, yes, indeed,” Sophie replied. “I can think of nothing more delightful. I have heard that the dust of ancient Greece is still on them. How romantic . . .”
Her thoughts drifted back to Jonathan. She remembered the way he had looked at her as he said “I love you.” His expression had sent the blood racing through her veins, to the very tips of her fingers and toes.
“Do you hear me, my love?” Lady Englewood said in a shrill voice. “Please follow your Uncle Edgar and step down out of the carriage.”
“Oh.” Dutifully, Sophie pulled her cloak around herself and stepped to the door.
To her relief, Jonathan was standing outside on the cobbles. He reached up both hands and lifted her down in such a way that she was able to hold her cloak away from her butterflies. Lady Englewood scowled at him.
Inside the vestibule the entire party divested themselves of their wraps and climbed the staircase to the ballroom. The dancing had already begun, and an orchestra was emitting mellifluous sounds as six rows of dancers in colorful attire bobbed happily across the floor. Sophie stood for a moment with her hand on Jonathan’s arm, watching the exquisite gowns swirl and ripple past them. Overhead six elaborate crystal chandeliers picked up shimmering glimpses of red and blue and green from the dancers’ clothing and scattered them over the rest of the crowd. Everywhere people were laughing together, their jewels aglow and the hum of their voices covering the room with a warm blanket of sound.
When the music stopped, the new arrivals moved to the side of the room where they greeted their hostess, an angular lady with long teeth and a gracious demeanor. They were just turning away when they were assaulted by a vivacious blond woman of lush dimensions who fell upon Lady Biskup’s neck and shed several genuine tears.
“Ruth, my dearest, it is indeed you at last! I had heard that you were returned to town after all these years, and I have been rushing about the room asking for you. Come sit down with me and describe every breath you have taken since I saw you last.”
Lady Biskup returned the embrace. “Indeed, Sally, it is wonderful to see you. Allow me to present my ward, Sophia Althorpe, and my nephew, Jonathan Gray.”
Sophie executed a pretty curtsy.
The woman smiled and cupped a hand under her chin. “So this is she. Ah, yes, she is beautiful indeed, my love. We shall allow Trowbridge to pay her court—she must settle for nothing less than a duke.” She turned to Jonathan. “And you, my dear boy, have grown into a wonderfully handsome rascal. You must tell me all the latest on-dits from the Peninsula.”
As Lady Biskup and the woman walked away together, chattering steadily into each other’s ears, Sophie turned to Jonathan. “And who is that, pray? I don’t know quite how to take her.”
“That’s Lady Jersey,” he told her. “She’s a charming tyrant and a devoted friend, when she likes you.”
“Then I shall hope to be able to win her confidence.”
Jonathan squeezed her hand. “You shall, rest assured. The entire ton will be charmed. How could they be otherwise?”
Nicky stepped up beside them. “Well, I shall be obliged to ask you for the first dance, Sophie, as I f
ear that Ellen has not arrived.”
“Sophie is dancing this set with me,” Jonathan told him. “You may have her for the next.”
“Very well,” Nicky said, shrugging. He brightened then. “Ah, here is Ellen. Good evening, Miss Joysey. You’re looking especially beautiful tonight.”
“Indeed?” she said, turning her head slightly to one side and putting her nose in the air. “You are very kind, sir. I trust that you are well.”
“Eh?” Nicky exclaimed. “Well? Of course I’m well! Dash it all, Ellen, I’m sorry I didn’t call today, but the mater’s kept me running about like a headless chicken, doing this and that. Can’t imagine what she’s been about. I barely had time to dress for the ball.”
Ellen made a moue and turned her attention to Sophie and Jonathan. “Ah, Mr. Gray and Miss Althorpe. You are well, I trust.”
Somewhat taken aback by this formality, Sophie hesitated. Then deciding in favor of candor, she leaned toward Ellen and smiled.
“How beautiful you are tonight,” she told her. “We have been looking for you. Nicky wishes to dance his first dance with you.”
Ellen raised her eyebrows. “I believe he should dance with you first, Miss Althorpe.”
“Dash it all,” Nicky protested. “I don’t want to dance with Sophie. I want to dance with you. Let’s put all this nonsense aside and behave like civilized human beings.”
She stiffened. “Civilized, sir? Indeed!” That said, she turned indignantly away and marched off, her back rigid.
“Devilish creature!” Nicky muttered. “It’s m’ mater’s fault. Gotten her into a snit.” And he strode off in pursuit.
Jonathan smiled at Sophie. “They’ll work it out—don’t be alarmed.”
The music had stopped and the dancers were beginning to move off the floor. Sophie caught sight of Ferguson staring at her over the top of Kathleen’s head, but he promptly disappeared into the crowd.
