Miss Sophia's Spirited Spinster's Society

by Charlotte Stone

  She grew warm at the thought. Lom had never dared to take her on a table in the middle of a parlor and she couldn’t see Levi physically throwing her anywhere.

  “Tell me the plans for the engagement party.” His change of topic was done in kindness and she smiled at him as she started the curricle, then went into details of an event that would surely be the talk of the season.

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  CHAPTER SIX

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  The loud disturbance forced a great silence throughout the mansion right before screams broke from another part of the house. Fear gripped Sophia as she looked around the ballroom at the other hundred guests who all seemed lost in the moment. She couldn’t help but recall the last society event she’d been invited to. It had been at Emmett’s. She’d begun to call him and the other men by their informal names since his return to London.

  She’d been invited by his cousin, who loved to gossip and had gained the story of the season with the fire but this felt different. The screaming grew from the other side of the house. Was it another fire? She looked around her uncle’s ballroom once again, looking for her father and the Viscount of Dovehaven. “What was that?” she asked.

  “I don’t know.” Levi moved closer to her side. She’d brought him with her just as she’d done for every party, rout, and dinner that the society had hosted or been invited to during the last few weeks. Morris and the others had returned in two weeks’ time. Seeing him that first day upon his return had been a surprise. They’d planned a dinner at Lorena’s and they’d all been at the table when Emmett and Morris walked in. His eyes had scanned the room and found hers and she’d been consumed by her need to run across the room and throw herself at him.

  Thankfully, however, Levi had not only been there to prevent it, he’d grabbed her before she’d managed to fling herself from her chair. The movement of his hand catching hers caught Morris’ eyes and he frowned before glancing away, no one being the wiser of the situation since everyone was more inclined to study the joy between Lorena and Emmett. Since then, there had not been one private conversation between her and Morris and she planned to keep it that way.

  From a hall came a crowd of runners, screaming, and Sophia heard the words, “She has a gun.”

  The hush around her grew as the panic swept through the ballroom. A few ladies swooned. She was pushed once and then again, hard enough for even Levi to stumble while holding her.

  “We need to get out of here.” He started to move them and all the while Sophia looked around for her father and uncle. She also looked for her friends but saw no one. The crowd pushing toward the stairs jostled them again and she heard the unmistakable sound of people falling.

  “This way.” Morris’ voice was at her ear before he was pulling her in a different direction, away from the crowd and against a wall that led toward the other side of the house. His hand was at her elbow and she caught a glimpse of Levi following them a few paces behind before she and Morris were in an empty hall.

  She turned to look at him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  He glared. “Saving your life.”

  Before she could reply, a door opened. “Sophia.” She turned to see her father standing at the door to her uncle’s parlor and quickly went inside. The door was closed behind Levi, shutting out the noise. Morris moved to a corner of the room where Hugh and Aaron, two of the Men of Nashwood, stood together. She was quickly turned into her father’s embrace and then her uncle’s. She stepped back to look at them both, only being able to tell the difference by the way time had worn on their faces, her father seeming to have evaded a few years, though she was sure that others still struggled to tell them apart. Both men were tall and could be quite charming when they wished to be. Twin expressions of worry and gladness were mirrored before her.

  She smiled at them. “I’m all right.”

  “I’m glad. We’re much safer in this room than out there. I was told by a maid that the person with the weapon left the house seconds after it went off.” The Viscount of Dovehaven placed a hand on her shoulder and looked up at Levi. “I see you managed to save my niece from the stampede.”

  She shivered, realizing he was right and hoped the people outside didn’t encounter danger.

  Levi frowned. “Not quite.”

  Sophia didn’t wish the conversation to turn toward Morris and asked, “Is everyone accounted for?”

  “Calvin, Francis, and Julius are missing,” Lorena said as she and Emmett joined the conversation. Genie and Maura were right behind them. Sophia hugged them all, glad they were all right.

  “I’m so sorry this has happened at your engagement party.”

  “Of all the occasions.” Emmett’s arm was around his bride. “Why didn’t this occur at one of the hundred other functions we’ve attended this season?”

  Sophia smiled at him. Lorena and Emmett had been known to walk in the path of chaos when they were together but it seemed neither fire nor bullets would stop their love.

  There were a few other people in the room but no one seemed too bothered by the activity as they drank heavily. A servant seemed to be pouring champagne after every sip of a few of the ladies. Apparently, her uncle had seen to calming them with spirits. The room was full of shadows with only the fireplace for light. In the corner, a young lady Sophia didn’t know worried her lip. She was the only one with an anxious expression.

  Levi pulled those who stood around her into a conversation about the lead role he’d won earlier that week. The play was set to be performed at season’s end and Sophia was glad for him.

  A hand rested on her back and Morris’ voice filled her ear. “I need to speak to you.”

  She turned slightly and allowed him to lead her from the conversation. They stopped by a pianoforte and Sophia wrapped her arms around her waist. “We should hurry. I need to return to Levi.” The thought of taking champagne for herself filled her mind.

  “He seems to manage on his own quite well.”

  She looked over and saw Morris was right. Levi had begun to entertain more people in the room. Her eyes found Morris’ and she saw a heaviness in their dark depths. In the shadows, he took her hand and she tingled all over even with gloves between them.

  “I see he’s real,” he whispered. He was talking about Levi, and though he was real, she knew he would never know just how false their relationship was. She had to keep it that way.

  His fingers locked with hers. “I missed you.”

  She pressed her free hand to her chest and slowed her breathing. She’d missed him as well but she couldn’t say it. It all meant nothing in the end and she had to keep that in mind and find reasons to hate him if necessary. “You’ve been back for weeks. Why have you now just told me this?”

  “You’ve not been in danger until this moment. I tried to keep away but I had to speak to you.”

  “So, it takes the threat of death to move you?”

  He pulled at her hand, pulling her an inch closer. “You always move me.”

  Hating him was not working. “This is highly rude of you. Levi is a mere few feet away.”

  “Levi doesn’t want you like I want you.”

  She glared at him. “You’re right. There are no restrictions on our relationship where he is concerned.”

  “And perhaps I was wrong.” His expression was stern and her heart raced at what he was saying. She knew what he wanted and what he needed. It wasn’t her and she knew he’d only grow to regret it later.

  “I’m with Levi,” she replied.

  “Has he touched you?”

  Her mouth fell open. “You’ve no right to ask me that.”

  “So, no then.” He shook his head. “He’s not the man for you. Get rid of him.”

  She gave a short laugh. “Don’t play duke with my life, Your Grace. This is not your land and I will
do as I please.”

  He smiled, showing off his white teeth, and her knees weakened.

  “What?” she asked sharply, glad her voice didn’t shake.

  “I love your fire. You’re spirited.”

  Yet her spirit hadn’t been enough weeks ago and neither had their feelings for one another. She’d learned quickly that of all the Men of Nashwood, Morris was the one who stuck closest to the rules that kept London’s Society what it was. They would never work, yet her heart wished otherwise.

  He leaned closer, his breath brushing her cheek. “Did you miss me?” His fingers set to caressing her hand. “I thought about you every day. I still do. Do you think of me? Do you think about how it felt to have my mouth on you?”

  “Dear God.” She grabbed hold of the piano behind her.

  “I can still taste you on my lips.”

  She snatched her hand from his and fled before she did something foolish like allow him to compromise her right in front of her father. She returned to Levi just as Calvin rushed into the room. He began speaking to an older gentleman across the room and was soon accosted by the young lady who’d been worrying her lip in the corner of the room earlier. Lorena managed to slip into the conversation and then returned to Sophia and the others.

  “Come, we’re following Calvin.” Lorena led the way and Sophia left, needing to get away from Morris and even Levi. They followed Calvin down the hall and into a room where Julius and Francis stood by the door. A woman sat on the floor underneath an open window and she was bleeding from her arm.

  “Oh, dear.” Lorena rushed over and immediately all thoughts of Morris fled as she concentrated on the woman before her. Her name was Alice Wilkins and she was the daughter of the owner of a gentlemen’s club. She had black hair and blue eyes and was very pretty. Apparently, there was something between her and Calvin and Sophia wondered if Calvin had finally met his match in a woman who’d apparently taken a bullet for him. The shooter had been a woman. The men were eventually pushed out of the room and the girls had time to speak alone.

  Later, Alice announced, “I am not marrying Mr. Calvin Lockwood. In fact, I might not ever marry. Ever!” The words rang in the chambers of Sophia’s heart and she smiled, believing the society had not only found their newest member but a kindred spirit.

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  CHAPTER SEVEN

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  Two Months Later

  Sophia stared up at the large castle and wondered for the hundredth time if she’d made the right decision. The air was cool, as October was coming to its end, yet the sun’s light still gave off enough warmth to not make the outdoors off-putting and allowing her a few minutes to gaze at the ancient structure. The brown stone held a touch of red, forcing her to think of the blood shed around the time it was built. She’d read that the castle had been erected as a fort in the eleventh century to guard against any man who thought to claim the English crown. The men who’d lived here went on to fight in one battle after another and though many had fallen, the castle had continued to keep England strong and had given every man who’d possessed the castle glory throughout the years.

  It was Kidd Castle and Sophia prayed its owner was not home. She’d seen Morris repeatedly since the shooting at Lorena’s engagement and until recently, all those times had been with Levi protectively at her side but Levi had not come with her to the country. Morris’ open pursuit of Genie was weighing on her to the point that she thought she might break at any moment.

  They avoided each other, him only addressing her when necessary and her doing the same. She’d all but ignored him and found herself helping her friend Genie in her own goals, and that was to marry the man she’d always loved: Francis. She admitted to herself that she had her own selfish reasons for wanting Genie to marry Francis, the first being that she wouldn’t be able to bear watching her friend stand next to the man she loved over and over again. Eventually, she would have to leave the sisterhood with some excuse she hadn’t thought of. Yet another part of Sophia truly wanted Genie to have what she wanted most in life. Genie’s father had died four months ago, right after Lorena’s engagement, and since then, the earl’s daughter had been draped in black.

  Genie appeared at her side. They were alone except for a gardener who worked on a hedge a few yards away. “Let’s go inside.”

  Sophia had volunteered to go on this outing with her, Genie claiming she wished to see Morris’ gardens but Sophia knew otherwise. She simply didn’t know what Genie’s true intentions were. Her friend had her secrets like anyone else and being in mourning hadn’t stopped Genie from being herself.

  The Men of Nashwood had all come to Morris’ home to train, believing that life with the Spinsters would always lead to danger and that they should be prepared for whatever happened next. This made sense, considering they’d been there when Emmett’s home burned to the ground, and since meeting Alice, there had not only been the shooting that brought her to them but a trip to a brothel, a look inside an exclusive gentlemen’s club, and a visit to the hospital. The Spinsters truly kept the tongues of the ton wagging and the men wished to be ready for the future.

  Lorena and Alice had come as well, wishing to be with their men and staying at Maura’s house, which wasn’t but an hour’s ride away. Sophia had remained in London with Genie and the two had bonded during that time until Genie had decided she would break with the tradition of the mourning customs and go to the country to be with her friends. Scandalous though it was, Sophia had accompanied her and one incident after another had followed since.

  The biggest incident had been that Genie had kissed Francis at a dinner party in front of everyone, including Genie’s cousin, who’d taken her father’s title. While it had been a shock for sure, the bigger shock had come when Francis hadn’t kissed her back. He’d simply sat there and when their lips had broken, his reply had been cold.

  “Are you done?”

  The words still made Sophia cringe.

  Her heart had broken right along with Genie’s as did the hearts of the rest of the Spinsters and while they’d tried to get Genie’s hopes up where Francis was concerned, her friend declared after nearly a decade of loving Francis, she was over him. Sophia now believed that her worst fears would become a reality.

  With Francis out of the way, Genie would marry Morris. Francis was in London, which only made this visit to Morris’ even more suspicious.

  The door opened and a butler showed them to the drawing room with the butler telling them he would see if Morris was available… which meant Morris was there. Her heart raced. They’d only been there for a moment when Morris walked in, disheveled and handsome. He wore no coat and his shirt was opened. A sabre was in his hand. “Genevieve, Sophia.”

  “Hello, Morris,” Genie said.

  Sophia simply nodded but said nothing.

  Morris looked her over, his teal eyes taking her in with a quick sweep before turning to Genie. “Is something wrong?”

  Genie smiled. “We wish to see the gardens.”

  Rollo came around the corner. He was dressed similarly to Morris, perspiration making his tanned skin glisten. Sophia felt safe looking into his dark eyes as opposed to Morris’. Rollo was very handsome, yet he didn’t stir her like Morris did.

  “We’re going to the gardens?” Rollo asked, giving his sabre to a footman. Morris did likewise.

  Genie immediately went to Rollo’s side and took his arm, which momentarily caused Sophia to still. She blinked and watched them walk away, leaving Morris and her alone… for the first time in months.

  He held out his arm while holding her gaze. “Shall we?”

  Sophia laced her fingers together and looked around the room. Though the house had been built hundreds of years ago, the interior was stylishly up to date. “I could wait here for her. It was truly Genie who wished to see the garde
ns. You may join them.”

  He moved toward her. “I could wait here with you then.”

  She turned to him and saw something flickering in his eyes, a heat that touched her and forced her to step back from him as though he were an actual flame and she would ignite at a simple touch. Being alone would not be wise. “No, actually, I’d love to see the gardens.”

  He grinned knowingly, confusing her. She’d not seen that expression in a long time. He’d stopped flirting with her once he’d grown serious about Genie, which she’d respected. He seemed different now, however.

  He extended his arm again. “Let us be on our way then.”

  She took his arm and the warmth of his body made his scent rise, playing with her senses. She took a deep breath and started from the room. They swiftly caught up with Rollo and Genie and walked through the back of the castle and out into a courtyard. Sophia found is easy to distract herself with her surroundings since there was so much to see.

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  She looked over at him to find him watching her. Her pulse quickened and she turned away.

  They strolled through the open courtyard and she gasped as they reached the gardens. It was the most breathtaking thing she’d ever seen and it made her wonder what other sights she’d missed by avoiding the country all her life.

  Flowers bloomed everywhere and trees lined the way and at the center of it all was a large pool that stretched for yards. It seemed a paradise.