“I was,” he replied with a gentle smile. “But then I thought I would come out here and see how my daughters were getting on in finding themselves potential husbands.”
Sophie did not manage even the smallest of smiles, her heart still sore. “Oh. I see.”
“Juliette is making things a little difficult for you, I believe.”
Looking up at him, Sophie saw the sadness in his face and the compassion in his eyes, and a single tear fell from her eye. “Yes, she is,” she whispered, not quite sure what else to say. “I cannot understand it, Papa.”
“Do you not?”
Hearing the surprise in his voice, Sophie looked up quickly. “No, truly I do not,” she murmured, coming to stand beside him against the wall so she might look out across the ballroom at the other guests. “Is it something I have done?”
Her father chuckled softly. “No, Sophie, it is because of who you are.”
Frowning, Sophie tried to understand what he meant. “Who I am?”
“I love both of you equally, but there is a gentleness and a grace about your character that Juliette lacks. You are both beautiful and charming, but you have a kindness of spirit that Juliette wishes she possessed. However, the more she craves it, the more spiteful she becomes.” There was a short pause, and Sophie was quite sure she heard her father sighing. “She is afraid that you might marry first and leave her as the spinster sister.”
“But that is ridiculous!” Sophie exclaimed, coloring as someone nearby turned around, evidently having heard her. “It is Juliette’s place to marry first, and besides, she keeps trying to push me towards other gentlemen. Other unsuitable gentlemen, I might add.”
Her father shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. “And how much more eligible she will look if someone like Lord Matthews, who is wholly ineligible for someone like you, begins to pursue you in earnest? You will be the laughing stock, the one who can only find older, rather repulsive gentlemen, whereas she….” He trailed off and indicated across the ballroom to where Juliette was surrounded by a large number of friends, both ladies and gentlemen. She was laughing brightly, pulling out her fan so that she might smile coyly at one of the gentlemen present. “She likes to be chased, does Juliette. She wants to have your nature, yet she wants to be pursued, to be well thought of, and to be seen as one of the most eligible young ladies of the ton. So, whilst she knows she must find herself a husband, she is not yet willing to do what she must in order to secure one and yet is unfairly hard on you.” Shaking his head, he patted Sophie on the shoulder, albeit a little awkwardly. “I will talk to her.”
“Please, do not,” Sophie replied at once, suddenly worried as to what Juliette would think or do if that were to happen. “I shall just do what I can to avoid her, Papa. I will allow her to find a husband first if that is what she so wishes.”
“Do not allow her to set you off your own course to happiness,” her father said firmly. “You have just as much right to find yourself a husband as she, Sophie. Remember that.”
Sophie paused and tried to nod, thinking that it would still be best if Juliette were to find a beau first, for then there would be no more of this spitefulness between them.
“Are you going to be all right?”
Pulling herself from her thoughts, Sophie gave her father a brief smile and thanked him for speaking to her. He simply smiled and stepped away, pressing her hand as he did so.
Sophie was left to stand alone – something she did not mind in the least. She would soon have to make herself a little more visible so that her next dance partner would be able to find her, but for the time being, she chose to remain in the shadows, well away from Juliette.
“I do beg your pardon, and I know this is quite untoward, but are you, by any chance, the Marquess of Barchester’s daughter?”
Startled, Sophie turned to see a tall, rather wiry gentleman standing just to her right, an apologetic look on his handsome face. He was done up in all the latest fashions, his fair hair flopping over his face just a little. His sharp green eyes looked back at her curiously, and despite the impropriety of such a greeting, Sophie could not help but smile.
“I am Lady Sophie, yes,” she murmured, turning a little more towards him. “Might I ask who you are, sir?”
His cheeks flared with color. “I do apologize, Lady Sophie. I am Lord Crawford, heir to the Earldom of Mercia.”
Sophie lifted her brows in surprise but hid her expression with a deep curtsy. “I am delighted to make your acquaintance.”
“As am I,” he replied warmly. “I know your father a little—for my own father has had business dealings with him on occasion, to which I have accompanied him.” Lord Crawford paused, taking a breath before giving her another short bow. “I was wondering if I might have the pleasure of your company, Lady Sophie.”
“My company?” Sophie repeated, a little confused. “You wish to get to know me?”
He chuckled, making her blush. “Yes, why not? Although, truthfully, I meant to ask—albeit with a little more clarity—whether or not you would you be willing to dance with me, Lady Sophie? I would very much like to further our acquaintance.”
Glancing down at her dance card, Sophie saw that the next dance was to be with Lord Matthews, and knowing that she would be disappointing her mother if she were to ignore him, she hesitated for a moment.
“You are already taken,” Lord Crawford said, dropping his hand and giving her a brief smile. “I see. I quite understand.” Disappointment shadowed his eyes, making Sophie suddenly frantic to stop him from turning away from her.
“No, not in the least,” Sophie replied at once, throwing caution to the wind and choosing to ignore the wrath that would come from her mother once she discovered what Sophie had done. “In fact, you may very well be saving me from something rather unpleasant.”
The smile jumped back onto Lord Crawford’s face almost at once, and he held out his arm to her once more. “I would be delighted to save you from anything you wished me to, Lady Sophie.”
A curious feeling began to settle itself in Sophie’s heart as she took his arm and looked up at him. He was handsome and genteel and, apparently, quite taken with her already. It was a feeling she returned, finding him to be rather intriguing. Deep down, she hoped that he meant what he had said about the desire to further their acquaintance, for that was what she wished, too. It could be the start of something wonderful.
You have just as much right to find yourself a husband as she, Sophie. Remember that. Seeing her sister glance over at her, her lips thinning immediately, Sophie recalled her father’s words and lifted her chin high in the air, turning her gaze steadfastly away from Juliette. She was going to enjoy the rest of the evening and, in particular, dancing with Lord Crawford. Juliette would simply have to learn that Sophie was not about to put her life on hold because Juliette wanted to enjoy being adored for a little longer.
“Shall we, perhaps, go to the other side of the ballroom?” Lord Crawford murmured, as they approached the dance floor. “Just in case whatever unpleasant thing it was you mentioned comes looking?” He gave her a wide grin, his eyes twinkling as she laughed.
“Indeed,” Sophie replied, feeling as though she had known Lord Crawford for much longer than just a few minutes. “That would be most thoughtful, Lord Crawford.”
He chuckled and led her around the side of the ballroom. “Anything for you, Lady Sophie.”
3
Over the next sennight, Sophie was delighted to discover that Lord Crawford was a rather ardent suitor. Her mother was elated that Sophie had found such an eligible young man, especially given that he would, one day, be an earl. He called on her almost every afternoon while the family stayed at their townhome in London and, with her father’s permission, went out on various carriage rides and walks around Hyde Park – always with a chaperone, of course.
It was wonderful, and as the days went by, Sophie felt her heart beginning to open towards him, blossoming with a deep sensation she
had never truly discovered before.
Was this love?
“My dear Lord Crawford, you are much too kind,” Sophie exclaimed, as he appeared at her London townhome one day with a bouquet of red roses. After being escorted by the butler to the sitting room, he had handed them to her with a broad smile across his handsome face. She could not help but inhale the fragrance from the deep red blooms, her stomach tightening as his hand lingered on hers for just a moment as she took the roses from him. “They are beautiful.”
“And yet, their beauty fades in the light of your loveliness,” he replied softly. “My dear Lady Sophie, you are the most beautiful of creatures I believe I have ever seen.”
Sophie blushed at once, not quite sure what to say. Silence filled the room, broken only by the clicking of the knitting needles held by the maid in the corner of the room.
“Shall we sit?” she murmured, setting the bouquet down carefully and ringing the bell as she passed, knowing that her mother would join them in a minute or two. The maid got up at once, setting her knitting down carefully. “Tell me, do you mean to be in attendance at the masquerade ball held by Lord Matthews tomorrow evening? I have already picked out my mask, and I will say I am rather looking forward to it!”
He grinned, his eyes twinkling. “I have already accepted in the hope that you would be in attendance,” he replied, his eyes moving over her. “I do hope you will allow me a dance or two?”
“Two,” she promised at once in a high voice. Bouncing a little, her heart beat so quickly in her chest she thought he might be able to hear the sound of it from where he sat.
“And one the waltz?” he asked, a little softer, as the maid left the room with the bouquet of flowers in her hands.
Sophie pressed her lips together, her hands shaking just a little as she clasped them together. “Yes, of course,” she murmured, aware of just how close he was to her. “I always look forward to dancing with you, Lord Crawford.”
His thigh touched hers, making her jump. “You may just call me ‘Crawford’ if you wish,” he breathed, letting her know just how intimate he considered their attachment. “I am already looking forward to holding you in my arms again, Lady Sophie.”
Sophie’s eyes fluttered shut of their own accord, her breath catching in her chest as he touched her lips with his own. Heat burst through her, his hand settling on her waist. His touch seared her, as though it were a brand that would forever remain a part of her. Her kiss was tentative, and even when he angled his head so as to deepen it a little more, she still held back. She was not quite sure what to do, overwhelmed by all the burning sensations that swept through her at once.
And then, it was over.
“I do apologize,” he whispered, resting his forehead against hers. “I could not help myself, not when we have a moment alone.”
Sophie tried to speak but found that her throat was clogged, her heart racing wildly. Closing her eyes again in order to regain a little of her composure, she put one hand on his shoulder, drawing in a somewhat shaky breath.
“I care for you very deeply, Lady Sophie,” he continued, just as the sound of footsteps began to draw closer. “And my heart is true.” His hand pressed hers for just a moment before he moved away, leaving her feeling almost empty with the loss of his presence beside her.
Lifting her head, Sophie cleared her throat and tried to smile as Lord Crawford moved quickly back to another seat, just before her mother and sister entered the room. The maid followed soon after, a tray in her hands, which she set down before them all, whilst her mother and sister finished greeting Lord Crawford.
Desperately hoping that her cheeks were not as hot as they felt, Sophie kept a light smile on her face as her mother took her seat, giving Sophie a rather firm look. A wave of guilt struck Sophie’s heart, but she refused to look anything other than nonchalant. After all, what she felt for Lord Crawford could not be denied and a stolen kiss was not exactly something that would ruin her!
“And are you to be attending the ball tomorrow evening?” Juliette asked, as she came to sit by Sophie, setting herself directly between Sophie and Lord Crawford. “I do hope you will dance with me, Lord Crawford. I so often have a great many suitors, but I would make sure to save you a dance if you so wished it.”
Sophie curled her hands into fists, immediately feeling the tension settle in the room as Juliette spoke. It was as though she was going out of her way to make things difficult.
“Well, I…,” Lord Crawford began, looking rather surprised at Juliette’s forthright and somewhat improper question. “Yes, of course, Lady Juliette. I would be delighted to dance with you.”
Juliette gave a bright smile and shifted in her seat, managing to jab an elbow into Sophie’s side. “How wonderful,” she cooed, batting her eyelashes. “I am already looking forward to it!”
“Juliette,” her mother interrupted rather sharply. “Why do you not pour the tea, dear?” Clearly a little embarrassed, she looked over at Lord Crawford with a calm smile. “Are you looking forward to the ball, Lord Crawford? A masquerade, is it not?”
Lord Crawford shot a warm look towards Sophie, who felt a tingle of excitement crawl up her spine. “Indeed, I am,” he replied with a quick smile. “I had forgot it was a masquerade, however. I shall have to find a suitable mask.”
“Well, do not disguise yourself too well, Lord Crawford,” Sophie replied softly. “For otherwise, I shall not be able to find you.”
“Is that not the point?” Juliette chuckled, her words tinged with mockery. “You are quite ridiculous sometimes, Sophie.”
Lord Crawford, however, did not even so much as glance at Juliette, his eyes fixed on Sophie. “Indeed, I shall not, Lady Sophie. However, I am quite sure I will be able to find you no matter how intricate your mask. Your beauty cannot be so easily hidden.”
There was a moment of silence, and Sophie could do nothing other than hold his gaze steadily, her cheeks warming and heart quickening as she did so.
Lord Crawford cleared his throat, breaking the quiet as he rose to his feet. “And now I believe I must take my leave,” he continued, with a short bow towards Sophie’s mother. “Might I call again tomorrow?”
He shot a questioning look towards Sophie before returning his attention back towards the marchioness.
“Yes, of course, Lord Crawford,” Sophie’s mother said at once, rising to her feet. “I know we would be delighted to see you again. You may call as often as you wish.”
Lord Crawford bowed again, a broad smile on his face. He reached for Sophie’s hand as she stood, bowing over it. “Then mayhap a walk in Hyde Park? It will not be of long duration, for I know you will have preparations for the ball.”
Sophie did not even so much as glance at her mother, knowing that she already approved of Lord Crawford’s suit.
“That would be lovely,” she replied at once, her skin prickling as he pressed his lips to the back of her hand for just a moment. “I look forward to seeing you again, Lord Crawford.”
“As do I,” he assured her, his eyes warm as he held her gaze for a moment. “Good day to you all.”
Sophie clasped her hands together as he left the room, keeping her eyes on him until he exited, practically bursting with happiness.
“Well, my dear Sophie,” her mother said, sitting down again. “It seems you have made something of a conquest there, have you not?”
Juliette snorted, rolling her eyes as she flopped back into her chair. “It is not as though he has declared himself, Mama. Men are fickle, are they not? I am sure he can be persuaded away from Sophie very easily. After all, she is not exactly much of a catch.”
Sophie opened her mouth to defend herself, only for her mother to rise to her feet, grasp Juliette’s arm and practically haul her from the chair.
“To your room this very moment!” she declared, her eyes burning with anger. “Your spite is becoming too much to bear, Juliette. Off with you now. I will not have you taking this away from Sophie.”
/> A sense of triumph filled Sophie, as she watched Juliette storm out of the room. She could not help but smile as Juliette turned back to glare at her, her eyes nothing more than narrowed slits as she tried to shout something more at Sophie, only to be physically removed by their mother.
“Goodness me,” their mother declared, as she came to sit back down by Sophie. “I do not know what has come over that girl lately.”
“Has she no beaus of her own?” Sophie asked, trying her best to get rid of the unsettled feeling that drew in on her soul. “I was not particularly pleased that she sought Lord Crawford’s promise that he would dance with her, Mama. I thought that a little….”
“It was downright rude and most improper,” her mother finished firmly, shaking her head. “Yet, I believe that Lord Crawford is such a good man that he will surely honor his promise. I am afraid that he will have to dance with her.”
Sophie tried not to mind, even though spiraling disappointment ran straight through her. “I suppose he must,” she murmured, a little sadly. “Although he did ask me to save two dances for him.”
Her mother straightened almost at once. “He did?” she asked, her eyes bright. “That is wonderful, Sophie! To be so attentive means that he must certainly be considering your future together.”
Recalling their brief kiss, Sophie felt her cheeks warm with color. “Indeed, Mama,” she replied, hoping that her mother would not be able to guess what had occurred. “I do hope so. I confess that I have no one but him in my thoughts.”
Laughing softly, her mother reached across and pressed her hand. “That is a good thing, my dear. Affection between a husband and wife is a wonderful addition to any marriage—although rare these days. I can tell you now that your father would give him permission to wed you without question. I know that he thinks very highly of Lord Crawford.”
A ripple of excitement ran through Sophie, chasing away the upset and disquiet over Juliette’s behavior. “We have not yet discussed the future, Mama.”
“You will,” her mother stated firmly. “Have no doubt about it, Sophie. Lord Crawford has been courting you for a sennight, and that is more than enough time to begin thinking of matrimony. I am quite sure that within the month, you shall be engaged.”
Regency Engagements Box Set Page 47
