A Most Inconvenient Wish by Eileen Richards Page B

Juliet always thought the best of people, of her. In this case, Juliet was being overly generous. Sophia ducked her head under the water. She was too much like their father, like her brother.
    Selfishness and cruelty ran in the family. Her father had treated her mother with coldness and disdain. Her brother had abandoned her and her sisters, leaving them to fend for themselves with no money or connections. Thank goodness for Nathaniel honoring his promise of a dowry. Sophia was terrified she was her father’s daughter. It was better to control her own destiny than to leave it to the chance of falling in love. She was taking the practical approach to life. She would marry for material things and find her happiness in the delights of Society. It would be enough. She would make sure it was enough.

Chapter 5
    I an waited in Matthews’s library, nursing the rest of his brandy. The hour was growing late and if they didn’t leave soon, they’d be late for dinner.
    He was not looking forward to the brief ride back to the Lodge, knowing he should come up with some sort of apology for shoving Sophia into the sheep dung. She’d been foolish to stomp into the pasture without looking to see if there were animals about. Ian was reminded again that she was no country miss. He hadn’t thought much about her lack of knowledge when formulating his plan. He’d only cared that he wanted her.
    â€œHas the cart been brought around?” Sophia asked, coming into the parlor.
    Ian gulped. She wore one of Juliet’s dresses. The sisters might resemble each other in beauty, but Mrs. Juliet Matthews was slight. Sophia was not. Her breasts jiggled like custard over the tight bodice of the dress. The dark color enhanced the pale cream of her skin. He looked down. Her toes peeked out from the shorter hem of the gown. “Where are your shoes?”
    â€œRuined. Juliet’s feet are much smaller than mine. Nothing would fit.” Sophia tugged at the skirt of the gown, not realizing that she was threatening to pop out of the bodice. “She is checking among the maids for a pair of shoes I can borrow.”
    Her hair was down and pulled back from her face. It hung in a dark, shining fall around her shoulders. He cleared his throat. It made her look younger, more innocent. “How long do you think she’ll be?” He winced at the gruffness in his tone. “If we leave now, we just might make it in time to change for dinner.”
    Juliet came in behind them. “None of the maids had shoes your size. Your feet are a good deal bigger than everyone else’s.”
    Sophia glared at her sister as her cheeks colored.
    â€œYou’ll have to go home barefoot, Sophia. There is nothing the maid can do about your slippers. They’ll have to be replaced. I’m not sure about the dress.”
    â€œYou may burn that dress. It’s an old one.”
    Ian cleared his throat. “Shall we go?”
    Sophia hugged her sister and thanked her. She then followed him out to the park of Horneswood. He mounted the horse and reached a hand down to pull her in front of him.
    â€œYou cannot be serious. I cannot ride with you like that. It’s improper.”
    He had no patience for this. “If you wish to get home quickly, it’s the only way.”
    She crossed her arms, forcing her breasts to plump up over the edge of the gown. Lord forgive him but he couldn’t look away.
    â€œSurely Tony has some sort of conveyance we can use to get home.”
    â€œIt will take too much time to have them bring the cart around. As it stands now, we shall have just enough time to change for dinner.”
    â€œFine.” She grabbed his hand.
    He tugged on her arm, but she didn’t budge. “You are supposed to help me. Put your foot in the stirrup.”
    â€œI’ve never done this before.”
    Ian hid his grin at her exasperated tone. Miss Sophia Townsend, who never had a hair out of