Michael until all hope is lost, you may believe it.”
“Ladies,” The Earl of Marlton’s deeply familiar voice, cut into their conversation. “You are the most stunning pair I have ever seen.”
He rode atop a black stallion. His black hat and coat were impeccable and he grinned down at them from his enormous horse. Even his cravat remained tied to perfection.
The great beast threw his head back and stomped his foot, while blowing out his great nostrils.
“I think your horse would prefer if you did not stop to chat, my lord.” Sophia kept a cautions eye on both man and beast.
Daniel jumped down and handed the reins to his footman. “I’m sorry if Mangus frightened you. He is a bit high spirited and much prefers the country to London.”
“What brings you to the park this morning, my lord?” Dory asked, smiling her most wicked smile.
“I decided a bit of air and exercise was in order. You had mentioned you would be taking a morning ride. I confess, I had hoped to meet you, since Miss Braighton and I were engaged in an interesting conversation last evening, before the countess’s desire to cut the evening short.”
No. She must have misunderstood. He couldn’t have come to the park expressly to see her. “Oh, I’m sure your evening continued unhindered, my lord. Don’t all men go to their clubs and drink until dawn after the ballrooms empty out?”
His smile was bright and his eyes lit up with mirth. His full laugh rumbled out.
She was drunk from the sound.
“We do, of course, but I felt quiet unsatisfied.”
The word unsatisfied triggered Sophia’s temper. Men always looked to their own satisfaction with little care about others. She gripped her reins too tight and her horse pranced. “In that case, I’m sure there were those who might have taken care of that, as well.”
Something about him made her speak when she should be quiet. She wished the words back immediately. She had said too much the night before and now she felt exposed. If only he hadn’t come to the park. Tears pressed behind her eyes and her throat tightened. She pressed her finger to the corner of her eye and commanded herself not to cry.
He took a step back. “Is it an American custom to insult new acquaintances, or is this just an inclination of yours, Miss Braighton?”
She turned her head to avoid his gaze, dismounted and allowed a footman to take the reins. She walked a short distance away. She cursed her loose lips. Now she would have to apologize and she was not even sorry. She had only stated the truth.
He took up space in a way no one else did. Standing behind her, his warmth surrounded her.
“You’re angry with me?” She rubbed her arms.
“I’m confused by your obvious anger.”
“I suppose I should apologize.” Once she banished her unshed tears, she turned to face him.
“Only if you are sorry and I can see from your eyes you are not.” His smile made her stomach do a pleasant flip.
“I do apologize for my outburst, my lord.” She used the practiced tone of her days at Mrs. Mirabelle’s School for Young Ladies.
He frowned. “I accept, even though you do not mean it. I believe it was very hard for you to make the attempt and I’ll be the bigger man and not challenge your sincerity.”
“Thank you.” She felt her mouth turning up in a smile in spite of her embarrassment.
“Would you like to tell me why you have such a low opinion of my sex?”
“No.”
He smiled brightly. “I have noticed that you say ‘no’ without further explanation quite a lot.”
She felt her cheeks warm. “I believe ‘no’ is a complete sentence and needs no other qualification, my lord.”
Dory interrupted. “The two of you are causing quite a stir.”
Carriages and riders alike slowed to get a good look at whomever his lordship was speaking to so intimately.
Dory took Sophia’s arm. “Perhaps this conversation might continue in a few days at Lady Cecelia’s ball. I do believe both Miss Braighton
“Ladies,” The Earl of Marlton’s deeply familiar voice, cut into their conversation. “You are the most stunning pair I have ever seen.”
He rode atop a black stallion. His black hat and coat were impeccable and he grinned down at them from his enormous horse. Even his cravat remained tied to perfection.
The great beast threw his head back and stomped his foot, while blowing out his great nostrils.
“I think your horse would prefer if you did not stop to chat, my lord.” Sophia kept a cautions eye on both man and beast.
Daniel jumped down and handed the reins to his footman. “I’m sorry if Mangus frightened you. He is a bit high spirited and much prefers the country to London.”
“What brings you to the park this morning, my lord?” Dory asked, smiling her most wicked smile.
“I decided a bit of air and exercise was in order. You had mentioned you would be taking a morning ride. I confess, I had hoped to meet you, since Miss Braighton and I were engaged in an interesting conversation last evening, before the countess’s desire to cut the evening short.”
No. She must have misunderstood. He couldn’t have come to the park expressly to see her. “Oh, I’m sure your evening continued unhindered, my lord. Don’t all men go to their clubs and drink until dawn after the ballrooms empty out?”
His smile was bright and his eyes lit up with mirth. His full laugh rumbled out.
She was drunk from the sound.
“We do, of course, but I felt quiet unsatisfied.”
The word unsatisfied triggered Sophia’s temper. Men always looked to their own satisfaction with little care about others. She gripped her reins too tight and her horse pranced. “In that case, I’m sure there were those who might have taken care of that, as well.”
Something about him made her speak when she should be quiet. She wished the words back immediately. She had said too much the night before and now she felt exposed. If only he hadn’t come to the park. Tears pressed behind her eyes and her throat tightened. She pressed her finger to the corner of her eye and commanded herself not to cry.
He took a step back. “Is it an American custom to insult new acquaintances, or is this just an inclination of yours, Miss Braighton?”
She turned her head to avoid his gaze, dismounted and allowed a footman to take the reins. She walked a short distance away. She cursed her loose lips. Now she would have to apologize and she was not even sorry. She had only stated the truth.
He took up space in a way no one else did. Standing behind her, his warmth surrounded her.
“You’re angry with me?” She rubbed her arms.
“I’m confused by your obvious anger.”
“I suppose I should apologize.” Once she banished her unshed tears, she turned to face him.
“Only if you are sorry and I can see from your eyes you are not.” His smile made her stomach do a pleasant flip.
“I do apologize for my outburst, my lord.” She used the practiced tone of her days at Mrs. Mirabelle’s School for Young Ladies.
He frowned. “I accept, even though you do not mean it. I believe it was very hard for you to make the attempt and I’ll be the bigger man and not challenge your sincerity.”
“Thank you.” She felt her mouth turning up in a smile in spite of her embarrassment.
“Would you like to tell me why you have such a low opinion of my sex?”
“No.”
He smiled brightly. “I have noticed that you say ‘no’ without further explanation quite a lot.”
She felt her cheeks warm. “I believe ‘no’ is a complete sentence and needs no other qualification, my lord.”
Dory interrupted. “The two of you are causing quite a stir.”
Carriages and riders alike slowed to get a good look at whomever his lordship was speaking to so intimately.
Dory took Sophia’s arm. “Perhaps this conversation might continue in a few days at Lady Cecelia’s ball. I do believe both Miss Braighton
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