and I will be there. I’m sure you will not miss your own sister’s debut, my lord.”
“I’ll be there.” He never took his eyes from Sophia. He bowed to them both, launched himself into the saddle of the beast he called Mangus and trotted away without another word.
Sophia stood for a long time, staring out over the lush trees of the park. Dory was like a long lost sister, but she wished she were alone. She could not face him at his sister’s ball. She had allowed him to kiss her and lost her temper. He must think her a fool. She must learn to keep her feelings to herself especially in the face of a man she barely knew.
Dory cleared her throat and a wide grin spread across her face. “I believe you have taken the Earl of Marlton off the marriage market, Sophia. You two will make quite a stir.”
Sophia spun around so fiercely her dark hair came loose from the pins holding it. “I don’t want to make a stir. I don’t care what he does and I will absolutely never marry him.” Tears sprang into her eyes and soaked her face. She dashed them away, mounted her mare and road toward Collington house at a clip.
Dory called her name.
Horses clomped behind her.
As soon as she reached the steps to Collington House, Sophia dropped down from her mare without assistance and ran up the front stoop. Once Wells opened the door, she rushed through and up the curved stairway. She didn’t want company, but Dory trudged behind her.
She longed for time to brood and perhaps have a good cry.
Once in Sophia’s chambers, Dory turned to speak to Marie, who had rushed up the steps as well. “Marie, your lady will not need you for now. We will ring if there is a need.”
Marie curtsied and stepped out of the room.
Dory closed the door behind her.
“What on earth is wrong, Sophia?” Dory demanded.
“Nothing. Oh, Dory, go home. I’ll be fine by the next time we meet.” She loathed the begging quality in her voice.
Dory sat on the edge of the bed and watched while Sophia paced back and forth across the fine rug.
“I will not go, so you may as well tell me why you dislike the Earl of Marlton so intensely.”
“I don’t dislike him.” Tears were running freely down her face now. She tried to dash them away, but more followed and she gave up her efforts.
“But you will never marry him?”
“I won’t marry at all. Never.” She plopped herself down in a chair near the empty hearth.
Dory got up, crossed the room and knelt in front of her. “Why not, Sophia? What happened to make you so set against it? Not to mention how rude you were to the earl who you just told me you do not dislike. No one has said you must marry him. Did he do something on the veranda last night that upset you?”
“He kissed me.” Her voice shook.
“Was it terrible? John Allendale kissed me last week and I found it quite pleasant. I was not rude, though I did stop him rather quickly.”
“No. It was very nice. Lovely, actually.” She whispered and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“I don’t understand,” Dory said.
Sophia’s chest was so tight, she gripped the front of her riding habit and tore open the jacket. In her haste, several buttons skittered across the floor. Telling one person the truth even if it was a mistake would let off the pressure building inside her. She took a breath and met Dory’s gaze. “I’m not a virgin. I know you will hate me now that you know and that’s why I didn’t want to tell you.” The words tumbled out of her mouth in a rush.
Now that Sophia had said it out loud, she felt stronger. “I did, so much, enjoy having you as a friend and I would appreciate it if you kept my secret. I would so hate to embarrass her ladyship.”
Dory sat back on her heels and looked up at Sophia. Shock registered in her clear green eyes. Pity or maybe sorrow created deep creases around her downturned mouth. “I’m still your friend, Sophia. Would the blackguard not marry you?”
Chills ran up Sophia’s spine at
“I’ll be there.” He never took his eyes from Sophia. He bowed to them both, launched himself into the saddle of the beast he called Mangus and trotted away without another word.
Sophia stood for a long time, staring out over the lush trees of the park. Dory was like a long lost sister, but she wished she were alone. She could not face him at his sister’s ball. She had allowed him to kiss her and lost her temper. He must think her a fool. She must learn to keep her feelings to herself especially in the face of a man she barely knew.
Dory cleared her throat and a wide grin spread across her face. “I believe you have taken the Earl of Marlton off the marriage market, Sophia. You two will make quite a stir.”
Sophia spun around so fiercely her dark hair came loose from the pins holding it. “I don’t want to make a stir. I don’t care what he does and I will absolutely never marry him.” Tears sprang into her eyes and soaked her face. She dashed them away, mounted her mare and road toward Collington house at a clip.
Dory called her name.
Horses clomped behind her.
As soon as she reached the steps to Collington House, Sophia dropped down from her mare without assistance and ran up the front stoop. Once Wells opened the door, she rushed through and up the curved stairway. She didn’t want company, but Dory trudged behind her.
She longed for time to brood and perhaps have a good cry.
Once in Sophia’s chambers, Dory turned to speak to Marie, who had rushed up the steps as well. “Marie, your lady will not need you for now. We will ring if there is a need.”
Marie curtsied and stepped out of the room.
Dory closed the door behind her.
“What on earth is wrong, Sophia?” Dory demanded.
“Nothing. Oh, Dory, go home. I’ll be fine by the next time we meet.” She loathed the begging quality in her voice.
Dory sat on the edge of the bed and watched while Sophia paced back and forth across the fine rug.
“I will not go, so you may as well tell me why you dislike the Earl of Marlton so intensely.”
“I don’t dislike him.” Tears were running freely down her face now. She tried to dash them away, but more followed and she gave up her efforts.
“But you will never marry him?”
“I won’t marry at all. Never.” She plopped herself down in a chair near the empty hearth.
Dory got up, crossed the room and knelt in front of her. “Why not, Sophia? What happened to make you so set against it? Not to mention how rude you were to the earl who you just told me you do not dislike. No one has said you must marry him. Did he do something on the veranda last night that upset you?”
“He kissed me.” Her voice shook.
“Was it terrible? John Allendale kissed me last week and I found it quite pleasant. I was not rude, though I did stop him rather quickly.”
“No. It was very nice. Lovely, actually.” She whispered and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“I don’t understand,” Dory said.
Sophia’s chest was so tight, she gripped the front of her riding habit and tore open the jacket. In her haste, several buttons skittered across the floor. Telling one person the truth even if it was a mistake would let off the pressure building inside her. She took a breath and met Dory’s gaze. “I’m not a virgin. I know you will hate me now that you know and that’s why I didn’t want to tell you.” The words tumbled out of her mouth in a rush.
Now that Sophia had said it out loud, she felt stronger. “I did, so much, enjoy having you as a friend and I would appreciate it if you kept my secret. I would so hate to embarrass her ladyship.”
Dory sat back on her heels and looked up at Sophia. Shock registered in her clear green eyes. Pity or maybe sorrow created deep creases around her downturned mouth. “I’m still your friend, Sophia. Would the blackguard not marry you?”
Chills ran up Sophia’s spine at
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