Willa looped her arm through his. She grinned. “Even my unromantic self loves this massive room.”
“Lady Derry told me that the original marquess built it for a woman he loved but couldn’t marry.”
“It’s true! Isn’t it romantic?” Sophia said from a doorway at the back of the hall.
She reached them and curtsied. Sinclair snorted, not used to such formality from her. She gave him a pointed look before beaming at his mother. “Your Grace, it is lovely to have you attend our event.”
His mother smiled. “Thank you for the invitation.”
Sophia nodded and then squeezed Willa’s hand. “I’m glad you could finally visit me here, my friend.”
Willa grinned. “You promised the hall would enchant me, and you were correct.”
She beamed. “Please follow me. All my other guests are on the terrace.”
Willa released his arm, and he offered it to Sophia as they made their way through the large Manor house. His petite friend said, “I’m so excited you’re here. We have so many lovely ladies visiting.”
He stopped in his tracks as his mother and sister giggled behind them. He frowned at Sophia. “I don’t want to be set up.”
She opened her eyes wide and patted his arm. “Of course not, but you never know. Maybe fate will intervene.”
He snorted. “You meanyou.”
Sophia shook her head. “Never.”
They stepped out on the terrace, and Sinclair grimaced. The area was filled with far more ladies than men. He suspected most of them were single. His eyes bounced between his mother and Sophia. “Why do I feel like I’ve been set up?”
His mother smiled smugly at him. “Just enjoy yourself. I think I see Lady Everett.”
The woman who had given birth to him strolled off, and he frowned at his sister and Sophia. “You are both traitors.”
Sophia pouted. “That isn’t very kind, Sinclair.”
“If I stole you from Derry, I wouldn’t be dealing with this right now.”
His friend giggled. “Impossible. The heart wants what the heart wants.”
Willa grinned. “I think I will join, Mother.”
Sinclair glanced around, looking for a way out. Where was her husband? “Is Derry in the billiards room? I will join him.”
“I love that idea, but first, we are going to greet all these ladies,” Sophia said, placing her arm on his.
He sighed but nodded, knowing arguing with her was futile. First, Sophia stopped in front of Lady Melanie. She was a quiet, petite young woman with blonde hair. They discussed the weather as she fluttered her eyelashes at him bashfully.
Next was the widowed Lady Tinsley. She smiled at him coyly before emphasizing that she had managed to bear two children during her short two-year marriage. Sinclair understood; she was made for birthing babies. He tugged at his cravat, needing a stronger drink than the punch the ladies sipped.
“I’m about to flee,” he whispered to Sophia.
“One more. I think you’ll like her.”
He sighed, and his friend escorted him to a woman with black hair wearing a striking blue dress. Sophia said, “Your Grace, may I introduce you to Lady Viviene. She loves history almost as much as you.”
Lady Viviene beamed at him but without the fluttering eyelashes or the coyness. Curtsying, she said, “Your Grace, I’ve heard you have a vast collection of artifacts and antiquities.”
He stared at her, taken in by her clear, direct gaze. Perhaps this lady could be an option. Augustus had promised his mother he would at least try. “I’m an avid collector. Is there a time period you are most interested in?”
She beamed. “All of them, but if there is a region or a period I should explore, I would love to learn more. I would be honored to hear your opinions.”
