"Sinclair Montgomery? His reputation as a prolific reprobate has not been forgotten by anyone in the ton, Daniel. Soph cannot tie herself to him!" Margot gasped.
Sinclair Montgomery.Sophie had heard the name and recalled vague rumours, but was unconcerned. Her inner critic was more concerned with asking why a man who could have any woman he wanted would be intrigued by her.
She looked outside the paned window and noted the sun was starting to set. In a few hours, they would attend the first pre-party to the season, an intimate gathering of the most sought-after socialites. Sophie did not make that list, but she would be attending as a guest of Daniel and Margot.
"Will he be at the party tonight?" she asked, interrupting the bickering couple. Daniel insisted Sin was a man changed and grown and Margot scoffed that anyone with that moniker would always be a rakehell. At her question, they both turned to her, Daniel smug and Margot exasperated.
"Surely you are not interested, Soph? You will have so many men to choose from!" Margot scolded with a sideways look at Daniel.
"He will be there tonight. James is an old friend of Sin's as well and will be very happy to see him." Daniel moved to standbeside Margot. "Do not frown, my love. You can berate me later. I am going to get those rascals up." He bent down to kiss Margot on the forehead.
Sophie watched the exchange, knowing their tiff meant nothing real. Their banter was full of trust and honesty, which is what made them such a great couple.
I want that someday, in my heart of hearts I do.
Chapter Four
Sin‘s old bedroom felt comfortable but also strange. It was like stepping into his old life without realising he had ever left it behind. The reunion with his father had been bittersweet. The man was still strong in mind, but Sin could see he had become frail in body. Sin’s long absence meant he could clearly observe the physical changes in his father. His hair was completely grey and thinning, and his build seemed to have shrunk in stature. They shared the same dark eyes, black as sin as his brother had always joked. Andrew had inherited their mother’s lighter shade of brown. Sin was relieved the shrewd, albeit sad, look in his father’s eyes was still strong.
His father had observed that the fatigue of travel had caught up with him and ushered him to sleep. He told Sin they had all their days to catch up on their lives, his tone brooking no suggestion that Sin had not returned for good. The familiarity of the luxurious mattress and feathered pillow coaxed him into such a deep afternoon slumber he barely recalled anything he may have dreamed.
Luckily he had awoken in time to get ready for the night. Normally he gave no thought to when he stumbled in to a social event. Tonight it was different. He was eager to see thatluscious specimen of perfection named Sophie. He had always appreciated a more voluptuous woman, thick thighs wrapped around him with handfuls of fleshy buttocks he could grab. There were so many women abroad who fulfilled that bill, exotic beauties with sultry accents. But for some reason he could never connect emotionally. He missed the quaint and proper manners of an English miss. His ideal woman would be that, but also wanton behind closed doors, only for him. He recalled many seasons where every woman was either blatantly on the hunt for a husband or married and looking for an affair. It was predictable and boring. Sophie, though, was widowed, and a woman who hopefully knew what she wanted. And if it was a passionate tryst, he could give it to her. The sight of her at that distance had aroused him; the thought of her up close made him hard as granite. He was tempted to stroke his urges away but abstained, knowing the moment he had her would be made all the more satisfying.
He was nearly dressed and moved to the mirror to don his cravat. Sin crossed the ends of the stiff white cloth around his neck before reaching for a silver and jade pin from his travels to hold the ends in place. Stepping back, he eyed his full length before pulling on his black waistcoat. Black and white with a little pop of colour. His light brown hair and dark eyes contrasted well with the black and white and his bright grin flashed as he took himself in. He believed men that wore colourful clothes were fops. He picked up his gold pocket watch and checked the time before placing it in his trouser pockets. It was half past nine. A perfect time. Not too early, not too late. And he could wait no longer.
"Look at you, you swell devil!" James Graybridge, the host of the evening, welcomed him with a warm embrace.
"It is good to see you, James," Sin replied as he returned the embrace. James was another close friend, but one he had not kept in contact with as he had Daniel.
James introduced him to his wife Cecily, a petite brunette who was all smiles and giggles. He looked back to James who winked at him over the top of her head. James’s ideal woman had always been a giddy deb and it seemed his old friend had landed himself the perfect match.
"Come Sin, let us go and reacquaint ourselves over a drink before you get rushed by all the other guests".
"Good idea. Has Daniel arrived yet?" He hoped his tone was casual and did not betray his eagerness at seeing Sophie.
"He has, with his wife and her friend. Let me get him as well. We three can share a drink just like old times."
James asked Cecily to bring Daniel over and in moments Daniel, his wife, and that delectable Goddess were walking towards him. Sophie was wearing a green dress, the colour setting off her ginger hair and accentuating those pale-green doe eyes. She seemed nervous, with a wide-eyed innocent look. He watched the tip of her tongue escape and lick her plump pink lips. His eyes narrowed as he noticed he was not the only one admiring Sophie. His body tensed as jealousy surged through him.
Get it together Sin, he scolded himself. He sensed a hostile stare and shifted his gaze to find the narrowed eyes of Daniel's wife.
“Sin, is this an improved you, arriving at a party so early?" Daniel ribbed. "Allow me the pleasure of introducing my wife, my Viscountess Margot, and her dear friend Dowager Duchess of Whitmore, Sophia Westcott. This is my old friend Lord Sinclair Montgomery." Daniel and James appeared to be a few drinks in and oblivious to the tension. Margot was unimpressed, Sophie was nervous, and he was confused, aroused, and surprised all at the same time. Cecily was smiling prettily at no one, as she hung on to her husband's hand.
Sin grabbed Margot's hand first and bent over to kiss her gloved hand.
"It is such a pleasure to meet the woman who has made my friend so happy," he murmured politely.
She replied coolly, "How kind, I have heard much about you."
He ignored her emphasis and turned his attentions to Sophie. Everything and everyone else faded away as he grabbed her hand; the white satin glove provided little barrier to the heat that erupted at this contact. He brought her hand up to his lips but flipped it and placed a hot kiss to her pulse before he lifted his gaze to her jade eyes.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, your grace, I am Sinclair Montgomery.”
Chapter Five
Sin indeed, Sophie gasped inwardly as she tried to refrain from fanning herself. The ‘clair’ had dropped off as soon as she met his gaze. This man could easily personify one of the seven deadly sins as lust erupted in her body. She had told the universe she wanted passion and now providence was tempting her with a simple kiss on the hand. Margot's derisive snort brought her out of her cascading thoughts and she quickly let go of Sin's hand. The twinkle of mirth in his dark eyes and his lazy smile told her he had not missed a second of her reaction.
"Ah, ladylike as always, dear wife," Daniel told Margot jovially with a kiss to her forehead.
