“He looks so different,” she breathed, an odd ache beneath her breastbone.
“Yes,” Mrs. Overtree agreed. “Hewasdifferent. He has lived several hard years since then. I hope the worst is behind him, and that marriage will do him good.”
Sophie nodded. “So do I.” But considering the nature of their marriage and his misgivings about his fate, she doubted it.
When they returned to the morning room where they’d begun, Sophie saw that Kate had dressed for the day. Another woman sat across from her.
Kate smiled. “Sophie, allow me to introduce my good friend and neighbor, Miss Angela Blake. Angela, my new sister, Sophie Overtree.”
The woman winced as though a bright light shone in her eyes, but she managed a convincing smile.
Angela...Sophie’s attention caught on the name. This, then, was not “Jenny.”
Miss Blake was an elegant redhead with a long, aristocratic face, faint freckles warming china-white skin, and childlike lips, the top lip heavily bowed in the middle. Her thick ginger hair was swept back to the crown of her regal head, and from there lustrous curls tumbled down her neck. She wore an ivory gown with a fern green overdress, excellent for her coloring. She held herself in pristine posture, unlike Kate’s casual ease. But then, Miss Blake looked to be in her midtwenties, whereas girlish Kate was only eighteen.
“I should not introduce Angela as myparticularfriend,” Kate said, “as she has been chasing after my brothers since before I was born, growing up just over the garden wall as she has.”
“Don’t say ‘chasing after,’” Miss Blake corrected with a self-conscious laugh. “As though I set my cap at them.”
“Of course not! I only meant that you played together as children, running wild all over the parish, to hear Stephen tell it, and getting into mischief.”
“That I cannot deny.”
Kate turned back to Sophie. “The Blakes live in that pretty red brick manor house. Have you seen it? It’s lovely. Perhaps you might give Sophie a tour one day soon, Angela?”
The woman dipped her head. “If she likes.”
“I have just given her a tour of Overtree Hall,” her mother-in-law said. “Let’s not overwhelm her all at once.”
“Sophie, tell Angela the story of how you and Stephen met,” Kate urged.
Sophie demurred. “Oh, I don’t think Miss Blake wants to hear all that.”
A housemaid appeared, carrying a tea tray, and laid it on the table between them.
“Ah, saved by the tea,” Miss Blake said. “Perfect. Do you want to pour, Kate, or shall I?”
“Please do, Angela,” Mrs. Overtree said, taking her seat. “Katherine is forever spilling it.”
Captain Overtree entered the room. “Ah, Angela. I see you’ve met my... Sophie.”
“I have metyour Sophie, yes. I must say I was surprised to learn you had married. I thought you were a confirmed bachelor.”
A teasing grin played about the captain’s mouth and his eyes shone. Seeing it, Sophie felt a stab of... What? Insecurity? Jealousy?
“Oh? And what about you?” he said. “You are—”
Something flashed in her eyes, and he abruptly changed tack, “You are the one who once told me you pitied the woman brave enough to marry me.”
Miss Blake blinked up at him innocently. “Did I?” She turned to Sophie. “Should I pity you, do you think?”
Sophie hesitated. “I... wouldn’t say so, no.”
“Not very convincing.”
Mrs. Overtree accepted a cup of tea and said politely, “I hear your brother has recently become engaged, Angela. Is that right?”
“Yes,” Miss Blake replied, her smile barely forming before disappearing again. “And him only one and twenty. I am surrounded by happy couples. My joy knows no bounds.”
