Chapter Twenty-Six
The party was larger than Andrew had expected, and judging by the way Sophie’s wide eyes took in the two dozen guests, she must have felt the same.
A couple approached them, the woman all smiles and glittering jewels, the gentleman in a stiff cravat and stiffer expression. Andrew tried to tamp down his dislike for the man who must be Mr. Whitcomb.
“Mrs. Langford, I have been on absolute tenterhooks to meet you. I am Mrs. Whitcomb.” Her excitement appeared genuine, her cheeks lifted in a rosy smile.
Sophie exchanged a look with Andrew—this woman was friends with Mrs. Haverwick; they would have to play their parts well in front of her—but quickly returned the smile with a small curtsy. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Mrs. Whitcomb.” She included Mr. Whitcomb in her next sentence. “Might I introduce my husband, Mr. Andrew Langford, to you both?”
Mrs. Whitcomb exclaimed over his presence and gushed her hope that they would be comfortable in her home. Mr. Whitcomb eyed Andrew. “You appear familiar—have we met before?”
“Not that I am aware of, sir.” He hoped not, at least. One inconvenient meeting in their past could potentially unravel the farce he and Sophie were enacting.
“Hmm,” the man sniffed.
“Let me introduce you to the rest of our guests,” Mrs. Whitcomb declared, making up for her husband’s chill with her warmth. “You likely know some, but perhaps not all.”
“Yes, thank you,” Sophie said.
They followed their hostess to the nearest group. It was all men.
“Gentlemen,” she declared, and four sets of eyes turned to her. “I wished to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Langford to you.”
The men nodded to Sophie but shook Andrew’s hands. Mrs. Whitcomb labeled them each as they did so.
“Mr. Telney is an astronomer on the project, and Mr. Radcliff, Mr. Harper, and Mr. Thorne are all fellow computers, Mrs. Langford.”
The men paused, shifting glances back to Sophie. Her hand on Andrew’s arm tightened, but she was outwardly the picture of calm. “Pleased to meet you all. I am happy to meet more members of the project.”
Mr. Thorne furrowed bushy, gray brows her direction and then Andrew’s. “You mean, it is not—”
“My wife is quite brilliant. You will find her an impressive addition to your team,” Andrew offered, pretending ignorance to Thorne’s surprise.
To their credit, the men recovered quickly, shaking Sophie’s hand and indicating their excitement to work with her. She held her own, looking each in the eye and offering small comments when needed that exhibited her grace and intelligence.
The pattern continued, surprise that it was Sophie, not Andrew, who was the member of the team, and then general acceptance. There were a few that turned their nose up at her, speaking in the barest of civility that had Andrew clenching his jaw, and a few that she was already acquainted with, but overall, the respect shown settled some of his doubts.
In time, dinner was announced. Sophie was seated across from him, two seats down, but far enough that conversation was not possible. Andrew had the wife of Mr. Sybil beside him and Mr. Thorne with his gray eyebrows on the other side for dinner companions.
“Your wife is a rare treat, Mr. Langford,” Mr. Thorne said on his left.
“Thank you, I rather agree with you.” Andrew dipped his spoon into the onion soup. “You will be computing for the team as well, yes?”
The man nodded. “And what will you be doing during our time in Durham?”
Andrew cleared his throat. It was an innocent enough question, but it brought to light some of the more hazy parts of their faux marriage. The parts that would interest people and have them asking more questions. “I will remain here for the time being, though I hope to relocate to the team’s headquarters soon.”
The man’s brows lifted. “Ah.”
“Do I hear correctly that you do not intend to travel with your wife?” Mrs. Sybil asked.
Andrew nodded, glancing at Sophie as he did. She was speaking with the man beside her, her hands gesturing. “I am unable to leave work just now.”
“Where do you work?” Thorne asked.
“Sternam’s Bank, but, as I said, I intend to join my wife when I can.”
“But she will be alone,” the woman declared, eyes almost comically wide.
