Sophia came to a sudden stop, nearly tripping over her gown. Her stomach rose through her body, her legs began to tremble, and she very nearly turned and fled.
“Sophia!” Anna waved her over. “What are you doing?”
Sophia ignored her. She stared openly, and stupidly, and obviously. She took a step backwards, panic rising deep within.
What is he doing here? Why is he here? I can’t believe… if I had known… this cannot be happening!
It was none other than the Duke of Rothbury, of course, who for reasons that Sophia could not comprehend, was attending the garden party with her and her friends. He sat with a group of lords, the husbands of the other women, and he laughed and shook his head in jest as if he did not have a care in the world.
He did not see Sophia at first, which is why she considered running. Which she might have done, was Anna not coming for her.
“You’re late.” Anna took her by the hand. “I was about to send out a search party.”
Sophia laughed awkwardly and tore her gaze from the Duke. “Just a little tired from last evening…”
“Oh, yes, how is Helena? I am so sad to have missed it.”
“It was…” She swallowed. “Uneventful.”
Anna snorted. “That is what I assumed. Come…” She began to drag Sophia through the garden. “There are people here you must meet. And without your parents about, you might enjoy yourself for a change.”
“I do not… what do you mean?”
Anna frowned. “I am only joking, Sophia. You know I love your parents. Even if they are a little stiff.” She laughed gaily and continued to pull Sophia forward.
And Sophia, with no choice, allowed herself to be led toward the other guests.
Sophia was careful not to draw the attention of the Duke. He was sitting on the other side of the garden with his friends, and she moved so that her back was to him. In her mind, there might be a chance that she could get through today without having to speak with him, after which she would enact her previous plan: to never see him again.
“Sophia!” Sophia’s other close friend, Lucy, hugged her as soon as she was near. “We weren’t sure if you were coming.”
“Oh, yes…” Sophia laughed nervously. “I would not miss it.”
“Is something the matter?” Anna asked and rubbed her arm. “You are as white as a ghost.”
“Just tired…” She swallowed. “Nothing to concern yourself with.”
“Apparently she is all worn out after Helena’s last evening,” Anna explained to the small group.
“Oh, yes!” Lucy latched into her. “Tell us how it went. Any gossip?”
Out the corner of her eyes, Sophia caught sight of the Duke. He was twenty feet away at least, and he sat with five men. But as soon as the question was asked, she could have sworn that she saw him look at her.
Sophia forced herself not to find his eyes. She could feel him watching, and she could sense him smirking… or maybe she was imagining it? The Duke was forever wearing a smirk, so that he might be now did not mean anything. It was all in her head!
Things only got worse from there.
Sophia spent the next thirty minutes in a state of paralysis. She sat with her friends and those others who she did not know very well, kept silent, and did as little as she could to draw attentionto herself. She made sure not to face the Duke, and she refused to so much as glance at him.
Despite this resolve, as the day wore on, more than once she turned slightly and snuck a peak in the Duke’s direction. And every time that she did, she found him in the midst of laughter. He joked. He japed. He was the center of attention in all things.
Eventually, Sophia found herself glaring at him.
What is he laughing at? Why is he so relaxed? Is he telling everyone about me? Is he bragging? Surely he would not do such a thing as that?
Here she was, losing her mind, and the Duke was as comfortable as one could be. As silly as it sounded, this annoyed Sophia more than anything. It implied that their kiss meant nothing, and that he had not thought of it once since it happened. Which was a good thing… or it should have been.
Truly, Sophia had no idea how she was meant to feel. She wanted to dismiss the Duke. She wanted to not think of him. But every time she looked at him, she felt something squirm in her stomach. She felt her body grow warm. She felt her limbs tingle. She felt… she felt… she felt exposed in ways she did not understand because it had never happened before.
