She swallowed hard before speaking. “Thank you… Devlin. If we… in case I cannot… I want for you to know how much I…” And then she looked away and swallowed again. Ah, she was fighting tears.
Again, he questioned his sanity. What the hell was he doing?
“Sophia…” When he spoke her name, she turned back to meet his gaze. It would be ridiculous to promise anything at this moment, and yet he wanted her to know that his intentions were not as dishonorable as his actions had been up to this point. “…if you send word to me, that you are free, or that you wish to be free, I will arrange a proper introduction. My connections are not insignificant, and I believe your parents would not find my family objectionable.” Again, how did one reassure a girl who had so much to lose? “I would like to court you properly,” he added and then lifted her hand to his lips.
Inhaling, he pressed his lips to the silk of her glove and held them there for longer than was appropriate. But this was perhaps goodbye.
She turned her hand so that it cradled his cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Thank you?
Dev withdrew and jumped down to the pavement.
Thank you?
When he assisted her down, he once again allowed her body to come into contact with his before setting her feet on the ground. He was angry, and frustrated, and not quite sure what she was thanking him for.
“I forgot my reticule.” Her words returned him to his senses. “And your directions are inside.”
Dev glanced up to the seat they’d just vacated. Seeing the silk purse, he retrieved it and then held it out to her.
“Thank you.” Again, those two words.
After taking the reticule, she stepped away from him onto the sidewalk.
Dev gave her one last searching look and then bowed.
Without saying another word, she turned and fled.
That was likely the last he’d see of her.
* * *
When Sophia enteredher stepfather’s home, she did not go directly to her own chamber. She went to her mother’s room instead. Her suddenly tumultuous emotions were alternating between acute anxiety and fledgling hope.
Dudley had seen her with the captain! Surely, he would not keep the information to himself.
But that wasn’t all that whirled about in her mind. A seed had been planted… Could she withdraw from her engagement? Was such a thing possible?
Her mother was not alone. And today, of all things, her mama had acquired a new lady’s maid!
The woman was middle-aged, slim, and stern-looking. It had been necessary last year to let go of Mother’s former maid in order to economize. Her mother had not complained, but Sophia knew she’d felt the loss greatly. Mr. Scofield must be doing well indeed!
“Mama?” She hesitantly peered into the room. “May I speak with you alone for a moment?”
Her mother sat in front of her dressing table and glanced up, only slightly concerned. “Mrs. Crump, I’d like you to meet my daughter Miss Sophia Babineaux. Sophia, Mr. Scofield has hired Mrs. Crump as my lady’s maid! Isn’t this wonderful?”
The maid pinched her lips together before tilting her head in acknowledgement in Sophia’s direction. “Of course, Missus, but we haven’t much time.” She spoke in a tight voice before exiting to the dressing room.
Sophia located a chair and pulled it up to sit beside her mother.
“Mama…” She was not sure where to begin. “…I’m not… I am feeling…”
“What is it, Sophy, dear?”
Sophia heard such love in her mama’s voice that it nearly brought tears to her eyes. “I, Mama, I am having second thoughts…”
“Oh, dear, are you having cold feet about Lord Harold?” At last, she had her mother’s full attention.
