“You girls must forgo your outing today, surely! We will read, or better yet, finalize some wedding plans.” Her mother made the announcement matter-of-factly. Why would any sane person wish to walk outside, by the river, on such a dismal day?
“The ducks and the swans are expecting us, Mother,” Sophia said firmly. “I will not disappoint them.”
Her mother dropped her napkin and scoffed. “That’s foolish, Sophia. You’ll catch your death. I won’t have a daughter of mine falling ill just days before her wedding.”
“Fifteen days, Mama. That’s over a fortnight.” Sophia’s stomach was in knots. She could barely swallow her food. What if Captain Brookes didn’t come? What if he presumed she would not attend due to the weather? What if he simply forgot? “I won’t fall ill. I never fall ill. In fact, I’m more likely to fall ill if I have to spend another day inside — stuck in this blasted house!” She searched for some way to convince her mother as panic threatened. “Nerves about the wedding. I need to be outside. It calms them — the outside that is, the outside… weather. It calms my nerves.” And then she stood up. She could not wait a moment longer.
Rhoda placed her half-eaten sandwich onto her own plate and looked to Sophia’s mother, who reluctantly nodded.
“Very well, I don’t want nerves making you ill either. But carry an umbrella and wear your winter mantel. And be quick about it. Once the rain soaks through, you’ll feel the cold for certain.”
“I know.” And then, after giving her mama a quick kiss on the cheek, Sophia pulled Rhoda away so that they could be on their way quickly.
So quickly, she almost forgot the bread.
She’d barely stepped outside before a gust of wind blew icy moisture into her collar. “Blasted feathering English weather,” she cursed beneath her breath. The umbrellas might as well have been non-existent, for all they were worth. The silver lining to this blustery weather was that it did not take Sophia and Rhoda much effort to convince their chaperones to wait for them in a teahouse. Of course, the chaperones knew the girls were up to something, but for sweet biscuits and a warm fire, they were quite willing to relinquish their responsibilities.
Peaches wasn’t allowed inside the teahouse, however, and would have to come with them to the park.
Burrowed into Sophia’s cloak, the pup began shivering before they were out the door. Sophia would not leave Peaches behind. Even though she hadn’t seen Dudley lately, she would take no chances.
She snuggled Peaches close and marched determinedly toward the park. Rhoda carried the bag of bread and led the way.
When they arrived at the river’s edge, Sophia’s heart plummeted.
Not another soul in sight. Not by the water’s edge, not near the pavilion, and not on any of the paths.
He hadn’t come.
But before she could utter her dismay, Rhoda tapped her on the shoulder and pointed.
A black, non-descript carriage was parked in the distance with a man standing beside it, rather nonchalantly, really.
As though the rain were not wet, as though the droplets were not cold.
It was Captain Brookes.
It had to be him.
At a vigorous wave from Rhoda, he pushed himself away from the vehicle and ambled toward them. Sophia handed Peaches to her friend and nodded. “You wait in the comfort of his carriage. I’ll speak to him in the pavilion.” Rhoda had no cause to argue with such a plan and made a quick dash toward the coach.
Sophia stood in the downpour as he approached her. She no longer felt the rain even though it had, by now, soaked through her shoes and hat. She barely noticed when a drop slid onto her hair and down her cheek.
She’d wondered how she would feel in this moment.
She’d wondered if she would feel indifferent, or resentful even.
And now she knew.
Every part of her body came alive at the sight of him.
He wore all black. His hat, his coat, his boots, even his gloves. The hair that was not tucked under his hat was slick with water. Shiny.
Practically blue.
And, despite the dire reason for their meeting, his eyes danced with amusement. The grin that lit his face revealed white, even teeth.
He was laughing!
