His passionate kisses had dislodged half the pins she'd so carefully put in her hair. 'I can't leave here looking like this. Excuse me —.'
'I caused the damage; I insist that I repair it.' His arm was firmly around her waist and he was guiding her towards the secluded chamber.
Her heart was pounding, being alone with him after what had just taken place was foolhardy. She'd no intention of being intimate with him until they were married and she'd be unable to resist if he kissed her again so passionately.
'No, James. Please fetch the brush and mirror. I'm not going in there with you. Then I suggest that you leave me to my toilette and take the dogs for a long walk.'
For a second his expression was blank as if he didn't understand then a different flush flooded his cheeks. 'God, I'm so sorry, I've behaved appallingly. I'll go for that walk now.' He snapped his fingers and the dogs appeared at his side. 'I think I'll take a swim; I need to cool off.'
Then he was gone. Her lips curved as she remembered how he liked to swim – entirely without clothes. Unless somebody in the house possessed a spyglass there was no risk of him being seen doing something so very inappropriate.
This time she braided her hair and then made it into a coronet around her head. Doing so was easier than the more elaborate style she'd done before and she wanted to be as far away as possible from his domain before he came back.
Sofia emerged into the hall and heard voices coming from the drawing-room. If she entered through the doors in the centre of the room, avoided the main entrance, with any luck she'd reach the piano at the far end and be able to play before anybody was aware she was there.
James had the luxury of going for a naked swim, she'd have to recover by playing a sonata or two. One couldn't think of anything but the music whilst doing that which would be ideal.
She played for half an hour, so immersed in the liquid notes she was producing that she forgot where she was and who was in the drawing room with her. When she played the final note, she was rudely jerked from her reverie by a round of lively applause.
'You play superbly, Miss Brotherton, such talent, I've not heard anything better at a musical soirée,' Lady Charlotte gushed.
Was this a genuine attempt at reconciliation or had Lady Charlotte accepted the inevitable and wanted to make amends for her behaviour earlier? Sofia turned on the piano stool and smiled at her audience of six.
'Thank you, I hadn't realised there was anybody in here or I'd have asked if you minded my playing.'
Rupert beamed at her. 'Could you teach me to play? I've had a few lessons and would love to improve.'
'I'd be delighted to. My mother taught me initially and then there was an elderly gentleman in the village, who used to play professionally, and he continued after she passed.'
Annabel was equally enthusiastic but for quite a different reason. 'Can you play something we could dance to? A quadrille or a country dance perhaps?'
'I'm sure I could, but not right now. There's something I wish to tell you all.' She spoke directly to her future sister-in-law as the information was really for her. 'James and I will be getting married. The engagement is now a genuine one – it is a love match. We shall be wed in September or possibly sooner.'
Annabel and Lucille squealed and rushed across to hug her. Their delight was genuine and this meant a lot to Sofia. Rupert and Jonathan were grinning and patting each other on the back enthusiastically. They too were happy about this announcement.
Lady Charlotte was no longer with them, whilst the girls had been embracing her, she'd stormed off. Then she realised that another important member of the group was missing.
'Goodness, boys, where's your sister? She doesn't know this house or the grounds; she shouldn't be out of sight of an adult.'
Rupert shrugged. 'I saw her a while ago heading for the maze. I'm sure she'll come to no harm there.'
Sofia would set him straight on a few things later, but now she needed to find the child. Not because she was going to come to harm in the maze as there would now be gardeners busily snipping inside and she'd be unable to go in at all.
No, her anxiety was caused by the fact that the child might see the dogs and ran towards them and thus come face-to-face with James in his birthday suit.
To her surprise the boys were now at the french doors which had been left open to let the breeze into the drawing room. 'It's all right, Sofia, she's running this way. We'll go and meet her,' Rupert said and the two of them were gone.
Had the child been scared by what she'd seen was another reason for her haste to return? Taking a deep breath Sofia forced herself to smile.
As soon as they were on the terrace, they could see the mile long, arrow straight drive leading from the turning circle to the gate house.
'Look, there's the carriage returning. I don't know who's riding ahead of it,' Colette called out excitedly. 'I can't see from here if Lucille and our great aunt are inside.'
Sofia was torn. Then realised that even if she ran, which would be unseemly and undignified for the future Countess of Avon, Eloise's brothers would reach her long before she could and if she had seen something she shouldn't she'd have told them before she could prevent it.
'Then I must remain here to greet them. First, I'll ring for the housekeeper and see that their rooms are prepared. It will take them more than twenty minutes to arrive so I've ample time.'
Colette turned her attention from the carriage and back to what had just taken place. 'What are you going to do about your future sister-in-law? Life here will be difficult for you with her so fixed against this marriage.'
