What would it be like to actually be scandalous with Nicholas?
What would he do if she ever threw caution to the wind and declared her affection for him?
She didn’t know. And that, unfortunately, was why she couldn’t take the risk.
CHAPTER 8
When Albert broughtNicholas a note while he was at the breakfast table, his first thought was that it would be from another one of his former paramours, inviting him to some kind of tryst.
As such, it took inordinately long for him to persuade himself to open the note, since he didn’t feel like entertaining any women. When he finally gave in, he recognized Sophie’s name down at the bottom almost immediately, and his eyebrows flew up.
She wanted to meet with him.
Privately.
What on earth for?
If the note had come from a different lady of theton, he might have thought they were trying to seduce him or trap him into marriage.
Obviously, that would not be the case with Sophie.
She was far too straightforward to play such games. If she said she wanted to talk with him, then there was something she wished to discuss.
It was that simple.
Still, that didn’t quell his curiosity.
He finished his breakfast and took the note upstairs, where he sat at his desk and stared at it for a good long while as he tried to decipher just what she might want from him.
Eventually, he gave up his guessing game and wrote a short reply to advise her that she could visit in the early afternoon, at which time Kate and Theo would be out of the house, calling on Lady Drake.
He was tempted to add a postscript that she ought not to forget a maid but decided against it. He trusted that, as unusual as this meeting request might be, she didn’t have any nefarious intentions.
They were friends.
She wouldn’t trap him. She had more decency than that.
He folded the note in half, sealed it, and gave it to Albert with instructions to get it to Lady Sophie as quickly as possible.
That done, he changed into his riding clothes and wandered down to the stables. Blackheart was kept at Hensley rather than here, so Nicholas couldn’t take him out for a ride without dropping by the racecourse.
He didn’t have enough time for the round trip, so instead he saddled Pepper, a gelding with a gleaming brown coat, and guided him off the property and toward the park.
They clopped along the road at a reasonable pace, bypassing the main entrance to Hyde Park and entering through a second, less popular pathway used more often by riders than those out for an afternoon stroll.
As he urged the horse into a canter, Nicholas couldn’t help wishing his clothing were slightly lighter colored. With the cloudless sky and the sun burning down, his dark clothes trapped the heat and quickly became plastered to his body.
It was unseasonably warm. He didn’t doubt in the slightest the claims that there would be a drought this year. Hopefully Theo had taken them into account and wasmaking plans to ensure their land in Oxfordshire would be supplied with water throughout the drier months.
A couple of riders appeared, coming from the other direction. One man raised his hand and hailed Nicholas, who slowed. Peering through the brightness, he managed to make out the familiar figures of Chisholm and Archibald.
“Great day for it,” Chisholm called as they drew nearer.
“Indeed,” Nicholas agreed. “Too hot to race, but there’s nothing wrong with a steady canter.”
Chisholm’s expression turned sly. “Especially not when our friend here is trying to avoid wedding planning.”
“Oh?” Nicholas turned to Archibald. “Are they still determined that you participate?”
