She’d only been teasing.
As he’d already realized, she didn’t know what had happened between him and Kate on a balcony, or what it had led to.
Or at least, not exactly.
She most assuredly knew about the string of events that had led to Kate marrying Theo, but not, it would seem, about Nicholas’s role in them.
If she did, she wouldn’t tease about such a thing.
At the front entrance, Albert opened the door and held it as Nicholas walked her down the stairs to her carriage. She bid him a quick farewell and slipped inside, and her maid scooted around him, following a few seconds later.
It was only as he returned inside that he realized whathe’d overlooked in his haste to stop her from looking so forlorn.
He’d have to tell Theo the truth about this farce of a courtship. If he didn’t, then he and Kate would think Nicholas was courting Sophie properly, and they’d be upset when he failed to marry her.
Kate would be furious with him. Therefore, so would Theo. And Nicholas couldn’t lose his brother.
His mood plummeting, he dragged himself to his personal chambers and penned a note to Theo. His brother and sister-in-law were still at the Drake residence so he snuck into Theo’s office and left the note on his desk, then he retreated once more to his room and awaited the verbal lashing that was sure to follow.
CHAPTER 9
Out of thecorner of her eye, Sophie noticed Nicholas stuffing small balls of cotton into his ears.
Her eyes narrowed and she jabbed his arm. “Why are you doing that?”
His wide-eyed, innocent expression did nothing to fool her. Giving up the act, he grinned and winked. “I’m protecting my ears.”
Her jaw dropped. “From what?”
“Amateur musicians with more enthusiasm than skill.” He didn’t sound the least bit repentant.
Sophie glanced at her mother, who was seated on her other side, and was relieved that she was deep in conversation with another woman and not paying them any attention. “They’re not that bad. You’re being dramatic.”
“Am I?” He was clearly dubious.
At that moment, the beautifully rich notes of a cello played by someone who truly knew how to wield a bow flowed through the elegantly appointed music room, silencing them all.
Sophie gave him a knowing look and mouthed, “See?”
Everyone knew that Mrs. Helena Durant was a virtuosoon her cello. Even if she tried to put on a poor performance, she’d still be better than anyone else present.
She was that good.
Sophie leaned forward, eager to hear more. She’d admired Mrs. Durant from afar since her first season. They’d only exchanged a handful of words, but that had been enough.
Not only did Helena have hair that was just as red as Sophie’s and could create music capable of making grown men weep, but she possessed a confidence and sense of self that Sophie could only dream of.
As the song wrapped around them, she closed her eyes and lost herself in the rise and fall of a faultless melody played with a passion that was exceedingly rare. The music ended far sooner than she wanted, and she sighed as she opened her eyes and clapped, her heart aching for more.
“That was lovely, I grant you,” Nicholas said quietly.
“It was more than lovely.” Sophie dabbed at her eyes, embarrassed to find they were wet. “It was perfect.”
Brows furrowed, he looked down at her. “Hopefully, she’ll play again.”
“I’m sure she will. Likely to close out the event.” In Sophie’s opinion, it was always best to open and close a musicale with the best musicians possible so that people remembered them rather than any fumbling attempts in the middle.
Drawing in a deep breath, Sophie pulled herself together. She forced herself to look around the room rather than moon over Helena’s sheer talent and skill.
