This, then, was one of the men that Sophie considered worthy of her hand in marriage.
Sylvestor wasn’t a bad choice, he supposed. He was young but not painfully so, good-natured, and one of the few members of thetonthat no one found objectionable.
So why was Nicholas’s stomach roiling as if he’d eaten spoiled milk?
“I see.” He practically forced the words from his tight throat. “So, with this opportunity, there is no further need for us to continue our charade?”
“No!” Sophie’s eyes widened and she leaned forward. “That isn’t what I meant to imply. In fact, I—”
The arrival of another maid with a tray of tea cut her off. Her lips thinned, and she kept them clamped firmly together while the maid set the tray on the table. Only when they were alone again—save for Sophie’s personal maid—did she release a pent-up breath.
“I am concerned that the baron may be otherwise occupied by hunting and the like, in which case, he mightn’t notice me, much less….” She trailed off, her cheeks turning pink, and Nicholas couldn’t help but wonder how she might have finished that sentence. “I need someone to influence him so he won’t overlook me again.”
Again? Had he done so before?
She poured tea and prepared his the way he liked it. He was oddly pleased that she’d remembered his preference.
“You’re a pretty, lively girl,” he told her, enchanted by the deepening of the pink in her cheeks. “You hardly need help attracting attention when you set your mind to it.”
She beamed as she offered him a teacup. “Thank you, I—” She broke off, her eyes narrowing and her smile morphinginto a scowl, as if realizing belatedly that he’d sidestepped her obviously pointed remark. “It would mean a lot to me if you would attend too.”
He grimaced. Clearly, avoiding the issue wasn’t an option. She had no qualms with being direct when necessary.
Really, she ought simply to do just that with her potential suitors, and the whole situation would likely be resolved in no time.
“I don’t have an invitation,” he pointed out.
“Mother could acquire one for you.” She raised her teacup to her lips and sipped. “I truly do think it would make a difference.”
Nicholas set his teacup down, reluctant to engage in this conversation. He wanted to help her, but the arrangement they’d made already pushed him to the very limits of what he was comfortable with.
If he were to accompany her to the house party, there was little chance he’d be able to lie low as he usually did when surrounded by members of thetonhe wasn’t close to. He didn’t want to attract undue attention. Besides, his mother would have his head if she found out.
“You wouldn’t need to spend all of your time with me,” she went on, as if that might be what was giving him pause. The ridiculous woman. He’d gladly wile away hours in her company. “You could take your horse and go on long rides with the gentlemen or play games.”
Her tone was pleading, and if he hadn’t had such good reasons not to attend, it might have broken him. The thought of disappointing her didn’t sit well with him, but he couldn’t risk giving in.
His gut flip-flopped like a landed fish as he gazed into her big blue eyes. “I can’t. I’m sorry.” With that, he rose and bowed to her. “Good day, Lady Sophie.”
Her lips parted and her jaw dropped, but he swept out of the room before she gathered herself enough to respond. Itwas cowardly, but he feared that if he didn’t leave, she’d talk him around.
Nicholas didn’t have many family members, and he wouldn’t lose one of the few he had because he was unable to say no to a woman who would soon not be his to worry about.
Not that she was his now.
God, she had him tangled in knots, and she didn’t even know it.
He took the carriage home and went directly to Theo’s office. His brother was bent over a ledger, a quill in his hand, but he looked up as Nicholas entered.
Theo’s smile faltered, and he set his quill down. “What’s wrong?”
Nicholas slumped into a spare chair and sighed. “Lady Sophie just asked me to attend a house party at the Wembleys’ country home.”
Theo made a surprised sound and raised an eyebrow. “Whyever would she do that? And did you agree?”
Nicholas stared at him. Had his brother gone mad? “Of course I didn’t agree! Mother would lose her mind. She’s already tense about Kate’s ball.”
“Ah, yes.” Theo ran his hand through his hair, his features pinched. “The one you’re refusing to attend.”
