They’d brought a bar of soap with them, and she washed herself but left her hair, knowing that she would need Betsy’s help with that, and unfortunately her maid was currently being shown to her own sleeping quarters.
Refreshed and smelling faintly of flowers, she stepped out of the bath and used a plush towel to dry herself. There was a light knock at the door, and she wrapped the towel aroundherself and padded over, opening it just a crack so she could peer through and confirm that it was Betsy on the other side.
She opened the door wider and stepped aside to let the maid in.
“Are your quarters suitable?” she asked Betsy.
“Yes, they’re nice enough.”
“Good.” Sophie knew some families didn’t house their servants very well, and whenever they visited someone, she worried about the conditions the servants accompanying them would be expected to weather. “Have you heard if Mr. Blackwell has arrived? Or Baron Sylvestor?”
Betsy nodded. “I believe both arrived earlier today.”
That was good. It meant Sophie wouldn’t waste time waiting around for them.
“Thank you for finding that out. Will you help me choose a dress?”
Her clothing had already been delivered. The carriage with their belongings in it had travelled a few hours ahead of them, and Sophie had glimpsed her garments hanging in place before she bathed.
Betsy opened the wardrobe and surveyed the options. “Is there a formal dinner tonight?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“Then you’ll want to dress to impress. Perhaps one of the new silk gowns from Madam Baptiste?”
Sophie looked over Betsy’s shoulder. It wasn’t a ball, so she didn’t want to wear anything too extravagant, but if she intended to capture a man’s attention, she did need to look the part.
“Green,” she decided. “But not one of the showier designs. Simple and elegant.”
Betsy rifled through the dresses and stopped on one. “Like this?”
“Yes, that will do nicely.”
Betsy helped her into the dress, and then Sophie checkedthe time. She had a little extra before they would be called for dinner. Perhaps she might be able to find Nicholas and make sure he was settling in well.
So thinking, she slipped quietly from the room and started to tiptoe down the hall, hoping that no one would notice her absence.
Unfortunately, a door swung open, and her mother stepped through.
Drat.
Why hadhe agreed to come here?
Nicholas tried to recall what had possessed him to go along with Theo and Sophie as he joined the other guests in the small space outside the formal dining room prior to dinner.
He didn’t think he’d ever considered this to be a good idea, but he’d been caught up in other people’s enthusiasm, and now, here he was.
He spotted Sophie across the room and smiled. At least he wasn’t here alone.
He strode toward her, taking her in from head to toe, disturbingly relieved to find that she’d arrived safely. It wasn’t as if he’d expected their carriage to be set upon by highwaymen, but until he’d laid eyes on her, worry had gnawed at him.
A woman in a scandalously low-cut dress with heavily rouged lips stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
“Mr. Blackwell,” she purred, her bright red lips forming a pretty moue. “It’s so good to see you again.”
It took a moment for him to recognize her, but when he did, he blanched.
Hell.
