“Yes, well.” She gestured dismissively. “As I said, there’s only so much I’m capable of. You may want to set yourself to rights, Sophie. Your dress is rumpled.”
Sophie’s cheeks flushed, and she smoothed her dress and touched her hair, checking that it was all in place.
There was a soft knock, and Lady Carlisle stepped into the office with Lady Somerset close behind her.
Lady Carlisle’s hands fluttered in front of her waist—the only sign of her anxiety—and she clasped them together before addressing them. “I’m told you have news. I’m eager to hear it, but let’s retreat to a private drawing room. Nancy, do you have somewhere we could go?”
“Of course. Follow me.” Lady Wembley whisked past Lady Carlisle and Lady Somerset and led the group down the corridor to a small drawing room on the darker side of the manor. It clearly wasn’t used often but had been recently cleaned—perhaps anticipating that guests might have need of it. “You may speak here. Lady Somerset, I believe we ought to leave them to discuss arrangements.”
Nicholas refrained from looking at Lady Somerset even though he could feel her glare burning into the side of his face. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of acknowledging her after she’d done her damndest to ruin Sophie.
Lady Somerset followed Lady Wembley away from the others and Nicholas held the door as Lady Carlisle and Sophie went to the matching chaises that faced each other across a tea table. He shut the door and checked for a lock.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t one, but if they spoke quietly, no one should be able to overhear them, even with their ear pressed against the door.
As Nicholas crossed the room, sat beside Sophie and took her hand, Lady Carlisle studied them silently.
“Before you explain what happened, I need to knowwhether I’m planning a wedding.” The sharpness in her eyes said that the answer had better be yes.
“We are betrothed,” Sophie replied, squeezing Nicholas’s hand.
He smiled. It was sweet of her to try to reassure him. “We had already discussed the prospect of marriage prior to today,” he confirmed. “We didn’t intend to make it public yet and, of course, we would have sought permission from your husband first.”
Another lie, but hopefully a harmless one.
“Good.” The lines around her mouth eased. “So, what happened and do I need to be concerned about it?”
Nicholas explained. He didn’t mention how he’d been overcome by jealousy and pulled her into the room. Instead, he just said that he’d wanted to talk to her about formalizing their agreement after Sophie had returned from her trip to the pond. Judging from her mother’s sly smirk, she understood more than he was saying.
By the time he finished, his stomach was churning and he worried he might be sick.
No matter what the truth was, Lady Somerset would no doubt claim she’d found them in an intimate clinch and that his hand had been forced. She’d revel in damaging his reputation, since she no doubt realized that she’d ruined any chance she imagined she might have had with him.
Still, word would spread when they returned to London, if not beforehand. Perhaps he ought to send his mother and Theo a letter to warn them, but he wasn’t sure he could face their censure. Theo might have encouraged him to pursue Sophie, but he certainly hadn’t wanted a scandal like this had the potential to be.
“It’s a shame that Lady Somerset was present,” Lady Carlisle mused. “If Lady Wembley had happened upon you alone, she might have kept the matter quiet until you wereready to make an announcement, but that certainly won’t be the case now.”
“Will you and Father give us your blessing?” Sophie asked, her fingers tightening briefly around his, but in a way that seemed unintentional. Perhaps she needed his reassurance this time. He squeezed back.
Lady Carlisle smiled. “Of course. Mr. Blackwell may be untitled, but his brother is a viscount, and he’s from a good family. I have no qualms about endorsing the union, and I know your father will feel the same.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “We wanted you to choose a husband, but we care little who he is as long as he can provide for you and will treat you well.”
Sophie released a shuddering breath. “Thank goodness.”
“So, will you marry in London?” Lady Carlisle asked, becoming businesslike.
“We’d prefer to marry in the country,” Sophie told her. “We don’t want a big wedding. Something simple would do.”
To his surprise, Lady Carlisle beamed. “Excellent. I enjoyed planning Emma’s wedding, but one massive society affair at St. George’s really is enough.” She checked the time. “Everyone will be gathering for the meal soon, so I suggest we discuss this in more detail later.”
Sophie shrunk against Nicholas’s side at the mention of the other guests. “Do you think we have to attend the meal?”
He glanced at Lady Carlisle before looking down at Sophie. “I suspect it might be best for us to confine ourselves to our rooms for the rest of the day. I’m sure the servants won’t mind bringing us our meals in private.”
“I agree,” Lady Carlisle said, standing and arranging her skirts just so. “You are known to have something of a temper, Sophie, and I’d hate for you to lose it in a public setting if Lady Somerset made any sort of inappropriate insinuation.
Sophie opened her mouth, looking prepared to argue.
“I’ll escort Sophie to her bedchamber,” Lady Carlislecontinued. “I’m sure you can find your own way, Mr. Blackwell.”
