Lord Dinsdale bowed deeply and then swept his hand out for her to hold in a grand gesture.
Who knew about her past and had started that rumor?
“A quadrille,” Lord Dinsdale said as they reached the floor. “I had so hoped for a waltz.”
Not I,Sophie thought, relieved she would not have to be in the man’s arms while he talked about himself endlessly. Looking around her, she noted more eyes on her. This was a disaster, and everything they had achieved could come tumbling down around them.
She loathed that someone had told the truth about her past and now it was on the lips of everyone in society, but it hurt more thinking that Patrick could be promised to another.
“You look like a meadow filled with flowers this evening, Countess.”
Sophie forced a smile onto her face as she touched hands with Lord Dinsdale. It had to be Jack Spode who was responsible, but how had he managed to get the truth about her into the ears of society?
“Oh, one so fair with raven hair, she fills my heart to bursting,” Lord Dinsdale said, making her cheeks heat with embarrassment.
“If you stick out your foot, Countess, he will trip and hopefully bite his tongue off. We will be forever indebted to you. Is that not right, Lord Beckonsfield?”
Sophie managed a smile as Lady Sumner passed in a turn and drawled the words in her ear.
“You’ll have my undying gratitude, Countess,” the man agreed.
And with those few words, Sophie felt a little stronger. She had friends in society now. People who would stand with her. A rumor would not destroy her if she did not allow it to. She was a countess after all. What could destroy her was the knowledge that Patrick would marry another.
“Oh, to walk with her through a dew-drenched meadow?—"
“Really should think about those words, Dinsdale. A dew-drenched meadow would play havoc with one’s hem,” Lady Sumner said, winking at Sophie.
She got through the rest of the dance, as the baron and Lady Sumner teased Lord Dinsdale until, finally, he gave up. He would simply regroup and continue with someone else, but hopefully not her again.
“Perhaps a second dance later, Countess, when the floor is not quite so full,” he said as the music finished.
“Perhaps” was all Sophie said as she walked away.Not likelywas what she thought. She needed to find Letty and tell her what Miss Smythe had said. What she’d heard about Patrick she would keep to herself.
A hand brushed hers. She spun and found herself face-to-face with him. Her heart gave a hard thud in her chest as she looked up at him and then quickly away.
Had he heard the rumor?
She’d experienced so much with this man and knew the emotions inside her for him were far stronger than they had any right to be, especially if the rumor she’d heard about him was true.
“Lord Coulter.” Sophie dropped into a curtsy.
“Patrick,” he said. He then took her hand and placed it on his arm.
“I will not call you that here, in front of so many people.”
“I don’t care what society thinks.” He began walking, and she had to follow.
“Spoken like a man of power and status,” she said.
She felt his eyes on her. “You are a countess, my lady. I’m quite sure not many would question you either.”
“Have you heard the rumor?”
He nodded. “It will not hurt you if you don’t let it, Sophie. You have people watching over you now. Friends. Remember that.”
“He must be responsible,” she whispered. “No one else knows.”
“I believe so, but I just don’t know how he has such high connections,” Patrick said as they walked. “We will get to the bottom of it.”
