“Amelia.”
“—but this feels right,” her friend continued.
She hadn’t told Amelia any details because there really hadn’t been a time to do so. But she owed her that much.
“I will tell you everything soon, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Amelia kissed her cheek. “Come on, Timmy. We’ll walk to the steps.”
“Tell me this is right, Letty,” Sophie whispered when they were alone.
“This is right, Sophie. You must trust him.”
“I do trust him and know this is the best for all of us.”
“For you,” Letty added.
They turned to walk to the church, and it was then she noted Stephen talking to Amelia.Smiling at her, Sophie amended.
“You look lovely, Miss Logan,” he said as they reached him.
“Oh, now I look lovely simply because I am wearing a pretty dress?” Amelia snapped.
Stephen shot Sophie a panicked look.
“I will take Timmy,” Letty said. “Come along. We will get a seat right up at the front for you to watch the proceedings.”
“Well?” Amelia demanded.
“I just said you looked lovely. Is that a crime?” Stephen snapped back.
“That will do, both of you,” Sophie said, finding a smile when she’d been about to throw up the contents of her stomach seconds ago.
“Sophie, how lovely you look,” Stephen said, glaring at Amelia. “It would be my honor to escort you down the aisle.”
“Really?” Sophie whispered. “I-I had thought to walk down there by myself.”
“Really.” Stephen moved to her side. He gave Amelia a scowl, which she returned tenfold, and gently took Sophie’s hand, placing it on his arm.
“Let me tell you about a discussion Patrick and I once had. I told him he would have to wed to have an heir, and do you know what he said, Sophie?”
“No.”
“He said that after a life spent around selfish people, he would not wed unless it was his choice to do so. That if he found the right woman, he would wed her with haste when that time came.”
“Oh, but?—”
“Patrick is the very best of men, Sophie. A man I am privileged to count as my friend; a man I and many others leanupon. Yet I know his faults, and one of those is, he is malleable as a rock. He does nothing he has no wish to.”
Sophie absorbed those words.
“Take care of him, Sophie,” Stephen said solemnly as they walked into the church.
“I will try,” she whispered, off-balance after that conversation. Did Patrick actually want to marry her?
“Are his sisters here?” Sophie asked as they entered the church.
“Alas, no, but there will be celebrations when you reach his estate,” Stephen said. “You will like them. They are lovely women.”
