Percy reached them first. “Good afternoon, Miss Hale, Miss Prudence. Never have I seen such lovely young women at Hyde Park.” He cast a flirtatious smile at Prudence.
How could she not see how ridiculous he was?
Sophia pinched her shoulder blades together, keeping her posture straight as she greeted both men. If Isaac had spoken to Percy about stopping his pursuit, then it obviously hadn’t worked. Percy’s attention was locked on Prudence, and she was clearly besotted.
“May I beg you to accompany me for a turn?” Percy extended his elbow toward her.
“We were just about to return home,” Sophia interrupted. “Perhaps another day.”
Prudence shot her a scowl. “He did not askyou.” Her face softened, and she instantly took his arm. And then they took off in a sedate pace across the grass. Aunt Hester followed, which only gave Sophia a small sense of peace. Every moment Prudence spent with Percy, she became more attached. The more attached she became, the more she would overlook. Sophia felt entirely helpless to stop it. A surge of frustration gripped her shoulders.
The sleeve of Isaac’s navy-blue jacket came into view. “Well? We can’t leave them unattended, can we?”
Sophia looked up slowly, a sense of dread in her stomach. She wasn’t certain she wanted to be left unattended withhim.Prudence and Percy grew smaller up ahead, but Sophia could still hear her sister’s flirtatious giggling. She didn’t have a choice.
She took Isaac’s arm, keeping her grip loose—barely there.
“I tried to reason with him,” Isaac said in a low voice as they set off behind Aunt Hester. “I accused him of courting her only for Lanveneth…and he didn’t deny it.”
Sophia glanced up at the tightened edge of his jaw. “Did he say he would cease his pursuit? It doesn’t appear that way.”
Isaac gave a humorless laugh. “No, it does not.”
Sophia’s legs had to work twice as fast to keep up with his long strides. They slowed their pace when they were within a few yards of Aunt Hester’s heels. They couldn’t risk being overheard.
“I worry that the more I try to dissuade him, the harder he’ll try,” Isaac said.
“That sounds like Prudence.”
Up ahead, Percy adjusted her shawl, his hand lingering on her lower back. Sophia glared at the back of his head. “There must be a way to forge a divide between them.” Her heart ached. “Unless it’s too late.”
Two women with a small pug on a lead walked by. The dog’s tongue hung out of its mouth, dribbling a trail of drool onto the grass. It gave her an idea.
“Does Mr. Ellington like dogs?”
Isaac shook his head. “He dislikes all animals. He has only pretended to like them so as to gain your stepfather’s favor.”
Sophia raised an eyebrow at him. “Much like how you pretended to be interested in the Seychelles giant tortoise?”
“I was interested! Deeply.” His eyes gleamed with amusement.
She hid her smile. “At leastyouwere punished for your lies at dinner. Mr. Ellington has yet to be caught.”
She looked up in time to see Isaac’s jaw slacken. “Are you implying that I deserved to be killed by that exotic nut?”
“Killed, no.Nearlykilled, yes.” She tipped her head up to look at him. “The question is, have you learned your lesson?”
“I have learned not to eat from a tray of unfamiliar delicacies, if that’s what you mean.” He grinned, and his smile sent a warm spiral through her chest.
Her skirts tossed with the breeze. She watched the toes of her boots as she walked. “I hope you have also learned not to pretend to be interested in something when you’re not.” She dared to look at his face. She wanted him to feel guilty for what he had done to her in the past. She wanted him to take responsibility for it, but he continued to act oblivious.
His brown eyes reflected the sunlight, a curious look behind them. “If it will prevent another near poisoning, then I shall never feign interest in anything ever again. I assure you, I have learned my lesson.”
Sophia hid her disappointment at his reply. He didn’t seem to have caught her meaning. “Well. Now it is time that your cousin learns his.”
Isaac peered down at her with misgiving. “Do you have a plan?”
“Prudence adores dogs. At least once weekly she bursts into tears over her longing for Flora and Thistle.” Sophia pressed her lips together in thought. “Perhaps the four of us might have a picnic this week. It will be your duty to ensure Percy’s dislike of animals is exposed through our conversation. To emphasize the point, I will invite Lord Finchley.”
