Edward rolled his eyes at that point, and grinned at her as he used to when he was younger. Making her laugh. He was quite used to her treating him as if he was still a boy, but couldn't help wishing that she hadn't done it in front of Sophia. As it might well diminish his standing as a gentleman in her eyes.
Sophia couldn't believe how wonderful all of this was, in particular the way Edward and his mother behaved towards each other. It was exactly how she had imagined a family ought to be. Unlike her own where Lucas always told them what to do. While Owen and her were simply expected to comply with his every wish.
At that precise moment, Sophia dropped her soup spoon which fell onto the floor with a loud clatter. Her cheeks flushed immediately from embarrassment. While the servant waiting behind their chairs hurried across the room to replace it with a clean one, putting this on the table next to Sophia's bowl, before he picked up the offending spoon from the floor to remove it. Cynthia acted as if nothing had happened, since she didn't wish to embarrass Sophia any further, and continued her conversation with Edward.
However her clumsiness had made Sophia feel awkward, and overly anxious. Even more so because it was Jimmy who had picked up her spoon, and smiled cheekily at her when he replaced it. None of which escaped Edward's notice, or his wish to deal with the footman's impertinence which had now become a priority. So that both Sophia and he couldn't help feeling relieved when dinner eventually came to an end. Neither of them were capable by that time of dealing with how they felt.
When Cynthia told her that she wouldn't need her for the rest of the evening, as she would shortly be retiring to her bedchamber, Sophia politely said goodnight and went upstairs. Having also told Effie earlier that she wouldn't need her later, she undressed and picked up her journal intending to write a poem. She had drawn the curtains back, and was thrilled to see the new moon in the sky, surrounded by a myriad of twinkling stars. The perfect setting for a verse, and Sophia soon began compiling a new poem in the hope that it would take her mind off thinking about Ned.
Instead she wrote a poem about a handsome hero who came to the heroine’s rescue on a moonlit night like this. Sophia didn't intend to show what she had written to anyone else but secretly admitting to herself that it was the Duke who had inspired her words. How she wished she could really call him Ned! She thought with a smile, as she blew out the candle and closed her eyes. Hoping that she would dream of him, again.
Chapter 15
The next morning Sophia opened her eyes thinking of Edward, and how he sometimes looked at her. Replaying every tiny detail of the time she had spent with him, so that she could relive it, and still excited by the thought that he wasn't going away. She hugged one of her pillows, daring to imagine what it might be like to be so close to him and even dance with his hand on her waist, before she told herself sternly not to be so ridiculous. She was no longer a debutante, but a ladies' companion, with a secret! Even if this had still been part of the London season, it would be very foolish to think that a gentleman like the Duke of Carlfield was going to show an interest in her. As a merchant's daughter, and now a servant. Trying to console herself she decided that she could at least think of him as Ned, since no one else but her would know this.
Sophia sighed sadly, as her thoughts returned to the reality of her situation. Wondering what Owen and Hannah were doing today, before she became stern again. She had to stay strong, carry on believing that all would be well, and try hard to help the Duchess as much as she could. She had so much to be thankful for. Everything could have been so much worse. She shuddered, imagining waking up next to the dreadful Lord Dilley, before quickly pushing the thought to the back of her mind.
Sophia got out of bed, and opened the curtains. It was too early for breakfast or for Effie to bring her tea, so she decided on the spur of the moment to go for a walk. It had rained during the night, making the garden look fresh and green in the early morning light, and she couldn't wait to explore. She would have plenty of time afterwards to wash, and style her hair, before she knocked on the Duchess' door. It wasn't as if she would be likely to meet anyone else out so early, so it didn't really matter if she wasn't looking her best.
She grabbed her journal, hoping that she would be able to find a quiet place where she could write in it. Hurrying downstairs Sophia was shocked by the sheer number of servants who were already going about their duties, as she made her way through the house, intending to leave by the backdoor in the kitchen. Despitedoing her best to appear invisible, everyone she met seemed to know who she was, and greeted her by name. Even when she was outside there were others working in the garden, and tending the horses in the stables.
Realising her foolishness, and that she wouldn't be able to move about freely without being seen, she almost turned around to go back to her bedchamber. However the urge to explore her surroundings was too strong, so she carried on walking around the side of the house until she reached the front. Once again stunned by the landscaping, and vast lawns. From what she could tell, the last minute preparations were in progress for the Duchess' tea party later that day, which she hadn't been aware of until dinner last night. She assumed that Lady Cynthia would let her know things like this beforehand, once she had settled in.
After walking along the path at the side of the lawn, and taking another she noticed, she came to a walled garden and cautiously opened the old door set into it. Staring in wonder at what she discovered inside. The path had taken her into a very different world of vegetables growing in small plots of land, and huge glasshouses, which appeared to be filled with exotic fruits when she peeked inside.
It wasn't long however before she reached the rose garden, after she walked through another door on the other side of the wall. Sophia took a step back, unable to believe her eyes. She had never seen so many roses before, growing in one place. Their colours and perfume were enchanting. Feeling quite overwhelmed, she was relieved to notice a bench where she could rest for a moment. She made her way quickly to it, and sat down before taking her journal out of her bag. To begin writing a description of everything she had seen, with a note of her feelings about the garden and flowers which she truly loved, before everything in her imagination became lost. She was conscious too that time was passing, and she certainly didn't wish to be late for breakfast so needed to hurry.
Sophia had become so lost in her writing that she was startled when she heard the sound of footsteps nearby. She lookedup quickly, and accidentally dropped the journal onto the ground. Her heart was thudding loudly inside her chest when her eyes met Ned's.
The Duke had just returned from riding his favourite horse around the estate. While he was taking him back to the stables, he recalled the bench amongst the roses which was the most beautiful place he could think of in the garden, and he decided to go there before he went back to the house. If he couldn't be with Sophia, his mind was craving solitude, and he had many fond memories of playing in that part of the garden as a child. He thought that being there again would soothe him, as it always used to.
The last thing he expected to find was Sophia, sitting on that very same bench. It upset him at first that he had frightened her by appearing unexpectedly. He could tell how afraid she was from the look on her face, until she realised that it was him. When he approached her she had dropped her journal and stared at him wide eyed, which only made him want to kiss her even more.
Nevertheless he was dismayed that he had intruded on her privacy. He stepped closer to her so that he could retrieve the book from the ground, and he brushed its cover with his hand to remove any imaginary dirt which might have been on it. He apologised profusely for having startled her, before he passed the journal back to her.
Edward felt a shiver run down the full length of his spine when Sophia’s hand gently brushed against his, as she took the book from him. With the result that despite his earlier resolve not to do so, Edward found himself once again being captivated by the pools of light within her soft hazel eyes, when she looked up at him. A voice inside his thoughts told him that he should leave the rose garden immediately. He had placed both of them in a compromising situation, which could easily result in a scandal if they were discovered without a chaperone.
Edward cleared his throat quickly, and much to the disappointment of both of them he bid Sophia good day, before leaving the rose garden and her.
Chapter 16
Several hours later in the early afternoon, Sophia went back to the rose garden with Lady Cynthia. The guests for the tea party she had arranged were due to arrive within the hour, but she wanted to see the roses first. She said that the gardeners had planted several bushes in one of the borders last year. It was an old variety which the head gardener had told her was now in full bloom. Sophia had been surprised when her ladyship had taken her arm since she hadn't been in her employment for very long she didn't expect this familiarity quite so soon. Nevertheless she was surprised by how comfortable it felt, walking alongside the Duchess in the sunshine. Listening to her talking quietly about the guests she had invited, and at times confidentially, when she wished to mention something more discreet and would lower her voice.
She also occasionally asked Sophia for her opinion about this and that, which she only managed to answer vaguely despite trying her best to concentrate. The truth of the matter was she barely heard a word Cynthia had said once they reached the bench where she sat earlier, and Edward had spoken to her. Her thoughts were too full of him being convinced now that they both felt a connection between them.
Meanwhile the Duchess had realised that Sophia's thoughts were elsewhere when she spoke to her, and assumed incorrectly that her companion was worrying about the tea party, because she didn't have enough of the right clothes to wear. Although she obviously didn't know her background or anything about Lucas' frugality, as far as she was concerned this was a reasonable assumption to make about a young woman's concerns. "I hope that you are feeling more settled, my dear," she said, quietly. "You must treat this house and the gardens as if they are your home. Both Ned and I want you to be very happy here, with us," she said, pausing to use her hand to wave the objection away which Sophia was about to make, albeit very politely.
As a result Sophia was obliged to remain silent and not say what she had intended to. That she thought both the Duke and Lady Cynthia had already shown her every kindness, and there really wasn't any need for more. Nevertheless Cynthia was determined to finish what she had started. "There is however the small matter of your clothes, of which you will need a lot more than you probably have with you," she said, quickly putting her hand on Sophia's. While she insisted that she was not to object, since this was in actual fact a part of her salary. A small stretch of the truth which the Duchess felt was justified in the circumstances.
"We shall begin by getting Florence and Effie to alter some of the gowns which I no longer wear, and for the more difficult tasks which will be beyond them, seek help from my seamstress. Also get her to make you several of your own, so that you have some new ones. We are of a similar size so it shouldn't be difficult for the maids to do some simple alterations very quickly. As you know I already have a number of social events coming up, which I arranged before we left for London at the start of the season. You shall want for nothing, my dear, while you are under Ned's roof. He and I will make sure of that!"
She paused, to catch her breath before continuing. "I am sure that you will not wish to take this opportunity from Effie, to learn more of the skills she will need as a ladies' maid. Whilst she has Florence to help her.
Between you and me, Sophia, she was forever talking about the ladies' beautiful gowns whenever we had visitors. Until it was apparent that becoming a ladies' maid was clearly her vocation. I will also ask Florence to show her how to use some of the ornaments I can let you have for your hair," she said, firmly. Sophia appeared to be on the verge of tears. Not having experienced kindness like this in the past, and thought that a mother might well have done something similar for her. Quite forgetting that she had also been kind to Amy, when she had given a gown to her which she couldn't really spare from her meagre wardrobe.
Knowing that Lady Cynthia was right in her assumption that she didn't have enough different clothes to wear, Sophia said that she was very grateful, and would gladly accept her kindness.Adding that she hadn't expected to have a ladies' maid of her own. So once again, she was very grateful for Effie whom she liked enormously. Not wishing Cynthia to think that she didn't know any better, she also made a passing comment then about her brother's frugality, and how she had struggled during the season to cope with the endless changing of dresses. When she didn't have the number of day dresses, gowns, or bonnets which had been recommended at her finishing school.
Fortunately she didn't get the opportunity to say any more on the subject, or be questioned by the Duchess about Lucas despite not mentioning him by name, since both of them had noticed Ned. He was walking along the path towards them, accompanied by a tall gentleman and two ladies wearing the finest of gowns, adorned with ribbons and intricate embroidery. One pink, and the other lilac so that they complemented each other beautifully. Even their tinkling laughter and the tone in their voices sounded the same, so that it was difficult to differentiate which one of them had spoken unless you were looking directly at her.
