Sophia immediately held out her hand, a coquettish smile already gracing her face. After placing the expected kiss on her gloved fingers, he released her hand and caught her eye. “You needed a word?”
Sophia batted her lashes. “Indeed, but it’s more along the lines of a lengthy chat, so do join me for a drive so we’ll be able to speak at our leisure.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible since my friends are waiting for me to walk with them to Central Park.”
“In this weather?”
“Miss Duveen, a dear friend of mine, enjoys the snow.”
Sophia’s gaze immediately shot to where Adelaide and Charles were standing, her smile fading as she considered Adelaide for a long moment.
“How dear a friend is she?” she finally asked.
“Dear enough.”
Sophia pursed her lips before she gave a languid wave of herhand toward Adelaide. “I now find myself intrigued by thisdearMiss Duveen. I must insist she join us for a ride about the city.”
“Joining you for a ride would defeat the purpose of taking a walk.”
Sophia began to pout. “Don’t be like that, Gideon. It took me a good hour to track you down, and I have limited time at my disposal today because I have a performance later. I know you wouldn’t want to disappoint me by not accommodating my itsy-bitsy little request of your attention right now.” She let out a breathy sigh. “It’s been forever since we’ve spoken, and I’ve been dying for an update on that deceitful chit I hired out of the goodness of my heart when she came to me with no dressing experience, spouting a sorry tale of woe about her desperate financial circumstances.”
“You know you hired Lottie McBriar because you frequently have members of your staff abandon you with no notice, Lottie being no exception to that. As for it being forever since we’ve spoken, I’ve attempted to schedule a meeting with you for weeks, but you’ve been avoiding me.”
Sophia raised a hand to her chest. “Avoid you? I’ve been doing no such thing. I’m a very busy lady. With that said, I have time now to devote undivided attention to you, just as soon as you either ask your friends to join us or get rid of them.”
Gideon refused a sigh. “I see you’re in an unreasonable frame of mind today, but since Miss Duveen, along with her cousin, Charles Wetzel, are aware of my association with the firm, I’ll ask them if they’d like to join us. However, if their answer is no, I won’t be reneging on my commitment to walk with Miss Duveen, which means we’ll have to find another time to speak.”
“It would be an unusual event indeed if they’d pass up the opportunity to spend intimate time in my company,” Sophia said, right before her eyes began to sparkle. “You mentioned Miss Duveen’s cousin is a Mr. Charles Wetzel. Would that bethe same Charles Wetzel who is not only an esteemed member of the Four Hundred but worth millions as well?”
“You will not set your sights on him,” Gideon said firmly.
“Did I say I was going to?”
“Not out loud, but I’m definitely reconsidering asking them to join us.”
The smile that immediately curved Sophia’s lips was not an encouraging sign. “Then I’ll simply invite them myself, which I’m sure they’ll see as a great honor.”
“You’re trying my patience.”
“It’s one of the many talents I’ve cultivated over the years.”
“I’m not certain that’s something you should be proud of.”
Sophia released a tinkle of laughter and held out her hand, clearly with the expectation he was going to assist her out of the carriage.
Instead of obliging her, he released a bit of a harrumph instead. “Will you at least attempt to behave if I ask Adelaide and Charles to accompany us for a short ride?”
“Behaving is seriously overrated.”
“I’m going to pretend that was a yes, and now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with my friends.”
Sophia’s smile turned smug. “How very accommodating you always are of me.”
“I’m not sure it’s accommodation. More along the lines of resignation,” he muttered before he turned and made his way down the sidewalk.
“You weren’t jesting about her ability to flirt,” Adelaide said once he stopped in front of her. “I was afraid I was going to have to intervene on your behalf, given that it appeared at one point she was considering throwing herself out of her carriage and straight into your arms.”
His lips quirked. “How chivalrous of you, but I’m perfectly capable of sidestepping Sophia’s advances, a talent that annoys her whenever I’m in her company.”
