Then Miss Kingsley halted mid-word, turning her attention to Sophie. “Hello, there.”
Dragging her friends over, Miss Kingsley gave Sophie a brilliant smile and curtsy as Miss Nelson went through the introductions.
“I am so sorry I didn’t see you there sooner,” said Miss Kingsley. “It must be terribly uncomfortable to be thrown in with a group of ladies with whom you have no former acquaintance.”
Miss Kingsley spoke so openly and artlessly that Sophie could not help grinning.
“It’s not how I prefer to pass a month,” said Sophie.
“For certain,” said Miss Kingsley with wide eyes. “I would be terrified in your situation.” But she paused, her cheeks pinking. “I suppose it’s uncouth to say that.”
Miss Nelson turned her gaze to her mother. “I fear Mama is calling for me.”
Sophie doubted that was true, but the young lady strode away, with Miss Thompson feigning excuses about assisting her, leaving Sophie alone with Miss Kingsley.
“I do apologize for my frankness,” began Miss Kingsley, and it took a moment for Sophie to recall what the young lady had been saying before the others abandoned them.
“Do not fret, Miss Kingsley. I am not offended in the slightest. You may be the only person here who understands that some do not care for being thrust into a group of strangers.”
A tightness in Miss Kingsley’s shoulders loosened. “Hettie and Phyllis certainly do not understand when I shy away from such situations.”
Sophie’s brows rose. “You are uncomfortable in crowds?”
Miss Kingsley ran her hands across her skirts. “I assure you that introducing myself just then has exhausted my social prowess. I doubt I shall be able to approach another stranger for a fortnight at the very least. Speaking with someone once we are engaged in conversation is not difficult, as I do love talking, but broaching the conversation is terrifying.”
“Then you have an advantage over me, for I do not find it enjoyable to broach a conversation nor to remain in it.”
“I shall take it as a compliment that you have not run away screaming,” Miss Kingsley replied with a saucy grin.
Sophie covered a laugh, though Miss Kingsley did nothing to hide her amusement.
“Now that we have established how petrified we are to speak to one another,” said Miss Kingsley, “perhaps you might tell me something about yourself.”
“Myself?”
Miss Kingsley nodded. “Nothing puts a person so at ease than to speak about her favorite topic.”
Sophie snorted. Her eyes flew wide open at that horrid sound, and she cast a look around, but no one was the wiser—except for Miss Kingsley, who looked amused but ignored it.
“What do you wish to know?” asked Sophie when she trusted herself to speak.
“Perhaps I ought to begin with the little details, such as where you hail from, but why begin with such insipid questions?” Tapping her fingers along the edges of her skirts, Miss Kingsley’s gaze drifted to the side, her lips pursing as she thought. “What do you love to do most in the world?”
Sophie’s eyes widened. “That is a rather large question.”
Miss Kingsley nodded. “But it is far more interesting.”
And more invasive, though Sophie was not about to tell the young lady that. As she pondered over how to respond, Miss Kingsley chimed in again.
“I adore music. If I had my way, I would fill every moment with song. I never feel quite so at ease as I do when singing, and I am convinced that the best part of London is all the concerts and musicales. And you?”
Miss Kingsley spoke with such artlessness. The lady was open and free with her words, and Sophie couldn’t help but admire it. Though that did not make her more comfortable with revealing her own truths.
“I doubt you would be interested in it, and I do not wish to bore you,” replied Sophie.
“Nonsense,” said Miss Kingsley. “And whether or not I am interested is immaterial. I simply wish to know you better.”
And so Sophie began speaking of her love for flora, fauna, insects, and all the rest, and though Miss Kingsley was not familiar with the subject (other than as a casual observer), she asked pertinent questions and prodded Sophie into greater depths. She took Sophie by the arm, and the pair strolled along the edge of the drawing room as the others chatted and play cards. Sophie was at a loss to think of a more interesting conversation, for it led to Lily speaking of her own passions, and soon, the subjects were darting here and there, meandering in a manner that made sense only to Sophie and Lily.
