“Nonsense,” said Sophie. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
A small smile crept across her face, and Lily met Sophie’s gaze once more. “You are too kind, Miss Banfield…”
Though Lily attempted to continue her sentence, her words halted and faded as she verbally stumbled.
“Is anything the matter?” Sophie watched the other young lady, her concern growing as Lily’s complexion blazed a burning red.
“I do apologize, but I fear I must be going…” said Lily, turning away from her companion.
Sophie’s eyes widened. “Have I done something to offend you?”
Lily paused, her own eyes widening in response. “Of course not. You have been so kind to me—”
“You are more deserving of such a compliment,” replied Sophie with a self-pitying smile. “I was all alone last night until you approached me in conversation.”
And formed the beginnings of a friendship—or so Sophie had believed. Clearly not.
The tightness in Lily’s shoulders eased, but they drooped as though that admission settled a weight on them. Casting a glance around them, Lily drew closer and lowered her voice.
“I fear Mama does not care for me or my brother associating with your family.” The young lady winced, and she dropped her gaze with a sad shake of her head. “There is some bad blood between our parents, and mine have asked Oliver and me to keep our distance.”
“Bad blood?” asked Sophie, clasping her hands in front of her.
“My parents would not explain the whole of it, but I gather it has something to do with your mama being cruel to mine. All I know for certain is your parents were banned from Avebury Park long ago, and my parents are not the sort to take such action lightly. I cannot countenance Mama doing such a thing, though it must be true, for she told me of it herself.”
Sophie’s hands tightened, her whole body straining as she thought over the charges laid at her parents’ door. “I do wish I knew what led to such drastic measures, but I can well believe my mother could mistreat yours. Though she is generally a peaceable lady, Mama has a nasty streak at times, and she has little empathy for those who do not share her way of thinking.”
It was not pleasant to admit such a thing, but that did not make it any less true. Mama, Allen, and the rest of her family had admirable traits and aspects Sophie adored; they were all so carefree and confident in a manner she could never embrace. But she wasn’t ignorant of other insidious aspects to their personalities. There were times when she could hardly stand to be associated with them, so she could not blame an outsider for feeling the same.
Though Sophie had never expected others to see her in the same light.
“I am so sorry,” said Lily, casting a glance over Sophie’s shoulder. Though Sophie did not turn to see who it was she was watching, she could hazard a guess since Lily stiffened, her expression pulling into such despair that Sophie’s own heart ached for her. “I told Mama you are not like that, but…”
Lily’s hands fluttered as she attempted to find a way to finish the sentence, but Sophie knew there was no decorous manner in which to do so. It reflected poorly on all parties involved.
“Do not trouble yourself,” said Sophie, feigning a smile while her heart sunk low in her chest. “I understand and do not hold any malice towards you or yours for it. You needn’t stay here when it will cause such distress to your family.”
Sophie felt like hugging the poor girl, for though Lily nodded and moved away, there was such pain in her expression. Apparently, Mrs. Kingsley had not taught her the importance of masking your heart, for Lily’s was written on her face in the furrowing of her brow and dimming light of her eyes.
And then Sophie was left alone with her thoughts.
Chapter 13
Arift between the Kingsleys and Banfields? Sophie was not aware of her parents ever having mentioned the Kingsleys before, so she could not fathom what the cause might be. Though not well acquainted with the family, Sophie sensed a sweetness of temper—though she would never tell Mr. Oliver Kingsley that, as gentlemen rarely found such a description desirable. But Lily and her brother had spoken more kind words to Sophie than she could ever remember her own family saying, to her or anyone. Where Allen mocked and her parents bemoaned her odd pastime, the Kingsleys had praised and admired it.
As much as it pained her to admit it, Sophie fully expected her family was the source of the conflict.
Had this rift been the reason behind Mr. Kingsley’s disappearance five years ago? It was no great leap of logic to believe it to be true when Lily was forbidden from even engaging with Sophie in an innocent discussion. The senior Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley were determined to maintain the distance between their brood and the Banfields’ and had likely been displeased to discover their son was set to squire Miss Sophie Banfield about London.
She ought to be offended, and part of her heart railed against the injustice of it all, yet as Sophie’s gaze traveled among the guests, she watched Allen rouse the young gentlemen into antics that were too juvenile for schoolboys but the perfect diversion for bored gentlemen. Meanwhile, Father stood closer than was seemly to Mrs. Nelson; the others might not acknowledge the lingering touches on her arm, but Sophie had seen her father seduce many a woman to misread the situation. He’d attempted it with Mrs. Caswell, likely more for the challenge than desire, but she’d proved fruitless, and he’d quickly shifted focus to more bountiful hunting grounds.
And Mama. If not for Allen’s presence, she would likely be planted among the younger set, but contented herself with bestowing inviting glances at the footmen whenever the others weren’t watching.
But for all her internal sermonizing and condemnation, it was Sophie who stood alone. Cast out and ignored. Yes, Sophie envied her family’s ease with people, theirjoie de vivrethat allowed them to find a place among any set of people, and she longed for a particle of their ability. Stepping towards the nearest blanket, Sophie claimed a corner and watched as the others mingled around her.
*
Leaning into Oliver, Miss Caswell wrapped her arms around one of his as the pair strolled around the edge of the picnic.
