“My heart is no more at risk than it was before,” he said with a sad smile. “And should I be denied the joy of having you as my wife, at least I would have the memory of tonight.”
No matter how she might steel her heart, Victoria could not remain unmoved by such a declaration. Slipping her arm through his, she allowed him to escort her to the dance floor and took her place in his arms, unwilling to think of the consequences of holding him closer than was altogether seemly.
If tonight was all they’d have together, Victoria wouldn’t waste another moment of it.
***
A ball was not an exciting thing. Sophie had never found much enjoyment in the noise and hubbub of crowds. But with Mr. Kingsley at her side, she couldn’t think of a finer way to spend an evening. Even when she was forced to dance with another, Mr. Kingsley was there with her, watching from the side, and it was easy to pretend it was he who squired her about the dance floor. And once over, he awaited her with a glass of punch at the ready, should she need it.
Clinging to Mr. Kingsley’s arm, Sophie avoided looking at any other gentleman, lest even a fleeting acknowledgment might induce the fellow to ask for her dance and pull her away from the preferred partner. But no matter where she went, Mr. Kingsley’s gaze followed her. Even if she couldn’t see him, Sophie felt his eyes following her like a silent partner skipping alongside every reel, mazurka, and quadrille.
Mr. Kingsley leaned closer to whisper, “It is a shame I cannot monopolize every dance. It seems monstrously unfair that I am denied the pleasure of standing up with you for every set.”
“If I recall correctly, you gave little heed to propriety when we first met.”
His brows rose in mock affront. “That is a terrible slander, dear lady. I did not engage you in conversation until after we were introduced.”
Sophie laughed at that as he turned them towards a corner in which his mother and father stood with another pair. Greeting both couples, Mr. Kingsley introduced her to his aunt and uncle.
“How wonderful that you could join us tonight,” said Sophie, giving both the Kingsleys and Ashbrooks a gracious smile. “I understand you’ve been traveling abroad.”
Mr. Graham Ashbrook met her polite inquiry with a terse reply, giving her the barest of answers before lapsing back into silence, though he gave a far more welcoming response than Mrs. Tabby Ashbrook, who leveled a cold look at Sophie. Squeezing her Mr. Kingsley’s arm, Sophie wondered what she’d done to offend these strangers. Turning her gaze to Mr. Kingsley’s parents, she received more discomfort. Mrs. Kingsley was not outright rude (Sophie suspected the lady didn’t know how to behave in such a manner), but the goodwill that had grown over the past sennight and a half had disappeared.
Young Mr. Kingsley tensed, glancing between Sophie and his family as though that might provide some answer. When none arrived, he gave a curt farewell and led Sophie away. Her heart withered in her chest as she cast a parting glance over her shoulder to see the others relax at her departure.
Chapter 35
Sophie’s chin trembled, but she took in a breath to dispel. Holding tight to her Mr. Kingsley, she whispered, “Have I done something to offend them?”
“Nonsense. I don’t know what is going on, but if they think I will stand by while they treat you with such coldness—”
Sophie shook her head, pulling him to a stop to face him. “Leave it be, Mr. Kingsley. I do not wish to cause a rift in your family.”
His brow furrowed in a hard scowl as she attempted to smile. Glancing around him, Mr. Kingsley took Sophie by the arm, leading her to a quiet corner of the ballroom. With a particularly large arrangement of flowers sitting to their left and a wall to their right and at Sophie’s back, they were as alone as the situation allowed.
“You needn’t defend them, Miss Sophie, and neither must you suffer their rudeness,” said Mr. Kingsley, taking her hands in his. Despite the gloves, Sophie adored the feel of his hands wrapped around hers, and memories of touches supplied the sensation the fabric muted. “I don’t know what has transpired, but give me a moment to speak with them.”
Sophie’s shoulders fell, and though she attempted to keep hold of her expression, there was no hiding the disappointment in her eyes. “I thought they’d grown to like me.”
“You were not mistaken in that, dearest.” The endearment slipped out as though Mr. Kingsley had spoken it many times before, but Sophie’s pulse raced at the sound of it. There was a light in his gaze as he spoke it, leaving her in no doubt that it was no slip of the tongue. “Surely it is a misunderstanding.”
Nodding, Sophie clung to that hope and the assurance that his family’s welcome would not disintegrate so quickly. Giving no heed to the others in the room, Mr. Kingsley brushed a thumb across the back of her hand and then placed a kiss there.
“I will be back shortly,” he whispered, giving her a bow before striding back to his parents.
Sophie wished her fears could be so easily dismissed. Thinking back on the time they’d spent together, she wanted to believe Mrs. Kingsley’s kindness and warmth wasn’t feigned. She did not seem the sort of lady to mislead another. But then, she did not seem fickle, either.
Having passed every free moment with the Kingsleys, Sophie had seen more of Mrs. Kingsley than her own mother of late, and each interaction had been pleasant. More than pleasant if Sophie were to be entirely honest. There was an easiness to the Kingsleys that had her anticipating every opportunity to mingle among them.
A snickering laugh from the other side of the flower arrangement drew Sophie’s attention. As the massive display stood on a pedestal that held the blossoms at eye level, there was no way to see who stood on the other side, but the impediment did not keep her from overhearing the two young ladies. Ignoring them, Sophie continued to muse over the sudden shift among the Kingsley ranks, but at the sound of Lily’s name, Sophie’s attention drew back to the pair.
“…ridiculous! As if she would catch his eye,” said one.
“That is unfair,” replied the second voice. “Though I will admit that Lily and the rest of her family deserve to be humbled, she is not wholly unappealing to a man.”
A scoff. “Some men are not discerning, but anyone of taste would flee from that pudgy fright who is more likely to bore a beau to death than win his heart.”
A spark of anger flared in Sophie’s heart, and she leaned closer, attempting to peer through the foliage to see just who deserved to be eviscerated for those scathing remarks.
