1
Ramcroft, 1823
“Jack’s coming home.”
Sophia’s pulse leapt in response to the words being spoken. She did not want to relish the news her friends were sharing, nor did she wish to look forward to the coming weeks with eager expectation. Jack Lancaster, Baron Hawthorne, did not deserve to be pined for. She ought to forget him. And yet...
“When is your brother due to arrive?” Her stomach fluttered in anticipation of what Jack’s sisters might say. At the age of twenty, the twins were only two years younger than Sophia, and although they were the daughters of an earl while she was nothing more than the local vicar’s foster child, they’d played together often while growing up and had remained close into adulthood.
Felicity, the more vocal twin, leaned forward. Unlike her sister, Kaitlin, whose hair was as black as Jack’s, Felicity had their mother’s auburn curls. “Tomorrow, so he can get settled before the rest of the guests arrive for the house party.”
The house party had been their father’s idea. Apparently, after declaring his daughters’ debuts and subsequent Season a failure, he’d invited five gentlemen to visit his home for the next few weeks. The intention behind it was obvious and had caused both Felicity and Kaitlin to look uncomfortable when they’d mentioned it to Sophia during their last get-together.
“So soon?” Sophia clutched her cup and tried to ignore the frantic beat of her heart.
“We’re hoping you’ll join us for dinner on Saturday,” Kaitlin said with a gentle smile. “So we’ll not have to face all the men Mama and Papa have invited alone.”
Sophia took a hasty sip of her tea. See Jack? Dine with him at Eastgate Abbey? Relive the pain of his indifference?
She’d rather toss herself into a frozen lake.
“Thank you,” she told her friends, her voice not nearly as firm as she wished, “but I fear I must decline.”
Felicity and Kaitlin shared a look. They flattened their mouths and straightened their backs. Whatever levity they’d shown before vanished beneath a layer of determination.
Sophia steeled herself.
“We thought you might,” Felicity said.
“So we made a plan,” Kaitlin added.
Unease slid down Sophia’s spine. “How do you mean?”
“Well, we think it would be splendid if you and Jack were to marry,” Felicity said.
Sophia stared at her friend. Her grip on her teacup tightened. “No.”
“But you’ve been in love with him since forever,” Kaitlin said.
“Feelings change,” Sophia said.
“Have yours?” Felicity asked.
She wanted to say yes and deny the yearnings of her heart, but she couldn’t. Felicity and Kaitlin were her dearest friends, and she’d never lied to them about anything. “No.”
“Good. Because we would like nothing better than for you to become our sister.” Felicity smiled while Kaitlin snatched up a biscuit and bit it in half.
Sophia sighed. “He doesn’t see me as a potential match and never will. For a good reason, if I may remind you.”
“I disagree,” Felicity said. “Mama and Papa have both welcomed you into our home.”
“As your friend,” Sophia pointed out. “Not as a candidate for the future Lady Hawthorne. No upstanding family would ever approve of their child marrying down.”
“You’re the best person there is,” Kaitlin argued.
“I am an orphan with no connections.” Sophia shook her head. She’d always known she was a fool for dreaming of Jack.
“That’s not true,” Felicity said. “Mr. and Mrs. Fenmore are both highly respected.”
