“As they should be, but neither of them is my relation.” Sophia closed her eyes briefly against the reality of her situation. The vicar and his wife had raised her after finding her inside their church. According to what they’d told her, she’d managed to topple the basket she’d been in, and was tangled in her blanket on the cold stone floor. Her desperate cries had gone straight to the Fenmore’s hearts. And although they’d already had a son of their own, they’d never made a distinction between her and Edward, had raised them as though they were siblings by birth. She had nothing but love for them, but that didn’t mean she was blind to her situation.
“Semantics,” Felicity said as if she could brush aside every rule upon which Society rested. “We know you and Jack would be perfect together. Hence the plan.”
Against her better judgment, Sophia decided to humor her. “What does this plan of yours involve?”
“Getting Jack to pull his head out of his—”
“Kaitlin,” Felicity chastised. She gave her younger sister a hard look, then turned her attention back to Sophia. “It is our belief that Jack could be persuaded to make you an offer of marriage.”
“How romantic,” Sophia muttered. “Perhaps we should tie him up too and force him to speak his vows?”
“Based on observation,” Felicity went on, ignoring Sophia’s remark, “he cares for you a great deal.”
“I disagree.” The manner in which they’d last parted had proven the opposite. But Sophia had never shared Jack’s last words to her with anyone. Instead, she’d carried that pain alone.
“He never kept us company growing up, unless you happened to be there,” Kaitlin said. “And after he went away to school, he’d always ask after you when he visited, until we invited you over.”
“Once you arrived, he’d light up,” Felicity said. “Have you forgotten how close the two of you were with your inside jokes and the way you’d always finish each other’s sentences?”
A knot formed in Sophia’s breast. Her fondest memories were of Jack, of him teaching her how to whistle, of the two of them fishing together while Kaitlin and Felicity chose to pick berries with Edward. Jack had even shown her how to whittle, allowing her to make a few cuts on the wooden rabbit he’d later gifted her for her birthday. The small figurine was her most prized possession.
Later, when Jack came home on holiday from Eton, they discussed his studies at length. The five years between them had never seemed to matter. And since she’d always read up on politics and philosophy during his absence, she’d been prepared to discuss his subjects of choice. She’d even kept abreast of all the news, just for the pleasure of seeing the look of surprise in his eyes when she referenced a bill passed in Parliament or some new scientific discovery.
“That was a long time ago,” Sophia said in response to Felicity’s question. “It’s been four years since Jack’s last visit to these parts.”
Kaitlin knit her brow. “Has it really?”
“During which we’ve not been in touch at all.” Sophia set her cup aside and folded her hands in her lap. “A lot can happen in four years. I do read the gossip column, in case you weren’t aware. So I know of Jack’s reputation.”
“Journalists write a great deal of things,” Felicity said. “It isn’t always true.”
“And even if it were,” Kaitlin put in, “I don’t see the issue. After all, Jack’s hardly the first man to have a few dalliances on his way toward matrimonial bliss.”
Sophia raised her eyebrows. “He’s been labeled a rake.”
“A misunderstanding, I’m sure,” Felicity said with absolute loyalty.
It was what Sophia hoped for too since she didn’t want to think less of the man she’d always held in such high regard. Still, the numerous accounts of him flirting with one debutante after another, of dancing daringly close with some and casting wicked glances at others, of changing mistresses so frequently she’d lost track, and of having affairs with other men’s wives, was cause for great concern.
“You’ll see,” Kaitlin said.
“Please change your mind about dinner,” Felicity pressed. “I know Jack would be thrilled to reconnect with you. And if you agree to our plan, then—”
“You’ve still not told me what this plan of yours entails,” Sophia said. As much as she loathed the idea of trying to sway Jack’s intentions toward her, she couldn’t stop her curiosity.
“We believe Jack has been taking you for granted,” Kaitlin said. “You’ve always been here, unattached, waiting for his return.”
“But what if that were to change?” Felicity asked. “What if when Jack arrives on Friday, you’ve already been spoken for?”
Sophia’s heart jolted. “What are you talking about?”
“Since our debuts last year, we’ve realized something.” Kaitlin glanced at Felicity before she said, “Men tend to have greater interest in a woman if other men are vying for her hand. It’s almost as if they suddenly notice her.”
“Which is why we’ve spoken with Edward,” Felicity said.
Sophia’s jaw dropped. “You’ve what?”
“It made sense to find out if he was willing to help before we mentioned the idea to you, and he has agreed.”
