“Yes, miss,” Katie replied. She added nothing more, though Sophia was certain she had much to say. “Shall I do your hair now?”
Sophia nodded, stood carefully, and walked the few steps to the chair that stood before her mirror. Katie began at once to fuss, and Sophia left her to her task.
On the vanity lay the letters Katie had smuggled upstairs. Adriana’s pages were filled with joy. Sophia worried that her sister hid some sorrow beneath the effusion of happiness. But if she did, it was not obvious. Adriana had made her peace, it seemed. She was happy. Sophia did not begrudge her this. There had been enough unnecessary gloom in their home. What was the point of dwelling on things you could not change?
Tobias, as usual, wrote encouragements. His uncle had already passed her manuscript to a friend, confident that it would soon be in print. The thought of reaching this outcome without her father’s help was incredibly freeing. It meant a possible independent income. Along with the small inheritancefrom her mother, she would have something to add to Tobias’s allowance from his uncle. They could survive on this sum, if they had to.
She prayed it would not come to that.
Katie was taking forever. Sophia’s hair had gradually become a complex pattern of loops and twists. With the final tuck and two more pins, Katie stood back and asked nervously, “What do you think?”
“It is…more complicated than I am used to,” Sophia ventured. In truth, she did not like it. It did not feel like her. But Katie had been so keen.
“You don’t like it.”
“No, no, I…” Sophia stopped. What was it Tobias had said? She was always accommodating everyone else’s feelings. Often at the cost of her own. She took a deep breath. “You have done the style very well, Katie. But I’m afraid it’s just notme. I love the way you normally do it. I would prefer that.”
Katie shrugged and began to unpin Sophia’s locks. She brushed them out again, leaving them mostly loose and curling against her neck.
“You’re right, miss. That does suit you better. The one before was too much.”
“Thank you, Katie.” Sophia took another deep, bolstering breath. “Now…for the real challenge. Let’s see what Papa has to say about my dress.”
Sophia sent for a footman to bring her to the drawing room. Katie followed with the writing tray.
Soon after, Mr. Grant popped his head in at the door.
“I see you are all settled for the morning,” he remarked, taking in the scene. At once, his face dropped. “You are no longer in full mourning.” The statement was simple. Yet it carried the weight of continents.
“No, Papa, I have grown tired of black.” She kept her voice steady. “But I will always miss Mama in my heart, where it matters.”
“I see.” There was a long pause. Sophia could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. “What has brought about this sudden change?”
“It is not sudden. I have been considering easing my self-imposed restrictions for some weeks now. Today, I acted on it. Do you not like the color on me? I feel pretty. I have not felt pretty for such a long time.”
The frown softened. Mr. Grant cleared his throat. “You look well. I am happy to see you thrive.” He swallowed hard. “Your mother would have approved.”
“Thank you,” Sophia whispered shyly. “Your blessing means the world to me.”
Mr. Grant was silent a while longer, though his thoughts were clearly not equally still. “I’ve been thinking…”
“Yes, Father?”
“Now that summer is approaching, perhaps it is time we planned a carriage ride together.”
“I would like that very much.”
“In fact, it is unusually warm today. Perhaps we might even risk a small excursion in the early afternoon.”
“Oh! But it is Monday! You are always out on business on a Monday.”
“Well, perhaps I have become too set in my ways. I have no pressing matters to attend to. I would like to treat you to an outing instead. I so often take the air with Bess. I am afraid I have rather neglected you.”
Sophia’s mind was in turmoil. What was her father’s true motive? Did he want to keep an eye on her? Did he suspect Tobias would come again?
Her heart stopped. Tobias! She must warn him!
“I…er…had planned to catch up with my letters today,” she stammered, her thoughts racing.
