Come, let me introduce you to the company. There were a few young ladies present, they realised, as they were conducted round the room, and one or two young men, who stood about posing in tight coats and impossibly high pointed cravats, twirling their quizzing glasses in their hands and speaking in affected voices which made the girls want to laugh aloud. Instead, they bowed politely and exchanged greetings and longed to escape.
This is quite dreadful, Sophie murmured to her cousin when they had done the rounds. If the whole Season is to be like this, I shudder to think how we shall go on.
It is early in the year, Charlotte whispered. The Season is not yet under way.
I hope you are right.
Just then a commotion by the door heralded the arrival of latecomers. Why, it is Martin, Lady Gosport cried, hurrying over to drag her son into the room. You are very late. I had quite given you up.
He gently removed her hand from the sleeve of his green superfine coat and smiled at her. I am sorry, Mama. Pressing business delayed me. May I present my friend, Richard, Viscount Braybrooke?
The man behind Mr Gosport stepped forward and the whole roomful of people gave a combined sigh, including Sophie, who had told herself she was immune to masculine vanity. If vanity it was. He seemed unaware of the impression he had created, and yet, as she looked more closely she realised he did know, for there was a twinkle of amusement in his brown eyes and a slight twitch to the corners of his mouth.
He was clad in a blue satin coat which fitted him so closely the muscles of his broad shoulders could be detected as he bowed over her ladyships hand. His waistcoat was of cream figured brocade and his blue kerseymere trousers, in the latest fashion, reached his shoes and were held down by straps under the instep, making his legs seem impossibly long. His cravat, though nothing like as high and pointed as those she had noticed on the other young men, was so skilfully tied, it drew exclamations of admiration from them.
His dark hair, cut short so that it curled about his ears, was the only slightly dishevelled part of him, but Sophie knew it was a style much favoured among the gentleman of the ton, called Windswept. Here was a tulip of the first order, and tulips were very definitely not what she was looking for, but beneath all that finery she sensed a man of great strength and power. She had a sudden vision of him unclothed, all rippling muscle, and a flood of colour suffused her cheeks.
She turned away to scrabble in her reticule for a handkerchief in order to compose herself. Whatever was the matter with her? She had never ever thought about a mans nakedness before. Had he deliberately set out to have that effect? It was disgraceful in him if he had and even more disgraceful in her to succumb.
Charlotte, beside her, was openly staring. My, would you look at that peacock, she murmured. Oh, goodness, Lady Fitzpatrick is bringing them both over.
Sophie, struggling to regain her usual serenity, was aware of Lady Fitzpatrick presenting the two men to her cousin. Miss Roswell is the niece and ward of the late Earl of Peterborough, she was saying. Being abroad, you will not have heard of the tragedy two years ago which left poor Miss Roswell all alone in the world.
Not quite alone, Charlotte said, determined to include Sophie, not only because she felt overwhelmed, but because it wasnt fair on her cousin to shut her out, as Lady Gosport seemed determined to do. My lord, may I present my cousin, Miss Sophie Hundon?
Sophie found herself subjected to a brown-eyed scrutiny which made her squirm inside and when he took her small hand in his very large one, she felt trapped like a wild bird in a cage which longed to be free but which hadnt the sense to fly when the cage door was opened. Here, she knew, was a very dangerous man. Dangerous because he could make her forget the masquerade she and Charlotte had embarked upon, could make her disregard that list of virtues she had extolled as being necessary for the man she chose as her husband, dangerous for her peace of mind. And all in less than a minute!
She hated him for his extravagant clothes, for looking at her in that half-mocking way, for his self-assurance, for making her feel so weak. But no one would have guessed her thoughts as she dropped him a deep curtsy and then raised her eyes to his. My lord.
The cousins are to be brought out together, Lady Fitzpatrick told him. Which I hold very generous of Miss Roswell.
Indeed, he said, though she could not be sure if he was expressing surprise or agreement.
Not at all, Charlotte put in, making him turn from Sophie towards her. We have always been very close, ever since She stopped in confusion. She had been going to say ever since Sophies accident brought her to Upper Corbury, but checked herself. Since the tragedy.
Your soft heart does you credit, Miss Roswell, he said. May I wish you a successful Season?
Thank you, my lord. She curtsied to him and he moved off. Sophie breathed again and managed a smile for Mr Gosport as he followed in his friends wake.
What do you make of that? Sophie whispered, watching the backs of the two men as they were introduced to the other young ladies.
Sophie made sure their sponsor had moved out of earshot, which, for her, was not very far. I think Lady Fitz fancies herself as a matchmaker.
Who?
Why, you and Lord Braybrooke, of course.
But she thinks I am you. Oh, Sophie, we are truly in a coil now.
No, we are not. You do not fancy him for a husband, do you?
No, I do not. He is too high in the instep for my taste. Besides, he might already be marriedhe is surely nearer thirty than twenty.
Yes, but you heard Lady Fitz mention he had been away in the war. And she would not have dragged him over to us if he were not eligible.
What are we going to do?
Nothing. Enjoy ourselves. If he offers for you, you can always reject him. Ill wager that will bring him down a peg or two.
You do not like him?
No, I do not think I do.
Why not?
Sophie was hard put to answer truthfully. Across the room the two men were enjoying a joke with a young lady and her mother to whom they had just been introduced and Sophie felt her heart contract into a tight knot, which she would not recognise as anything but distaste.
He doesnt fit my criteria in any respect.
How can you possibly know that?
I just do.
The two men were taking their leave. Lady Fitzpatrick returned to the girls after talking to Lady Gosport. What a turn up, she said, smiling broadly, making her round face seem even rounder. We could not have hoped for a better start. Lord Braybrooke will undoubtedly be the catch of the Season. He was particularly interested in you, my dear Charlotte.
Oh, no, I think not, Charlotte said. He did not say above a dozen words to me and those most condescending
There you are, then! We must make what plans we can to engage his attention, and soon too, before he is snapped up. Sophie burst into laughter and received a look of disapproval. Sophie, finding a husband for such as Miss Roswell is a very serious business and not a subject for mirth.
Sophie straightened her face and remembered to speak very clearly, close to her ladyships ear. You are quite right, my lady, marriage is a solemn undertaking. I beg your pardon.