“Well, my dear?” Jack lifted a brow. “Was it bearable, riding with me?”
Sophie blushed rosily but was determined to give no ground. Lifting her chin, she looked him in the eye. “Indeed, sir. It was most enjoyable.”
Jack chuckled. “Good. Because from what I understand, your cousins wish it to be a frequent event.”
With an inclination of her head, Sophie indicated her acquiescence.
Her hand in his, Jack looked down at her, his smile a trifle crooked. “Until your aunt’s crush, then, Miss Winterton. Rest assured that, despite the sea of humanity that will no doubt be thrown up between us, I will endeavour to win through to your side.” With a rakish grin, he bowed over her hand.
And let her go.
With a very correct nod, Sophie escaped up the steps, refusing to give in to her heart and look back.
At the corner of the street, two horsemen sat their mounts, apparently discussing the weather. In actuality, their interest was a great deal more focused.
“Well, that’s a relief! It’s the older one Lester’s got his eye on-fancy that.” Hubert, Lord Maltravers, blinked blearily up at his companion. “A hard night followed by an ungodly early start may have taken its toll on my wits,” his lordship mused. “But stap me if I can see why.”
Captain Terrence Gurnard’s lips lifted in a sneer. “Tarnished his image, that’s why. The Webbs are a deal too downy to let their chick fly too close to his snare. But obviously the cousin has enough of the ready to satisfy Lester.”
“Odd.” His lordship frowned. “Thought she had nothing more than the usual. You know what I mean- expectations but no more. Would’ve thought Lester needed rather more than that.”
“Obviously not. The point, thank Heaven, doesn’t concern me. As long as he’s
Side by side, they steered their mounts through the streets in the direction of Hubert’s lodgings, the slightly rumpled figure of Lord Maltravers slumped in his saddle, the handsome, broad-shouldered guardsman towering over him.
“Y’know, Gurnard, I’ve been thinking.”
“I thought you didn’t do that until after noon.”
Hubert snorted. “No. I’m serious. This start of yours-sure there isn’t a better way? I mean, you could always try the cent per cents-doesn’t hurt to ask.”
“In this case, I fear it could hurt.” Gurnard winced. “A very great deal.”
Realization was slow but it eventually broke on Hubert. “Oh,” he said. “You’re already on their books?”
“Let’s just say that one or two moneylenders could scrape an acquaintance.”
“Hmm.” Hubert grimaced. “That does rather cut down on your options.” As they turned into Piccadilly, he ventured, “No chance this last opponent of yours would consider holding your vowels for latter payment?”
Slowly, Terrence Gurnard turned his head and looked his friend in the eye. “My last opponent was Melcham.”
Hubert blanched. “Oh,” he said. Then, “Ah.” Switching his gaze to the traffic, he nodded. “In that case, I quite see your point. Well, then-when’s the wedding?”
CHAPTER TEN
HER AUNT, SOPHIE MUSED, was not to be trusted. At least, not when it came to Jack Lester. Although she had expected to see Mr. Lester at her cousin’s come-out ball, Sophie had had no inkling that he would feature among the favoured few who had been invited to dine before the event. Not until he walked into the drawing-room, throwing all the other gentlemen into immediate shade.
From her position by the fireplace, a little removed from her aunt, Sophie watched as Jack bowed over Lucilla’s hand. His coat was of midnight blue, the same shade as his eyes at night. His smallclothes were ivory, his cravat a minor work of art. His large sapphire glowed amid the folds, fracturing the light. Beyond the heavy gold signet that adorned his right hand, he wore no other ornament, nothing to distract her senses from the strength of his large frame. After exchanging a few words, Lucilla sent him her way.
Stilling an inner quiver, Sophie greeted him with a calm smile. “Good evening, Mr. Lester.”
Jack’s answering smile lit his eyes. “Miss Winterton.” He bowed gracefully over her hand, then, straightening, looked down at her. “Sophie.”
Sophie’s serene expression did not waver as she drew her gaze from his; she had had practice enough in the past few days in keeping her emotions in check. Seeing Ned, who had followed his mentor into the room, turn from Lucilla to make his way to Clarissa’s side, Sophie glanced up at her companion. “Ned has told me how much you have done for him, even to the extent of putting him up. It’s really very kind of you.”
Having drunk his fill of Sophie’s elegance, Jack reluctantly looked out over the room. Tonight, his golden head appeared warm yet remote, priestess-like in a classically styled ivory sheath, draped from one shoulder to fall in long lines to the floor. Forcing himself to focus on his protege, Jack shrugged. “It’s no great thing. The house is more than large enough, and the proximity increases the time we have to… polish his address.”
Sophie arched a sceptical brow. “Is that what you term it?”
Jack smiled. “Polish is all Ned needs.”
Sophie slanted him a glance. “And that’s the secret of gentlemanly success-polish?”
Jack looked down at her. “Oh no, my dear.” His gaze grew more intent. “Such as I, with more sophisticated game in sight, often need recourse to… weapons of a different calibre.”
Sophie tilted her chin. “Indeed, sir? But I was thanking you for helping Ned-and must also convey all our thanks for your assistance this morn. How we would have coped had you not removed Jeremy, George and Amy from the house, I simply do not know.”
Meeting his eyes, Sophie smiled serenely.
Jack smiled back. “As I’ve told you before, your cousins are the most engaging urchins; playing nursemaid, as Marston had it, is no great undertaking. I trust all came right in the end?”
With Ned in tow, Jack had arrived on the Webbs’ doorstep that morning, as he had for the past two, to find the house in the grip of the usual mayhem coincident with a major ball. Knowing neither Sophie nor Clarissa would be free, he and Ned had nevertheless offered to take the youngsters to the Park-a boon to all as, with the house full of caterers, florists and the like, and the servants rushed off their feet, the youthful trio had been proving a severe trial. They had already caused havoc by pulling the bows on the sheaves of flowers the florists had prepared all undone, then been threatened with incarceration when they had discovered the pleasures of skidding across the newly polished ballroom floor.
“Yes, thank Heaven,” Sophie replied, watching further arrivals greet her aunt. “I don’t know how Aunt Lucilla manages to keep it all straight in her head. But the storm and tempest did eventually abate, leaving order where before there was none.”
Jack’s grin was wry. “I’m sure your aunt’s order is formidable.”
Sophie smiled. “I rather suspect the ball tonight ranks as one of her more spectacular undertakings.”
“With both your cousin and yourself to launch, it’s hardly surprising that she’s pulled out all stops.”
Sophie blinked, her smile fading slightly. Then, with determined brightness, she inclined her head. “Indeed. And both Clarissa and I are determined she will not be disappointed.”
A subtle reminder that she, too, was expected to find a husband. Just as he would have to find a wife. Sophie was all too well aware that, through shared moments, shared laughter and some indefinable attraction, she and Jack Lester had drawn far closer than was common between gentlemen and ladies who remained merely friends. Nevertheless, that was all they could be, and the time was fast approaching when their disparate destinies would prevail. She was steeling herself to face the prospect.
“Sophia, my dear!” Lady Entwhistle bustled up, her silk skirts shushing. “You look positively radiant, my dear- doesn’t she, Henry?”
“Set to take the shine out of the younger misses, what?” Lord Entwhistle winked at Sophie, then shook her hand.
