Germaine greeted him with a nod and smile, but was eager to visit the sweets table.
“I am so pleased that you have consented to join our little cricket game today.” Dorset’s eyes assessed Sophie boldly, taking in the trim waist, high breasts and sweet oval face. Her hazel eyes and auburn hair created a lovely picture.
“It was kind of you to invite me,” she allowed.
Dorset was no stranger to women, but this young woman was an intoxication of youth and innocence, and he wanted her. He saw the other two men moving forward, speaking together, and motioned them over.
“Allow me to introduce Andrew Holland and Etienne Pousson. Gentlemen, this is Germaine Necker and Sophie Gauvreau.”
Everyone said their hellos, though Germaine was disappointed that the Duke’s secretary was not among the gentlemen.
“We were just going to the sweets table and also to get a cup of tea,” Sophie explained.
The entire group moved to the sweets table, and Dorset continued to watch Sophie carefully. She held herself in a regal manner and he had already decided that she would be his next conquest.
“Would you pleasure me with a dinner one evening?” Dorset asked Sophie, his voice low and quiet while Germaine’s attention was elsewhere, taking the selection of a pastry very seriously.
Andrew took the opportunity to tease Germaine about Sebastian’s absence as he knew the young woman had a crush on his friend. Etienne had moved away from the group.
“I would be delighted, Monsieur. I am sure I can speak for my grandmother that we would both enjoy such an evening in your company,” she replied.
Etienne heard the auburn beauty’s response to Dorset’s invitation and smiled. This one would not be an easy prey.
Dorset took a moment to catch himself. “Of course. Excellent. I will let my secretary fill you in on the details when they have been decided.”
He bid goodbye to the ladies, but lingered a moment with Sophie.
“Until we meet again,” he said.
***
The cricket match continued on, and much of it was confusing and not very interesting. The ladies kept to the tent much of the game and Eugenie spent her time gossiping with her friend and keeping an eye on Sophie.
Sophie had tried very hard to understand the rules of the game and keep an eye on the players, but in truth, she was not that interested. Dorset seemed very agitated while playing and was greatly concerned about his team, which was composed entirely of Englishmen.
The other team was made up of Frenchmen and, sadly for the duke, most people were rooting for them. A light drizzle caused many of the spectators to move inside, but the duke remained steadfast in his desire to see his team win.
She watched from outside the tent but underneath a large tree near the game. She saw several people she knew on the French side who were friends of her father’s. She gasped suddenly when she noticed Alphonse sitting along the lawn in a chair. She had not noticed him before as she had not seen him enter the refreshment tent.
She watched him speak to several ladies and recognized his mother and sister. He stood abruptly and made his way towards Sophie. She had no desire to engage in conversation with him, but she had promised her father that she would be nice and she would keep that promise. Besides, Alphonse wasn’t a bad man, just very average and not stimulating.
“My dear Sophie.” Alphonse came to her, smiling.
He took her hand in his and gestured a simple kiss, though in reality he barely touched her. “I am stunned to see you here. I would not have thought a cricket game would interest you in the least,” he said.
Alphonse had blond hair, though prematurely balding, with pale blue eyes set in a pudgy face. He had always been chubby, even as a child. He was a few inches taller than Sophie and had been a companion since childhood. Eugenie liked him and wanted a match between them. His grandmother on his mother’s side was a baroness.
“I could say the same for you, Alphonse,” she replied. “But you are correct. This game is not something I would have chosen myself. The duke invited me.”
“The duke? Of Dorset?” Alphonse frowned.
“Yes. We met by chance at Madame Necker’s salon and he invited me.”
; “Madame Necker’s salon? Indeed? Sophie Gauvreau, you surprise me.”
Sophie smiled. “It was my father’s invite to the salon, and he asked me to attend as well.”