“It is an innocent outing to the opera with my cousin and your dearest friend. Nothing more.”
She bit down on her lower lip. “You are certain?”
“Yes,” he said with a low laugh. “Stop worrying about what others think of you. Now will you attend?”
She supposed a marquess didn’t need to worry about such things. But a woman in her position did. She wasn’t certain how her father would react if he discovered she attended the opera with Nicholas in the same box. He might even believe she had taken after her mother, which at this point Sophie might agree that she had. Although, Sophie didn’t think she would be able to become any man’s mistress. It was difficult enough being Nicholas’s lover without letting her emotions get in the way.
“Sophie?”
She blinked and realized he’d been waiting for her reply. “Very well, Nicholas. I will do my best to stop worrying about what others think of me.”
“Good.” He reached over and picked up a book on her nightstand. “Now what are you reading?”
She tried unsuccessfully to snatch the book out of his hand. “Let me have that!”
Nicholas laughed as he kept it out of her reach. “Hmm, what do we have here? The Wanderer.”
“Yes. Have you read it?” She highly doubted he would have read such a feminine based novel.
“Actually, I have,” he replied with a smile. “I believe Fanny Burney does an excellent job showing the plight of women without families to assist them.”
One thing she found fascinating was Nicholas’s interest in reading. Although, she could barely contain her surprise at his choice of books. “Now, why would you find that so interesting?”
“My daughter might have ended up just like poor Juliet.”
“True, but she has family.”
“As did Juliet.”
“Yes, but her family refused to claim her.” Much like Sophie’s own father. She glanced away from Nicholas, blinking furiously. “Perhaps that is why I connected with the story. I have no one.”
While not exactly true, no one could learn of her father’s identity nor her brother or sisters. But Sophie knew she had wonderful friends here, too.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. He leaned toward her and kissed her slowly. “But I think you are wrong when you say you have no one.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think what you need is right in front of you.”
“What do you mean?”
“What you’re looking for is right here.”
She stared at him more convinced than ever that they were getting far too intimate with each other. The idea of falling in love with a man she couldn’t have terrified her. She would not end up like her mother—alone and dependent on other men for security. Or worse, dependent on her daughter for shelter.
He moved away and tossed the coverlet off his naked body. “I should leave now.”
“Yes,” she whispered. Their relationship may have crossed into an area she could not let it go.
Nicholas arrived at the opera house alone. While Elizabeth suggested he drive with them, he knew it would cause Sophie more tension. He wanted this night to be special for her. In truth, he wanted every night to be magical for her.
In thirteen years of being with women, he’d never found one who made him feel so comfortable. They could talk about anything or nothing at all. He’d never felt so comfortable in complete quiet with a woman. Normally the silence meant an argument had arisen. But not with Sophie.
Her rule of not falling in love might be in grave danger. He knew he was halfway there already.
If only he knew how she felt.
He strolled toward the Duke of Kendal’s box, nodding to acquaintances as he walked. Hopefully, people would show some deference to Kendal and Elizabeth by not speaking of Sophie and Nicholas.