One Night Scandal

“They think differently on many subjects,” Avis replied. “When Nicholas decided to take his daughter in, his father was most vocal in his objections.”

Sophie’s lip trembled. “Well, his father’s opinion is not that unusual.”

Avis put her arm around Sophie’s shoulders. “I’m sorry for the reminder.”

Sophie still believed there was so much more to Nicholas than he showed the world. She wanted to discover his secrets. Even though she knew, she shouldn’t. “I should leave,” she muttered.

“Why not stay a little longer,” Avis urged. “You don’t get the chance to attend many balls.”

Sophie nodded slowly. Not because she wanted to enjoy the ball but she needed to watch Nicholas’s interaction with women and find him the perfect match. Now that she was certain Miss Wainscott wasn’t the right woman, she had to find a woman who would love Nicholas.

She and Avis walked back into the warm room.

Nicholas and Jennette were still dancing and they both had smiles on their faces. Sophie could not stand to watch them a moment longer. She walked to the refreshment table and grabbed a glass of champagne from a footman.

“That really won’t help matters.”

She took another long sip and then turned to her brother. “Indeed? I believe you have been known to imbibe to forget something.”

“Something? Or someone?” Anthony asked with a smirk.

“You are becoming rather tiresome since marrying, Somerton.”

“Perhaps the answer is to make him jealous.”

Sophie looked up into her brother’s hazel eyes. They danced with amusement. “What are you talking about?”

“You need to dance,” he said, holding out his arm. “Shall we?”

“No, he won’t be jealous of you.” She sipped more of her champagne. “He now seems to understand that we have a strictly platonic relationship. And the last thing I want to do is make him jealous. I am trying to find him a wife.”

“Of course, you are. I still say you must dance with someone.” He glanced about the room. “Brentwood.”

“Brentwood is young,” Sophie complained.

Anthony smiled. “Even better. Brentwood is three and twenty—young and very virile.”

Sophie looked longingly at the dancers. She rarely had the chance to join them. “Perhaps a dance would not hurt.”

“Not a dance,” Anthony said with a low chuckle. “A waltz.”

Sophie bit down on her lip. Many people did still not accept the scandalous waltz. “I am not certain that would be the best dance.”

“I will arrange it.” Anthony walked away with a wide smile.

As her annoying brother deserted her, Sophie glanced back at Nicholas and Jennette on the dance floor. How she wished she could determine with whom he should be matched. She needed to finish this obligation quickly so she could stop thinking about him.

Anthony returned with Brentwood at his side. The younger man smiled at her in such an immature leering manner, she almost laughed at his attempt. Since he had taken her brother’s position working for a secret arm of the government, Brentwood had visited her several times when he needed her services as a medium.

“Good evening, Miss Reynard,” he said, bowing over her hand.

“Lord Brentwood,” she replied with a nod.

“Would you care to dance?”

“Certainly.”

She took his outstretched arm and they walked toward the dance floor. The younger man was handsome with his blond hair and blue eyes, but he did not affect her as Nicholas did. The musicians stopped and waited for the dancers to gather on the crowded floor.