One Night Scandal

Sophie remained seated as she watched the younger lady leave. She rubbed her tummy. The unsettled sensation would not leave her as easily as Miss Littlebury had.

As the late afternoon turned to evening, the disquieting feeling only increased. She wandered back into her study after supper and picked up the money Miss Littlebury had left on the table. Holding the coins, Sophie closed her eyes.

A vision of Nicholas and Miss Littlebury came to her. The image appeared surrounded in darkness. Sophie dropped the coins as if they had burned her.

Nicholas was in trouble. And Sophie was certain, Miss Littlebury was the cause. Could some action of Miss Littlebury’s be the impetus to his death? Not if Sophie had anything to do with it.

Chapter 18

Nicholas waited impatiently as his valet brushed out his jacket. The idea of attending the Middleton ball had left a bad taste in his mouth, but he had no clue why. Well, there was one idea—Sophie. He’d hoped to spend more time with her this evening and possibly well into the night. Perhaps after he had delivered the note to Lord Middleton, he could leave and go to her.

The woman seemed to have become imprinted on his brain, and if he truly wanted to be honest, his heart as well. Since he’d met her, he rarely thought of Jennette any longer. Instead, all his attention focused on Sophie.

“Here we go, my lord,” Lane said, bringing the jacket to him.

“Thank you.” Nicholas pulled on the jacket and straightened the lapels. A knock scraped on the door. Expecting Emma, he said, “Come in.”

A footman opened the door with a frown. “There is a Miss Reynard here to see you, my lord.” He lowered his voice to a whisper, “She arrived unattended by a maid, sir.”

Nicholas smiled at the idea of Sophie being in his home but then frowned. She knew they could not meet here as long as Emma was home. “That is all right, Liam. Show her to the receiving salon. I will be there presently.”

“As you wish, my lord.” Liam backed out of the room and closed the door behind him.

“How do I look, Lane?”

His valet brushed at a piece of invisible lint then stepped back. “Very well, my lord.”

“Excellent.” Nicholas walked down the marble stairs. He stopped at the threshold of the receiving salon and his heart pounded at the sight. Sophie was braiding Emma’s hair. Both were giggling about something Sophie had said.

In that instant, he knew he loved her. And he had no doubts that Emma would come to love her, too. Now it was just a matter of convincing Sophie to become his wife. He had to persuade her to not be worried about what the gossips would say. It didn’t matter as long as they loved each other.

He would have to tell her the truth about his father’s money. Having the money would make things easier, but they would be fine without it, too. He had plenty of money invested.

He leaned against the doorframe just watching them. Sophie had a look of delight on her face as she finished braiding his daughter’s hair. He wanted to see that same look every day for the rest of his life.

Of course he had no idea if she loved him. She appeared terribly concerned about findin

g him the right match. That didn’t seem like the actions of a woman in love. What if she rejected his proposal again?

He couldn’t think about that right now.

“Now,” he said, moving away from the doorframe, “what are you two giggling about?”

Emma giggled again as Sophie gasped.

“Papa, Miss Sophie put my hair into a queue.” Emma stood and turned around so he could see the braid. “She made a beautiful braid.”

“So she did,” Nicholas replied. “But what are you doing down here?”

“I was looking for you,” his daughter said with a shrug. “Maria wasn’t feeling well so I told her that she must go directly to bed. And you gave Mrs. Griffon the night off to see that play. When I came to see if you were here, I found Miss Sophie.”

Nicholas stepped into the room and sat in the gold brocade chair. “I see.”

“And,” Emma continued excitedly, “Miss Sophie told me Mrs. Griffon was her governess! Did you know that, Papa?”

Nicholas smiled at his daughter. “Yes, I did know that.”

“She told me to make certain that Mrs. Griffon takes me to the Egyptian section of the museum because Mrs. Griffon knows everything about Egypt.”