Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

“You always look so effortlessly pretty, Sophia,” Penelope said, watching as Sophia held up a string of pearls to her neck in front of the mirror on her dressing table.

“Oh, I don’t… I never know what to wear,” Sophia replied, smiling at Penelope in the reflection of the glass.

“The pearls are lovely. Are you wearing them for anyone in particular?” Penelope asked, and Sophia blushed.

She and Penelope had only talked a little about Jasper, even as Sophia was curious to know what the Duke’s sister would think of the two of them together.

“Well… perhaps,” she replied, fastening the clasp around her neck.

Sophia had chosen a purple dress to wear that evening, and the pearls had been a present from her father. She had wanted to make an effort that evening, knowing she had to play her part in the ruse, too.

“Oh, but you don’t need to be embarrassed, Sophia. I think it’s wonderful. I’ve never seen my brother looking so happy. He’s always so caught up in business, and he’s very protective of me. But he never has time for anything else. But you’ve changed that,” Penelope said, smiling at Sophia, who blushed.

If an apparent change had come over Jasper, it was surely the result of his skills as an actor, rather than a genuine change of heart. But if it made Penelope happy to see it, so be it – Sophia was glad.

“Well… it’s all very early, isn’t it?” she said, but Penelope shook her head.

“I don’t think so… if one knows, one knows. Not that I’ve had a chance to know, of course,” she said, shaking her head sadly.

Sophia felt sorry for Penelope. In the course of their time together, she had learned it was the previous Duke’s financial mismanagement that had caused his daughter to miss her debut at the appointed time, and since then, Penelope’s fortunes had not been good. There had been no man to whom she was promised, and, it seemed, no hope of one either. Whilst Sophia was fending off a suitor, Penelope was longing for one, and it made Sophia feel guilty about her deception.

“Oh, but you will, Penelope. The right person only needs to come along once,” Sophia said, and Penelope smiled.

“That’s easy to say when he has,” she replied, and Sophia blushed.

She could not reveal the truth as to the deception, even as she felt certain she could trust Penelope in doing so. But it did not seem right to do so, given the matter was personal to Jasper, too.

“Well, we’ll see, I suppose. Your brother’s been… very kind,” Sophia said, and in that, at least, she was telling the truth.

Jasper had been very kind. Without him, Sophia would still be receiving the attentions of Henry, and she felt certain her brother would have forced the issue of marriage – perhaps even making arrangements for a hurried ceremony, with no thought to the consequences.

“I’m glad. He needs something other than business affairs to concern himself with. But we should go downstairs now,” Penelope said.

Sophia checked her appearance a final time in the mirror on the dressing table, smiling at the sight of the pearls around her neck. They looked very pretty, and she was glad to think she had made an effort with her appearance, even as it was all for show.

“What about Peter? He’s rather nice, isn’t he?” Sophia said as she and Penelope made their way downstairs.

Penelope smiled. “He is, yes,” she said, but before Sophia could question her further as to the possibility of a fledgling romance, Ethan called out to Sophia from across the hallway.

“A word with you, please, Cousin,” he said.

It was clear he had been waiting for her, and Sophia nodded, turning to her cousin, who narrowed his eyes and beckoned her over.

“I’ll see you in the drawing room,” Sophia said as Penelope crossed the hallway.

“I’ve been speaking to the Duke, and I’ve thought the matter over,” Ethan said, adopting a tone such that Sophia was meant to believe what he was about to say was his own decision, even though she knew better.

“Yes, and?” she asked, fixing her cousin with a defiant stare.

In truth, Sophia was glad – Ethan had fallen for the ruse, and if he was about to tell her he approved of the match between her and Jasper, the victory was hers.

“Well, I think the Duke to be an excellent match for you, Sophia,” he said, and Sophia smiled.

“You don’t think Henry to be a more… appropriate choice?” she asked, deciding to have a little fun with her cousin, but he shook his head.

“No, I don’t. Henry is… a viscount. I mean… well, not of the same… rank,” he replied, and Sophia smiled.

“You mean a duke outranks a viscount, and you believe your own interests to be better served by allowing me to court Jasper rather than Henry?” she asked, twisting the knife a little further.

Her cousin blushed. “I’ve always had your best interests at heart, Sophia. I told you I wanted you to make a match, and now you have. I’m pleased about it, and I’m sure your mother will be, too,” he said, asserting himself as Sophia nodded.

She was not about to argue. Ethan had been fooled, and now she would have ample time to continue her search for a suitable match. London was filled with eligible bachelors, though Sophia herself would be the first to admit she had hardly been successful in her previous attempts at making a match.

“Well, I’m glad,” she said, just as the drawing room door opened and Jasper himself stepped out into the hallway.

He looked momentarily surprised, but a smile now spread across his face, and he stepped forward, giving Sophia a curt bow as she dipped into a curtsey.

“Ah, there you are. I was just wondering if you’d be joining us. You look… beautiful,” he said.

Once again, Sophia marveled at the manner with which he spoke. He sounded entirely sincere, even though she knew it was all a ruse, his words spoken for the benefit of Ethan, who was entirely convinced.

Sophia blushed. Ruse or not, it was kind of him to say so, and now he offered her his arm, indicating for her to follow him into the drawing room.

“I was just saying, Your Grace, how happy I am for the both of you – and how pleased I am to recommend the match to Sophia’s mother,” Ethan said, following behind them.

“I’m sure we don’t need your permission, do we?” Jasper said, turning to Ethan with a smile on his face.

The Earl fell silent, and Sophia and Jasper entered the drawing room arm in arm. All the other guests were there now, and as they stepped through the door, heads turned. It was the entrance of a couple – a courting couple – and there could now be no doubt as to their apparent intentions towards one another.

“Venus and Neptune!” Helen exclaimed, clapping her hands together, and Sophia could not help but smile at the thought of what the others were thinking.

Henry was standing by the window with Peter, and he merely looked at them blankly, realizing, perhaps, his defeat.

“And now we’re complete,” the Dowager Duchess said as glasses of sherry were served by one of the footmen.

It was a pleasant evening, and there was much talk of the day’s outing, the guests complimenting their host on a splendid time thus far.

“Sometimes one gets so bored at a house party, but it’s been an absolute delight,” Lady Frighton said, and the other guests said the same.

After half an hour or so, the gong rang – the signal for the guests to dine. Jasper had been talking to Peter, but now he offered Sophia his arm once again.

“I could get used to this,” she said, and he smiled.

“It’s what I should be doing,” he whispered as he led her into the dining room.

Jasper had arranged the place settings so as to seat Sophia between him and Penelope. Henry was on the other side of the table, hidden behind a large bunch of flowers, and the various ornate accouterments adorning the dining table. It was to be a grand dinner, with half a dozen courses served, and wines to match each dish, all served by liveried footmen. As dusk fell, the candelabras were lit, and the dining room took on a warm, flickering flow as course after course of delicious food was served.

“Quail – quite my favorite,” Penelope said as a dish of the birds, buttered and flavored with lemon and parsley, was placed in front of them.

“We’ll have a dance again this evening. Penelope’s going to play the pianoforte,” the Dowager Duchess said, and Penelope blushed.

“Oh, Mother. I’m really not very good,” she said, but the Dowager Duchess would not hear of it, insisting on hearing her daughter play for the rest of the party.

The meal concluded with a Charlotte Russe, served with much ceremony on a large silver platter decorated with wax fruits. After they had drank coffee at the table, the party rose to retire to the drawing room.

“If only we could have a moment to ourselves,” Jasper whispered.

Sophia was quite taken aback by his words. It was one thing to make a pretense in public, but quite another to continue their ruse in private. She looked at him in surprise.

“I… but… we don’t have to,” she said, but Jasper shook his head.

“No, but I’d like to. Sitting here, talking like this… why wouldn’t I want to continue our conversation? I don’t like being overheard by everyone else. I can feel Aunt Helen and Aunt Nora watching our every move. And Henry hasn’t taken his eyes off us all evening either. It’s as though we can’t have a moment to ourselves. I know these things require chaperones… but couldn’t we slip away?” he asked.

Sophia was astonished, but not scandalized. She simply could not believe Jasper wanted to be alone with her – that he wanted to converse with her freely, to be in her company freely, to share his time with her freely. This was all supposed to be a ruse, and yet he was taking it far more seriously than she had ever imagined he would.

“I… well, yes, we could. If that’s what you’d like,” she said, and Jasper nodded.

“I would like it, yes. There’s a lot we need to talk about. Why don’t we try to find an excuse to go out into the garden? After the dancing. It’s a lovely evening, don’t you think?” he said.

It was a lovely evening, and with dusk falling, the moon had risen full and waxy into the sky, surrounded by a halo of stars. The thought of slipping out into the garden, of being alone together, pleased her. It was yet another act of rebellion – another chance to show her cousin she had no intention of doing what he said, or being subjected to his whims. Ethan could believe he had given his permission for the match, but all the while, it was she who was playing the game with him.

“Then we’ll slip out later on. Wait for my signal,” Jasper said as the other guests now filed into the drawing room.

The Dowager Duchess pressed Penelope to take a seat at the pianoforte immediately. She did so, encouraged to play by Lady Frighton, who was trying to persuade her husband to dance.

“You were always such a good dancer, Cedric,” she said.

The others, too, joined in with enthusiasm, and even Sir Arthur , who had shied away from dancing the previous evening, now asked Helen if she would like to take to the dancefloor. Sophia hoped it would not be long before Jasper asked her to take his hand, but to her surprise, it was Ethan who stepped forward, pulling her to the side and whispering under his breath.

“You need to make this match, Sophia. Don’t fail me. Do you understand?” he hissed.

Sophia could smell the alcohol on his breath. She had seen him topping up his glass at dinner that evening, and now it was clear he was drunk. She tried to pull away from him, knowing he would only persist in his assertions.

“We barely know one another, Ethan. I can’t force the matter. If Jasper wants to pursue a match…” she began, but her cousin interrupted her.

“He has to pursue it, Sophia. You have to pursue it. There’s no question of it,” he said, gripping her arm tightly as he spoke.

Sophia tried to shake him off. She hated it when he had been drinking. Alcohol amplified all his worst qualities. He became volatile, and now, with his eyes bloodshot, he seemed almost manic.

“But why? What is in it for you?” she asked, even though she knew well enough.

“My ward, married to a duke – don’t you know what that’s worth to me?” he said.

Sophia shook his hand off her arm. She did know what it was worth to him, and for that reason, she knew he would not prevent the match, nor force her to marry Henry. But the moment he discovered it was a ruse, or even that the courtship was broken, would be the moment of regret.

For a moment, a sudden doubt crossed Sophia’s mind. It had all seemed so simple at first – a flirtation enough to put Henry off and buy herself some time. But things were different now. It was becoming serious. Even Helen was predicting something in the stars…

“And what’s more important? My happiness or your profits?” Sophia asked.

Her cousin snarled at her. “It doesn’t matter, does it? The two diverge. You’ll get what you want. I’ll get what I want. We don’t have to argue, do we? Just don’t back down. Pursue him. Make it happen,” he said, and Sophia sighed.

It had all happened so quickly – an idea turned into a very real possibility. But how far would it go? She still did not know why Jasper wanted to be alone with her. Was it for some improper reason? Did he think he had the right to something more than a friendly exchange?

The thought was a scary one, and now she glanced across the room, finding Jasper watching her from beside the window. Penelope was playing a merry tune on the pianoforte, and the other guests were dancing – all except Henry, who sat stony faced, nursing a brandy.

“I’m going to dance with him – with Jasper, I mean,” Sophia said, and Ethan nodded.

“Remember what I said,” he replied, and Sophia nodded.

She would remember what her cousin had said, even though his words caused unsettling thoughts to creep up on her. She wanted the ruse to be believed, but not at the expense of actually entering into something she regretted.

Am I being terribly foolish?

She approached Jasper, who smiled at her.

“A dance, then we can slip outside,” he said.

Sophia forced a smile and nodded. “Yes…” she replied, not wishing to make anything but a vague commitment to his suggestion.

Penelope had just struck up another tune on the pianoforte, and Jasper offered Sophia his hand, beckoning her to follow him into the throng. The Batley sisters were now dancing with one another, and Sir Arthur had offered the Dowager Duchess his hand, the two of them moving gracefully together as one. Sophia and Jasper began to dance, but Sophia found herself distracted by her doubts, glancing at the Duke, who looked at her questioningly.

“Are you all right, Sophia?” he asked, and she nodded.

“Yes, quite all right, thank you,” she replied, even as she knew she was lying.

Indeed, so distracted was she by her doubts that she stood on his foot, causing him to grimace in pain.

“Careful,” he said, his eyes watering as he spoke.

“I’m sorry,” Sophia replied, not knowing what to say.

She felt trapped, caught up in something now entirely out of hand. It was supposed to be a game, a ruse, nothing more – a chance to buy her a little time, yet now the matter was becoming serious.

“What’s wrong?” Jasper asked, and Sophia sighed.

“It’s all going so fast, isn’t it?” she said, and he smiled.

“Isn’t that what you wanted? You’ve shown Henry what’s what – and Ethan, too,” he replied, and Sophia nodded.

It was what she had wanted, but in truth, Sophia did not know what she wanted – not ultimately, at least. She had a vague idea as to marriage, and she certainly wanted a family. But as for what she really desired…

“Oh, yes, and I’m glad to have done so,” she replied.

Jasper smiled. “Well, there you go. That’s settled, isn’t it,” he said as the music came to an end.

“Keep playing, Penelope,” the Dowager Duchess called out, but Penelope shook her head.

“I’ve had enough of playing, Mother. Can’t someone else do it?” she asked.

Lady Frighton now volunteered, though she proclaimed she did not possess half the talent of Penelope as she sat down at the instrument in the corner and ran her fingers across the keys.

Sophia took this as an opportunity to excuse herself, and leaving the drawing room, she hurried upstairs. Her heart was beating fast, and as she sat down on her bed, she took a deep breath, not knowing what to do next.

“It’s gone too far. They’ll expect us to marry – all of them,” she muttered to herself, knowing Jasper would be waiting for her in the gardens.

But as to his purpose, she remained uncertain, reminding herself she really did not know him at all. He had changed since agreeing to their ruse, but was this, too, an act? Men could be fickle, she knew that much, and she thought back to her first impressions of him, wondering if she had been wrong – or right.

He’s different, but I can’t decide how. It’s so confusing.

She rose from the bed and crossed to the window. It looked out over the garden at the back of the house, with its neat rows of flower beds and lush lawns surrounded by box hedges. Jasper was there, waiting. She could see him sitting on a stone bench at the far end, hidden from direct view by a trellis of roses.

For a moment, she watched him, curious as to his true motives. Was he waiting to talk to her, or for a more scandalous reason? She felt guilty for hiding, but also confused, her feelings for the Duke mixing with her fears about Ethan’s insistence on the match. It had all happened so fast, and despite her previous feelings, it felt to Sophia as though matters were getting out of hand.

You hardly know him.

She turned away from the window and sat back down on the bed, lost in thought.

A sudden knock at the door caused her to start, and now the Duke’s voice called out to her from the landing.

“Sophia, are you all right?” he asked.

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. She did not know what to do, even as she knew it would be churlish not to answer.

“Oh… I’m sorry, yes, I’m here,” she replied, and the handle turned, revealing Jasper, who looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face.

“Weren’t we meant to meet in the garden?” he asked, closing the door behind him.

Sophia knew it was improper for him to enter her bedroom. If they were caught, it would be scandalous, but she made no move to eject him, even as he now stepped forward, still looking at her with a puzzled expression.

“Oh, yes… I lost track of time. I think I’m just rather tired. It’s been a long day, with lots of fresh air,” she said, and he smiled.

“Or did you just think it wrong for us to meet in secret outside?” he asked.

Sophia blushed. That had been the reason, though there really was no reason why it should matter. Everyone already assumed they were courting, and if they were to be caught together…

“No… well, yes. Oh, I’m sorry. I feel I’ve played a game with you. It’s Ethan…” she said, and the Duke raised his eyebrows.

“What about him?” he asked, and Sophia sighed.

She told the Duke what her cousin had said – how he had insisted on her pursuing the match, given the advantages it would bring him. What had been intended as a dalliance to prevent the possibility of a betrothal to Henry now seemed serious…

“He was so forceful. He’ll want us to marry, I’m certain of it,” she said.

But to her surprise, the Duke laughed. He did not seem angry at the thought of her playing him for a fool. Quite the opposite, in fact. He seemed to take pleasure in it.

“What a ridiculous man,” he said, shaking his head.

Sophia was taken aback.

“But… aren’t you cross with me?” she asked, and Jasper shook his head.

“Not at all. I knew your cousin would want to take advantage of the situation. That much was obvious. He tried it first with me, and I’m only too happy to oblige him. We can play him with a simplistic business arrangement. I’ll speak to Peter – we can come up with something to string him along. No, I’m not cross with you – you’ve told me the truth. I admire you for that,” he said.

Once again, there was a sincerity in his voice, and despite her surprise, Sophia could only feel a sense of relief as to what he was saying. She had feared he would fly into a rage, berating her for using him to her own advantage – perhaps even accusing her of being in league with her cousin. But it seemed he found the whole thing… amusing.

“But… can we really make a show of it? Even if it means… a proposal?” she asked, fearing the whole matter had gotten quite out of hand.

But he shook his head and smiled.

“Haven’t we already made a show of it? I knew what your cousin was like from the moment I laid eyes on him,” he said, and Sophia was reminded of her own propensity to judge based on first impressions.

She blushed.

“I thought something similar about you, too,” she said, turning away in embarrassment.

Again, Jasper laughed.

“Ah, yes, my arrogant demeanor,” he said, and Sophia looked at him in surprise.

Was that, too, an act? It had certainly been a convincing one, just as now, he played the part of a potential suitor with a performance worthy of the Covent Garden stage.

“You… were rather cold,” she said, and he nodded.

“Yes, my mother and sister berate me for it. They tell me I only smile when Peter’s there. But… I’ve had quite the burden to shoulder since my father’s death,” he said, and the expression on his face suddenly changed.

There was a look of regret, of remorse, and Sophia could not help but feel sorry for him.

“Were the two of you close? I know Penelope didn’t get her debut at the proper time because of…” she began, but Jasper interrupted her.

“She didn’t get her debut because our father was a selfish fool who squandered money on ill-fated gambles. He died penniless, and had he lived but a few months longer, we’d have been forced to sell everything. He left us with nothing, and it was up to me to rescue not only our reputation, but our fortunes, too. No, the two of us weren’t close. I can’t say I shed any tears upon his demise. He was… a difficult man to live with, and an even harder man to bear inheritance from,” the Duke said, shaking his head sadly.

Sophia had not expected such candor on his part, or the sharing of such intimacy. She had feared a scandal in the gardens, but it seemed what Jasper really wanted was someone to talk to, someone to confide in. She looked at him sympathetically.

“But you have, haven’t you? You’ve done so much to rebuild your estate and your family’s reputation. Ethan’s desperation to enter business with you suggests as much, doesn’t it? I admire you,” she said, and the Duke looked at her in surprise.

“Admire? I’m hardly admirable. You’re right. I was rude when you first arrived, and I did little to dissuade you from your first impression of me. I admire you for taking the chance you did,” he said.

Sophia smiled. It had not felt like a choice at the time, but a necessity, even as now she wondered what would come next.

“But don’t you think it’s all become… rather serious?” she said.

Ethan would not back down. She knew how ambitious he was, and with the Viscount now replaced by a duke, those ambitions would surely know no bounds.

“You mean, we’re to give the appearance of intention to marry?” Jasper asked.

Sophia nodded. It had all moved so quickly, but when a prospect was presented, others were sure to take it up, and it would not be long before the prospect of their marriage was the talk of the ton. The Batley sisters would claim it was written in the stars, and the likes of Lady Frighton would delight in being the first to spread the rumor of a ducal marriage

“Well, that’s what they’ll assume, isn’t it? That we’re going to marry,” Sophia said.

Jasper smiled. “Let them think what they want, Sophia. The point is to keep you from being forced to marry Henry. If we have to keep playing along, so be it. You’ll find someone else, I’m certain of it,” he said.

Sophia blushed. There was no one else. She had tried to find a suitor, but to no avail. All of them were dull, or like Henry – or both. There was no one for whom she felt a spark, except perhaps…

“Well… it seems I already have,” she said, laughing, as though it was a joke, even as the sudden possibility now presented itself.

Jasper looked at her in surprise, and she blushed, realizing what she had just said.

“Then it won’t be a difficult ruse, will it?” he replied.

In the course of their conversation, Sophia had stood and sat down at several intervals, filled with a nervous excitement. She knew they should not be alone. Spencer could appear at any moment, and though she was loyal, Sophia had no desire to compromise her in the appearance of a scandal.

Now, she crossed to the window, glancing out onto the garden, where she could see Henry being accosted by the Batley sisters. The Duke came to stand next to her, and she turned, looking at him with fearful expectation.

“No… but… it won’t be easy either, will it?” she said, and he smiled.

“It can be if we make it,” he replied.

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat, and she nodded, not knowing what to say or do. What did he intend? He put his hand on her arm, as though he was about to draw her into an embrace. Did he want to kiss her? The thought of it flashed across her mind, causing her to inhale sharply, staring at him, filled with desire, but resisting, too…

“Yes… we can make a show of it. In London, for the rest of the Season,” she said, and he nodded.

“I’d like that. I mean it, Sophia. I really would like to see you again. When you arrived, I thought nothing of it, but since our little ruse began…” he said, allowing the possibility of his words to hang in the air.

Sophia, too, liked the idea, though it surprised her to admit as much. The Duke was… charming, unexpectedly so. He was nothing like his first impression had made him out to be. And here, in the privacy of her bedroom, without anyone to fool, she did not doubt his sincerity.

“I’d like it, too,” she said.

He had not yet withdrawn his hand from her arm, and now he looked at her, as though considering his next move. Sophia wondered what he was thinking. Did he mean to kiss her? Was there more to this than just a ruse?

“Well… I suppose I should go back downstairs. They’ll be wondering where I went – and you, too. We wouldn’t want… a scandal, would we?” he said, and Sophia shook her head.

“No, we wouldn’t,” she replied, feeling relieved at his having held back, even as the thought of him kissing her was tantalizing.

She imagined what it would be like to find herself in his arms, held in his embrace, to feel the touch of his lips against hers…

“Are you all right?” he asked, and Sophia was brought back to her senses, a blush now rising in her cheeks.

She could not believe she had thought such things, and yet in the company of the Duke – in the company of Jasper – she felt something more than she had expected. She had been curious about him, and now, he had shared something of his fears and vulnerabilities. The arrogant swagger was gone, as was the look of disdain. For a moment, she had seen beyond her first impressions, and come to realize that there was far more to him than at first she had believed.

“Yes… we should go back downstairs,” she said, and he nodded.

“As you wish. I’m so glad we had this conversation,” he said, and Sophia smiled.

“I am, too,” she replied, and she did so in all sincerity, surprising herself with the strength of the new feelings she had now discovered…