Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

The following morning, Sophia rose early, intending to take a walk in the garden before breakfast. Spencer brought her a cup of tea, helping her to dress, and she asked the maid what the other servants thought of their master…

“Of the Duke, My Lady? I think some of them are a little scared of him. They say he can be strict,” Spencer said, folding Sophia’s nightdress as she spoke.

“They don’t like him, then?” Sophia asked.

The maid pondered for a moment. “It’s not that they don’t like him, My Lady. I think they respect him. But they say he’s distant – cold, even. But he’s loyal, to his sister, especially,” she said.

Sophia nodded. It was the same impression she had. Penelope was unfailingly loyal to her brother, and it seemed the same could be said for him, too. But as for any further impressions, Jasper was a closed book. He gave little away, though his outburst over her questions concerning the financial affairs of the estate was enough to inform her of what he thought of his father. The previous Duke had been on the brink of ruin, and only his death had saved the rest of the family from joining him in destitution.

“I’d be interested to know more about the Duke – if you can discover anything,” Sophia said, for the servants always knew more about their masters than those of equal rank and privilege.

Spencer, who had been Sophia’s maid for many years, nodded and bobbed a curtsey. “I’ll try my best, My Lady,” she said.

Sophia spent a pleasant hour or so walking in the gardens behind Weston House. It was not a large garden, but the roses were magnificent, and at the far end, below a wall, a number of weeping willows grew, creating a shady spot in which to sit, as the dappled morning sun came through the overhanging branches. But it was not long before her stomach was rumbling, and led by the pleasant scent of breakfast, Sophia made her way inside to the dining room. To her surprise – and trepidation – she found only the Duke helping himself from the tureens on the sideboard. As she entered, he looked up, a serving fork in one hand, on which was impaled a deviled kidney.

“I saw you’re an early riser,” he said as Sophia sat down at the table.

“I didn’t think I was. I expected… well, someone else to be here, too,” Sophia replied, hoping it would not be too long before some of the others joined them.

A footman stepped forward to pour her a cup of coffee, and Jasper came to sit opposite her, helping himself to toast from a rack in the middle of the table.

“Are you disappointed?” he asked, tackling his deviled kidneys with vigor.

Sophia blushed. She was not disappointed, but neither did she know quite what to say to him. Her attempts at polite conversation had previously failed, and now she wondered if he was setting her up for failure…

“No, why should I be?” she asked, and he looked up at her and smiled.

“I suppose you’re pleased – happy – to have received this invitation,” he said.

Sophia did not know how to respond. To deny it would be rude, to acknowledge it would be what he wanted to hear – an admission of her mother’s and cousin’s attempts at matchmaking.

“I was intrigued. And I was glad at the prospect of seeing Penelope again. I felt rather guilty to think the two of us had lost touch in the last year or so. We saw one another regularly in the past, but circumstances change,” Sophia replied.

The Duke narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that. But surely a woman of your position… must be pleased to find herself invited to a house party in the company of several eligible bachelors. Peter, and Henry – who arrives today,” he said, and Sophia blushed.

“And you, I suppose?” she said, causing him to laugh.

“And I, yes. I’m the most eligible of them all – or so my mother so often reminds me. Who wouldn’t want to marry the Duke of Weston?” he said, shaking his head.

Sophia could think of many women – herself included – who would not wish to marry a man like the Duke of Weston. There was an arrogance in his self-assurance, as though he presumed he could have whatever woman he wanted – and toy with those he did not.

“Well, I’m simply happy to be here for Penelope, that’s all,” Sophia said.

It was the truth, even though the Duke now laughed.

“Oh, really… weren’t you just a little intrigued by the thought of new introductions?” he asked.

Sophia had to admit the thought had crossed her mind, even as she had not admitted it to either her mother or her cousin. She liked to meet new people, but her previous encounter with the Duke had been enough to ensure she had little desire to repeat their meeting, and for this reason, she had found little enticement in the invitation, save for Penelope’s company.

“Perhaps, but now that I’ve made them…” she replied, allowing her words to hang in the air.

He did not seem to take offense at what she was saying, but instead, he beckoned the footman to pour him another cup of coffee, regarding her from across the table.

“You haven’t met Henry yet,” he said, and Sophia shook her head.

“Henry who?” she asked, and the Duke smiled.

“The Viscount Loweshire,” he replied, and Sophia’s blood ran cold…

Sophia did know Henry Bell. He had been a suitor of hers, or rather he had made himself a suitor of hers. Sophia had considered him entirely unsuitable. They had been introduced at a ball the previous year, and Sophia did not know whether their meeting at the house party was purely the result of chance…

“No, I’m sure I’ll enjoy doing so,” Sophia lied, watching for the Duke’s reaction.

“Oh, I think you’ll find him… conducive company,” Jasper replied, and Sophia forced a smile, rising from the table to help herself from the tureens on the sideboard.

She avoided the deviled kidneys, opting instead for bacon and sausages, returning to the table, just as her cousin entered the dining room.

Jasper hardly bothered to disguise his obvious contempt for the Earl and made no effort when it came to conversation. Ethan knew all about Sophia’s dealings with Henry. It had been a match he had encouraged, even though Sophia had point blankly refused to go ahead with it.

“What comfortable beds you have, Your Grace. I’ve not slept so well in years,” Ethan said, sitting down at the table and shaking out his napkin with a flourish.

“I’m sure the claret helped,” Jasper replied, and despite herself, Sophia could not help but smile at his wry comment.

But Ethan seemed not to notice, and as the other guests entered the dining room, the conversation turned to other matters.

But as she ate her breakfast, Sophia could not help but wonder what the day would bring, and what would happen when the Viscount arrived…

“Oh, I know all about that,” Jasper said as he and Peter stood waiting for the arrival of Henry’s carriage.

He was due at eleven o’clock, but already he was fifteen minutes late. Henry was Jasper’s cousin, but he had always been something of a poor relation – despite Jasper’s financial woes. The Loweshire title came with only a small estate in the Scottish lowlands – a proverbial backwater, farmed by lazy tenants who had been in situ for generations and worked the land with little care to profit for their master. Henry spent most of his time in London, playing on his connections, though without a penny to his name. He and Jasper were not particularly close, though Jasper would occasionally toss his cousin a bone – just as he was doing now.

“And is that why you invited them both?” Peter asked, for talk had turned to the fact of Henry and Sophia’s prior connection.

Jasper had known all about it, but he had enjoyed seeing Sophia’s face when she had learned that her former suitor – a man who still believed he had a chance – was going to join them. It had amused him to hear her lie, and now he wondered what Henry’s reaction would be upon seeing Sophia again.

“I thought it might liven things up a little. I’m already bored with the whole thing. If I hear another word about auras and energy, I’m going to go quite mad,” Jasper said, shaking his head and laughing.

But despite his games, he had found himself enjoying Sophia’s company at breakfast. She was a spirited woman, and there was no doubt she knew her own mind, too. He was looking forward to seeing how she reacted to Henry’s arrival. It was a game – and certainly more interesting than watching his aunt Helen tell fortunes…

“And you think teasing her is going to help?” Peter asked.

Jasper groaned. “Oh, you’re always so proper, Peter – have some fun. Look, he’s here now,” he said, pointing down the road.

A carriage was approaching, and as it drew up, the compartment window was pulled down, and Henry, a blue cravat around his neck and a tricorn hat on his head, leaned out.

“We got delayed on Piccadilly – the Regent and his entourage were coming through. But I’m here now,” he said, not waiting for the driver to open the door for him but opening it himself and jumping down.

“Henry, it’s good to see you,” Peter said, stepping forward and holding out his hand.

Jasper was somewhat more reserved, greeting his cousin with curt formality. “How are you, Henry?” he asked as they made their way inside.

“Oh, you know, nothing changes, really. It’s all going to ruin up there – though don’t tell my creditors. Actually, I was going to ask…” Henry said, but Jasper interrupted him.

“I don’t have any money to lend you, Henry,” he said, knowing precisely what it was his cousin was about to ask.

In the past, Jasper’s father had been overly generous when it came to Henry – and just about anyone else who came begging for money. But Jasper had put a stop to that, and now his cousin nodded.

“Yes… of course. You’ve got troubles of your own, I know. Anyway, who else is here? Anyone I know? Are the Batley sisters here?” he asked, and Jasper nodded.

“They can read your fortune – you’re going to be a penniless aristocrat for the rest of your life,” he said, laughing as his cousin looked somewhat askance.

It was the truth, of course, but not one to be spoken in quite such open terms.

“Yes… but when you put it like that…” Henry replied as Jasper led him and Peter through the house.

The other guests were waiting in the morning room, and this was the moment Jasper had been waiting for – the moment Henry and Sophia would lay eyes on one another. He knew it was a cruel trick to play, but it would make up for the general dullness of the occasion, and as he led his cousin into the morning room, he watched as Henry’s eyes immediately fell on Sophia.

“Look who’s here,” Jasper said, smiling at Henry, who looked somewhat taken aback.

“Oh, Henry, how lovely to see you,” Jasper’s mother said, coming to embrace her nephew, who gave a curt bow in response.

“Aunt Emily,” Henry said as further greetings were exchanged.

Jasper glanced across to where Sophia and Penelope were standing together by the window. Sophia looked angry, but Penelope was, it seemed, oblivious, talking animatedly, though Jasper could not hear what she was saying. For a moment, he wondered if he had gone too far. It had seemed amusing at the time – to invite Henry to the house party and watch the reaction of the two of them to finding themselves in one another’s company, but now, Ethan had stepped forward to greet Henry, and it seemed he had every intention of furthering the match between Sophia and Henry…

“Henry, how good to see you again. I didn’t realize you’d be here,” Ethan said, glancing at Jasper with an expression of surprise.

“No, I didn’t realize you’d be here either,” Henry replied.

Jasper feigned innocence, schooling his expression into one of surprise. “Oh… yes, there was… some connection between you, wasn’t there?” he said as Henry glanced towards Sophia.

“I hope there still can be, though there hasn’t been much progress in the matter, I’ll admit,” Henry replied.

“Well… I’m sure that can be rectified. Won’t you come and talk to Sophia?” Ethan asked.

“Let’s all go and talk to Lady Sophia,” Jasper said, for despite his second thoughts, he wanted to see the matter through to its conclusion.

Henry nodded, and it seemed he was pleased – despite having appeared somewhat taken aback at first – to find himself in Sophia’s company again. The three of them made their way over to where Sophia and Penelope were standing by the window. Sophia glared at them.

“Look who’s here, Sophia,” Ethan said as Henry bowed.

“Lady Sophia, you look… radiant,” he said.

Penelope looked at her cousin in surprise. “I didn’t know you knew Sophia, Henry!” she exclaimed, and Henry nodded.

“Oh, yes… I know her… very well,” Henry said, and Sophia grimaced.

“How lovely. Isn’t this wonderful?” Penelope said, oblivious, it seemed, to the tension between them.

Sophia looked angry, but Ethan only persisted in his attempts at matchmaking.

“I’m sure the two of you have a great deal to discuss,” he said, but Sophia shook her head.

“Well… I’m not sure there’s much,” she said, but Henry shook his head.

“Oh, but au contraire… it’s been far too long, and you did leave me… without an answer. The letters I wrote, the calls I made. Did the collars for Arthur and Rose I sent fit them? I’ve thought of nothing but our dance at the Basington ball,” he said.

Jasper had suspected a marriage proposal had been made, but despite his previous desire to play games, the thought of having placed Sophia in such a difficult position now weighed heavily on his conscience.

“Ah, but these things are all in the past, aren’t they?” Jasper said, glancing at Sophia, whose lips were pursed.

“If you call six months the past, Cousin,” Henry said, and Jasper now realized his attempt at a humorous observation for himself had very real consequences.

“Tell me, Cousin, have you been… pursuing any… interests since we last met?” Jasper asked.

He knew his cousin was a player, but he was also the sort of man for whom infatuation could take hold, and if he had set his desires on Sophia once again, there could be no easy dissuasion.

“Only a little hunting – a house part in Tewkesbury. It was quite dull. But this…” Henry said, glancing at Sophia and smiling.

Jasper knew he had to do something about the situation, but he could not very well drag his cousin away, and admitting defeat, for now at least, he nodded.

“We’ll leave the two of you to talk. Come along, Penelope,” Jasper said, and his sister looked at him in surprise.

“Oh, but… where…” she began, but Jasper glared at her.

“We’ll go and talk to Mother,” he said, surprised at just how guilty he felt at having opened old wounds.

Penelope followed him, and once they were a safe distance away, Jasper turned towards her and shook his head.

“I don’t think she appreciates the reintroduction,” he said, and his sister looked at him in surprise.

“But… didn’t you invite them both? If you knew about it…” she said, and Jasper sighed.

He did not like to admit he was wrong, but seeing the look on Sophia’s face at the sight of Henry had made him realize he had gone too far. It was clear she wanted nothing to do with his cousin, and the fact they were now forced together – with the inevitability of Henry attempting to pursue the match between them – was enough to make him feel somewhat guilty.

“Yes, but… well, I was talking to her at breakfast. I rather… well, I’m sure she can refute him,” Jasper said, glancing across the morning room to where Sophia was trapped with his cousin and the Earl.

“I’m sure she can. If that’s what she wants,” Penelope said.

But as they stood talking, Jasper could not help but keep his eyes fixed on Sophia, knowing this was not a game to her, and fearing he had unwittingly overstepped the mark.