Page 3 of His Regency Goddess (Curves & Cravats)

Chapter Three

“Margot, is it my imagination or was that man with your husband ogling me?”

Sophie stood frozen in place, mostly flattered but a little concerned. Who was this leering stranger? Was this a compliment or did she look ghastly? She tried to catch her reflection in a window. She tried and failed to conjure a vision of him in her mind, as her brief glimpse of him had only left an impression of his expression, like he wanted something from her. This man had seen something in her.

“I saw it as well. He was indeed ogling you,” Margot confirmed with a big grin. “I have no idea who he is or how my husband spent his day. Let’s go inside and wait for him. An interrogation is in order!”’

She followed Margot to the parlour and accepted the cup of tea and saucer placed in her hands. Sophie tapped her foot impatiently against the floor as they waited for Daniel to arrive home. The house was in a quiet lull while the children napped. Taking a sip of her tea, she looked to the door again and let out a sigh. What could possibly be delaying Daniel so?

“You are so eager to find out who he is. Are you smitten with the ogling stranger?” Margot teased at hearing her sigh.

“No, I was actually thinking how nice and quiet it is when the children are asleep,” she teased back. There was no pretence that the children were anything but a boisterous duo.

Margot started a retort but they heard the door closing.

He was home!

Margot stuck her head outside the parlour door and gestured to the viscount. “Come in here and be quiet. The children are asleep, but we have many questions for you, dear husband.”

In a moment, Daniel's grinning face appeared as he entered the parlour. He poured himself a cup of tea and took a seat on the cushioned chair next to Margot. Sophie giggled at how quickly he joined them for tea and gossip. She gazed fondly at the blonde and blue-eyed golden couple that ticked all polite society's boxes. Both came from respected families and had now started their own with their two fair-haired boys.

“This is about my friend, isn’t it?” Daniel asked as he waggled his eyebrows at her.

“Never do that again, you look like a ridiculous fop!” Margot answered, a snort escaping as she mocked him.

“Hush! Do you want those beautiful terrors to awaken?” Daniel said, waving off his wife’s jibe. "But I’m correct, am I not?” he added, as he turned to Sophie.

Knowing these two could heartily banter for hours she interjected before either could speak.

“You are correct, I am very curious as to why he looked at me so…so…something?” she finished lamely, not finding the appropriate words to describe the heated gaze.

“He is quite taken with you,” Daniel said with a sly smile. “His was a look of pure interest in knowing every detail about you.”

“I knew it!” Margot said loudly, which caused her husband to hush her again.

“What did he say? Who is he? Does he like me?” she gushed out, not knowing what to think or ask first. Her stomach fluttered like she had swallowed hundreds of butterflies and they were beating their wings furiously in an effort to escape.

Daniel held up his hands in surrender.

“Let me start from the beginning. His name is Sinclair Montgomery. He is my oldest friend and has returned home today from a long sojourn aboard. He is indeed very much interested in you. To quote Sin he said, ‘please tell me the blonde one is your wife' and then proceeded to tell me that you were the most delectable goddess he had ever set his eyes upon.”

"Sinclair Montgomery? His reputation as a prolific reprobate has not been forgotten by anyone in the ton, Daniel. Soph cannot tie herself to him!" Margot gasped.

Sinclair Montgomery. Sophie had heard the name and recalled vague rumours, but was unconcerned. Her inner critic was more concerned with asking why a man who could have any woman he wanted would be intrigued by her.

She looked outside the paned window and noted the sun was starting to set. In a few hours, they would attend the first pre-party to the season, an intimate gathering of the most sought-after socialites. Sophie did not make that list, but she would be attending as a guest of Daniel and Margot.

"Will he be at the party tonight?" she asked, interrupting the bickering couple. Daniel insisted Sin was a man changed and grown and Margot scoffed that anyone with that moniker would always be a rakehell. At her question, they both turned to her, Daniel smug and Margot exasperated.

"Surely you are not interested, Soph? You will have so many men to choose from!" Margot scolded with a sideways look at Daniel.

"He will be there tonight. James is an old friend of Sin's as well and will be very happy to see him." Daniel moved to stand beside Margot. "Do not frown, my love. You can berate me later. I am going to get those rascals up." He bent down to kiss Margot on the forehead.

Sophie watched the exchange, knowing their tiff meant nothing real. Their banter was full of trust and honesty, which is what made them such a great couple.

I want that someday, in my heart of hearts I do .