Page 18 of My Devoted Viscount (Brazen Bluestockings #2)

Mr. Huntley was unattached, charming, and handsome.

Not to mention musically talented and—possibly most important for Mildred as his potential bride—had a decidedly full head of hair.

That Mrs. Digby had known him for years and liked him enough to insist he call her Aunt spoke to his good character.

And since he had attended the same school and traveled in the same social circles as a viscount, surely he was wealthy enough to satisfy Mr. Ebrington’s needs and get him to call off his daughter’s betrothal to Wicked Lord Wingfield.

As if conjured by her thoughts, two of the figures who had been strolling along the water’s edge changed direction, coming inland, directly toward the trio.

“Miss Walden, what a delightful surprise,” Fairfax called as the two men approached.

“Times three,” Mr. Huntley added, gifting a smile to each of the women in turn.

The three ladies stood, shaking out their skirts, and Sophia performed the introductions.

Was that a distinctive sparkle in Mr. Huntley’s eyes when he bowed over Mildred’s hand?

And was the chit blushing in response? So pleased with the initial success of her nascent matchmaking plans, Sophia almost forgot that Fairfax had lied just now, albeit a tiny one.

He knew full well that she came down to the beach every afternoon, and that he was quite likely to find her here at this time of day. Not a surprise at all.

Beachcombing was an unusual pastime for two adult men. And they had walked right past Marshall without joining in his rock throwing contest.

Was it possible they were following her? Spying on her?

But why?

Had Fairfax realized after all that she had been trying to distract him yesterday?

“Miss Mildred Ebrington?” Mr. Huntley repeated. “Of the Newbury Ebringtons?”

“You know my family, sir?” She lost a bit of her sparkle, and physically drew back a step.

“Only in passing,” Mr. Huntley replied. Mildred relaxed her shoulders. “My cousin may have had some dealings with your father.”

Caught up in her thoughts, Sophia lost track of the conversation until Fairfax extended his dinner invitation.

“On the contrary, it won’t be an imposition at all. My aunt has already invited several neighbors, and I know she would enjoy seeing you and your parents again, Miss Burrell, and meeting your cousin.” Fairfax directed this last part at Miss Ebrington.

Yes, cousin. The tiny lie Sophia had told, to explain the presence of an unmarried, unchaperoned young woman with them… that Mildred was Theo’s cousin. Who was now invited to dinner at Mrs. Digby’s, with Theo’s parents not knowing they were supposedly Mildred’s aunt and uncle.

Oh dear.

“I very much look forward to it,” Mildred said with a breathy sigh, extending her hand again to Mr. Huntley to kiss and bow over it.

* * *

“With two handsome gents here, don’t you want to do something different with your hair?” Ruby stood behind Sophia at the dressing table, brush in hand.

Sophia had already conceded to wearing her best gown for dinner.

She did not want to embarrass Mrs. Digby in front of her neighbors and friends, after all.

But Ruby’s attempts at styling her hair in something other than braids so far had mixed results at best. Most mornings, whatever style Ruby tried didn’t even last until Sophia was ready to go downstairs for breakfast before part of it was sliding out of the new coif, and they ended up putting it up in a variation of a braided coronet. Again.

And she definitely did not want to appear to be showing off for Fairfax. Or even his friend, Mr. Huntley.

But there were going to be neighbors in attendance tonight, in addition to Mildred, Theo, and her parents.

“You are right. Let’s try your idea.”

They ended up with a compromise, partly braided and part of it in loose curls they pinned up.

Ruby leaned back, admiring her creation, and held up a hand mirror, enabling Sophia to see it from behind.

Worst case, if her hair tumbled out of its pins and fell down her back, it would not be the horrible faux pas for evening that it would be during the day.

“Excellent. Thank you, Ruby.” Sophia hurried downstairs, just as the first guests arrived.

Soon there was a dizzying array of people in the drawing room.

Mrs. Royston held back to the fringes, chatting with one couple or individual at a time.

Mrs. Digby seemed to enjoy her role as hostess, showing off her visiting great-nephew like a proud mama as each new arrival entered the room.

When her new next-door neighbor arrived, Mrs. Digby left Fairfax chatting with a pair of spinster sisters, the Misses Webster, to introduce Sophia to Mr. Reginald Thorpe, the man Sophia had seen several times walking two four-legged fluffballs on the beach.

He murmured all the appropriate things in greeting and bowed over her hand like a gentleman.

But his hands were callused, his left thumbnail black in the middle from a blood bruise, and while his clothes were of good quality and well-tailored, his coat was shiny at the elbows and beginning to fray at the cuffs.

“Did you bring Zeus and Ares?” Mrs. Digby glanced at Mr. Thorpe’s coat pockets.

Mr. Thorpe’s eyebrows nearly climbed to his forehead. “To dinner?”

“Lady Lyttleton often brought them with her. Henry enjoyed their playtime.”

He scratched his head. “Perhaps another visit. They were curled up asleep on their bed before the hearth in the library when I left.”

Mrs. Digby harrumphed. She patted him on the shoulder, then went to greet more guests.

“I take it you’re not used to having dogs? I understand you inherited Zeus and Ares along with the estate.”

Looking down on Sophia from his great height, Mr. Thorpe shook his head. “The little curs were included in my inheritance, yes. I am accustomed to large dogs who work to earn their keep. Sheep herding, hunting, and the like.”

Sophia tilted her head. “Keeping an elderly woman from feeling lonely seems to me a worthy way to earn their keep.”

Mr. Thorpe bowed his head. “Yes, of course.” He fidgeted with one cuff.

“My cousin and I corresponded regularly but I regret my duties prevented me from visiting her more often. Her dogs and I are still getting used to each other.” He gave a self-conscious grin that completely transformed his rugged facial features.

“Can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost stepped on one of the little buggers,” he confided.

They shared a laugh.

Spotting Theo and Mildred, Sophia made her excuses and hurried over to her friends. “Everything go according to plan?” she whispered.

“It was so kind of Miss Burrell’s parents to collect me from my parent’s cottage,” Mildred replied.

“And she was so prompt,” Theo said, “she was waiting for us by the garden gate. We barely had to stop the horses.”

Hearing how well they had carried out their subterfuge, Sophia almost allowed herself to relax. Now all they had to do was prevent anyone from talking to Theo’s parents about her so-called cousin. All evening. Including…

Sophia felt it like a physical touch when Fairfax shifted his attention to her.

He stood beside his friend Mr. Huntley, chatting with Mr. Middlebrook, the vicar.

Fairfax blithely continued with his conversation while looking directly at her.

Though the men were on the far side of the room, Mildred’s cheeks flushed pink when Mr. Huntley found her and they locked gazes.

Well, that was a good thing, was it not? As long as Mr. Huntley did not pay close attention to Miss Ebrington’s ‘parents.’ And worrying about that kept Sophia from thinking about the look Fairfax was giving her. Approving.

As if she needed his approval.

But oh, how nice it felt to receive an admiring glance from a handsome young man!

After years spent as a fading-into-the-wallpaper teacher at a school for girls, appreciative looks like his had been scarcer than hen’s teeth, and what few there were, were almost always directed at one of the students about to leave and make their debut in society.

Before that, the men in the ton had not been unkind during her first and only Season, they had simply not paid her any attention.

Completely overlooked her. Literally. They requested dances from her taller companions as though they had not lowered their gaze enough to see her down here.

If not for a kind host or gentleman doing a good deed here or there, she would not have danced at all.

Fairfax himself was looking well tonight.

His valet had made sure he was properly shaved and cravat tied neatly.

His sea-foam green satin waistcoat and deep green velvet coat beautifully set off his long black hair.

It’s a wonder he didn’t tie it back, as he had to give his head a little shake to get it out of his eyes each time he bowed.

Which he did right in front of Sophia. While she was still gawking at him like a country bumpkin.

“The sea air seems to agree with you, Miss Walden.” He lifted her hand to kiss.

She couldn’t help it when her heart skipped a beat as his lips made actual contact with her hand, not the air above her knuckles.

With neither of them wearing gloves, she learned his lips were soft and warm.

“You are looking especially fetching tonight.”

To give her time to get her stampeding heart under control, Sophia looked at their surroundings to confirm they were in his aunt’s country home, not a London ballroom.

“Careful that you don’t do it up too brown, my lord,” she said, willing herself not to blush at his compliment.

“Are you simply staying in practice for when you return to flirting in London?”

“You wound me,” he said, one hand clutched to his heart. The sparkle in his eyes exposed his jest. “Can a gentleman not simply offer a heartfelt compliment?”

“My apologies, my lord. Perhaps I am out of practice in accepting compliments.”