Page 38 of Pride of Honor
He leaned in close after a footmen passed by with a tray of the soup course and said, “Miss Brancelli, your candor is refreshing. I cannot wait to teach you how to canter through the rock-strewn paths of London society.”
Sophie turned a little pale. “Sir, I have never ridden.”
“I wasn’t speaking strictly of equestrian activities, but you cannot enjoy my friendship without sampling the joys of my stables. Trust me on this. You will not be able to deny the fine beauties I’ve raised and trained since they were colts.”
She maintained the smile on her face, but beneath her heavy skirts her foot tapped nervously in time to the light strains of Mozart coming from musicians in the alcove playing through the supper hour.
When guests began returning to the ballroom, Sir Thomas escorted her back to where Lady Howick and Mrs. Bellingham sat.
He gave her another mischievous wink and said, “I have a previous appointment this evening at my club, but we must soon take a turn in the park in my new curricle. The horses will be jealous, but they’ll forgive me once they get to know you. May I call within a few days?”
“Of course.” Although Sophie nodded and gave him a confident smile, a flutter of uncertainty crept from her heart to her throat. This game of husband-hunting was more terrifying than she’d thought.
Sir Thomas bowed low over her hand before exchanging pleasantries with Lady Howick and Mrs. Bellingham. When he asked Lady Howick for the whereabouts of her son, she said, “Some sort of disturbance in the mews. He and Captain Bellingham went to investigate. They should return soon.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Nothing serious, I hope. He took the dowager marchioness’s hand and added, “Give him my regards and tell him I’ll see him later this week.” With that, the tall barrister made his way out of the ballroom.
Sophie turned slowly and faced the questioning stares of her two patronesses. She wanted to deny what she was sure swirled through their minds, but even she couldn’t say what was in her heart.
“What do you think of Sir Thomas, my dear?” Lady Howick asked.
“I barely know the man.” Sophie blew hard at the feathers dipping down over her eyes. “We just met.”
“But certainly you have some sort of feeling in place after two dances and supper.” Honore picked a bit of lint from one of her gloves before looking up toward Sophie.
“He is very kind, he likes to laugh a lot…” Sophie stopped to think for a few moments. “Oh, and he loves his horses. A man who loves such beautiful creatures can’t be all bad. Can he?”
No one had a chance to answer, because Lady Howick’s nephew, Teddy, chose that moment to appear.
“Aunt,” he said, bowing low. “And Mrs. Bellingham. I certainly did not expect to see you here.”
Sophie fumed at his impertinence, but Arnaud’s mother remained cool and aloof.
“I have to confess I too am surprised at your presence,” Honore said. “I understand no one has heard from you in some time. Is there a reason you waited until tonight at Sophie’s coming out ball to honor us with your company?”
Arnaud and Lord Howick leaned over and examined the remains of the small blaze the grooms had handily extinguished. It looked like nothing more than a clumsy attempt to cause a disturbance. Very little fuel had been piled in the corner by the main entrance to the stables where the fire had started.
“What are your thoughts?” Lord Howick gave Arnaud a sharp look.
“I think someone wanted to create a diversion to take us away from Sophie. They didn’t count on your servants being so quick to extinguish the blaze.
“Most of the men in my employ survived Waterloo. There is nothing they are not prepared for. I warned everyone to remain on high alert tonight.”
“Then we have to get back to the ballroom and make sure Sophie is safe. That’s where they’ll try to strike next.” Arnaud broke into a trot toward the main house.
Sophie worked her way up the set she’d agreed to dance with Teddy, maintaining as much distance as possible between them. She’d nearly forgotten how oppressive his presence could be, how snide his every comment. His comments were always twisted, to force her to remember her place.
“I hope for your sake no one has inquired about your parentage tonight,” he suddenly whispered low into her ear while passing close in the midst of one of the partnered patterns of the set. That was the final blow. Sophie’s steps faltered and she couldn’t stop her cheeks from flaming. She determined to give him a proper set-down later, but didn’t have to.
Arnaud appeared like a wraith in stark black and made a smooth exchange for Teddy’s place in the set, scarcely missing a step. “He looked quite ill. Had to get him off the floor,” Arnaud explained to Sophie and for the benefit of anyone else close enough to hear. Teddy moved rapidly off the floor in the company of Captain Neville, as if a good friend had come to his aid. The marine captain must have had a tight grip on Teddy’s arm since he rose nearly on tiptoes alongside Arnaud’s fellow guard while he was led off.
A nearby tall, muscular footman nodded to Arnaud before moving swiftly away from the ballroom behind Captain Neville.
Sophie felt as though her lungs were about to burst. She took a deep inhale before exhaling again. Teddy’s slur, which surely was calculated to spoil her evening, must have shocked her into holding her breath. Across the line of dancers, Arnaud’s steady stare gave nothing away as he moved through the next steps of the dance. He’d saved her again. Would she ever be able to repay the many debts owed this man?
At the end of the set, her hands still shook. Arnaud said nothing, but covered them with his, bowed low, and motioned toward the doorway to the garden.
Once they were outside, Arnaud confided, “I know what he said.”