Page 29

O ne week after Timmy and Mary’s abduction, Sophie stepped from the carriage with Letty. Tonight they were to attend the Shelton ball. Their first big social event.

They’d had small day trips out and attended a musical and an intimate dinner party, but the rest of the time had been spent at Monmouth town house while two men stood outside, keeping them safe.

“You look lovely tonight,” Letty said as she slid her arm through Sophie’s.

“As do you.” And she did, Sophie thought. Letty was stunning in deep gray velvet with diamonds sparkling in a choker around her neck.

“Remember to always stay in the ballroom, and do not walk anywhere alone, Sophie. We will then be escorted to our carriage, where Robbie and a new footman will drive us home.”

“I will,” she said as they entered the enormous house blazing with lights behind the other elegantly clad guests.

Sophie hadn’t seen or heard from Patrick since the night of the abduction, and it worried her that in the clear light of day, he’d woken and realized he wanted nothing more to do with her. That she’d lied and had no right to live the life she was.

“Stop frowning,” Letty said.

“Sorry.” There had also been no note from Jack Spode, and that was making her even more nervous. The man wasn’t the type to give up, so what was he planning? Timmy was safe, but she had no doubt he’d strike again. But when?

After greeting the hosts, they entered the ballroom.

“Good Lord,” Sophie said, looking around the room. One entire corner had the largest display of flowers and greenery she’d ever seen. There was silk draped on one wall in different shades of violet and yet another in greens.

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” Letty said.

“Very much so.”

They walked, and Sophie noticed all eyes were on her.

“Letty, why are people staring at us?”

“You’re beautiful. Why would they not stare at you?” Letty said.

“Sophie!”

Amelia rushed toward her, drawing Sophie’s attention from the guests. She took both her friend’s hands in hers. “You look lovely.” It was a lie, of course. The dark gray dress was a terrible color and design.

“As do you,” her friend said.

They stood chatting, and soon Letty wandered off to see her friends.

“Amelia, come here at once,” Lady Logan said, arriving.

“I am speaking with Sophie, Mother,” Amelia said.

“Now, Daughter.”

“I will see you soon, but I must first see what Mother wants.” Amelia hurried away.

Sophie followed Letty, feeling a need to keep close to her this evening, and once again noticed people looking at her. Some were whispering behind their hands.

“Of course Lord Coulter was never serious about the countess. We all know he is promised to another.”

Sophie stopped behind a group of women as she heard the words one of them spoke.

“And now that there are those rumors about her, he will want to distance himself from the Countess of Monmouth.”

No! It couldn’t be true. Surely Patrick was not promised to wed another woman? She quickly skirted the group, head lowered, and kept walking as pain sliced through her.

“Countess, how lovely you look this evening.” Miss Smythe stepped into her path with two of her friends. “You are so brave,” she said, smiling. “I’m quite sure I could not step into society, considering.” The woman simpered.

“Indeed, you are to be commended, Countess,” one of the other women, whose name she couldn’t remember, said.

“For what am I to be commended on?” Sophie asked.

“Why, the rumor, of course,” Miss Smythe added.

Everything inside Sophie clenched. This could not be good.

“What rumor?” she said calmly.

“Allow me to tell you everything, my dear countess. After all, I think you should know,” Miss Smythe added. “Someone is spreading the vile rumor that you were once in service and went by the name of Sophie Beams and that you trapped Lord Monmouth into marriage.”

Dear God.

“Of course I am telling you this only to warn you, you understand. People are nasty, vicious gossips,” Miss Smythe said with a false smile.

Sophie made herself laugh. “What will they think of next?” she said. “I’ve always found jealousy is an ugly thing that makes people speak for effect and not truth.”

That had Miss Smythe’s smile slipping slightly.

“May I have this dance, my lady?”

“Lord Dinsdale, of course, I would be honored to dance with you,” Sophie said, not feeling anything of the sort, but as she’d not seen him coming, she could do nothing about it. Plus, if she was dancing, no one else could approach her.

She needed to get to Letty and warn her.

“Excuse me,” Sophie said to Miss Smythe and the others. She wouldn’t show them what she was feeling. Letty had taught her that.

Lord Dinsdale bowed deeply and then swept his hand out for her to hold in a grand gesture.

Who knew about her past and had started that rumor?

“A quadrille,” Lord Dinsdale said as they reached the floor. “I had so hoped for a waltz.”

Not I, Sophie thought, relieved she would not have to be in the man’s arms while he talked about himself endlessly. Looking around her, she noted more eyes on her. This was a disaster, and everything they had achieved could come tumbling down around them.

She loathed that someone had told the truth about her past and now it was on the lips of everyone in society, but it hurt more thinking that Patrick could be promised to another.

“You look like a meadow filled with flowers this evening, Countess.”

Sophie forced a smile onto her face as she touched hands with Lord Dinsdale. It had to be Jack Spode who was responsible, but how had he managed to get the truth about her into the ears of society?

“Oh, one so fair with raven hair, she fills my heart to bursting,” Lord Dinsdale said, making her cheeks heat with embarrassment.

“If you stick out your foot, Countess, he will trip and hopefully bite his tongue off. We will be forever indebted to you. Is that not right, Lord Beckonsfield?”

Sophie managed a smile as Lady Sumner passed in a turn and drawled the words in her ear.

“You’ll have my undying gratitude, Countess,” the man agreed.

And with those few words, Sophie felt a little stronger. She had friends in society now. People who would stand with her. A rumor would not destroy her if she did not allow it to. She was a countess after all. What could destroy her was the knowledge that Patrick would marry another.

“Oh, to walk with her through a dew-drenched meadow?—"

“Really should think about those words, Dinsdale. A dew-drenched meadow would play havoc with one’s hem,” Lady Sumner said, winking at Sophie.

She got through the rest of the dance, as the baron and Lady Sumner teased Lord Dinsdale until, finally, he gave up. He would simply regroup and continue with someone else, but hopefully not her again.

“Perhaps a second dance later, Countess, when the floor is not quite so full,” he said as the music finished.

“Perhaps” was all Sophie said as she walked away. Not likely was what she thought. She needed to find Letty and tell her what Miss Smythe had said. What she’d heard about Patrick she would keep to herself.

A hand brushed hers. She spun and found herself face-to-face with him. Her heart gave a hard thud in her chest as she looked up at him and then quickly away.

Had he heard the rumor?

She’d experienced so much with this man and knew the emotions inside her for him were far stronger than they had any right to be, especially if the rumor she’d heard about him was true.

“Lord Coulter.” Sophie dropped into a curtsy.

“Patrick,” he said. He then took her hand and placed it on his arm.

“I will not call you that here, in front of so many people.”

“I don’t care what society thinks.” He began walking, and she had to follow.

“Spoken like a man of power and status,” she said.

She felt his eyes on her. “You are a countess, my lady. I’m quite sure not many would question you either.”

“Have you heard the rumor?”

He nodded. “It will not hurt you if you don’t let it, Sophie. You have people watching over you now. Friends. Remember that.”

“He must be responsible,” she whispered. “No one else knows.”

“I believe so, but I just don’t know how he has such high connections,” Patrick said as they walked. “We will get to the bottom of it.”

“Have you found any trace of him?” Sophie asked.

“Stephen and I have been making inquiries. So far, we have been unable to locate Spode. Therefore, it is still important that you show caution,” he said so only she could hear.

“I don’t think you should take risks either, my lord.”

Should she ask him if he was to marry another?

Before he could speak, a woman had stepped into their path.

“Lord Coulter, Melanie is looking forward to her dance with you. The quadrille, I believe?”

“Lady Finch,” Patrick said, bowing. “The pleasure will be all mine, I assure you,” he finished gravely.

Melanie? Is she the woman?

Lady Finch’s smile turned icy as she turned to Sophie.

“My lady.” Sophie’s reply was equally as chilly.

“Countess.” Lady Finch’s tone matched. “It would be remiss of me not to mention something that has come to my ears, my lady.”

“Gossip, Lady Finch?” Patrick asked.

The woman blushed. “I just think the countess needs to know what people are saying about her.”

“How charitable of you. However, neither the countess nor I give much credence to gossip, so we shall move on. Good evening,” Patrick said.

“They all know. I can feel their eyes on me,” Sophie whispered.

“But they have no proof, and you are legally the Countess of Monmouth,” he said, leading her to the dance floor. “Show no fear, Sophie.”

Sophie realized that in his arms, she didn’t need to count—where he led, she followed with ease.

“Smile, Sophie,” he said into her ear.

She did as he told her but did not look at him. Inside she felt cold. One thing she’d realized was that you couldn’t outrun your past, no matter how hard you tried.

“Come, we will find Letty,” he said when the dance finished.

They walked through the other guests, and she felt their eyes on her.

“Lord Coulter, how lovely to see you, and dancing with my sister-in-law,” Letty said loudly when they reached her.

“You’ve heard, then,” Sophie whispered.

Letty smiled. “Of course, and pay it no mind.” She flicked her fingers as if to bat the words away.

“But how has this news reached society?” Sophie said.

“I am going to find that out,” Patrick whispered softly.

Sophie turned to look at him, which put Letty behind her.

“Thank you, my lord, for the dance.”

His eyes ran over her face, and then he frowned. “What are you not telling me?”

“How do you know I am not telling you something?”

“I can read it in your eyes,” he said.

She lowered them.

“Talk to me, Sophie.”

“Are you promised to another?” The words came out in a rush.

His brows drew together. “I beg your pardon?”

“I’m not saying it again,” Sophie said, looking around them to see who was watching.

“You believe, after what we’ve done together and what we’ve shared, that I could be promised to another woman?”

“I—”

He turned and walked away from her before she could finish, and Sophie knew she’d been a fool to listen to gossip and had now hurt the man she loved. An honorable man.