Lady No Says Yes

by Jess Michaels

  He sighed as that maudlin thought entered his mind. His grief still felt so very real and alive.

  “Oh, great God,” Percy said as he weaved his way back through the crowd. “You look so very depressed. Come, we must find someone who is having a worse time than you are so that you might feel better by comparison.”

  Rowan took the drink his friend offered him with a laugh. “After tonight, I’m not certain anyone could be having a worse time than I am, Percy. This may be an impossible task you embark upon.”

  Percy turned on him with lit-up eyes. “A challenge! Well, you know I never turn them down. I shall find another desperate soul, let me see. Let me see…”

  Percy scanned the ballroom and Rowan followed his gaze as it darted from person to person. Percy faced him at last. “What about Lady Biddenguard? She is always terribly morose.”

  Rowan looked at the lady in question. She held her ever-present handkerchief at her breast and sighed heavily as she looked out over the crowd. “I’m not sure. I think she rather likes being sad.”

  “True, she does seem to revel in it.” Percy let his eyes move on. “Ah, I know, Winston Richards. His engagement to Miss Amanda Gregory just ended. You must not be as desperate as he is.”

  Rowan found the gentleman in the crowd. He was actually laughing at present. “Winston was tupping every whore in arm’s length and he hated Miss Gregory. He was only marrying her to appease his father.”

  Percy shook his head. “You may be correct then—you are the most pathetic sack in the room.”

  Rowan laughed again at the teasing, but before he could reply, Percy caught his arm and shook it. “Wait, I have it. I know who is far more miserable than you are.”

  “Who?” Rowan said, trying to determine who had caught Percy’s eye in the crowd.

  “Lady No,” Percy said with triumph. “Er, Lady Sophie.”

  “Lady Louisa’s niece?” Rowan asked, though he knew full well to whom his friend referred. He was an old friend of Lady Louisa and no one could say that Sophie wasn’t…fetching.

  He found her in the crowd on the dancefloor. She was taking a turn with a gentleman. Her dark hair framed her slender face to perfection, bringing out the brightness of her green eyes and the fullness of her pink lips.

  “She’s dancing, you idiot,” he said. Then his eyes went wide. “Wait, she’s dancing?”

  Percy nodded and the triumph in his eyes doubled. “She is! It seems Lady No has begun to say yes! Though she appears anything but pleased about it.”

  Rowan stared at her again, and sure enough, Sophie looked annoyed as the music ended and she curtseyed to her partner. She was moving off the dancefloor when another man approached her. They spoke briefly and then she was led back for yet another turn. And as she spun out of his sight, he caught the frustration and desperation in her expression.

  “You know, you may be correct. Lady Sophie may indeed be the most miserable person in the room,” Rowan said. “What in the world is going on? Everyone knows she doesn’t dance, or engage at all with virtually any man. Why is she dancing?”

  “You haven’t heard? Well, of course you haven’t, this is your first event out since…” Percy cut himself off, and suddenly he reached out to squeeze Rowan’s arm in solidarity. “Well, it’s your first event in a long while. At the start of the Season, she just started…accepting invitations. No one knows why, but she has a massive fortune at her disposal, so of course she hasn’t had a moment’s peace since she accepted her first dance a week ago.”

  Rowan stiffened. Her fortune. It was over fifty thousand pounds, if the rumors over the years were to be believed. He examined her more closely. She looked no more pleased to be taking a turn with her current partner than she had with her last.

  Which meant she was accepting these requests from gentlemen for some other reason than her own desire to find a mate.

  Rowan had not considered marriage. It wasn’t that he was opposed to the institution, but it wasn’t on the top of his mind. He’d never focused much on one lady over another. He took lovers, he enjoyed sex immensely. But he wasn’t ready to settle down.

  Only now that prospect seemed like one that could solve a great many problems. If he found a lady with money, rather like the one dancing past him right now with a scowl on her face, his brothers and their schemes would matter not.

  Perhaps whatever was driving Sophie could make a match between them something mutually beneficial. She was certainly comely. He’d always been attracted to her, despite the fact that she avoided him as strenuously as she avoided any other man.

  “You are worlds away,” Percy said. “Tell me you aren’t pondering the charms of Lady Sophie now that she has become Lady Yes.”

  Rowan pursed his lips at the question and the tone with which it was said. In truth, he’d always respected Sophie’s independent spirit. Why should she say yes to some fool just to do what Society expected?

  “No, just curious as to why the sudden change,” he said. “Perhaps I’ll call on her aunt and see if I can wheedle the truth out of her. We’ve always been friendly.”

  Percy’s brows lifted. “If you could solve the mystery, you’d be the hero of the Season, I’m sure.”

  Rowan shrugged. “I’m not much interested in the title. And to be honest, I am not interested in staying tonight either. I’m going to go.”

  Percy looked ready to make an argument against the departure, but then he sighed. “Very well. I can see that you are truly troubled by whatever went on between you and your brothers. I hope you’ll consider talking to me about it.”

  Rowan nodded. “I will. Later.”

  Percy said his goodbyes and Rowan made his way through the crowd to the foyer where he asked for his horse to be brought around. But as he waited, he found himself thinking not of Alistair and Keaton and their dastardly ways, but of Sophie and the mystery of why Lady No had become Lady Yes.

  And if he just might be able to use that change to his own advantage.

  Chapter Three

  Sophie limped into the parlor and flopped herself into a chair across from her aunt. Louisa lifted her brows as she handed over a cup a tea. “Something troubling you?”

  Sophie nearly snorted at the dry delivery of her aunt’s question. “I think I made a very bad bargain with you,” she said.

  Louisa smiled into her cup as she took a slow sip. When she’d swallowed, she said, “It’s only been ten days. Are you reneging already?”

  “It may have only been ten days, but it feels like a lifetime,” Sophie said, setting her teacup aside and rising to her feet to pace to the window. “I have danced with buffoons, walked in gardens with utter idiots and had everything under the sun explained to me as if I were a fool who could barely feed myself. It is exhausting!” She pointed to her slippers. “Also, I’d like to point out that I can hardly feel my toes today thanks to them being trod upon by that horrible Duke of Landonburg at last night’s soiree.”

  “That horrible Duke of Landonburg is the most sought after bachelor in Society,” Louisa said gently.

  Sophie huffed out a breath. “If he didn’t have gads of money, he wouldn’t be, I assure you. He is dull as dry toast, Aunt Louisa! I thought I might die of boredom right there on the dancefloor.”

  “Well, that is a bit dramatic, isn’t it, my love?”

  Sophie sighed heavily and retook her seat. “Perhaps a little, I admit. But I do not need his funds, so it is so frustrating to have to feign interest when he went on about the benefits of crop rotation for the entire duration of our dance.”

  “I suppose one could argue it is positive that the man is interested in his country duties, for they impact a good many people,” Aunt Louisa offered weakly.

  Sophie narrowed her gaze. “Are you trying to marry me off to the Duke of Landonburg?”

  “No!” her aunt replied with a laugh. “Of course not. I only don’t want to see you give up. Your sudden acquiescence to dance and interact with gentlemen has stirred a grea
t deal of interest, my dear. You are not seeing the best quality of men yet, that is all.”

  Sophie pursed her lips. She would not say it to her aunt, but she was disappointed as much as frustrated by just that fact. Somewhere in her heart she’d dreamed of being surrounded by eligible, interesting men who might set her heart to beating faster.

  “You look sad, dearest,” Aunt Louisa said softly.

  Sophie shrugged. “It is only that it seems like those who have approached me are only interested in my money. Or think I should be willing to settle for theirs. I suppose I thought there might be more…spark in this endeavor.”

  “I know it’s difficult, but please keep trying,” Louisa encouraged as she reached out to take Sophie’s hand.

  Sophie nodded. “I will continue the bargain, aunt, but only because I adore you. I hope I won’t disappoint you, though, when I say that I cannot imagine any man striking my interest this Season.”

  “You could never disappoint me, dearest. Now, I am about to have a guest for tea. Would you like to join us?”

  Sophie shook off her problems. “Who is joining you?”

  “Rowan Sinclair.”

  Her aunt continued speaking, but Sophie didn’t hear anything more. Once Sinclair’s name was spoken, it was as if the air was drawn out of the room. She sat calmly, but inside she was clawing for breath, for purchase.

  The dashing third son of the Earl of Terrington had always been a friend to Louisa. She appreciated his independent streak and his somewhat inappropriate humor. But in Sophie, he inspired quite a different reaction.

  He terrified her.

  He was too handsome, too certain of himself, too…just too. She didn’t like that when he was near her, she wanted to just look at him, with his dark hair and bright blue eyes and dimples that only brought attention to his full lips. She didn’t want to notice his broad shoulders and his fine physique and the way he moved with such certainty and grace.

  Men like Sinclair were not safe. They swept a woman up. They made a woman’s heart beat faster, like she’d claimed to want if only in her own mind. But it was an out-of-control quickness. One that meant she was surrendering reason.

  And Sophie wanted no part of that kind of madness.

  “I have a bit of a headache, actually,” she said, rising in the middle of whatever her aunt was saying. “Too much bad wine and dance partners, I suppose. I think I will not join you and Mr. Sinclair.”

  Her aunt kept her gaze on her for a beat too long, then she stood, as well. “Certainly, my dear, I will make your excuses. Go up and rest yourself. I’ll come check on you after he’s gone.”

  Sophie forced a smile and leaned in to buss her cheek. “You are too good to me, Aunt Louisa. I hope I’m not too much of a trial for you.”

  Louisa touched her face gently. “Never, love. Now run along.”

  Sophie followed the instruction and turned from the room. But as she headed up the stairs toward her comfortable bed and away from the threat of the storm that was Rowan Sinclair, she couldn’t help a sense of unease. About the bargain she had made with her aunt. About the man who would now enter her parlor and intrude upon the sanctum she found such peace in.

  Rowan stood in Lady Louisa’s parlor, waiting for his hostess to join him as he stared up at a portrait that hung on the parlor wall. It was of Louisa and her niece, seated close together, their hands intertwined. They shared the same green eyes, though Louisa’s hair was a fading blonde. And the older woman was, of course, more lined with age, though she remained quite handsome.

  They were as close as mother and daughter, though he supposed they would be. Everyone knew that Sophie had lost her parents when she was very young and Louisa had raised her for most of her life.

  Which meant he would have to be very careful with how he proceeded with Lady Louisa. Friendship or not, he doubted she would be happy if she thought he was sniffing around her niece for Sophie’s fortune.

  In truth, he wasn’t very pleased with that idea, himself. But the twenty-four hours since the ball had been rather awful. He’d received his copy of his father’s will, and Percy had helped him obtain a solicitor that very morning. The man had only to read over the document once to say that Alistair was within his rights to remove Rowan’s funds. That fighting for otherwise in court would likely result in nothing but a lot of lost money that Rowan now didn’t have.

  Which meant he was back to the options he’d been tossing and turning over all night. He was bad at investment, never had the head for it. He didn’t want to fall on the kindness of friends. His art didn’t yet make enough to support him.

  But plenty of men married for the dowry of their intended. It was mercenary, but expected. And at least Sophie was attractive. Very attractive, really. He’d always found her in the crowd. Always appreciated the way she moved.

  “Rowan Sinclair!”

  He turned from the portrait as Lady Louisa entered the room, both hands outstretched. Her smile was wide and welcoming, and he returned a grin of his own as he moved toward her and allowed her to kiss each cheek as a welcome. He had always genuinely liked Lady Louisa. Five years before he’d been seated next to her at a dinner party and they’d been friends ever since. She was intelligent and amusing, kind and eccentric.

  “My lady, you are a vision as always,” he said as he waited for her to sit and did the same.

  She slapped his forearm good-naturedly. “You are a flatterer and a flirt, sir,” she teased.

  He leaned in. “Always, Lady Louisa.”

  “It’s been an age since I last saw you,” she said, leaning forward to prepare his tea.

  “Too long,” he agreed, and meant every word. “I think we last shared tea…six months ago?”

  “Just after your father’s death,” Louisa agreed, and her tone became more somber. “How are you holding up?”

  Rowan stiffened. “As well as can be expected,” he admitted softly.

  “And are those wretched brothers of yours giving you too much trouble?” she pressed.

  He darted his gaze to her. There was something in her tone that made him wonder if she knew his dire circumstances. But that was not possible. He’d only discovered them himself just last night.

  “They are pleasant, as always,” he said, keeping his tone dry and neutral.

  She nodded. “Well, they may mellow now that Alistair has the power he’s always wanted.”

  Rowan shook his head. “He does revel in the power,” he muttered, his mind going to his brother’s smug expression.

  Louisa sighed. “You cannot wish to discuss this topic.”

  He laughed despite himself. “No, I do not.”

  She tilted her head and looked at him more closely. “What brings you by, Rowan? I was surprised to receive your request to call.”

  “Can a man simply wish to see an old friend from time to time?”

  She sipped her tea before she answered. “Perhaps you come here to inquire after Sophie.”

  His eyes went wide and he stared at her. God but the woman was a hawk—she didn’t miss a thing. And she was entirely unreadable in this moment, he couldn’t tell her reaction even a fraction. He would have to tread carefully.

  “And why would you say that?”

  She folded her hands into her lap without breaking eye contact with him. “We have already established that half a year has passed since our last tea together. I cannot help but think the timing of this new call isn’t a coincidence. After all, her change in demeanor is on the wind, isn’t it?”

  He hesitated and then nodded. “It’s the talk of the town, of course. After all, how often does a woman go from refusing even the casual interest of gentlemen to dancing with any one of them who asks? Who wouldn’t talk?”

  “I admit that there is reason for the general interest,” Louisa said. “But I’m more curious about your interest specifically, Rowan. You and Sophie have bumped into each other over the years in Society and through our friendship, but I’ve never sensed a deeper c
onnection. So I wonder why you come all the way here to inquire. Is it more than wanting to be the center of knowledge?”

  He swallowed. “Lady Sophie and I are of an age,” he said, choosing every word carefully. “No one could say she isn’t beautiful. And I know she is also intelligent.”

  “Not every man appreciates such a thing in a lady,” Louisa said softly, almost wistfully.

  Rowan wrinkled his brow. “I would not be interested in a stupid wife.”

  Louisa’s eyes went wide. “Are you considering taking Sophie to wife?”

  Rowan swallowed. He hadn’t really said that thought aloud yet, though he’d obviously been considering it thanks to his financial situation. Now that the words were on the wind they felt like a collar pulled too tight around his neck.

  “Your pale face tells me volumes,” Louisa said when he was silent for too long. “You know I’ve always liked you, young man. I will not lie and say that I haven’t thought you would make my Sophie a good match.”

  Rowan blinked. Here he’d thought he was stepping into almost enemy territory. “I-I am shocked,” he admitted. “Your Sophie has never seemed interested in me.”

  Louisa shrugged. “She is…fearful of what she thinks love is. But her lack of interest could change, I think. With the right man.”

  “By the way you are looking at me, it seems you think I might be that man.”

  Louisa inclined her head slightly. “Perhaps. I hope so, I admit, for both your sakes. Are you interested?”

  He nodded slowly. “I…am.”

  “Good!” Louisa’s face lit up. “Then I am going to give you some information that will put you ahead of the pack of mercenaries who are currently trodding all over my niece’s feet and trying to convince her to overlook their lesser qualities.”

  “Information?” Rowan repeated, completely astonished by this turn of events. “Please, I am fascinated.”

  Louisa looked over her shoulder, as if she were checking for spies, then whispered, “The reason Sophie is saying yes to every fool who approaches her is because of me.”