by Regina James
Hearing the slight humor in his tone, Sophia bristled.
“I did not expect you to understand, Lord Roderick,” she snapped. “Why don’t you return to the ball if my situation causes you such humor?”
“Is your betrothed so terrible?” Lord Roderick softly asked. “Surely the daughter of an Earl will be wed to a fine, upstanding gentleman. I have heard of your father and know of his reputation within society. I doubt he would throw you away on some undeserving—”
“I am to be wed to the Duke of Langley,” Sophia cut him off through clenched teeth. “Something about helping my father with a partnership of sorts.”
She waited for Lord Roderick’s jovial response, but received none. The seconds ticked by slowly, the atmosphere suddenly growing tense.
Without warning, the gentleman got to his feet, pacing across the arbor. “You cannot mean the elder Duke of Langley?” he asked, his voice growing louder with each word.
Lord Roderick paused in his steps, turning to face her.
“But that is ridiculous!” he said.
“I am glad you think so,” Sophia told him. “I am also glad that you no longer laugh at me.”
“That is because I can understand your distress!” he exclaimed, walking over to her. “Why your parents are insisting on such a thing, I cannot understand.”
Sophia let out a harsh laugh, knowing exactly why her parents had chosen this course of action.
Pressing her hand to her brow, Sophia winced as pain sliced through her heart once more. “It seems I am nothing but a commodity, useful for bartering and trading and securing my father’s partnership.”
Lord Roderick said nothing, simply stared down at her for a long moment. She managed to glance up at him, her vision blurry with unshed tears, managing to make out his features somewhat.
Blinking hard, she took in his dark hair, the way his lips were drawn into an angry line.
“You look upset, Lord Roderick,” she said eventually. “I assure you, there is no need to be so on my behalf. You have enough troubles of your own, I am quite sure.”
“That is true,” he said quietly, coming to sit beside her.
Astonished, she made to move away, only for him to grasp her hand in his gloved one.
“I mean you no harm, Lady Sophia,” he continued. “Please, do not run from me. I might, in fact, have something of a solution for you.”
Sophia found herself unable to take her hand from his, the warmth of his body soaking into her chilled limbs. Instead of running, she turned her head to look into his eyes, taking in his serious expression.
“You are not funning me, I hope, Lord Roderick,” she warned. “I have no other options available to me.”
“No, I am not funning you at all,” he replied. “I have had dealings with the Duke of Langley in the past and will do anything in my power to keep you from him.”
Sophia let out a long breath, knowing she had to at least listen to him. “Well then, Lord Roderick. What is it you suggest?”
Lord Roderick cleared his throat.
“My mother is also pressing me to wed soon,” he said slowly. “As of yet, she has not picked any lady in particular, but I fear it will not be long. I find myself not quite ready to enter such a state. Perhaps, with both of our situations, there might be one easy solution.”
“Such as?” Sophia asked, struggling to see where he might be coming from. “I cannot see any—”
“We become betrothed.”
His words shocked her, dragging her breath from her body. She stared at him, breaking into laughter.
“You cannot be serious.”
“Of course I am,” he said, sounding a little affronted.
“And what should we do when the time comes for us to wed?” she questioned, thinking this was possibly the most ridiculous suggestion she had ever heard. “I will not lose my reputation over a broken engagement.”
He did not answer for a moment. “If you are forced to marry the Duke of Langley, then you will have no reputation to worry about.”
Sophia closed her eyes as his blunt words hit her square in the chest.
“You may break the engagement, Lady Sophia, and I shall take full responsibility.”
Sophia shook her head.
“But nothing will stop the Duke from wedding me once our engagement is at an end. The problem remains.”
Lord Roderick chuckled.
“I can see that you are right, but it will, at least, give you some time to consider what else you can to do extricate yourself from his grip.”
He leaned forward, and Sophia felt her breath catch in her chest.
“If you do not agree, and it is entirely up to you whether you do so or not, you must steel yourself for what will happen the moment you step back into the ballroom.”
“I… I cannot see any other way,” she said softly.
Her mind was fighting to think clearly, but she simply could not even begin to think of any other solution.
“Now, shall we find your parents and let them know of our happy news?”
Sophia swallowed and nodded, her mouth going dry at the thought of introducing Lord Roderick to her parents. They would not refuse him, of course, but she was already anticipating the displeasure in her father’s eyes. This would ruin his plan for a partnership, after all.
“How shall we do it?” she asked, breathlessly. “After all, we have not exactly been seen in one another’s company.”
Stopping in his tracks, Lord Roderick turned and smiled at her, making her heart jolt at once.
“Do your parents often see you in company at balls?”
She shook her head.
“In truth, they very often leave me alone.” She managed a strangled laugh. “I believe they have given up on me.”
Lord Roderick’s smile widened.
“Then we shall simply say that we have had a few conversations over the last few weeks and have, this night, decided that we will suit very well together.”
Sophia managed a smile. “And your mother will accept that?”
“My mother will accept any woman I present to her,” he said, with a trace of irony. “She is desperate, you see. So long as you are from a good family and with a decent dowry, I can promise you that she will be delighted. Shall we go in?”
Chapter Six
Nerves swirled through Sophia’s stomach, pushing themselves through her veins. Unable to form words, she clung to Lord Roderick’s arm as they walked towards the doors, hardly able to believe that she was about to do this.
“A waltz has begun,” he murmured as they stepped into the ballroom. “Shall we?”
“It might help calm your nerves,” he continued softly. “Come now, Lady Sophia. Courage!”
Sophia lifted her chin and allowed him to sweep her onto the floor. Within moments, they were amidst the rest of the dancing couples, and she was held tightly in his arms. Thankfully for her, Lord Roderick appeared to be a wonderful dancer, not putting a foot wrong as he glided across the dance floor.
“Relax,” he whispered, giving her a bright smile. “We are meant to look wonderfully happy! Remember, we have only just become engaged.”
She managed to slightly loosen her grip on his shoulder, holding his hand a little more gently.
“There you go,” he chuckled, his chest rumbling as his eyes sparkled with mirth. “Now you look much happier.”
Sophia drew in one long breath after another, aware that she would have to face her parents soon after this dance ended. They would be surprised to see her on the floor, of course, in a gentleman’s arms, and even more astonished to discover she was engaged!
The music ended all too soon, and Sophia found herself being escorted from the floor on Lord Roderick’s arm.
“Your parents or mine?” he asked with a quick grin.
“Mine, I think,” Sophia said, dampening down her anxiety. “I believe they are upon us.”
“As is the Duke of Langley,” Lord Roderick growled, evidently
spotting the large gentleman following her parents.
Pasting a wide smile on her face, Sophia stepped forward and greeted her parents in an excited tone.
“Sophia,” her father began, attempting to draw the Duke of Langley forward. “I—”
“Father,” Sophia interrupted, her hand now on Lord Roderick’s arm. “Let me introduce you to Lord Roderick.”
She looked up at him with what she hoped was an adoring expression.
“Lord Roderick, this is my father, Lord Astor, and my mother, Lady Astor.”
“How wonderful to meet you both at last,” Lord Roderick murmured, bowing heavily.
She saw the astonishment in her mother’s eyes, though she immediately covered it with a deep curtsy.
“How wonderful to meet you, my lord,” she murmured, her eyes drifting towards Sophia. “I saw both of you on the dance floor. How delightful that my daughter has managed to acquaint herself with such a fine dancer.”
“Not just acquaint, Lady Astor,” Lord Roderick said carefully. “I know this is very hasty, and I must apologize for not seeking you out first, Lord Astor, but I simply could not wait a day longer to ask for your daughter’s hand.”
“Her hand?” Lord Astor repeated, staring at him. “You mean—”
“We are engaged!” Sophia interrupted, flashing a bright smile at them both.
There was a stunned silence as both of her parents gazed at her as though she had quite lost her senses. Lord Roderick pressed her hand gently with his, as if asking her to bide her time before speaking again.
“Lord Astor,” came a disgruntled murmur. “I thought you said—”
Sophia’s father coughed loudly, stepping directly in front of the angry face of the Duke of Langley.
“How wonderful,” he said loudly. “My hearty congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you,” Sophia heard Lord Roderick reply as she held her mother’s gaze. “I do hope you can forgive me for not seeking an audience with you first.”
“But of course,” her father said, shaking Lord Roderick’s hand. “I understand.”
Sophia drew in a long breath and stepped forward to press her mother’s hand, leaving the safety of Lord Roderick’s side.
“I care for him deeply, and I believe he feels the same. It is my heart’s desire to wed him, mother. I am so glad you approve.”
“It is more than I ever hoped for,” her mother responded gleefully.
Thankfully for Sophia, his mother had been delighted, just as he had said she would be. She had grasped Sophia’s hand as though she would never let her go, apparently exclaiming that she had never believed her son, Christopher, would actually find himself a bride.
Sophia introduced her mother to the lady and had left the two of them in deep discussion, apparently both as thrilled as the other.
The same could not be said of her father. He was pleased, of course, but his plans for a partnership with the Duke of Langley had been broken to pieces.
A shudder ran through her as she remembered how the Duke grasped her father by the arm and spoke to him in rapid, hushed tones, gesticulating wildly at one point. His face had been bright red, beads of sweat trickling down his face, and his crooked teeth more than evident as he grimaced and growled.
Sophia had to admit that she was more than delighted with the outcome, meaning that she would not have to even entertain the idea of being engaged to the Duke of Langley any longer.
Lord Roderick, however, was entirely another matter. Sophia could not deny that she found him handsome and believed him to be of a warm disposition and kind character. She found herself enjoying being on his arm, relishing the warm congratulations that had come from all parties.
She was the talk of the town, although there had been a great deal of amazement that she had managed to capture the heart and the hand of the Earl.
***
“This is utterly ridiculous!” Her mother’s voice echoed from her father’s study, evidently having a heated exchange with her father. “She is engaged to an Earl, who will one day become a marquess!” Lady Astor exclaimed. “The Duke of Langley has nothing on that. Besides, Lord Roderick seems to make her happy.”
“The Duke of Langley still wants her for his wife,” her father said heavily. “He wants this partnership as much as I do.”
“Then work out a partnership without Sophia being part of the bargain,” her mother answered firmly. “You cannot wish her to end her engagement with Lord Roderick, surely!”
There was a brief pause. “No, of course I do not,” came the eventual reply. “The Duke of Langley is angry, however, because I promised him our daughter’s hand.”
Sophia caught her breath, leaning against the wall for support. Her mother’s shrieks began soon after, echoing down towards her. Apparently, she was furious that her husband wanted their daughter to still consider the Duke of Langley. Sophia’s engagement to Lord Roderick was much more advantageous.
“I will sort the matter out, I assure you,” her father pleaded, apparently quailing under his wife’s fury. “The Duke of Langley will have nothing to complain of soon, I promise.”
“He had better not ruin this engagement!” her mother screeched, slamming something down heavily. “I will not have our daughter’s new position ruined simply because of some old man’s fancy.”
Sophia’s stomach rolled at her mother’s words, but, on hearing footsteps, she rushed along the corridor and into the silence of the library.
More than ever, Sophia was grateful for Lord Roderick. Had he not stepped in when she had needed him the most, she might be awakening this morning to find herself betrothed to the repugnant the Duke of Langley, who clearly wanted her to be his wife in all senses of the word.
Sophia knew very little of the intimacies between husband and wife, but the thought of him extracted another shudder from her. The Duke of Langley was a leech, and she would not allow him to even touch her, not once. Should he ask for a dance, she would refuse him.
Now that she knew his intentions, as well as what her father had promised, Sophia swore to herself she would not go near the man.
It did not seem quite right to know so little about one’s betrothed, even though it would not last all the way to matrimony. He was of a kind heart, having taken her out of her miserable predicament and promising that he would bear the burden of the broken engagement when the time came.
Did Sophia want to know more about him? Would that not put her into dangerous territory?
Her mother was right; Lord Roderick was a wonderfully handsome man. She could not pretend that she was not attracted to him, for even the memory of his smile sent a shiver through her.
She would have to spend a lot more time in his company over the next few weeks, until their betrothal came to an end. She would have plenty of time to get to know him, but Sophia reminded herself that she would have to ensure her heart was not in the least engaged by that time.
It would not be a good thing to fall completely head over heels for Lord Roderick, only for their acquaintance to come to an end. She certainly did not want to add a truly broken heart into their already complicated relationship. There is no use in falling in love with the man, especially when it is all a sham.
Remember that it is all a pretense. Sophia lifted her chin and tried to smile, pretending she did not feel the sinking of her heart.
Chapter Seven
The weeks passed. Lord Roderick was of a kind heart, having taken her out of her miserable predicament and promising that he would bear the burden of the broken engagement when the time came.
“I do hope you are not regretting our scheme, my lord.” Sophia said one day.
His surprise was evident. “No, not in the least!” he exclaimed, his eyes searching hers. “Are you?”
“Not at all,” she responded, aware of just how quickly her heart was beating. “My mother has never been so delighted, as you can see!”
His eyes lit with humor. “Neither mine,” he said,
his lips quirking into a smile.
“It appears you have done what so many other ladies could not, according to my mother. She is utterly besotted with you, even more than I am!”
Sophia managed a smile, her breath catching as she took in the warmth in his eyes, the easy smile on his lips. Had he meant such a sentiment, truthfully? Or was he simply playing the part?
“I do not believe the Duke of Langley is entirely thrilled with our betrothal,” she said wryly. “I heard my father talking earlier.”
Lord Roderick snorted. “I care very little for what the Duke of Langley thinks,” he muttered darkly. “And whilst I will admit that the man is not used to being refused what he wants, I am delighted that I have saved you from his clutches.”
She knew very little of the Duke of Langley, but if what Lord Roderick said was true, then they would have to take care around the man. Not that she intended on seeing him again, but if he was going into partnership with her father—even without her hand as part of the deal—then there was a chance she might be introduced to him at some point in time.
“Perhaps we ought to get to know one another a little more,” Lord Roderick suggested, smiling at her. “After all, when someone asks me about my betrothed, I think it would be best if I knew the answer to their questions. Otherwise, I do not give the impression that I am a man in love!”
Laughing softly, Sophia felt her cheeks warm as he grinned at her, the butterflies not entirely gone from her belly. If only he were not quite so handsome, then she might not feel such unsettling things.
“I think that would be a welcome idea, my lord,” she said. “Although I must warn you that you may find some of my answers unconventional.”
To her surprise, he let out a loud laugh, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he chuckled.
“Lady Sophia,” he said, “that is precisely why I think you are so well suited to me, even if this is all a sham. I have sought to find someone who is, by all intents and purposes, a little less ‘run of the mill.’ In short, I find your unconventionality a truly desirable trait.”