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‘He said he would keep out of it,’ Richard said.
‘Keep out of what?’ she demanded.
‘Helping you to choose between us,’ Lord Gorange put in quickly. ‘He did not want to influence you.’
‘He wouldn’t do that, in any case. I make up my own mind.’
‘And have you?’ Reggie asked eagerly.
‘Will you not take no for an answer?’
‘Not the first time, nor the second.’
‘Nor the third, fourth or fifth,’ Gorange put in.
‘Not until the end of the month,’ Richard added.
The other two looked fiercely at him, and Sophie was constrained to ask. ‘Why the end of the month?’
‘It is a goal I have set myself. After that...’ He shrugged.
‘Oh, dear—’ she sighed, teasing them ‘—what am I to do?’
The dance ended and everyone began to drift back to their places on the sidelines. Vincent escorted Lucy back to her mother and, having done so, claimed a dance from Sophie, writing his name on her card twice. This prompted the others to take back the card and put their names against a second dance. She was beginning to wonder if she would have any left for Adam when he came. But perhaps it was just as well if she were to keep up the pretence of not having a care in the world. If she stood up with him, she would give herself away.
‘Is Teddy not with you?’ Lucy asked. ‘Where is he?’
‘I don’t know, but I have just learned he is making himself scarce in order not to influence my admirers into persuading me to accept one of them.’
‘That is silly.’
‘Yes, it is. Very silly.’
‘He promised me he would be here tonight. I have kept two dances for him. I would have made it more, but Mama says until our engagement is officially announced, two is the most allowed.’
‘Perhaps he will turn up later.’
‘I hope he does. The whole evening will be spoilt if he does not.’
* * *
The whole evening was already spoilt for Sophie, though she continued to talk and laugh and dance. She kept glancing at the door, hoping to see Adam come through it but, though others came and went, he did not appear. He had said he would come, so where was he? Surely he was not still searching for Teddy himself. He had Mr Farley doing that for him now. She wanted to tell him what Richard Fanshawe had said about why her brother was keeping out of the way. It could be true, but why hadn’t Teddy told her so? She would have assured him it was not necessary; she was not about to change her mind. He had said, ‘Good’ when she’d last told him that. Nothing made sense.
The supper interval came and went and Mr Malthouse made a short speech welcoming everyone and praising his daughter for being all things a good daughter should be. If he had hoped it might be a betrothal announcement, he gave no hint of it, and begged everyone to continue to enjoy themselves. Sophie found herself standing next to Cassie.
‘Where is Viscount Kimberley?’ her friend demanded in a whisper.
‘I have no idea. I am not his keeper.’
‘He promised to be here.’
‘Something must have turned up to detain him. If it is any consolation, Teddy is not here either and Lucy is looking as doleful as you do. You may commiserate with each other.’
‘It is all the same to you, isn’t it? You have admirers in plenty and may amuse yourself playing one off against the other.’
‘Yes, it is great fun, Cassie. You should try it.’
‘Oh, you are impossible. I should look out, if I were you. You are fast earning a reputation as a flirt. One day, someone will really break your heart and then we shall see how you like that.’
Sophie did not answer. She had spoken out of bravado, but if that was what everyone was saying, then she might as well give them something to talk about. Vincent came to claim her for the second time, and she took his hand and went gaily on to the floor with him.
* * *
The rest of the evening went by in a blur. She laughed too much, drank too much and let the neck of her gown slip down to reveal creamy shoulders. But in the carriage going home, she burst into tears. ‘There, there,’ her aunt said, patting her hand to comfort her. ‘It is over now. Cheer up. He did not come and there has been no announcement. I didn’t think he would offer for that chit. She is too empty-headed. All is not lost, though I must say, you did rather overdo the not caring.’
‘I don’t care.’ She sniffed. ‘I shall go home and help Jane with her orphans.’
