Eyes never leaving hers, he kissed the back of her hand. “As did I.”
At the touch of his lips, a shiver of delight coursed through her. She began to walk away, but he stopped her. “Wait.”
She turned.
“Whydidyou come back here?”
Clara stared at his green eyes and her heart began to pound. “Haven’t you guessed?”
He merely stared at her, waiting for her reply.
“I came here because I’ve never been kissed like that, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” With that, she walked away.
Chapter 5
Dear Clara,
You must be more careful about breaking the rules, and I am not referring to your foolish desire to return to that scandalous ball. Even the smallest mistake matters. Just the other day, Mrs. Carling gave Mrs. Jenson the cut direct because Mrs. Jenson wore her diamonds in the morning. (Be sure not to do that.)
Now that I have said my piece, you must tell me all about your adventure. Was he there?
Love,
Adele
“Did you see the Dukeof Guysborough last night?” Mrs. Gunther asked, looking up from her embroidery to peer at Sophia over the rims of her spectacles. “Did he attend the assembly?”
Sophia raised her teacup and sipped, a faint smile touching her lips. If the Duke of Guysborough had been at the Cakras Ball, she and Clara certainly hadn’t known of it.
“We didn’t see him,” Sophia replied.
“I wonder if he’ll be at the Tremont assembly this evening. He’s a handsome man, don’t you think? A duke, Sophia. And widowed.”
Sophia inclined her head. “You think he would be a good match for Clara?”
“Naturally, don’t you? Your mother would be very pleased.”
“He’s rather old.”
“Nonsense, he can’t be a day over forty-five.”
“But he has children already from his first wife, who passed away not long ago. Do you think he wishes to remarry so soon?”
Mrs. Gunther poked her needle into the fabric on her lap. “I’ve been making inquiries, and from what I understand, he has only one son and four girls. No spare, so to speak. I should think he would be vastly inclined to marry again, and Clara is certainly a beauty.”
Sophia dabbed at her mouth with the corner of her linen napkin. “I hadn’t considered the duke. I don’t know him well. Do you think he’s handsome, and doesn’t seem too mature?”
“To a woman of my age, he’s barely more than a schoolboy.”
Just then, Sophia’s husband entered the breakfast room. “James, you’re back.”
He smiled at her. “Yes, I decided I missed my wife and sons far too much to spend another day away from them.”
Sophia rose from the table to greet him.
They sat down and discussed the renovations at Wentworth Castle while James ate his breakfast. When he laid down his fork, Sophia stood. “Shall we go and see the boys?”
“I would like nothing more.” Together, they excused themselves from Mrs. Gunther’s company and left the room.
