Her eyes widened. “That means if my feelings are true, then I must be in love with you.”
Her words had his chest lightening. “You don’t appear pleased.”
She rose, holding on to the chair. “I can’t be. We are not betrothed and you are not to marry for years. If this is true, it’s terrible.”
He was a fool, but he couldn’t remain where he was. He strode to her and took her hands in his. “Is it? If I tell you that I love you, would it be so terrible?”
Her green gaze searched his own. “Truly?”
“Yes. I love you. I don’t know how or why, but I know it started when I kissed a pretty shepherdess on my way to the ballroom.”
Her eyes grew teary. “I love you as well.”
Joy burst through him unlike any he’d felt before. He wanted to shout with euphoria, but her gaze tempered him. “What is it? You look as if you wish to cry.”
“I do. You will not wed—no,cannot—until your estate is stable and you have the finances to support a wife. Also, my mother wishes meto wed another. So how can loving each other be good?”
He let go of her hands and clasped her face. “It’s good that we feel this toward each other. Everything else we can solve.” He gave her a light kiss to reassure her.
When he let her go, she moved away, consciously or unconsciously, toward the door. “I believe I could convince my mother that I wish to marry you, but my father will insist that you are financially able to support me. You aren’t.”
And there was the crux of his dilemma. “No, not now.”
She didn’t say anything, but he knew what she was thinking. Lord Wilford could support her immediately, while Christopher’s mode of income was investments and bets, not what a father would accept. And what if Sophie met Wilford and found him to be agreeable? “You are here at the school for seven more weeks. I will see what I can do in that time.” He stepped up to her and cupped her cheek. “Do not give up on something as special as love.”
Her lips finally lifted in a soft smile. “I won’t. I promise.”
He sealed her promise with another gentle kiss then reached for the door.
“Wait.” She lifted a book from the table next to his chair, then nodded.
He opened the door to find Lord Hopton striding down the corridor to his room. Quietly, Christopher closed the door and shook his head. He waited until he heard the distinct sound of a door closing then looked into the corridor again. No one was about. “You can go now.”
She opened the book, and was about to start out when he stopped her.
Taking the book from her hands, he turned it right side up then checked the corridor again.
With a nod, she started out, to all appearances reading and walking.
He closed the door and leaned his back against it before cracking the knuckles of his right hand. What should have been a euphoric moment was now filled with doubt, but he was resourceful and he would find a way to achieve his dream, which now included a loving wife.
The question was, how?
*
Three days later
Sophie donned herclothes quickly and sat at her dressing table, anxious to break her fast and start the day. Mrs. Boyd had given her a note from Tam saying he’d arranged to talk to her during her usual session with Mrs. Kingman. He’d written that he’d made progress on his financial concerns. Fortunately, Mrs. Boyd was trustworthy and enjoyed the secrecy, finding the situation very romantic.
Her maid lifted the brush and began attempting to pull Sophie’s hair into a neat bun, which they both knew would not work. “I finished the book you lent me, my lady. I will bring it back this evening when you dress for dinner. I truly enjoyed it.”
“I’m so pleased. Would you like to borrow another from the same author? She has a few others published.”
“I would, very much.”
The maid tried to tuck in the loose strands, but Sophie was anxious to go to the dining room. “Let them be, Miss Clark. It’s not as if I have a ball to attend.”
“Yes, my lady.” The maid set down the brush. “You look quite fetching with those wisps of hair about your face, if you don’t mind my opinion.”
