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She leaned heavily against the cold exterior wall of the Ramsdales’ monstrous home and let the chill seep through her gown to scorch her skin. It felt quite nice, having something to think about, aside from the music. But then the door beside her opened and a man stepped into the shadows. “Miss Thorne?” the interloper called.
Sophia shuffled farther into the darkness, just as the music seeped around the door to greet her as well. She huddled farther in the shadows.
“I could have sworn I saw her leave through that door,” a second voice said.
“Quite an odd piece of baggage, is she not?” the first man asked. She could vaguely place his voice but couldn’t remember his name. She’d danced a minuet with him. How dare he compare her to baggage!
“Pretty as a picture, though.” He guffawed loudly. And unattractively. His laugh was almost as big as his hooked nose. And it was huge. “It’s too bad she has bats in the belfry.”
“What do you mean?”
Indeed? What did he mean?
“She couldn’t put two words together if her life depended on it. It was like talking to the marble statue outside my father’s hunting lodge.”
“Since when have you cared one bit about talking to a lady?”
Unable to take any more, Sophia stepped from the shadows into the light that filtered out the windowpanes. “Since when have either of you become such grand individuals that you can speak so callously of someone you’ve only just met?” She dusted at her skirt.
Even in the darkness, Sophia could see them both flush. “Miss Thorne.” The hooked-nosed one had the nerve to speak.
Indeed. She was of a good mind to throw some dust above their heads and bring their own insecurities to light. But then Marcus popped his head around the corner and into the darkness as well. He looked at the two men, who fidgeted from foot to foot.
“Is everything all right out here?” he asked of the men. Then he raised a brow at Sophia.
“Everything is fine. These two gentlemen here have decided that I’m dumb as a rock, however. Since I can’t put two words together, perhaps you should take me home.”
Marcus gave them both a scathing glare. They blanched even more, and the hook-nosed one opened his mouth to speak. “Save it for someone who cares to hear it,” Marcus bit out before the man could do so. Marcus held his elbow out to Sophia, and she took it with no hesitation.
As he led her back into the ballroom, she steeled herself against the music, but it infiltrated her senses regardless, making her brain feel like mush. “Please tell me you delivered the package. Can we go home now?” Sophia asked of her brother.
“I would have delivered it, but I don’t know who it’s for yet.” He reached into his pocket and retrieved the small silver casket. Then he opened her reticule and dropped it inside. “But I do know it’s for you to deliver.”
Blast and damn. Of course, it couldn’t be simple. It had to be difficult.
Marcus looked down at Sophia’s dance card and noted that she had an empty space. “I’ll take this waltz,” he said absently, as he led her out onto the floor.
“Better you than some unsuspecting peer who will expect me to converse.” Sophia placed her hand in his, and he stepped toward her. But then the music screeched to a halt. Every eye in the room looked toward the orchestra. And the orchestra members stared openmouthed at the entrance of the ballroom.
Sophia feared she looked as dumbstruck as the rest of the occupants of the room. But she was finding it difficult to draw in a deep breath. There, at the top of the stairs, stood the dangerous Duke of Robinsworth in all his splendid glory. He wore all black, except for the gleaming, icy-blue diamond pin that winked at her from the center of his cravat. It matched his eyes almost perfectly. A wayward lock of hair fell across his forehead and she wanted to rush to him to brush it back. But Marcus’s hand tightened on her arm. “Don’t even think about it,” he breathed.
It was all she could think about. It had been days since she’d laid eyes on Ashley Trimble. Days since she’d seem his smile. Since he’d made her heart trip within her chest. Since he’d looked at her as though she were the only person in the room. And he was doing so now. Every eye in the room turned toward her when his gaze landed upon her. And then an audible gasp echoed around the room as the corners of his mouth lifted in a small smile.
He turned and greeted his hosts quickly and efficiently. They looked a bit more than surprised. But were obviously honored to have a duke in their presence. Even if he was the dangerous duke, he was still of the upper orders of the peerage, and it was an honor for him to set foot across their threshold. Much less linger for a moment in their home.
The orchestra took the cue from the butler, who motioned for them to begin again. They did so, but their eyes were on the duke, rather than on their music. Nevertheless, a lilting minuet began.
“Breathe, Soph,” Marcus urged.
Oh, dear, that would probably help her stay upright, wouldn’t it? She inhaled deeply through her nose.
“That’s better,” Marcus said soothingly.
“Perhaps for you. Because now you won’t have to catch me as I fall.”
He nudged her toe with his. “You need to take a step, Soph.”
Sophia looked around her and saw that people were moving with the music. But all she wanted to do was look at Ashley. She looked to the place where she’d last seen him. He wasn’t there. Her heart lurched.
