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“So come on, tell me. How did it go?” Ally patted Sophie’s hand.
Sophie opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the Brighton butler, Graves, and his apprentice, Bertram.
“I do beg your pardon, my ladies,” Graves said, “but a message has been delivered for Lady Sophie.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Sophie arched her eyebrows. A message for her? She never got messages. She hadn’t had one since Lord Van Arden had broken off their friendship, and even before that, messages from him had been few.
“Yes.” Bertram strode forward, his cheeks rosy, and handed her the parchment.
“Thank you, Bertram.”
Graves’s apprentice had been a footman up until a few weeks prior, when Graves had announced his intention to retire. The Earl of Brighton had conferred with Graves and the other lead servants, and they had decided to groom Bertram to be the new butler. Bertram was shy and awkward, but he was learning quickly.
Graves and Bertram bowed politely and left the parlor, closing the door behind them.
“Whatever could this be?” Sophie broke the seal on the parchment.
“Perhaps you have an admirer.” Ally smiled deviously.
Sophie’s cheeks warmed as she remembered her kiss with Mr. Newland. Of course, it meant nothing. Mr. Newland only wanted her to sing in the production. “That is highly unlikely.” She unfolded the paper and read the message.
You were wonderful today.
“I’m on pins and needles here,” Ally said. “Who is it from? What does it say?”
Sophie handed the paper to Ally. “It’s not signed.”
“That is odd,” Ally said. “But someone must have enjoyed your audition. Tell me, how did it go?”
“It went…well, I guess. Cameron said I was brilliant, and Mr. Newland wants me to be the new lead soprano in his company.”
Ally shot up from the divan and then clutched at her stomach. “Goodness, I should know better than that.”
Sophie stood and guided Ally back down. “Yes, please, remember the child.” Sophie sat back down beside her sister.
“But aren’t you excited, Sophie? This is your big chance to get off of the estate. To make something of yourself. There is so much more to you than you even know, my dear sister. I hate to think of you wasting away your life just sitting in this house.”
“I am quite content with my life, thank you.” But was she? The audition had thrilled her. Once she got over her nerves and started singing, only she and her voice had existed.
“What exactly are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I refused the post.”
Ally’s eyes widened into saucers. “You cannot be serious. This is an incredible opportunity for you.”
“It’s an opportunity that I have no interest in, Ally. I’m quite content with my life the way it is. I don’t wish to put myself in the public eye. I’m not meant for that life.”
“Sophie, you are meant for more than knitting, crocheting, and singing by yourself in the conservatory. The world has so much to offer you, and more importantly, you have so much to offer the world.”
“I just don’t know…”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Now, who might have sent this note?”
“If I had to guess, I would say Mr. Newland. He was very determined to have me join his company. He even told the present lead soprano, Miss Lloyd, that I would be taking her place. She was not thrilled, to say the least.”
“That cheap floozy? Why, you can sing circles around her, and she no doubt knows that. Mr. Newland obviously does.”
