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“Please, I truly want you to stay. I’m delighted that you came to visit.”
Sophie yanked her chin out of his grasp. “I fear I cannot stay. As for the role you offered me, please give it to Miss Lloyd. It’s clear that you two are…close.”
“As I’ve told you, anything that existed between Nanette and me is now over. She is not happy about that fact, so she came to my office and attempted to seduce me.”
“From where I was standing, she appeared to have succeeded,” Sophie said.
“I promise you, she did not. She was kissing me. I was not kissing her. And even if there were something between Nanette and me, I would still want you for the part. You are so far above Nanette in talent and grace, and it would give me so much happiness to make you the queen of the stage that you were meant to be.”
Sophie gulped. The queen of the stage? Timid, plain little Sophie? And was he truly telling the truth about Nanette? Not that it mattered, of course. Sophie had no feelings for Mr. Newland. None at all.
“Please, come back to my office, and we will discuss the terms of your contract. It would give me great joy to welcome you to the theatre company.”
Sophie relented. She had made a commitment to Ally and to herself to try to bring some joy into her life and into the lives of others. If singing in front of an audience could do this, she had to try.
She let out a breath. “All right, but only to discuss the role.”
Zach nodded and led her into his office, shutting the door behind them. He sat behind his desk and motioned for Sophie to take one of the leather chairs facing him.
“The new musicale, written by our own Lord Thornton, is called a Love on a Midsummer Night. The music was inspired by his wife, your cousin Rose. I would like you to play the female lead. Thornton’s music is captivating, and I myself wrote the lyrics to the songs.” He held out a piece of music to her. “Please, take a look. I believe you’ll find it’s well within your range, and I also believe you are the person to do justice to this role. It will be not only your debut, but the debut of this musicale.”
Sophie bit her lip. She would love to perform in something that Cameron had written. He was remarkably talented as a composer. She looked at the song and the notes on the page. Yes, she could definitely sing it, and sing it well. And then she read the words…
Such fluidity in the poetry, such love coming through in the lyrics. She almost couldn’t believe Mr. Newland had written them. Had he ever been in love? Surely he must have been at some point.
Sophie herself, of course, had never been in love and never could have described love in such a beautiful manner, having not known it personally.
“So do we have a deal, Sophie? Will you be my lead soprano? My protégé?”
Sophie took a brief deep breath and nodded. “I am willing to try.”
“Excellent!” Zach rose,
walked around the desk, and pulled Sophie out of her chair. “You will be the belle of the theatre, Sophie. Your loveliness, your quiet demeanor, your angelic voice that comes from the heavens above—the people will fall in love with you.”
He pulled her into a tight hug.
Sophie gasped. All of her senses went on alert. Her nipples hardened beneath her corset, pressing against the stiff fabric. And that place between her legs, that tiny little organ—the clitoris—began to pulsate.
Oh, not again. Would she be able to resist the lure of that incredible feeling?
Before she could think about how to refuse him, Zach’s lips came down on hers.
And then she could no longer think about all the reasons not to kiss Zach. Because she wanted to kiss him. She wanted to explore so much more with this man. Was it wrong to want such things? Ally didn’t think so. And Sophie couldn’t think at all…
The kiss was firm and drugging, eliminating all rational thought from Sophie’s mind. He nibbled around her lips, seeking entrance, and she granted it. He delved his tongue into her mouth, seeking hers. She met him, tangled tongues with him, kissing him with an urgency she had only begun to know.
When he broke the kiss and they both took much-needed breaths, he looked into her eyes, burning an inferno straight into her soul.
“Sophie, why do you I want you so much?”
She had no answer for him. She wanted him as well, and she knew not why. He certainly was no longer attempting to seduce her so she would take the role. She had already taken it. Did he want her to answer? After a few seconds passed, though, he crushed his mouth down to hers once again.
They continued kissing with passion, their lips sliding over each other’s, their tongues swirling, their teeth nibbling. Closer, she wanted to be closer. She desperately wanted to tear off all of her clothing, and then his, and writhe with him on the Oriental rug covering his floor.
Wherever were these thoughts coming from? They were not the thoughts of a lady of the peerage.
She ripped her mouth away from his, stepped back, and looked straight into his piercing eyes. “I can’t do this.”
