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Nicholas stared down at the woman. “Because I shall retire to my estate in a fortnight. Between now and then, Miss Littlebury and I will only be seen with a chaperone in tow.”
“Isn’t that a tad extreme, my lord?” Lady Witham asked softly. “There is bound to be more talk if you retire to the country, leaving your betrothed in town.”
“I do not believe it is, Lady Witham. I have a duty to ensure that my progeny inherit the title. In addition to a seven month engagement, I will have your daughter watched. If she is seen in the company of a man without a proper chaperone, the engagement shall be broken. Does everyone understand this?”
Miss Littlebury’s face went pallid as she nodded slowly. “I understand, my lord. I shall be exactly the type of woman you are looking for in a wife.”
Nicholas glanced down at the girl and said, “I sincerely doubt that, Miss Littlebury. Good day.”
He now had seven months to find out more about Miss Littlebury. The more he’d watched her today, the more he realized that she didn’t seem especially excited about the idea of marrying him.
Perhaps Somerton might be able to find out who she may have been seen with before the night of the Middletons’ ball.
Sophie stared down at the numbers in her expense book. Without more funds, she could never leave and live on her own. Her father paid for the rent and so many of her expenses, she had never realized how expensive it was to live here. Perhaps Venice would be cheaper.
Although, she remembered the cost of just a few weeks in the city. She would need more money in order to leave. She supposed she could go elsewhere, but being in Venice meant she would at least have her mother there. While Angelina wasn’t the best mother, she was family. And she would understand Sophie’s predicament.
The possible answer to her money issues seemed to be asking her father for assistance. Perhaps he would be pleased to get her out of the country so his secret would be kept safe. She quickly penned a letter requesting permission to call on him tomorrow.
She asked Hendricks to have a footman deliver the message then resumed her pondering. If her father refused, there was one other she could go to, but she hated the idea. But she would not think of that unless she had no choice.
“Your carriage is ready, ma’am,” Hendricks announced.
Elizabeth had invited her to dinner with their friends. Sophie assumed it was because they had heard the news about Nicholas and hoped to cheer her up. She hoped they would have the good sense not to mention his name since she could not stop her tears every time she thought of him.
Arriving at her friend’s home, she walked up the steps and the door opened before her. The elegance of the hall established her presence in the ducal home.
“Good evening, Miss Reynard,” Elizabeth’s butler said. “They are in the salon. I shall have Kenneth announce you.”
Sophie followed Kenneth up the white marble steps to the large salon. She breathed a sigh of relief when she entered the room and found only her dearest friends. None of their husbands were present.
“Sophie,” Elizabeth said, greeting her with a hug. “Are you all right?”
“I am well.” She pulled away from Elizabeth and took a seat next to Avis. “Thank you for inviting me tonight.”
“Of course.”
“Where are all your husbands tonight?” Sophie asked.
“White’s,” Avis replied. “We figured it would be a good night for us to get together.”
Sophie frowned, hearing the strange tone of Avis’s voice. It almost sounded like she was hiding something. Sophie shook her head slightly. Now she was becoming suspicious of her friends. Perhaps pregnancy had addled her mind.
Thankfully, none of the women spoke of Nicholas or his engagement. Their conversation centered on their families and touched on some gossip. The sound of male voices coming from the entrance caused Avis to laugh.
“I believe the gentlemen decided the food would be far better here than at White’s,” Elizabeth said with a forced sounding laugh.
Oh, her friends were definitely up to something. From her vantage point, Sophie watched the gentlemen as they entered the room. Kendal entered followed by Lords Selby, Blackburn, Somerton, and . . .
Sophie stiffened as Nicholas walked into the room. His face grew dark as he stared over at her. Obviously he hadn’t expected to see her any more than she had thought to see him.
“Nicholas, don’t stand at the doorway,” Elizabeth said. “Come into the room.”
“I should be leaving,” he said in a low voice. His brown eyes seared her with heat.
“Of course you shouldn’t,” Jennette chimed in. “We are only having dinner.”
Avis reached over and clasped Sophie’s hand for support. Before Sophie could think of a decent excuse for leaving, the footman announced dinner.
