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CHAPTER20
“Stop shaking like a leaf,” Rachel whispered in Sophia’s ear as she took her arm on the Duke’s doorstep. “He’ll think you’re scared of seeing him.”
“It is a cold day, that is all,” Sophia lied.
“You must think I was born yesterday,” Rachel murmured with a smile.
“You could at least not point out my fibs,” Sophia added, watching as Rachel’s eyebrows raised.
“What kind of friend would I be then? It shows I know you well.”
Before anymore words could pass between the two of them, the door opened, and the butler’s eyes widened to see Sophia on the doorstep.
“Lady Elkins, good day to you.” He bowed to her hurriedly.
“Curious, you are greeted like an old friend at this house, Sophia,” Rachel said with evident humor. Sophia elbowed her friend in the rib for good measure, silencing her before she could cause anymore mischief. “Ow!”
“Good day, we are here to see the Duke,” Sophia said smoothly, covering up Rachel’s sound of pain.
“Of course. Come this way.” The butler beckoned them inside and closed the door. As he led the way through the house, Sophia and Rachel hurried on behind him.
“I daresay I deserved that, but next time, do it a little lighter,” Rachel whispered in Sophia’s ear as she rubbed the sore spot on her ribs.
“My apologies. My nerves have gotten the better of me.” Sophia breathed deeply as the butler opened a door to a sitting room.
Jeremy!
She could remember being in this room when they had first explored together on his settee. Yet as she stepped inside, eager to see him again, his was not the first face she saw.
Lord Thorne was sat on the very settee where she and Jeremy had been together. His head turned to face the two of them and his jaw slackened in surprise.
“You have visitors, Jeremy,” Lord Thorne said with a somewhat intrigued look.
“Lady Elkins, Your Grace.” The butler’s words had a sudden effect. Something dropped across the room and Sophia looked round to see Jeremy had dropped a coffee cup clean out of his hand. It fell onto a trestle table and smashed to pieces, spilling coffee everywhere.
Sophia’s eyes met Jeremy’s. He was clearly shocked to see her, his eyes so wide she could see the whites around those captivating dark blue irises.
“I think that’s his way of saying good morning,” Rachel said buoyantly and released Sophia’s arm. “Good day to you, Lord Thorne. May I join you?”
“Please do. We can watch the scene unfold together.” Lord Thorne made space for her beside him on the settee.
Sophia shot a glare their way, seeing how much they were enjoying themselves. Sophia began to realize that it seemed Lord Thorne knew as much about the situation between her and Jeremy, as Rachel did. It seemed Lord Thorne was Jeremy’s confidante.
Did he tell Lord Thorne too that I had declared I loved him?
“I’ll fetch something to clear up the mess, Your Grace,” the butler said and hurried to the door. The moment he was gone, an awkward silence descended on the room.
Sophia didn’t know where to look first. Part of her wanted to come straight out with the decision she had made, but another part of her was infinitely aware of all that had passed between her and Jeremy the night before.
How am I even supposed to say this?
“Do they need a little cajoling along do you think?” Lord Thorne said to Rachel, as if pretending to whisper, but in reality, making no real effort to do so.
“If you’re just here to cause mischief, Stephen, then you can go,” Jeremy answered quickly, shooting a glare in his friend’s direction.
“Then speak! For goodness’ sake, say something.”
“I intend to.” Jeremy walked around the table where he had spilt the coffee and came to stand beside Sophia. She was torn between moving away from him and stepping toward him. In the end, her feet stayed exactly where she was. “Sophia, how are you?” The question was a sincere one, rather than a pleasantry.
