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CHAPTER3
“I…” The words faded on Sophia’s tongue.
She didn’t know what to feel more in that moment. Her head was already dizzy thanks to the sparkling wine, and the more she looked at the Duke of Pemberton beside her, the more she rather liked the idea of asking the question, yet she was also furious at her friend.
Rachel! Come back here this minute and help me out of this mess!
She knew why Rachel had done it. She was eager to see Sophia enjoy her life, something which Sophia appreciated most of the time. That was until she was face to face with the handsome Duke of Pemberton, on the cusp of asking him to take her to his bed.
What am I thinking of!?
“Lady Elkins?” the Duke asked and stepped toward her again. “You and I know each other well enough by now that you can tell me what this favor is. I might even agree to assist you in this favor.”
What would it be like if you did?
Sophia’s mind wandered. The hand he had placed to her back mere moments ago had sent her into a frenzy. There was both a gentleness and a firmness there, one that made her wonder what other sorts of touches he could offer.
“Think nothing of it, Your Grace.” Sophia spoke quickly and lifted her chin, planting a bold smile on her face. She decided the best way to extricate herself from this situation was to seem confident. “It is merely one of Rachel’s mad ideas.”
“What mad idea?” he asked, urging her on.
“I…” Sophia decided it must have been the wine that made her tongue loose, but for some reason, she could not stop it. “I wish for adventures now I am free of my husband.” At once, the Duke smiled, his brows lifting a little.
“I’m pleased to see you are no longer kept by a jailer.”
“My husband was not my jailer.”
“Was he not? I once saw him tell you not to speak.” He scoffed at the mere idea, shaking his head back and forth. The words made Sophia tilt her head to the side, watching the Duke closely.
“You paid enough attention to me to observe such a thing?” Her words made him swallow, as if uncomfortably. He adjusted the cravat around his neck and looked back to her with that easy smile in his face. She thought she must have imagined that discomfort, for he was all confidence and ease once again.
“I always paid attention to you, Lady Elkins.”
“You are flirting.”
“Perhaps a little.” He acknowledged, his smile growing wider still. “Come, I know you well enough by now to see that you are rather itching to tell me whatever this favor is.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You are fidgeting with your wine glass.” He motioned to the glass in her hands. She fell still with the glass, angered that he could read through her so easily.
“Very well, then I shall tell you.” She glanced around, ensuring no one else was nearby then she turned to the drinks table behind them, topping up her glass. The Duke moved to her side and helped her with the carafe. “When I wish to have more adventures, I am not merely talking about freedom with where to go and what to do in my days. I wish to have more adventures at night too.” She hoped the Duke would understand the hint, without further words.
“What sorts of adventures are we speaking of? The theatre? Night-time concerts? Or…” He faded off, his hand pausing with the carafe. Sophia looked only at his fingers as they were curled around the neck of the glass decanter for a second, suddenly nervous of meeting his eyes. “Or something else entirely?”
“Something else entirely,” she confirmed. Breathing deeply, she sought out the courage and lifted her gaze to meet his. At once, he seemed to understand her, his lips curling into a mischievous smile and his eyes widening in shock.
“You have become bold, Lady Elkins. I thought you such a lady of propriety, now you are talking of such things at an assembly?”
“I have been a lady of propriety since I was old enough to walk and talk.” She rolled her eyes, remembering the years of tuition that had been drummed into her by her father and her governess. “It has hardly made for amusing years. My friend assures me there is much more to life than being proper, and so far, I am discovering she is right.”
The Duke shifted, abruptly uncomfortable for some reason, then he glanced across the room. It took Sophia a few seconds to realize where he was looking – straight at Sir Arnold.
“Have you already explored theseadventures?”
“No.” Her word made the Duke look back to her again, with a sudden softening in his expression.
“Then, what exactly is the favor you wish to ask me?” At his words, she laughed and shook her head.
