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“Where are you going, Sophia?”
Sophia turned to find Aimee, Amelia, and Ellen openly staring at her. She fixed a blank smile on her face.
“I’m just going to see how Mrs Ripley is getting on. We’re going to be having tea soon, aren’t we?”
“You don’t need to see how the cook is getting on,” Ellen said sharply. “You’re supposed to stay here and support your sister.”
“Mister Ford isn’t here yet, is he? And it’s not like you will miss me, either.” Sophia gave them a little wave before reaching the door. “Have fun.”
She was aware of her mother calling after her – more than likely to scold her again – but Sophia just left the room and walked away. She would lose her calm state if she stayed in that room any longer, and from the look on her sisters’ faces when they were staring at her, they knew it. Who knew her sisters could be so mean?
A few minutes away from them wasn’t going to do anything any harm. Sophia needed it before she got stuck in a room with her entire family for at least an hour listening to their parents gushing over how perfect Aimee would be for Mister Thomas Ford.
God help the poor man.
#
“Would you stop looking like you’re going to a funeral, Thomas?” Viscount Hawksworth asked as the carriage bounced along. “It’s not that bad.”
“It feels like it.” Thomas shifted about in his seat. “I really wish I wasn’t the oldest son.”
His father sighed.
“Look, I know it’s not the ideal thing in the world. Nobody wants to have their lives dictated to them in this manner – I was certainly the same when I was your age – but you are almost thirty, and you’ve not had any prospects of marriage at all. Plus, we need to be secure in that the Viscountcy will stay with our family and not go to your uncle once I pass away. With his children having plenty of sons, we’re a little behind.”
“I didn’t realise breeding sons was a competition,” Thomas grumbled.
“Sadly, it is when you’re trying to keep a title.” Hawksworth swatted his son’s knee. “Now, I know you don’t want this, but the least you can do is look happy to be here. You’re lucky that Viscount Westbury had an eligible daughter for you.”
“I’ve heard things about Aimee Burke, Father. None of it is very pleasant.”
“I’m sure she’s a lovely young lady. I'm sure you will be able to balance each other out.”
Thomas didn’t know about that. Edwin had met her, the two of them being about the same age, and he hadn’t been impressed. If Aimee Burke couldn’t make an easygoing, genial person like Edwin like her, then she wasn’t really good news. But Thomas knew no matter how much he protested, this wasn’t going to stop. He would have to meet Miss Burke and try to engage in conversation. There was a marriage at stake, and he had to leave a good impression for the family.
He didn’t want to do this. But at least he had made a deal with his father that he could go out with Pierce and Edwin into St Neots and do whatever they wanted later on. Pierce had talked about finding some delectable women to distract him from the earlier meeting, but Thomas just wanted to have dinner and a drink away from his parents and not listen to how the meeting with Miss Burke went.
He just wanted a quiet evening without thinking about impending marriage to someone he didn’t think would be compatible with him.
The carriage turned into the driveway, and Thomas looked out the house’s window. Looking at it from up a hill had given him a different perspective. The manor house looked far bigger than he thought it was. The gardens stretching out all around were quite impressive as well. Viscount Westbury really did look after his estate.
“What was Viscount Westbury like when you were children, Father?” Thomas asked. “Did you two get along?”
“Of course, we got along. We were very good friends, as I’ve told you before.”
“Was he always … well … materialistic?”
Hawksworth sighed.
“His father had a specific ideal for his children, and he made sure they knew about it. Westbury does the same for his daughters. If they don’t behave in the specific way the ton expects, then they won’t go far. And it seems to have worked, seeing as his four eldest daughters are married. It’s just Aimee and Sophia now.”
“And I’m guessing Sophia can’t get married until Aimee does.”
“Pretty much. From what Westbury said in his letters, they will start looking for a husband for their youngest as soon as your engagement is confirmed. He’s worried that she will be the most difficult to match.”
Thomas didn’t want to ask why. If Sophia was as similar to her sisters as he thought she was, it was no surprise that she would be difficult to match. Often, the youngest was the toughest; they seemed to be the most spoiled. Thomas was lucky that Edwin was a good person, so it wasn’t the general rule, but from what he had seen before, the youngest were often the worst.
This was going to be a difficult meeting; he was sure of it.
