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“Just so. Don’t worry; you have confidentiality on my side.”
“As you have from mine.” Sophia frowned. “I don’t want to think how Aimee will react when she finds out about this.”
“We’ve been innocent with our interactions, haven’t we?”
“Of course we have. I’m not about to do anything of the sort with someone soon to be my brother-in-law. But I doubt Aimee will believe me.”
Soon to be her brother-in-law. That really didn’t sit well with Thomas. He tilted his head as he regarded her curiously.
“Why does your family treat you like this? Why are they so … I don’t know how to put it … negligent?”
“I suppose because I’ve got my own opinions, and I don’t have the same mindset. I just want to be strong and rely on myself, but my mother says we should rely on men and marry to carry on the family line.” Sophia frowned. “At least, I think that’s why. Aimee used to feel the same way, but then she went to London for her coming out, and she changed. We used to be close once.”
Thomas found that hard to believe. Aimee rubbed him the wrong way. But to ignore one child because they had a different ideal in life sounded really silly. And this was the family he was marrying into?
Not for the first time, Thomas wondered if he was getting married to the wrong sister.
They were pretty close to each other now. Thomas hadn’t realised they had been moving closer to each other. He could almost touch Sophia now, and he was sure he could hear her breathing catch. He looked into her eyes and saw something that made his heart stop. Did she feel the same way about him? God, he hoped so.
Suddenly, Sophia blinked, and she turned away.
“I have to get back inside. I don’t want to be out here too long.”
“I’ll escort you a bit closer.”
“No, you’d better stop here. If we get caught, there will be plenty of questions neither of us will be able to answer if you come with me.” Sophia glanced back and gave him a small smile. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. We’re not that far from the house.”
“Even so …”
“Mister Ford, you don’t need to worry so much. I’ve been capable of looking after myself for some time now.”
Thomas shook his head.
“No woman should ever have to say that.”
“Well, that’s how it is with me.” She turned and started backing away, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Thank you for walking me back. I hope you return to Baron Beauchamp’s before it gets too dark. This place is pitch black with no light.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Thomas hesitated. “Take care, Miss Sophia.”
“I will. Goodnight, Mister Ford.”
Thomas. He wanted her to call him Thomas. But he stopped himself before he did that. Sophia would turn him down, anyway. She seemed to be trying harder than him to ignore whatever was between them. Thomas wished he had the same resolve.
It wasn’t easy. Especially as he stood there watching her walk away. Thomas just felt lost seeing her walk away from him. That had never happened before.
Things were going to get more complicated now, and Thomas didn’t know how he felt about it.
Chapter 12
“How do I look?” Christiana asked, turning to face Sophia. She was almost bouncing as she moved. “Do I look presentable enough?”
“Of course you do.” Sophia laughed as her friend looked uncertain. “Come on, Christiana, why would I lie to you about that? You always look presentable.”
“I hope so.” Christiana bit her lip. “I want to ensure that I’m not going to make a fool of myself.”
“You’re going to make a fool of yourself if you keep squealing and jumping up and down at sudden intervals like you have been all afternoon,” Sophia pointed out. “What have you got so excited about, anyway? This is a normal dinner party. You’ve attended several of them already, and you haven’t been like this before.”
“Well, you know that your family is attending tonight.”
