AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you,” he made himself say and took a sip.
Nothing had ever tasted so sour.
Sophia
Jay seemed more like himself during the dinner, as far as Sophia could tell. His table wasn’t near hers, but she could see him clearly enough, seated between her two young, pretty female cousins, all of them laughing together.
She supposed he was in his natural element.
She, on the other hand, was in her own personal hell—though she ought to be glad that she was seated at a table with her mother, Rose, and several of their friends. The staid conversation here was more suited to her lack of talent, and no one minded at all if she was silent.
“So, I hear you’ve met the new Marchioness herself,” one of the women was saying to Rose.
“Yes, at Leo’s dinner. I was curious, I had to admit, knowing a little of her background, but I was honestly very impressed by her. She seems a remarkable young woman. Did you know she’s given that poor disinherited viscount a job up at Deveron Castle? Quite saved him from penury, it seems, because he’d been living on nothing but the promise of the marquessate for years. She’s even found a tactful way to help her old roommate, commissioning her as artist-in-residence or some such thing.”
“Work, not charity,” nodded Sophia’s mother approvingly. “That’s a good way to do it. It can be hard if a friend suddenly goes up in the world.”
“And what a way up,” said another woman. “I heard that when she was found, she was basically living in a squat. Some unknown part of London.”
“Penge, I believe,” said Rose.
Sophia’s mother crinkled her nose. “Sounds rather like a skin complaint.”
Sophia turned at the sound of laughter across the room. They really were having a marvellous time at the young people’s table—as Sophia had started to call it in her mind. Jay was leaning in to listen to one of her cousins. His hand was resting on the back of her chair. If he moved his fingers an inch, he would be touching the bare skin between her shoulder blades. He could trail them up, to her neck, her jaw. Or he could trail them down her spine—
Sophia shivered. And then dessert was served. Her ice-cream had a cherry on top.
She was watching when Jay’s plate was placed before him. She saw him look up. He met her eye, popped the cherry in his mouth, and winked.
Sophia giggled. Her mother asked her what was wrong.
After dinner, Simon asked her to dance. Sophia said yes because she didn’t know what else to say. He held her hand, and they walked to the dancefloor where a slow ballad was playing. Sophia wondered if the band took requests. Maybe she could ask for some Mötley Crüe.
Simon held her at a respectful distance and smiled kindly. “Having fun?”
“I hope you are,” Sophia said, fixing her eyes on his shoulder. “I’m sorry to drag you all the way up here for a rather boring party.”
“Boring? Not at all. I’ve met the aunt of a duke and the heir of a viscount.” He grinned, teasing. “I’ll be feeding off this for years back home.”
Sophia smiled.
“You know I would have come anyway to see you, party or not. I was worried about you when you left the firm. I hope I’m not overstepping the mark, but I have to admit, you never seemed particularly happy there. But it’s put my mind at ease seeing you now. You look happier than you ever did in New York.”
She glanced up, surprised. “I do?”
“You do. Like a light has been switched on inside you. I can’t really explain it. But if you’ll forgive me for saying… You look even more beautiful than you did before.”
“Oh.” She went back to staring at his shoulder, then at the folds of his tie. “Thank you.”
“Don’t worry, this isn’t me making a move. I’ll admit I was interested in you, Sophia. That’s partly why I visited—to explore the possibility of…us. I guessed back in New York that you were interested in me, and that was flattering, but I couldn’t date a colleague. Now though. Well, you get to hear my exclusive news first: part of why I came over to London was to interview for a job here. And I suppose I was thinking that if I got it, and moved, a relationship with you suddenly seemed possible…”
“You put this much thought into it?”
“I did. One of my strengths, and quite possibly one of my failings, is that I put a lot of thought into everything. I wasn’t going to date you when I shouldn’t. And I’m not the kind of man to have a one-night stand.”
“I didn’t even know if you liked me. Only that you talked to me sometimes, more than any of the others did anyway.”
“I liked you alright. You’re a stunning woman. And smart, and kind, though it takes a while to see that under your shyness.”
