Chapter 1 #2
She couldn’t even imagine what her mother would say if she expressed an interest in riding on the race course. Well-bred ladies were supposed to ride demurely—sidesaddle—not gallop about like heathens.
Well-bred ladies were not supposed to do many things that Sophie would like to do.
Nicholas pulled a face that was two parts sympathy and one part amusement. “While you can’t race, there’s no reason you couldn’t take your horse into the park. The weather is lovely. It’s the perfect day to be outside. I’m sure not even the esteemed Lady Carlisle could find fault with that.”
Sophie laughed, less convinced of that than he was.
It’s not that her mother was overly critical, she just had certain expectations.
Sophie’s sisters had both fulfilled her mother’s expectations in some ways.
Emma was quiet and ladylike, while Violet was charming and popular.
Sophie was reasonably well-liked, but she was…
eccentric, and there was no getting around that.
“Perhaps I shall.” Now that he’d mentioned riding, she was eager to go outdoors herself. There was nothing like the rush of wind in her face as she flew across the grassland—although she’d have to temper herself so as not to cause a scene in public.
Nicholas looked at the clock in the corner and stood again. “I hope you will. You deserve to have some fun. I’d best be off or I’ll be late.”
Sophie hid her smirk. Most likely, he was already late. Nicholas had many good qualities, but he rarely managed to be on time. “Enjoy yourself, Mr. Blackwell.”
He gave a brief bow, flashed her the wicked half grin she loved so much, and strode out.
As soon as he was gone, she deflated. All of that waiting around in the hopes of spending time with him, and he’d only lingered for a handful of minutes. Not nearly enough to satisfy her.
Damn him.
Yes, Sophie knew that she oughtn’t swear, but some circumstances called for it.
She picked up her song from the beginning and played until Kate returned from putting Oliver down.
“I must return home,” Sophie said. She’d like to invite Kate to join her for a ride but knew her friend wouldn’t leave the house when Oliver was being fussy.
She and Theo had gone through a lot before they’d been blessed with their son, and they were both rather attached to him.
It was an uncommon stance by societal standards, but Sophie thought it sweet.
Kate escorted her to the door. “I’ll see you again soon, I hope?”
Sophie smiled. “Before the week is out, I’m sure.”
Life could be dreadfully tedious, living alone with her parents. Calling regularly on her friends improved the situation immeasurably.
They said their farewells, and Sophie took the stairs down to where her carriage waited by the roadside. A footman offered his arm, and she allowed him to help her into the carriage. Once inside, she flopped against the padded seat and gazed out the window.
The carriage eased into motion, bumping over the cobblestones as the driver guided the horses to the center of the street.
Many people were out and about. Nicely dressed women with their maids. Clusters of gentlemen who looked bent on causing mischief. A slightly shabby elderly man with the air of a professor—not that Sophie knew any professors, but he gave her that impression.
The journey home was brief, and she hurried inside, freezing when she heard her mother’s voice.
Lady Carlisle had once again been inquiring about her opinions on eligible gentlemen this morning, refusing to relent until Sophie escaped to visit Kate.
If she came upon her now, no doubt the conversation would resume.
Sophie ducked down a side corridor and waited until her mother’s voice faded, then tiptoed out, hardly daring to breathe as she checked in each direction.
No one was about, so she relaxed and hastened up the stairs. She summoned her maid, Betsy, to assist her in removing her day dress and donning a pale green riding habit.
“Thank the lord that Lady Carlisle allowed Lady Blackwell to design your riding habit this season,” Betsy said briskly, her long blond hair swishing over her shoulder as she smoothed the habit into place. “It suits you much better than that white one did.”
Sophie shuddered. “Truer words were never spoken.”
Troubled by her elder daughters’ scandals, Lady Carlisle had wanted Sophie to look as virtuous as possible when she joined society, so she’d insisted on a collection of white and off-white garments that washed Sophie out and made her look insipid.
Fortunately, her mother admired Kate’s eye for fashion and was beginning to allow Sophie more leeway in her wardrobe choices, provided they were approved by Kate.
Sophie waited while Betsy went to her own quarters to change into a riding habit so she could join her. Ladies like Sophie weren’t permitted to ride on their own. She was lucky to have a maid who enjoyed riding as much as she did.
Once Betsy returned, Sophie led the way out the back to the stables where their personal horses were housed.
Her bay mare, Dandelion, was already saddled because Betsy had had the forethought to send one of the footmen out ahead with a message to prepare her for an outing.
A stableboy saddled an older mare for Betsy and helped them both into the saddles.
They trotted down the street with Betsy hanging slightly behind Sophie, presumably to give her space. Sophie wouldn’t have minded riding side by side, but some of the snootier members of society may have raised their supercilious eyebrows if she treated a maid too informally.
As they made their way to the park, the sun beamed down, heating the top of her head. Thank goodness she’d worn a bonnet. Her fair skin burned easily.
She turned Dandelion off the road and onto a path through the park. There was no one ahead of her, so she allowed her eyelids to droop and her mind to wander as she relaxed into the moment.
It was rather nice.
The breeze was pleasant, the air smelled of grass, and there was nowhere she needed to be.
Of course, she’d rather race across the countryside with Nicholas at her side, but this was enjoyable in its own way.
“Lady Sophie!”
Her heart jolted, adrenaline flooding her, and she straightened in the saddle, immediately alert. A gentleman sat astride a sleek black gelding perhaps a hundred yards in front of her and slightly to the left.
The brightness of the sun made it difficult to discern his features, but she was almost certain that it was Baron Sylvestor, whom she’d met at a ball earlier in the season.
As she drew nearer, she raised her hand to shield her eyes and peered at him. He had hair the color of a field of wheat, eyes that matched the blue of the sky on a summer day, and a boyish face with a wide smile.
“Good afternoon, my lord,” Sophie said, bobbing her head, since she couldn’t curtsey in her current position atop Dandelion. “It’s a lovely day to be out, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “Indeed. Will you ride with me for a while?”
“That would be delightful. Thank you for the invitation.” She kept her smile firmly in place even as she inwardly scolded herself for being disappointed that it was the baron asking to accompany her when Nicholas had not.
She guided Dandelion into position opposite his horse, and they fell into step. Sophie knew without checking that Betsy would be close behind.
“Do you enjoy riding?” the baron asked, glancing over. “I believe I’ve seen you here before, on occasion.”
“Very much so,” she agreed, “but only when the weather is nice. Alas, I don’t have the fortitude to venture out in inclement weather.”
“Oh, I’m the same.” He beamed, apparently delighted by this. “I prefer the comfort of a cozy home during rain or cold.”
As they continued along the path, the baron raised a hand to acknowledge another gentleman, who was walking arm in arm with one of the season’s younger debutantes.
“How is your mother?” Sophie asked, recalling that she and Lady Carlisle had become friends following the death of the former baron, who had been rather reclusive. His widow had mourned for the required period and promptly set about ingratiating herself amongst the older female members of the ton.
“She’s well.” The baron adjusted his seating as they came up to a corner, and Sophie did the same. “We’re going to the Hampstead ball this weekend. Will we see you there?”
“Yes. Mother and I will attend.” Sophie looked forward to a time when her social calendar wasn’t completely overtaken by balls. She enjoyed dancing, flirting, and eating sweet treats, but there was only so much one could take before it became mundane.
“I hope you will save me a dance.”
“I’d be honored to.” It was true. Not for the first time, she couldn’t help wishing that she’d had the good fortune to fall in love with someone as uncomplicated as Baron Sylvestor rather than blasted Nicholas Blackwell.
Unfortunately, her heart wanted Nicholas, and it wouldn’t accept anyone else.
Hopefully her parents would be more considerate than they had in the past, because a marriage to someone other than him would devastate her.
Alas, she might not have a choice.