One Night Scandal (14 page)
“If only it had been Nicholas,” Elizabeth said in a dreamy voice.
“You know, don’t you?” Sophie demanded and then looked at Avis. “Did you tell them?”
“Oh, my God! It
was
Nicholas?” Elizabeth exclaimed. “That is perfect! You will be my cousin by marriage. Our children will be related just like Avis and Jennette, a little more distant cousins, but still related.”
was
Nicholas?” Elizabeth exclaimed. “That is perfect! You will be my cousin by marriage. Our children will be related just like Avis and Jennette, a little more distant cousins, but still related.”
“I did not tell them,” Avis said, smiling over at Sophie. “You just did.”
“I already knew,” Victoria commented.
Jennette frowned. “How did you know?”
Sophie glared over at Victoria who only stared back with a frown. No one else knew they were related by marriage.
“I—I could just tell by how you were reacting,” Victoria lied.
“Hmm, I have known Nicholas forever and I didn’t see it.” Jennette picked up her tea and sipped it. “How did I miss it?”
“Perhaps you were preoccupied with other thoughts,” Sophie said in a testy tone.
Jennette tilted her head in confusion and then the realization dawned on her. Her mouth gaped open in surprise.
“He’s my cousin and I didn’t see it,” Elizabeth added. “So, did you do what you have always advised us to do?”
“What do you mean?” Sophie asked.
“Did you seduce the man?”
Chapter 14
Sophie glanced at Avis and Victoria who both nodded their heads to her. She had never withheld the truth from her friends, except for her father’s name. But she had never told anyone about that and they had always understood her reasons. Victoria had figured it out when she and Anthony became lovers.
“Yes,” she admitted, then stared at her blue silk skirts.
“And yet you didn’t know who he was?” Elizabeth asked.
“We were both speaking Italian. I had no idea he was even English.”
“But you let him into your bed?” Jennette said in an odd voice.
“Well, it was his bed, not mine.”
“Excuse me,” Jennette said as she walked across the room. She blinked quickly as if attempting to hide her tears. “I need a moment.”
“When did you meet him?” Elizabeth queried.
Finally, Sophie knew she had no choice but to tell her friends the entire story of how she and Nicholas had met. She’d never felt so embarrassed in her life. Admitting she’d had an affair with a man she just met was mad.
She had barely finished the story when the men returned from the dining room. Blackburn entered first and explained that Jennette was feeling unwell and he was taking her home. Sophie wondered if it was the pregnancy or the topic that made her ill.
Her breath caught as she glanced over at Nicholas. Why did the man have to look so handsome? She needed to remain angry with him for his betrayal, not gazing at him like a swooning adolescent. The men took seats near their wives or perched on the arm of their chair. Nicholas looked oddly uncomfortable. He finally took a seat across from her.
“So what were you ladies discussing before we entered?” Selby asked. “The latest fashion? Gossip?”
“Children, my dear,” Avis replied. Selby took her hand in his and squeezed it.
As Sophie glanced about, she noticed other loving endearments the couples made toward each other. Sometimes it was just a long look, or a little hand squeeze, or a gentle caress. She pressed her lips together and slid a glance toward Nicholas. His slight smile caused her heart to pound.
“Is Jennette all right?” Selby asked in a caring tone. “She hasn’t been herself for the past few weeks.”
Avis smiled. “I believe your sister will be perfectly well in a few months.”
“Months?” Selby looked down at his wife. “Another child? Already?”
Sophie looked over at Nicholas. His face had gone pale with the conversation. “Are you all right, Lord Ancroft?”
He frowned and tilted his head. A lock of brown hair fell over his forehead. “I am fine, thank you for asking, Miss Reynard.”
“Sophie,” Victoria said, “is it true about Jennette?”
“Yes,” she answered, staring at Nicholas. He finally looked away as color tinged his cheeks. “I realized it the night of their party.”
“I cannot believe Blackburn would be happy about this development,” Selby said.
“Why wouldn’t he be pleased to have another child?” Somerton asked. “Her first went smoothly enough.”
Selby nodded. “He wanted more time to get his estates in order. They have only just finished the town home. He had hoped to finish with the estate in Lancashire before another child came along.”
“Well, sometimes these things just happen,” Nicholas mumbled.
“I have tables set up for cards and other games,” Sophie announced to move the conversation away from Jennette.
Quickly, the couples paired up for cards, leaving her and Nicholas without partners. Sophie knew her friends had deliberately left her without a partner so she would have to choose him. Nicholas stood and walked toward the table with the chessboard.
“Would you care to play, Miss Reynard?”
“Thank you, but no,” she replied coldly. She would have words with her friends tomorrow. They most likely assumed she and Nicholas would marry. She doubted any of them knew about Jennette and Nicholas.
She had no idea what she would tell them. She couldn’t speak of Jennette’s illicit affair. They would hate her for it, if they even believed her.
“But if you don’t play I shall grow terribly bored. As hostess, you should want to fulfill my needs,” he said just loud enough for her to hear.
“Oh, let us play, then. I would hate for anyone to learn what a dreadful hostess I am for not fulfilling the needs of a man who wasn’t even invited.”
Sitting on the side with white pieces, she lifted her pawn and moved it.
“Why are you angry with me, Sophie?” he whispered.
“I am not about to get into this with you tonight.”
“Then when?” he pressed, before moving his black knight. “I am quite certain this is not just about me inviting myself to your party.”
“You are correct about that.” Sophie glanced around the room and noticed Avis and Elizabeth looking over at them. She had to change the subject of their conversation before she garnered even more of their curiosity. She needed a neutral topic that would keep them talking without the sexual undertones usually present.
“Tell me about your daughter,” she said, then moved another pawn forward.
Nicholas saw the pain in her eyes and wanted to take it all away. But looking around the room, he noticed more than just a few gazes on him and Sophie. He was taken aback by her sudden change of subject and her request. Not one woman he’d ever courted or even kept as his mistress had taken an interest in Emma. Most preferred to pretend she didn’t exist.
“Emma is doing quite well, thank you.” He took a moment to study the board before moving a pawn.
She arched a brow at him. “That is all? I have heard stories from Elizabeth about what a proud father you are.”
“Do you really want to know or are you just making polite conversation?” Although, there was nothing polite in asking about a bastard child.
She tilted her head at him and paused for a long moment before replying, “I would really like to know.”
“Emma is ten and already thinks she is quite a lady. She is far too intelligent for her years. I was tasked tonight with taking note of all the ladies gowns and reporting back to her in the morning.”
She laughed. “I was the same way at that age. It only gets worse as she gets older. She will start to pester you for all the latest fashions.”
“One more thing to look forward to,” he mumbled.
“I do hope you have a good governess for her to keep her mind occupied.”
Nicholas sipped his brandy as she captured one of his pawns. “Her governess is very impressed with her intelligence. Mrs. Griffon already has her learning Latin and Greek.”
“Mrs. Griffon? Eliza Griffon?”
“Yes,” Nicholas answered. “Do you know of her? Is she one of your clients?”
“No,” Sophie answered, blinking quickly. “She was my governess for eight years.”
“Was she?” Nicholas smiled to himself. He really must review Mrs. Griffon’s references. Perhaps he might discover the identity of Sophie’s father.
“She is a wonderful teacher,” Sophie gushed. “You must be sure to have her take Emma to the British Museum several times.”
“Why is that?”
“I have never met anyone who knows so much about the contents of that museum. She made me come to love it and history in particular.”
“I shall insist she do that then.”
She glanced down at the board as he captured one of her pawns. She smiled and he realized his mistake. He’d been so preoccupied with her that he’d put his rook in danger. She held up the marble piece with a smile.
“I believe I should pay more attention to the game and not the beautiful woman across from me,” he remarked.
“Be warned, Mrs. Griffon taught me to play.”
As the others finished their games, they walked over to watch the game in progress. Nicholas finally had Sophie on the defensive, but she was a challenging player. And he thoroughly enjoyed the competition. The few times he had attempted to play chess with other women they either had no idea of the rules or had no skill.
She furrowed her brow as she stared at the board. Finally, she picked up her knight and moved him to defend her king. “I believe that will just about be the end of the game,” she said quietly.
“I think you are correct,” he replied, taking her knight. “Checkmate.”
“Well played, my lord.”
He nodded and stood. “I should take my leave now.”
Leaving was the last thing he wanted to do now. He wanted to stay and determine what had her angry earlier so he could ease her mind. But mostly, he wanted to stay and take her to her bed. At some point soon, he had to find some time alone with her again.
He pushed his chair under the table and nodded to her. “Good evening, Miss Reynard.”
“Good evening, Lord Ancroft.”
He walked out with her friends trailing behind. Overall, he was pleased with the evening. Once she had recovered from her anger at him for attending her party, they had been able to have a lovely conversation. And he had learned a little more about her.
Once he arrived home, he strode to his study and searched out his file on Mrs. Griffon. According to her letter of reference, she had worked for Lord Westbury for twelve years. Westbury was Somerton’s father, which meant nothing because Somerton’s sister Genna was almost one and twenty.
Still, something niggled at his mind. Mrs. Griffon had been Sophie’s governess for eight years. And the governess had been with Lord Westbury for twelve years, plus four years here. That meant Mrs. Griffon had twenty-four years of experience as a governess. But that didn’t add up. Mrs. Griffon had told him she became a governess at the age of thirty after being widowed. He was positive that she had just turned forty-six this past year.
Had Mrs. Griffon lied to him?
It made no sense. Why would she say she had less experience? Or perhaps she had lied about her age. He was too tired to think about any of this tonight. He would discover the truth tomorrow.
Sophie grabbed the biscuit from her nightstand and prayed it would keep the nausea at bay. This morning had been the worst so far. She’d been positive that she wouldn’t be able to keep her stomach settled. Perhaps it had been the larger than usual dinner last night.
Just remembering the dreadful night made her stomach roil again. She tried to breathe in deeply and forget how that scoundrel invaded her home and her party. But no matter how she tried, she could not forget the look of guilt on his face when Selby brought up Jennette’s pregnancy. How could she have fallen for such a bastard? He’d made love to her in Venice, returned to an affair with Jennette, and then made love to Sophie again.
She was such a fool to think he was a softhearted man. He was nothing but a hardened rake. And she was a fool for thinking there was good in him. Well, never again would she make such a mistake.
Somehow, she would get through this mess she found herself in. She just didn’t know how. Once her condition became known, there was a good chance her father would stop his allowance payments. Perhaps, she could manage with her clients. As long as she moved, of course.
Lying back against the soft pillows, she shut her eyes and another wave of nausea struck. She didn’t want to move away. Her half brother was here, her half sisters, Genna and Bronwyn. She had her friends in London, too.
But this town was far too expensive to live in just on the small amount her matchmaking skills earned her. Somerton would support her, but she hated the idea of taking money from him and Victoria.
“What am I to do?” she whispered.
There was one other answer but she could never do it. If she told him about the baby, he would insist on marriage. She could not marry a man who treated women as he did. He was obviously not the type of rake who would reform. And she wasn’t the kind of woman who would marry a man who kept mistresses or had affairs with married women. Not after seeing the effect it had on her mother and Somerton’s mother.
She might just have to leave the country and start her life over. Take a new identity. Abandon her friends and family and be alone in a new city. She wasn’t sure she could do such a drastic thing. However, if she did, at least it would be on her terms and not those of her parents.
How could she have been so wrong about him?
A knock scraped across the door and then her maid peered into the room. “Ma’am, you have callers this morning.”
Sophie glanced over at her clock. It was only ten. Who could be calling at this hour? “Who is it?”
“Lady Genna and Miss Bronwyn.”
She smiled hearing her half sisters had managed to pay a call. “Show them into the salon and return to help me dress.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sophie slowly eased out of bed. Her stomach seemed to have settled . . . finally. She quickly dressed in a blue and white striped muslin gown and put up her hair before visiting with her sisters.
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