A Most Inconvenient Wish (6 page)

So it was to be her turn to be the subject of Lady Catherine's ire. “I prefer other pursuits to cards.”

Lady Catherine tossed the cards onto the table and rose. “Perhaps some music would be in order.”

“Please, feel free to entertain us, Catherine,” Lord Bateman said. “My sister is an exceptional musician.”

Lady Catherine moved to Mr. McDonald's side, making her interest in him clear. There was fear and a bit of begging in his eyes as he glanced over at Sophia. She smirked but did nothing to rescue him. She was enjoying this a bit too much, considering the glare from Mr. McDonald. And why shouldn't she enjoy it? The earl and his obnoxious sister were here under false pretenses. She'd bet her last pound that Ian McDonald was in the middle of it.

“Mr. McDonald, would you sing with me?” Lady Catherine said in a low voice.

“I've no talent for music, my lady.” His voice was soft but firm.

Sophia watched Lady Catherine turn her back with a sniff and make her way to the pianoforte. She began to play. The piece was difficult and Lady Catherine's hands seem to float quickly over the keys. Sophia felt a twinge of envy. She'd never learned to play.

Ian took the seat next to her, filling up all the space on the small settee and leaving her thigh to press against his. She tried to move over to give him more space, but there was nowhere to go.

“I can't believe you are hiding in the corner tonight. Usually you are the life of the party.” McDonald's voice was low.

“You should have joined Lady Catherine at the piano. I've heard you sing. You aren't so bad.”

He frowned at her. “When have you heard me sing?”

“When we were in London.” She smiled. “You and Tony were drunk, I believe. Your voice wasn't half bad.”

“That would explain why I don't remember it.” He chuckled. She liked his laugh.

“Lady Catherine is very lovely.”

“If you like that sort.”

Sophia glanced at him through her lashes. “She plays well.”

“I'm sure you play just as well.”

Sophia laughed. “I don't play. Never had the inclination to learn. My sister is the musician in the family.”

“Miss Townsend, will you not join me in entertaining the room tonight?” Lady Catherine said, standing at the piano.

Sophia's heart thumped. “I'm afraid I lack the talent. Perhaps my sister—”

Catherine moved to stand before her with the look of a cat about to capture a mouse. “Come, Miss Townsend, surely you possess some talent.”

Sophia gasped at the insult. She felt Ian McDonald tense beside her.

“Sophia, if you wish to sing, I will play for you,” Anne said quickly.

“Thank you, Anne, but I'm not inclined to sing tonight. Perhaps another time? There will be ample opportunity, I'm sure, during your visit, Lady Catherine.” Sophia was not going to be bullied into performing when she had not practiced in weeks.

Lady Catherine sniffed and strolled back to the card table. Sophia fought the urge to slump in relief. The woman was worse than she was herself, and that was saying something.

“Well done, Miss Townsend,” Ian said softly beside her. “Though I'm surprised you aren't playing cards.”

“I was not in the mood for cards tonight.” She had no desire to watch as Lord Bateman showered his attentions on poor Miss Hamilton. She wasn't jealous but resigned. Miss Hamilton was young, pretty, and, most of all, rich. She might be able to compete with the former, but she couldn't compete with money.

“I imagine you are very disappointed in these developments.”

Sophia turned to Mr. McDonald. “What are you trying to say?”

“Only that Bateman seems to be drawn to Miss Hamilton of late.”

She lowered her head. “Do you know Miss Hamilton well?”

“This is the first time I've made her acquaintance, but she seems a nice young lady. Rather quiet and proper, though. Do you know her from Town?”

Sophia looked down at her hands. She did know Theodora Hamilton, but she was not proud of her treatment of her. She'd ridiculed her on more than one occasion when in Town. Miss Hamilton was extremely rich but also extremely shy. “I do know of her from Town.”

“Did you not like her?”

“I really didn't know her well.” Sophia chewed her lip.

“There is something you aren't telling me about this. What did you do to Miss Hamilton?”

“The worst thing was ignoring her, if you must know. I'm not proud of my actions.”

Ian snorted. “You admit it?”

She met Ian's warm dark eyes. “I know my own faults and when to be ashamed of them.” Sophia looked across the room, where Catherine was berating Miss Hamilton for playing the wrong suite. “I'm afraid she's suffering worse treatment now.”

Ian squeezed her hand. “At least you realize your mistake.”

“I can see why Lord Bateman likes her. She's very sweet and proper, and she would be rather pretty if she wore the right styles.”

“Very kind of you, Sophia,” he said with a soft laugh. “But you left out the most important attribute Miss Hamilton possesses: an obscenely large fortune.”

“No one can compete with that inducement. Miss Hamilton is still very young.”

“Bateman probably prefers that she knows little of his world. Still, she can't be that much younger than you. How old are you?”

“I'm not yet twenty-seven and it's very ungentlemanly of you to bring it up.”

“You, of all people, know I'm no gentleman. It will be extremely difficult to compete with Miss Hamilton's youthfulness and gentle beauty.”

“And extremely large dowry. I will have to get by as best I can.”

“By some standards, you are firmly on the shelf,” Ian said. “Past your prime, as most would say.”

Warmth flooded her cheeks. “How kind of you to point out the obvious, sir. If I'm on the shelf, what does that make you?”

“It's different for men. We usually do not reach our prime until later.”

Sophia snorted. “That's a matter of opinion, sir.”

“Don't be crude. I only meant that most men prefer to marry a woman closer to them in age.”

“Unfortunately, there is a great deal of evidence to the contrary.” Sophia glanced back at the card players. Lord Bateman leaned over to say something to Miss Hamilton. She blushed prettily.

“You do realize Bateman's pockets are to let. He has no choice but to marry a fortune.” He glanced at her.

Sophia turned to face him. “I'd heard rumors of such in Town.”

She had hoped the rumors weren't true. Given Bateman's attentions, she'd had cause to hope. Now reality was staring her in the face. Spinsterhood loomed over her like a vulture.

“You have other qualities, Sophia. You are vivacious and beautiful.” Ian looked at Bateman. “He is a fool for letting you go.”

Sophia turned to look at Lord Bateman. “He seems quite taken with Miss Hamilton. Besides, if he is as poor as you say he is, he is making a sensible decision.”

“Am I hearing you correctly? You would prefer to marry for money rather than love?”

“Love does not put food on the table.”

“I think I like this practical Miss Townsend.”

Ian's voice was deep and low, his breath stirring the wisps of hair at the base of her neck. She fought the urge to shiver. “You forget that I've had my share of days when we wondered where our next meal would come from.”

“I had forgotten that.”

She nodded her head but said nothing. Ian's lips were so very close to her exposed neck. She fought the urge to shiver. “So you see, Mr. McDonald, it is no great loss that Lord Bateman has chosen another lady.”

“You would have been bored with him within the week,” Ian grumbled.

“That's a terrible thing to say.” She stared back at Lord Bateman and noticed him watching her exchange with Mr. McDonald. She smiled at him. He smiled back. Funny that his smile didn't cause the little tingle of awareness Mr. McDonald's did.

“He spends most of his time at his club. I doubt you'd ever see him.” Ian got that tick in his jaw.

“Sounds perfect, actually.” Sophia would have her society events, balls, charity works, calls, and such. His lordship would be off doing whatever it was earls did during the day; the House of Lords and that nonsense. It sounded too perfect.

“What will you do now?”

“Now that I'm officially an old maid?” She laughed. “What do you know of Mr. Smith-Williams? Do you think he'll have me for my modest dowry?”

“I just met the man tonight. You don't mean to chase him, do you?”

Sophia turned back to watch the card game across the room. Catherine pinned her with a hateful look as she noticed how close Ian was sitting to her. Sophia smiled gently just to watch the woman's frown deepen.

“I've noticed that Lady Catherine watches you a great deal. I think she likes you.”

“Lord, I hope not.”

“She is a lovely woman.”

“Until she opens her mouth.”

“Is that fair?” She turned back to Ian. “I think she means to marry you.”

Ian snorted. “Not without my cooperation, I'm sure. She is not the sort of woman I prefer.”

“Really? What kind of woman would you desire in a wife?”

Ian leaned even closer. She could feel the warmth of his breath against the exposed skin of her neck. “One who shivers in response to my touch.”

“Then I would be cautious if I were you. You never know when a lady might misconstrue the attentions of a gentleman.”

His soft laugh stirred wisps of hair, causing her to shiver. “I seem to remember you shivering at my touch.”

“I was wet and cold, sir.”

“You're going to have to admit to liking me sooner or later.” His tone rumbled gently in her ear.

“I refuse to discuss this further.” Sophia kept her eyes on the card players, resisting the urge to look up into Ian's face. She could not let him see the heat his soft suggestion lit inside her.

“Sophia, you are a passionate woman. You should have a husband who is just as passionate. The last place you want to be bored is in the bedroom.”

“Mr. McDonald, this conversation is getting much too personal for my comfort. Kindly put more distance between us, please.”

Ian shifted to the other side of the small couch. It wasn't much, but it was better than him literally breathing down her neck.

“I'm just stating the obvious. A woman of a certain age has earned the right to explore her passion.”

“What you are suggesting could get me ruined.”

“It could if you aren't careful, but what are you saving yourself for?”

“That is positively scandalous. I cannot participate in such a thing.” Sophia fought the urge to squirm under his regard.

“I did not take you for a coward.”

“I am not a coward.” She glanced at Lady Catherine. “Who would I choose to participate in this exploration of passion? You?”

“Of course.” He grinned at her.

Sophia felt her heart flip in her chest at his boyish grin. The man was too handsome for his own good. “I don't doubt that you are more of an expert in this area than I.”

“I wouldn't go that far.”

It was then Mr. McDonald realized how Lady Catherine was glaring at them. Sophia put her mouth close to his ear, fighting the urge to crow as he squirmed. “Even now, as we talk, Lady Catherine Grayson has not taken her eyes off you. She's jealous of me sitting next to you.”

“You cannot be serious.”

Sophia sat back and smiled. “If Bateman is in dun territory, as you suggest, then she is also quite desperate. You are by far the wealthiest single man in the room.”

“Your point, Miss Townsend?”

She had him now. “If you are not careful, you might find yourself in the parson's trap, my friend.” She glanced at Catherine. “I can imagine she'll be quite persistent in her pursuit. She certainly was during dinner. She practically dominated the conversation.”

“Don't be ridiculous.”

“You don't know her as I do. She'll stop at nothing to get what she wants, and she always gets what she wants.” Sophia patted his arm. “I'm sure you'll do just fine.” She shouldn't take so much pleasure in his discomfort, but she did. It was all she could do to keep a serene look on her face and not give away her glee.

McDonald was quiet for a long moment. Sophia wanted to glance at him, watch his face as he thought through her comments, but she didn't.

“You need to marry. I know you do. If you go back to London for yet another Season at twenty-seven you'll be relegated to ape leader. You won't be able to compete with the younger women flooding the marriage market.”

Sophia gasped. The harshness of the words cut her deeply. She hadn't thought Ian would hurt her this way. She strove to keep her voice light. She couldn't let him know how deep his barb had struck. “That is a rather harsh statement.”

“I always tell the truth, Sophia. You can count on that.”

“The truth is one thing; being cruel is another.” She made to rise.

Ian grasped her arm, keeping her in her seat. “I apologize. That comment was uncalled for.”

She yanked her arm out of his grasp. “At least we can agree on that.” She smoothed invisible wrinkles from her dress. “I recognize that I've probably wasted more than a few opportunities to marry.”

“Why is that?”

“I don't know. If you'll excuse me . . .”