Kathryn Smith - [Friends 03] (18 page)

She hated having him look down his nose at her. Defiantly, even though she knew it would not warm him toward her, Sophia stood and faced him directly.

"You are my parents," she replied, her voice stronger than it had been. "Where else am I to go?"

Lord Haverington's expression was as impassive as a statue's. "Go to your lover. Or did he not appreciate being made such a public spectacle again either?"

"He is not my lover." Why she bothered to explain, she wasn't certain. Her father would never believe her.

"Have you learned nothing?" Haverington demanded, showing more emotion than Sophia had seen in a long time. "Have you no shame, no regard for anyone other than yourself? It was only the good fortune of your marriage that protected your reputation before. You will not be so fortunate again this time."

Sophia stared at him. "You do not know anything about my marriage, sir. Nor do you have the right to decide whether or not I was fortunate in it. You did not care what kind of match it was, only that you would be relieved of the embarrassment of having such a daughter. All you ever cared about was yourself."

Haverington's nostrils flared as he sucked in a deep breath. "You ungrateful child! You are lucky that
anyone
wanted you, let alone a marquess!"

The fight draining out of her, Sophia shook her head. "No, Papa.
You
are lucky that a marquess wanted me. You made a tidy sum off my marriage, I believe."

The viscount's eyes narrowed again. "How much do you want?"

Sophia's breath caught in her throat. "I beg your pardon?"

"Do not play dumb with me, gel. You mentioned money. I know what you are after. Name your price. I will give you what you want, and then I never want to see you again."

God, she couldn't believe her ears! He thought she wanted to extort money from them? Even more disturbing was the thought of a father paying his daughter to stay away from him. Did he think he could control her so easily? It was almost as tempting as it was insulting. All her life she had gone from the control of one man to another. She would not give her father any more power over her.

"I do not want your money. I came here in search of something you cannot give me."

Her father's expression was one of haughty disbelief. "Which is?"

"Love," Sophia replied. "And support. I see now that I came to the wrong place. You are not capable of giving me either."

Her father sputtered. "I raised you, didn't I? Put a roof over your head, fed you. Saw you well married, didn't I?"

Well married? Is that how he saw it? Just because Edmund had a title and a fortune he was supposed to be a good husband? Dimly, she wondered if that's how Julian viewed his selections for Letitia. God, she hoped not.

"You sold me to a man who saw me as something to display to his friends. He degraded and mocked me at every turn. No, Papa, you most assuredly did
not
see me well married."

She didn't even take the time to enjoy his stupefied stare. Instead, she turned to her mother, kissed her cheek and gave her a quick hug. Maria tried to hold on to her, whispered for her not to go, but Sophia shook her head. She wasn't going to stay another moment in this man's house.

She was almost to the door when his voice called to her. "If you want my money, you had best take it now, because you will not be allowed into this house again."

Turning, Sophia saw her mother try to speak, but her father silenced her with a look.

"I am staying with Lady Wickford, Mama. I would like very much to see you again."

Haverington flushed at her blatant defiance. "I mean it. Do not show your face here again. You are not my daughter."

Sophia smiled coolly. "Thank you, my lord. It makes me very happy to know I no longer have to claim you as my father."

Leaving him gaping after her, Sophia pivoted on her heel and left the room with as much dignity as her trembling knees would allow. For the second time in her life she left her father's house, but this time she had no intention of ever coming back.

"Is there anything Gabriel and I can do?"

Standing in an alcove of Lady Penderthal's crowded ballroom, Sophia shook her head, smiling at Lilith's concern.

"A position at your club would be lovely, but I cannot expect you and Lord Angelwood to get involved— not when he is such good friends with Julian." She was not nearly as casual as she sounded. She could not live without an income. A small one would do— she was used to being thrifty.

But no one would hire her. She had scandal attached to her. No one wanted her for a governess for fear of what she'd teach their daughters. No one wanted her as a lady's maid because she was "too attractive." And she wasn't skilled to do anything else. Her sewing was atrocious, her musical ability nonexistent. If it weren't for her pride, she would be very tempted to go back to her father and beg him to give her the money he had offered two days ago. But she would no sooner go crawling back to him than she would Julian.

"Have you seen Julian at all?" she asked, giving into her weak-willed curiosity.

"No." Lilith shook her head. "I know Gabriel has been to see him several times, but he has not dared to show his face to me, and perhaps that is for the best. I would be sorely tempted to give him a piece of my mind, and that would only upset Gabe. You?"

"No." She had seen Letitia several times however. "I have not seen him since the day he asked me to leave his house."

Lilith's expression was dark. "I cannot believe he tossed you out without giving you a chance to explain!"

Shrugging, Sophia took a sip of her champagne. Being scandalous was different now that she was a widow. Not everyone had excluded her from their guest lists. In fact, hostesses like Lady Penderthal seemed to think it exciting to have her attend their functions. It gave people something to talk about other than the refreshments.

"He believes I publicly humiliated him." She swirled her glass, watching the bubbles pop as she did so. "I wish I had. Perhaps then we would be even."

"So by flaunting yourself in public, you hope to dig the knife in a little bit farther in retaliation, is that it?"

Was she that transparent? A hot flush crept up her cheeks at the thought of being so easily discovered. Yes, a part of her wanted Julian to know that she wasn't sitting at Lady W's lamenting the loss of him. She wanted him to know that she was being seen at parties and at balls, looking for all the world like she hadn't a care.

In truth, she had too many cares. She couldn't possibly impose upon Lady Wickford much longer, but short of becoming a courtesan, she had little options. Her hope was so lowered that she had seriously given thought to Lord Phillip's offer to make her his mistress. He was attractive and he seemed good-natured enough. He would probably make a very fine protector, but then he would own her, and that was unacceptable.

"Perhaps I am trolling for a husband," Sophia remarked with mock lightness. "That would certain put an end to my problems."

Lilith rolled her gray green eyes. "And give you a whole set of new ones. Seriously, Sophie, what are you going to do?"

"I have no idea." It was the truth and it was terrifying. The bane of being a gently bred female. She was totally hapless without money or a man.

"If only I had been born to the lower classes I might be able to find work somewhere." She flashed a self-deprecating grin.

"You could always start your own business," Lilith suggested. "I could back you."

Sophia was touched by her friend's support. She reached out and gave one of Lilith's gloved hands a firm squeeze. "Thank you. You are such a good friend, but it would not be a worthy investment for you. I cannot do anything."

A highly arched brow rose even farther on Lilith's smooth forehead. "You could write another book."

Choking on a mouthful of champagne, Sophia coughed and sputtered and took the handkerchief Lilith offered to wipe her eyes.

"That is what got me into this mess!" She exclaimed around coughs.

Lilith's shoulders lifted in a delicate shrug. "So it stands to reason that another could get you out of it, does it not?"

Another sip of champagne smoothed the roughness in Sophia's throat. "I would be no better a writer than I would be a mistress. In fact, I think I would rather be a mistress. At least then I would not be required to think."

Lilith laughed at her caustic tone. "And who would you choose for a protector?"

"Yes," came a deep, unmistakable voice from behind Sophia, sending a shiver of awareness all the way down to the base of her spine. "Who?"

F
or one split second, Julian considered walking away. It was foolhardy of him to approach her in such a public place, but he knew she would not receive him if he went to Lady Wickford's to see her. Here, she could not run away without making a scene.

And he truly wanted to know whose mistress she might agree to be. The idea of another man touching her was enough to ignite his temper. A part of him had laid claim to her a long time ago and it wasn't prepared to give it up.

Her eyes were like smoldering embers beneath the chandeliers. The light shimmered and flickered in the ebony depths, making it seem as though the glow came from within her rather than from ceiling above. Clad in a rose silk gown with little rosettes on the sleeves and hem, her flesh warm and creamy in the blazing light, she looked as fresh as a morning blossom. A rush of erotic flower analogies flooded Julian's mind— things like flushed petals opening for him, dew on his lips and fingers. They were foolish and far too poetic, even for him, but his prick didn't seem to care. It stirred uncomfortably in his trousers.

Sophia took care of his arousal in short fashion. "I am afraid, Lord Wolfram, that any protector I may or may not choose is no concern of yours."

If words were spears she would have impaled him to the wall with the sharpness of her tone. Even Lilith, someone he thought of as a friend, shot daggers at him with her stormy eyes. It hadn't occurred to him that sides might be taken, but so far, Sophia's side was much more effective— Lilith, Lady W and Letitia. Three women who figured prominently in Julian's life, all of whom had no trouble telling him exactly what kind of idiot they thought he was. Wonderful.

"You are right," he conceded, rather than thumping his chest and insisting that she was his. His gaze jumped to the other woman. "Good evening, Lilith."

Jaw tight, Lilith bobbed a stiff curtsey. "Julian."

"I wonder if you might excuse Lady Aberley and myself for a moment?"

Sophia opened her mouth, but Lilith beat her to it. "I do not think— "

"There you are, my dear!"

Julian smiled as Gabriel strode toward his wife, a bright grin curving his lips. Lilith might have chosen Sophia's side, but Gabe was still on his. If Lilith wouldn't give Julian a chance to speak to Sophia alone then Gabriel would provide a little persuasion.

"Come dance with me before I have to take you home," Gabriel coaxed, taking his wife by the hand.

Lilith was obviously not impressed. The pale expanse of her chest revealed by the neckline of her dark green gown flushed a hot pink. "Gabriel, I told you there is no need for us to leave so early."

"And I told you I do not want you to overextend yourself." Gabriel's gray gaze was so full of love as it rested upon his wife that Julian was almost embarrassed to watch. A sliver of jealousy added to his discomfort. He envied them their happiness and their love. He wanted someone to share tender glances with.

He looked at Sophia. She was glaring at him.

If he was going to make his move it would have to be now. As it was, people were already beginning to watch them.

"We need to talk."

Her nostrils flared ever so slightly as she lifted her chin. "I have nothing to say to you."

His lips curved at one corner. "Ah, but I have plenty to say to you."

"That I do not doubt," she replied, her tone as warm as the Thames in January, "but do not think I have any desire to hear it. Good night, Lord Wolfram."

He watched impotently as she walked away, unable to stop her without handing the gossips more fodder. Damnation, but she had spirit.
This
was his Sophia. She walked away without hearing what he had to say, even though she must surely sumise that he knew the truth about the book by now. She wanted nothing to do with him, and he couldn't help but admire her for it.

But that did not mean he was prepared to let her just walk away. He had come there tonight in order to apologize and he would do that, if for no other reason than to appease his own guilt. He did not mind the idea of lowering himself, not when it would light her eyes with such surprise.

He turned to excuse himself from Gabriel and Lilith, but they were already gone. A quick survey of the dance floor revealed them weaving in and out amongst the other couples, their movements a more languid version of the waltz being performed around them. Lilith still looked mildly perturbed with her husband and Gabriel seemed to be enjoying it. There was nothing more stimulating for a man than to have a contest of wills with a woman. It was the modern, civilized version of the hunt.

Out of the corner of his eye, Julian caught a glimpse of his own prey leaving the ballroom. Winding his way through the crowd so as not to attract any unwanted attention, he followed her. Sophia could make him a villain if she wanted, but he was not going to make it easy for her. He owed her an apology and she was going to hear it. She was also going to hear his offer of assistance. If she chose not to take it that was her own concern, not his. What happened to her after that was none of his concern.