After the shot this morning, she suggestion he may have softened—she rejected the musings. She now not cared what males considered her. She pulled the scarf tighter approximately her shoulders, wishing she may possibly protect herself from the stories as simply. Sophia crept throughout the hall towards her room. nobody could become aware of if she disappeared from the ball for a couple of minutes. precise, the ball used to be imagined to be in her honor, yet after the compulsory dances from her father and brothers, she’d spent the final hours wilting in her mother’s shadow, bored out of her wits. nobody might realize if she slipped away. They by no means had earlier than. “Confound it! ” The quietly uttered oath stopped her. Her brothers and father have been again within the ballroom and that voice have been unmistakably aristocratic. might be a person had gotten misplaced? Or was once searching for a spot to tryst? they'd greater no longer decide on her room. Eww. the idea gave her the braveness to not far away. It used to be Richard, Viscount Harding. Blond, subtle, and at present disgruntled. now not how she had dreamt in their first assembly. She attempted to jerk again out of sight however it was once too overdue. “Lady Sophia? ” She desperately needed for a fan to conceal the warmth in her cheeks. but he knew her identify. Don’t break this. Please, don’t damage this, she begged herself. “It is girl Sophia, is it now not? I’ve obvious you observing me. ” She might die of disgrace now. “Do now not be embarrassed. i locate it flattering. I make an apology for wandering your house, yet I appear to have spilled a few sherry on my waistcoat, and I’m yes you already know that i can't be noticeable blemished. ” He was once perfection—with or with out the stain. “I’m definite each person could be too interested by you to note. ” silly. silly. Why did she need to betray her emotions to males who had no real interest in them? used to be she really so pathetic? but she should still try and see if she may perhaps lend relief. That used to be the only factor she did good. “Let me fetch a servant to work out on your outfits. ” yet Harding smiled and provided her his arm. “If my waistcoat proves salvageable, might you care to take a flip with me at the terrace? ” Shouldn’t he ask her to bop? yet a thrill traced down her backbone. This was once it. Her probability to hitch his glittering crowd. She relished the concept of being obvious on his arm and the appearance of disbelief—perhaps even envy—that will be forged her manner. “Come, without doubt you’re no longer afraid to be on my own with me. ” Then he grinned. a large, seductive grin intended just for her. “I desire to understand extra of you. ” The scarf round her shoulders was once wool, now not silk. Sophia escaped the stories by way of forcing her recognition again to the pointy pinpricks in her feet, caution of drawing close numbness. She’d been a idiot. She’d feared being eternally glided by and forgotten, so she’d leapt at a guy who’d sought her out. Who consistently sought after her at his facet, no matter if it was once so she might bathe him compliment earlier than his associates. It hadn’t happened to her till a ways too past due that that sort of dating may perhaps finally no longer be adequate for both of them. quickly her phrases weren’t adequate to sate his vainness, and in his opinion, that was once her flaw—not his.