Tainted Bride (12 page)

Lady Pemberhamble tugged at her heavily powdered wig. “I think it should be, Miss Braighton.”

Sophia curtsied. “Enjoy the performance, madam.”

“Well done,” Aunt Daphne said.

They managed to arrive at the box without incident. The hardest part was when only she and Aunt Daphne waited in the box alone. People watched them and there was nothing to distract her. Elinor and Mrs. Burkenstock’s arrival was a welcome addition to the box. Sophia was close to unraveling until support arrived.

“Are you all right?” Elinor asked.

Sophia said, “I have had better days.”

Elinor patted her hand. “We shall get through this together.”

“Don’t you even want to know if it’s true?”

She cocked her head. “It is not true, Sophia. I admit to only knowing you a short time, but I know without a doubt you are one of the finest and most honest people I have ever met.”

Sophia used one gloved finger to dry the corner of her eye. “Thank you.”

Dory arrived with her mother in tow. Lady Flammel didn’t stay long, however, and from the puckered expression she wore she was not pleased with Dory’s insistence to remain in the Collington box.

“Did you receive an invitation to Lady Marlton’s house party next week?” Dory asked.

Elinor bobbed her head excitedly.

“I believe we did. I don’t know how I’m going to talk my aunt out of making me go.”

“Why would you not want to go? It is the invitation of the season.” Elinor gaped at her.

Dory squeezed her hand. “Elinor is right, you know. You must go or you will insult one of the most influential women in London. Besides, we shall have a wonderful time.”

The theatre darkened and the first act of the play began. In the dark, it was easy to ignore the people around her.

The play was terrible but she paid it close attention anyway. It was about a man tricked into marriage by a witch who appeared as a beautiful maiden. After the marriage, he discovered she was an old hag. He ran away and she put a curse on him. She swore he wouldn’t find love unless he honored his marriage vows.

At the end of the act, the lights came up.

Elinor bubbled with excitement. “Michael is here. Dory, will you come with me to see him. I cannot go alone.”

Dory looked at Sophia. “It’s all right, Dory. Go with her. I’ll be fine.”

Lady Marlton arrived a moment later. She, Lady Burkenstock and Aunt Daphne spoke in hushed tones about something. Sophia didn’t try to hear what they were whispering about. It was rather amazing Aunt Daphne had friends who would stand by them in such desperate times. She might cry and pinched her arm to keep the tears at bay. Loneliness fell over her like a worn blanket.

Thomas arrived in her box and sat next to her.

“Tom.” His name came out on a gusty exhale. “I’m so thankful you’re here.”

“Are you all right? I cannot believe he managed to get that in the paper. I warned him.”

“You spoke to Alistair Pundington?” She asked shocked.

“Do not lose your calm now, my dear. You cannot fall to pieces here. So far, you have managed to make a fine appearance. I’m impressed considering how you usually show every bit of emotion. Just keep it up for the rest of your life and you shall be all right.”

They both laughed. But then Sophia’s anger at Alistair and society burned in her stomach. She sat up straighter and her eyes filled with anger. She nodded toward the crowd watching her to see if she would give a sign that the report in the paper was true. “I’ll not give them the satisfaction of winning.”

“Good. May I say that you look very beautiful tonight? I have never seen anyone so resplendent.”

“Are you flirting with me, Tom?”

“Would you mind it terribly?” He leaned a fraction of an inch closer.

“Of course not. I would never forgive you if you didn’t.” She giggled in spite of the knot in her stomach.

“You two appear to be having a good time.”

Both Sophia and Thomas turned toward Daniel’s voice. He stood in the entry to the box with a beautiful woman on his arm. He grinned as if all was right with the world.

“We are,” Thomas confirmed. “Will you join us?”

Daniel shook his head. “I just wanted to introduce Miss Braighton to my friend, Charlotte Dubois. Miss Dubois is all the rage this opera season.”

Sophia stood and politely curtsied to the stunning blonde attached to Daniel’s arm. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Dubois. I hope to have an opportunity to hear you sing.”

“
Enchantè
, Miss Braighton, this is my wish as well.” Charlotte’s words were doused with a heavy French accent.

“Well, we must be off. I promised Charlotte we would not miss a moment of the play.” Daniel nestled into the opera singer’s neck. She giggled.

He didn’t introduce his opera singer to the countess or the other ladies who sat watching the exchange. There was a sense the other ladies were too good to meet his opera singer but Sophia was not. She gritted her teeth and kept her expression serene.

“I’m sorry, Sophia,” Thomas said, after Daniel had gone.

“Why would he do that?” She had not expected an answer.

“He is extremely taken with you.”

Sophia shook her head. “He is no such thing.”

“If you say so, but why else would he bring a woman of questionable reputation over here to meet you?”

“Perhaps he believes I have a bit in common with his opera singer.” Bitterness laced her words.

“You do not.” Thomas’s voice was strong and sure.

“No. I don’t believe so.”

“You should forget about my friend and focus on me. I could easily fall in love with you, Sophia. I’m half in love with you now.” His voice had gone to a whisper and his eyes crinkled at the corners.

“Are you serious, Tom?” The knot tightened.

His eyes were bright and stunning and she wished she were in love with him. However, when she looked at Tom, she didn’t get the same quiver in her stomach that she felt when Daniel was near. When she looked at Tom, she saw a friend and nothing more.

“I could not be more serious.”

She touched his hand. “I have decided to never marry, but if I change my mind I shall certainly think of you.”

“You are teasing me.” His voice sounded a bit sad.

“No…I—”

He held up one hand. “It’s all right, Sophia. I know you do not love me. In fact, I’m rather certain you are as in love with my good friend as he is with you. All I’m saying is, if you and Daniel cannot be together, then you should consider me. I’m wealthy and I like you tremendously, which I have never said to any woman before. I think we would be good friends in marriage and it would not be such a bad way to get along in life. Spending one’s days with a person they consider a good friend is not so terrible, is it?”

“Don’t you want to find someone who loves you and whom you love?” She was flattered by his offer and a bit scared because she gave it serious thought. She didn’t love him and she never would, but it would make her parents and Aunt Daphne so happy to see her settled.

He chuckled. “I have never considered it. I must marry, but I always thought it would be someone amiable and who might tolerate me. Now I see that perhaps there is an alternative, if you will have me.”

She wrung her hands together. The stupid white gloves twisted this way and that. “Must I give you an answer here and now?”

“No. In fact, I think we should wait until the end of the season. If Daniel does not come to his senses, then you should consider my offer. I would not wish to stand in the way of true love.” He chuckled, but it was a hollow sound.

She looked up. “If what you say about your friend is true, then don’t you risk your friendship by courting me?”

He shrugged. “Daniel is a fool. Besides, our friendship goes back a long way. It can survive a marriage between you and me. Daniel will be angry, but mostly with himself.”

“You are serious. You have thought this through quite considerably.” She’d assumed he was joking, but Thomas had given the notion of marrying her consideration.

He smiled. “You should close your mouth, Sophia. As charming as you look sitting there gaping at me, I think the crowd is beginning to notice.”

She did close her mouth and soon after, the lights went dark again. Thomas stayed for the second act and Dory and Elinor returned. It was nice to have the support of so many friends. All her friends in Philadelphia had abandoned her under the weight of the rumors. Everyone speculated and gossiped about why she declined all invitations. Sophia hadn’t helped matters, becoming more and more reclusive as time went on.

In only a few short weeks in London, she’d made three true friends who now stood by her.

In the second act, the husband returned battered and lonely. Under the pressure of the curse, he was unable to find the love he sought so diligently. He climbed mountains and crossed seas searching for his love, but in the end, he found only more loneliness and he was starving to death.

The witch didn’t send him away as Sophia had hoped. Instead, she welcomed him home after years of absence. She fed him, bathed him and gave him clean clothes. She let him sleep for three days to recover from his journey.

Sophia wanted the witch to throw stones at him until he bled.

At the end of three days, the husband was so grateful, he took his wife to bed to thank her for her kindness. He promised to stay with her and be a faithful husband and lover. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, she turned back into the beautiful maiden he’d originally married. She then explained that all she ever wanted was for him to love her not for her beauty but for herself.

Sophia dashed away a tear with disgust. A ridiculous story and not at all how life really was.

Thomas escorted her out of the box. They met up with Daniel and his opera singer in the lobby.

“Did you enjoy the play, Miss Braighton?” Daniel asked.

“Not very much, Lord Marlton.” She kept her expression calm. It took quite a bit of effort.

“Really, why not? I should have thought you would love such fanciful ideas. All young women love a happy ending.”

“I prefer the truth.”

“That surprises me coming from you.” He bit out the words and narrowed his eyes on her. His free hand fisted at his side and the beautiful Miss Dubois occupied the other.

“Marlton,” Thomas warned.

“Always her champion, Wheel. A pity she is constantly in need of your services.” He paused. “Perhaps, you should marry her.”

Sophia didn’t give her escort time to respond. “I shall be happy to tell you anything you ask, my lord.”

“Really? Just the other day you told me you would prefer if I didn’t ask questions.”

She nodded. “I would prefer it.”

“Your aunt is waiting, Sophia,” Thomas said.

“Of course you’re right, Tom.”

* * * *

The use of Thomas’s familiar name got Daniel’s attention and he bowed deeply to them both when he wanted to wring Tom’s neck and pull Sophia into his arms and kiss her until she told him everything. He’d been joking about Tom marrying Sophia, but he saw in Tom’s eyes, he was not amused.

“Good evening. Wheel, I shall see you on Monday at the club. Miss Braighton, until we meet again.” His words sounded eloquent enough but even he heard the tension.

Daniel watched them cross to Lady Collington, while his companion chatted with everyone she encountered.

Had he seen tears in Sophia’s eyes? He would have sworn he had. Why would she cry? Probably just the lighting.

Once he extracted Miss Dubois from the theatre, he drove her home.

She stepped away from the carriage and then turned back when he didn’t follow. “Are you coming up?”

He kissed her hand. “Not tonight, my dear.”

“You are in love, Danny.” It was not a question.

“No. You are mistaken.”

She smiled and tipped her lovely face to one side. “I’m never wrong about such things. The dark-haired girl who did not like the play.”

He choked and cleared his throat.

She giggled. “She seems quite nice and very beautiful, Danny. You should marry her before your friend does.”

“I’m sorry, Charlotte, but you are incorrect. I do not even know Miss Braighton. Thomas may have her.” It came out a bit more sternly than he intended.

She had a way of shrugging that said the matter was of little interest to her. “He will have her if you do not stop him. Goodbye, Danny. I do not expect I will see you again.”

He kissed her hand again. “Good night, Charlotte.”

* * * *

As he did every Monday morning at eleven o’clock, Daniel met Thomas at Jaffers Club for a fencing match. Dulled foils were capped at the end and each man wore protective clothing in case of accident.

The clash of steel on steel filled the long hall. The two gentlemen were well matched and to the passing observer nothing looked amiss. However, after thirty minutes Thomas called a halt. He removed his mask and wiped the sweat from his brow. “You are quite vigorous this morning, old friend.”

Daniel removed his own mask. “If you cannot keep up, Tom, we can call it a day.”

Thomas raised an eyebrow. “I can certainly keep up. That is not the question. The question is, why are you making such an effort to harm your ‘dearest friend’ during a sparring match?”

“Harm you, I would never dream.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Very well.” Thomas lowered his mask and took an
en gardè
stance.

Steel clashed again and with more effort than before, Daniel went on the offence and backed Thomas up to the wall. “Why does she call you ‘Tom’?”

Thomas pushed off, caught Daniel off guard and backed him up several paces. “We are friends.”

“Friends?” Daniel thrust forward.

Thomas turned in time to avoid the blow and swept his foot catching Daniel at the back of the knee.

Daniel was already off balance and the move felled him.

Thomas kicked Daniel’s foil away and put a foot on his chest. “Yes, friends. I would offer for her in a second if I did not believe she is already in love with you. I have told her so.”

“Offer then. I want nothing to do with her.”

“Really, is that why you nearly took my arm off a few minutes ago because you have no interest? She is a marvelous girl and you are a fool if you do not at least attempt to have her for your wife.” Thomas took his foot off Daniel and removed his mask. He sat on the step that led down from the fencing platform and wiped his face.