A Holiday by Gaslight(40)

“My mother took her upstairs to rest in one of the guest rooms.”

“Bless your mother. She’s not having very much fun, is she?”

“She dislikes frivolity. And I’m sure the lack of fresh air doesn’t help. She’d rather have a few moments of quiet than linger at the side of a ballroom. Even if those moments are occupied wafting smelling salts under someone’s nose.”

Sophie sighed as Ned led her from the floor. “I can’t say I blame her. It’s so dreadfully close in here.”

He didn’t disagree. “Would you care for some punch? Or—if you have a wrap—perhaps you might accompany me out onto the terrace?”

“Both, if you please.”

“Which would you like first?”

“Punch. I’ll come with you to the refreshment table. We can…” Sophie’s voice trailed off, her attention arrested by something happening across the ballroom.

Ned followed her gaze. Sir William and Lady Appersett stood at the edge of the polished wood floor, engaged in a heated conversation with Emily…and Walter Murray.

“What in heaven…?” Sophie wondered under her breath.

Ned’s stomach clenched in a knot. He had a sinking feeling. A feeling which was only intensified by the sight of Walter’s hand on Emily Appersett’s back. Ned watched it move in a soothing, and wholly proprietary, circle. As if Walter was trying to calm the agitated young lady. As if…

Damn it all to hell.

Hadn’t he warned the man? Hadn’t he told him…?

“Something’s happened. They’re leaving.” Sophie moved to follow after them.

Ned caught at her hand. “Wait. I’ll go with you.”

She looked at him, her eyes filled with helpless dread. “Ned…”

“I know. It will be all right.” He squeezed her hand before tucking it through his arm. “There’s nothing broken that can’t be mended.”

Sophie didn’t respond. Not in words. But her fingers clenched his sleeve as he escorted her from the ballroom.

Sir William and Lady Appersett convened with Walter and their younger daughter in the library. Lady Appersett was settling herself in a chair when Ned entered with Sophie on his arm.

Sophie instantly let go of him and went to her sister. “Emily…?”

The two of them exchanged hushed words while Walter lingered nearby. Ned caught his friend’s gaze and held it, unflinching. Walter turned a dull red. Ned was amazed that he still could. The man was clearly shameless.

“This is a fine kettle of fish.” Sir William paced in front of the fireplace. “At the ball of all places. Where anyone might overhear.”

“Keep a level head, my dear,” Lady Appersett murmured to him. “We must all try to keep a level head.”

Emily scoffed. “It’s only a proposal, Mama. It isn’t as if I’ve been compromised.”

“Only a proposal!” Sir William turned on Walter, pointing at him with a shaking finger. “You, sir, are a deceiving blackguard. To come into my home under false pretenses. To approach my daughter—”

“My proposal of marriage was made in earnest,” Walter said. “I mean your daughter no disrespect.”

“It’s not the proposal I object to, man. It’s the way you went about it. Have you no sense of the manner in which these things are done? You should have come to me first. There are contracts to hammer out. Settlements and the like.”

“Mr. Murray doesn’t view me in those terms, Papa.” Emily moved closer to her still-blushing beau. “I’m not a boring old business arrangement.”

Ned stole a glance at Sophie. Her expression was shuttered, her arms folded tightly at her waist.

Is that what she thought? That she was a business arrangement to him? Nothing more than a dry negotiation of contracts and settlements? Granted, when he’d wished to court her, he’d gone to her father first. He’d done everything exactly as the Gentleman’s Book of Etiquette advised. Pursuing Sophia Appersett had been the most important decision of his life. He hadn’t wanted to put a foot out of line.

Only now did he realize that, in his zeal to do everything right, he might have inadvertently done everything wrong.

He’d wanted so badly to win her. To show himself a gentleman equal to those of her rank and breeding. As a result, there had been no romance in his pursuit. No impetuousness.

Unlike Walter Murray’s pursuit of her sister. An unsanctioned courtship filled with teasing and flirting and God knows what else.

“I wouldn’t like it if he’d asked you first,” Emily went on. “As if he didn’t care for me at all and only cared for my dowry.”

Walter glanced down at her with an expression of affectionate indulgence. “Your father’s right. I should have asked him for your hand before I approached you.” He looked at Sir William and Lady Appersett in turn. “I apologize for my impulsiveness, but I love your daughter. And I believe she loves me as well.”

Emily beamed. “Mr. Murray is going to take me on an Italian holiday for our honeymoon.”

Sophie’s face was white. “Emmy, that’s all very well, but…”

“I know you think I want a title, Sophie. I thought so too. But I’d far rather marry for love. One of us may as well. And you must agree—”