Never Courted, Suddenly Wed (Scandalous Seasons #2)(14)

Sophie peered over her shoulder at him, and expected to find a condescending grin on his lips. His hazel stare was directed forward, his flat expression gave little indication as to what he was truly thinking.

“Then, considering what Geoffrey proposed this morning, mayhap that won’t be the case,” she muttered.

Christopher leaned close. “What is that?”

She started, grateful that her back was to Christopher. Since she’d been a small girl she’d had a bothersome tendency of speaking to herself. “Uh, nothing.”

They didn’t speak for the remainder of the trip until Christopher slowed his mare to a halt in front of her home. He leapt to the ground and then lifted her from the horse.

“You really can just set me down. I can see to it from here.”

“It’s a little late to avoid discovery, Phi.” He carried her up the steps.

The front doors opened and the butler, Ralston, greeted her with a bored yawn. “Miss Winters,” he said as though it were entirely commonplace for the viscount’s sister to be carried through the front door, by a gentleman, sans chaperone.

She sighed. “Hullo, Ralston.”

Her heart fell somewhere in the vicinity of her toes. Geoffrey stood beside Mother in the foyer, arms folded across his chest. His black stare conveyed brotherly disapproval. Had she really expected anything else?

Sophie chose to forget that the gentleman who held her was in fact her childhood nemesis. She wanted to bury her head in the front of Christopher’s jacket. “It’s not my fault, Geoffrey.”

Geoffrey ignored her protestations of innocence. “Thank you so much for seeing to my sister, Waxham.”

Her mother sighed. “Whatever have you done now, Sophie?”

Geoffrey scooped her out of Christopher’s arms and set her on her feet. “We are indebted to you. I’m sorry she’s caused you trouble.”

Christopher inclined his head. “It is not the lady’s fault. I’m afraid I was galloping where I shouldn’t have been and spooked her dog.” He caught and held Sophie’s gaze.

Her eyes went wide at the lie. The boy she remembered would have delighted in telling Geoffrey of the trouble she’d managed to get herself into. She didn’t know what to do with this unexpected kindness. It shamed her. Made her wish she’d been more gracious when Christopher had merely wanted to help her. “Thank you,” she mouthed.

He gave the faintest nod.

Mother rang her hands together. “Regardless, you have returned Sophie to us in a most gentlemanly manner.” She shared a look with Geoffrey. “May we extend an invitation to you and your father to dine with us?”

The earl’s hesitation was a palpable force. All Sophie’s oldest insecurities, the feeling of being nothing more than a polite obligation resurfaced.

She cleared her throat. “I’m certain Lord Waxham is busy. There’s really no need to burden him and the marquess.”

“Mother didn’t even mention a specific evening,” Geoffrey said drolly.

She bit the inside of her cheek. Drat.

As if on cue, Mother spoke. “Tomorrow evening?”

“Lord Waxham has plans tomorrow evening.” Sophie directed her attention toward Christopher. “Don’t you, my lord?”

He dusted his hands together. “Actually, I do not.”

“See, Mother. He…” What? Sophie’s words trailed off. “You do not?”

“Splendid!” her mother exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

Christopher caught and held Sophie’s gaze. “In fact, I can’t think of any way I’d rather spend my evening than with your family.”

Did she imagine the way he paused overlong on those last two words? She narrowed her eyes. What was this about? She’d learned when they’d been small children to be very cautious where Christopher was concerned. There was certainly more to his gentlemanly response.

And Sophie didn’t trust it.

Didn’t trust it one bit.

She tried once more. “You are just being polite, my lord, but on the ride over you mentioned your plans for the evening.”

Her mother’s face fell. “Oh, do say you’ll come another evening then?”

Christopher folded his arms across his chest. “Your daughter is mistaken.” He looked to Sophie. “You are mistaken,” he said more emphatically.

“I am?”

“You are.”

Three pairs of faintly accusing eyes landed on Sophie. A telltale flush of shame heated her cheeks. “Really? I’d thought…that is to say, I’d believed we’d spoken of your plans for tomorrow evening.” She discreetly crossed her fingers and stole an upward glance at her brother.

Geoffrey’s black glower indicated that he knew Sophie wasn’t being altogether truthful.

Or in this case, at all truthful.

But really…why would Christopher want to join her family for supper? He’d made his feelings for her quite clear over the years. This gentlemanly side of him, his chivalrous attempt to shield her hoydenish behavior at Hyde Park from Geoffrey was so very uncharacteristic. Christopher had never been kind to her over the years just for kindness sake.

Geoffrey’s words brought her back to the moment. “We really would be honored to have you and your father for company tomorrow evening, Waxham.”