Never Courted, Suddenly Wed (Scandalous Seasons #2)(18)

The last thing Sophie wanted was to subject herself to the humiliation of performing like a small child for the marquess and his son. Her mind traveled back to the first time she’d played in front of Christopher. She’d been a girl of seven; he’d been nearly five and ten years. Sophie had wanted nothing more than to play with her doll, Penelope but Mother insisted Sophie play the pianoforte for the Marquess of Milford. She’d played not even three notes when Christopher had beat his hand against his leg and roared with laughter.

It was the last time she’d played for an audience.

Her brother, in attempt to cut the palpable tension, directed his attention toward Christopher. “My sister is quite accomplished on the pianoforte. Aren’t you, Sophie?”

Christopher’s gaze landed on her.

Perhaps she should smile and show her teeth after all. It would be a good deal more direct than this game young ladies were forced to put on for the sake of a marital match. “I’m not playing, Geoffrey.”

Mother cleared her throat. “She’s just being modest.”

Sophie shook her head. “No, no I’m not.” She held her brother’s gaze in a silent battle of the wills.

Geoffrey shoved back his chair and stood. “You’ll play.” He directed his attention to his guests. “Why don’t we retire to the parlor?”

She opened her mouth to labor the point when Christopher climbed to his feet. He helped her from her seat and held his elbow out. Sophie placed her fingertips along the sleeve of his jacket and allowed him to escort her to the Red Parlor. With its blood-red wallpaper and crimson upholstery it was the most garish room in their entire household. She wrinkled her brow. The one saving element to the room was her beloved pianoforte.

“I’d say this is the quietest I remember you,” Christopher murmured, interrupting her puerile musings. “Never tell me you’re still afraid of the Red Parlor.”

A smile played on her lips. “It is a horrendous room.”

He chuckled; the sound familiar and friendly, not the sarcastic expression of mirth she expected of him. “It is the kind of space that would give young children night terrors.”

They entered the blood-red room, with its soaring ceilings and full floor-length windows. Her gaze traveled around the fifty-foot space, until it landed upon the snarling lions. She loathed them with the same burning intensity she had as a child.

Christopher followed her gaze, to the red-upholstered sofa with its dark, mahogany arms. He turned to her mother. “Might I take Sophie for a stroll around the room?”

Mother clapped her hands like a child who’d just received a reprieve from her daily lessons. “What a delightful idea, Christopher.”

“Thank you for sparing me from her and Geoffrey’s pestering,” Sophie said.

Christopher lifted his chin in unspoken acknowledgement. He ushered her in silence down the perimeter of the long room, until they’d placed a considerable distance between their families.

He slowed his pace. “They’re trying to make a match,” he said, breaking into the silence.

“Yes. Yes, they are,” she muttered, humiliated by her brother’s desperate attempt to marry her off; especially to a gentleman who’d so clearly avoided her through the years. The sting of embarrassment slapped her cheeks.

He chuckled. “Based upon your response, marriage to me is not something you would prefer.”

Unbidden, Odysseus danced through her imaginings. His ready grin. His appreciation for intelligence. He’d not looked at her as an oddity or as a lady underneath his notice.

She held her palms up. “How am I to respond to that, Christopher?”

“Honestly.”

Sophie glanced up at him and started. When had Christopher gone from the tall, gangly boy who’d teased her to this towering, lean but well-muscled figure? She furrowed her brow and continued to peer at him. His too long black locks defied fashion’s norms. And his eyes. She squinted…there was something ever so familiar, ever so friendly about his hazel eyes.

“Phi?” He wrinkled his brow. “Are you all right?”

“Uh, yes. Fine.” Her toes curled at having been discovered studying him. “You were saying?”

“I was pointing out that you don’t want to wed me.”

“Nor you me.”

He blanched. “God, no.”

She bit the inside of her lip not knowing why his words should cause this pang in her heart. “Why don’t you say what it is you’re thinking and be done with it.”

He must have heard the hurt in her words. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to offend you,” he said, in hushed undertones.

Sophie started at this unexpected side of her childhood nemesis. Mayhap he’d not grown into as boorish a man as he’d been a child. She stumbled a bit and he helped right her footing.

“My father would like us to make a match of it.”

Ahh, so they’d come round to the real reason for Christopher’s sudden interest in her company. Sophie glanced across the room. Mother’s hawk-like gaze rested on Sophie and Christopher as they continued their stroll around the room. Her brother sat with his legs folded, a smile on his face.

She sighed. “As do my brother and mother. Alas the only thing to stop them from agreeing to…” Sophie snapped her lips closed.