Never Courted, Suddenly Wed (Scandalous Seasons #2)(49)

A grin formed on Geoffrey’s lips. “Well done, sister.”

She wrinkled her brow, uncertain of the direction of this latest scolding.

“The duke serves on the board of London Hospital. Did Mallen suggest you visit the hospital?”

“Mallen?” She knew she sounded like a sapskull, but there was no helping it. Whatever was her brother talking about?

“If Mallen suggested it, then I want you to continue your visits.”

Sophie opened her mouth to correct his error, and then promptly closed it. It hardly behooved her to explain it had in fact been Emmaline who’d initiated Sophie’s visits to the hospital. If the only reason Geoffrey allowed her to attend was to encourage the duke’s suit, so be it. For then, Sophie would still be able to continue her trips to the hospital.

“Are we done, here?” Sophie shifted on her feet.

Geoffrey snorted. “Hardly.”

So he did plan to scold her for the incident at the lake. Oh blast, she’d had enough. “Well, get on with it, Geoffrey.”

“Get on with what?”

Sophie spun on her heel. Mother sailed through the doorway, wearing a silly smile on her ageless, if plump cheeks.

“Hullo, Mother.” Sophie greeted.

Mother responded with a giggle. “Well-done, Sophie. It would appear you were correct.”

Hmm. Based on Mother’s girlish response, it appeared she was pleased with Sophie’s latest scandal. This was a rather unexpected turn of events.

Mother clapped her hands. “Don’t you have anything to say, daughter?”

A wave of heat flooded Sophie’s cheeks. It took very little to piece together just what had earned Geoffrey and Mother’s approval. “Uh, thank you?”

Mother came to a stop in front of her. She claimed her hands and spun her around in a circle. “I must be truthful. When you first claimed you could bring a duke up to scratch—”

“Not just any duke,” Geoffrey chimed in. “The Duke of Mallen.”

“Yes, yes,” Mother exclaimed. “Whenever you told us you could bring the duke up to scratch, well I thought you were madder than King George himself.”

“We both did,” Geoffrey tossed out for good measure.

Sophie tapped her toes on the floor. “I’m flattered.” They apparently were so smitten with the idea of her having snared the Duke of Mallen’s attention that they either ignored or failed to hear the sarcasm in her tone. “So I’m not here for a lecture from you?” she asked hesitantly, then immediately wanted to call back the impulsive question.

“Oh, I didn’t say that,” Geoffrey drawled.

She folded her arms across her chest. Alas, she should have known better.

“You, once again are responsible for several pieces of unwanted gossip.”

“Geoffrey,” Mother said.

Mother and son shared a look. Then Geoffrey sat back in his chair. “Very well. I promised Mother I would let the matter rest.”

“What?” Sophie blurted. Her mother wasn’t known for her magnanimity where Sophie’s escapades were concerned.

Mother inclined her head. “I think it is more important that we focus on what you’ve accomplished.”

“You mean my fall into the lake?”

“Don’t be silly, Sophie,” her mother snapped.

“She refers to Mallen and Waxham,” Geoffrey said with a heavy amount of impatience in his tone. “It seems you were correct.”

Geoffrey claimed Sophie had been right about something. He hadn’t reprimanded her for the incident in the park. Mother was pleased with her. Yes, the world had gone all topsy turvy on Sophie.

Geoffrey continued. “It is no longer prudent to accept Waxham’s suit.”

Sophie’s heart did a funny little leap. “Did he ask for permission to wed me?”

Her brother shook his head. “The marquess indicated an offer of marriage would be coming soon.”

The organ beneath her breast crashed down, somewhere to the vicinity of her toes. It was a foolish, inexplicable reaction. Whyever would she want Christopher to make her an offer of marriage? They were two very different people. He was the proper, sought-after earl…and she was, well—the Incorrigible Miss. Sophie would do better with a gentleman who did not fear Society’s censure. Say, a gentleman who would steal into his host’s library and pilfer his brandy and flirt wildly with her.

Her mother and brother exchanged a look. “You are quiet, Sophie.” Geoffrey’s tone said he was leery of such an uncharacteristic reaction from her.

“It’s just that…that…”

“What?” her mother prodded.

Sophie sank into the leather winged-back chair at the foot of her brother’s desk. “Christopher doesn’t want to court me.”

“Don’t be foolish,” her mother said, settling into the chair alongside Sophie. “Tell her not to be foolish, Geoffrey.”

“It doesn’t matter whether or not he wants to court you. He is.” It didn’t escape her notice the manner in which he danced around their mother’s order. “And I’ll not accept a bid for your hand until we ascertain the extent of Mallen’s interest.”

She studied the palms of her hands. Geoffrey spoke with such a calculated matter-of-factness about her future. But what was she to say in return? That she wanted to be courted not because a gentleman was being forced to do so? That she wanted to be loved? He’d scoff at such fanciful yearnings.