She gave a wounded look to where Gullsville lay on the carpet. “I’ll see to it that he’s taken care of. You’ve a ball to attend, do you not?”
Kendal hesitated, hating to leave Marguerite to handle the situation. Not that she wasn’t capable. God knew she was.
But he knew better than to argue. All the protests wouldn’t keep Marguerite from nudging him out the door and to the ball, where he would most likely be in attendance with Gullsville’s son and youngest daughter.
Lady Sophia Stopford, the youngest child of the Earl of Gullsville, had always loved a ball. Not only for the gowns, though they were indeed lovely, or even for the eligible men who kept her dancing through the night. No, it was the effervescent energy quivering in the room, as though the air alone was enough to make the bubbles tickle up the sides of delicate glassware.
Tonight, however, even the anticipation could scarcely elevate her spirits.
“I say, Sophia, are you even listening?”
She blinked and regarded Henry, Viscount Southby, her older brother, who strode at her side up the path to Bursbury Manor, where her aunt was hosting a ball for the coming out of her youngest daughter, Lady Eugenia.
Sophia shook her head. “I’m sorry, I—” She stopped herself from making an excuse. “I was woolgathering. Do forgive me, dear brother.”
He tilted his head, a concerned look crossing his handsome face. They had all inherited the same gentle appearance. But while Sophia and their eldest sister, Cecelia, had delicate features, Henry’s were elegantly sculpted, and his eyes were kind.
Those eyes were now scrutinizing her with tender perception. “You’ve been put out since your conversation with Father earlier.”
Sophia looked away to discourage him from reading her like a broadsheet. Her conversation with their father had indeed not gone well. Not only did he feel it was time for her to wed, but he had also found the man she ought to marry.
Mr. Mongerton, the owner of a gaming hell—the Fox Hole—or something equally as crass. An associate, Father had called him. As if actual business transpired between them. Not that she was allowed to argue. She was the second daughter, as he so bluntly stated.
And while Sophia could not argue her birth order, she did not agree that it relegated her to a position where she ought to wed a man over twice her own age.
This was not how it was all supposed to go. She hadn’t put off marriage for so long so that she could be wed to an associate of her father’s. She’d done it so she could have the full experience of the joy of youth before being tethered into matrimony. Her vow to live her life to the fullest had not been in vain, even if her father had no appreciation for such matters.
And while she understood Father’s impatience, did he really have to select someone as ghastly as Mr. Mongerton?
The gaming hell owner had made his interest in her known on more than one occasion with beady and lascivious glances her way. The very idea of the man made her flesh crawl with distaste.
Sophia rose on her tiptoes with feigned excitement to see who was in the entryway and mask her shudder of revulsion. “Did you see if Lord Heaton has arrived yet?”
“Is Lord Heaton the one to have finally captured your heart, little sister?” Henry kept his voice low. He always was mindful of her feelings. It was one of the many things she adored about him.
“You know he is not,” she hissed in a happy whisper. “Though he dances beautifully, don’t you think?”
“I was going to say exactly that very thing about him myself,” Henry said with a smile and offered Sophia his arm as they approached the bright entryway to the ballroom in preparation of being announced.
Sophia couldn’t help but laugh as she accepted his arm.
“Perhaps it might be better if you refrain from dancing as much this evening.” Henry offered her an apologetic smile. “In light of our cousin’s coming out.”
Heat touched Sophia’s cheeks, but she understood his implication. It was a rare night when Sophia’s dance card had any space on it for another suitor. Tonight, was for Eugenia to shine. Which Sophia had already taken into consideration.
“I’m wearing my slippers without a heel,” she admitted. “On account of my twisted ankle.”
Henry winked at her in appreciation of her feigned injury.
The caller announced them, and Eugenia sailed toward them with a smile beaming on her red lips. Sophia had been at the modiste with her cousin when her coming out gown was designed, and it was stunning. Pale blue fabric with deeper blue rosettes crafted in silk over the full skirt and matching slippers. Her red hair had been twisted into an elaborate arrangement with silver ribbons and her freshly crimped curls gleamed in the candlelight.
The fashion was more elaborate than Sophia’s own light brown tresses, which had been left intentionally simple. A woman’s coming out was her crowning achievement, and Sophia would do nothing to take that away from her cousin and dearest friend.
“Isn’t it grand?” Eugenia squealed and surveyed the ballroom. Garlands of roses were resplendent in the large room, all matching colors to her attire. The wooden floor had been polished to a high shine, and candles glittered in mirrored sconces, making the room glow with golden light.
Eugenia’s elder sister caught Sophia’s eye and offered a delicate wave. Penelope, the Countess of Oakhurst, generally did not attend balls now that she was wed to the Earl of Oakhurst, but she was not only in attendance but also appeared to be enjoying herself.
“The grandest.” Sophia embraced her cousin. “I’m so very happy for you.”
Eugenia grabbed her hand. “Come, let’s find eligible men to dance with.” She bit her lip, her eyes dancing with mirth. “And perhaps one to marry.”
“I find myself in need of some brandy.” Henry offered a bow, gave Eugenia a compliment on her ribbons or something of the like, and wandered swiftly away from the conversation of suitors and marriage.
Typical man.
“Ah, Sophia, there you are, dearest.” Lady Bursbury swept to Sophia’s side. “Might I steal your cousin away for a moment, Eugenia?”
At that moment, Lord Heaton arrived, and a mischievous sparkle lit Eugenia’s blue eyes. “Be sure to find me when you’re done,” she said.
Lady Bursbury watched her walk away, a slight twist to her mouth. “She’ll be a tough one to keep from marrying too quickly.”
“I thought you wanted everyone married off, Aunt Nancy,” Sophia said it playfully.
The little laugh Lady Bursbury gave told her she took Sophia’s words exactly that way. “Yes, but happily, my dear.” She leaned toward Sophia and lowered her voice. “Which is why I’ve come to speak to you.” The concern in her sharp blue eyes was unmistakable.
She knew.
“I take it my father has spoken to you?” Sophia surmised.
Her aunt sighed. “I asked him to give me a chance to find you someone different. Someone more appropriate. He seems rather set on his decision. However…” She lifted one auburn brow triumphantly. “I can be very persuasive.”
Sophia grinned. Lady Bursbury could be very persuasive indeed, especially when it came to matchmaking, of which she was quite adept. Even Cecelia hadn’t been able to avoid their aunt’s schemes.