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and bow to your expertise.’

      ‘You may run along, then,’ he said, touching her sleeve. ‘I still have to greet a variety of other ladies, but my duties here must be short.’

      ‘And do what?’ Sophie put her hand on her hip. How dare he order her about! ‘The At Home is in its dying throes. I suspect once this lot have finished, we will not get any more callers. My stepmother has the tea and coffee under control.’

      ‘Grab your hat and cloak, of course. Unless you wish to have more gossip in the papers. I have a new pair of horses and a carriage up from Tattersalls. I want to put them through their paces in the northern air.’

      ‘Do you drive?’

      ‘I leave that to others but I do know the difference between a good carriage horse and an unsuitable one.’ A dimple played in the corner of his mouth. ‘Unless you are frightened to be seen with me?’

      ‘I welcome it.’

      Richard stood in the hallway. He struggled to remember when he’d last enjoyed himself so much. Gently tweaking Sophie Ravel’s pretence of cold hauteur so that she was forced to reveal her inner passion was his new favourite sport. He wanted to explore her layers and find out more. He looked forward to it. He could not be sorry that circumstances forced them to spend time with each other.

      ‘Have you written to your father, Richard, informing him of your proposed alliance?’ his aunt said, coming into the hallway.

      ‘You are departing so soon, Aunt Parthenope?’

      ‘One stays precisely fifteen minutes. Always. I know the timing exactly. One should never be seen to regard a clock.’ His aunt sniffed. ‘You are leaving too soon.’

      ‘I will bear that in mind.’ Richard pointed towards the drawing room. ‘The crush was overly heavy. I’m waiting for Sophie.’

      ‘The girl is perfectly acceptable if one’s taste is for icy blondes, but the stepmother …’ His aunt lowered her voice. ‘Have you seen the décor? Your father would turn puce. Far too much china. Far too much chintz. Her manner is far too fine.’

      ‘Mrs Ravel is a perfectly charming lady. Sophie knows her own mind about decoration and fashion, just as she knows her own mind about me.’ Richard forced a smile over a tremor of horror. He did not want to think about his father travelling to Newcastle and the complications that it would bring.

      His relationship with Sophie had nothing to do with his family. She belonged to another part of his life, separate and distinct from his duty towards his family.

      He had taken the time to move into a well-appointed set of rooms on Granger Street this morning. Luckily, for once, his mother had agreed with his caution, although her reasoning differed from his.

      ‘My father will adore Sophie once he meets her. Does he have plans to travel here?’

      ‘Who knows what your father will do?’ His aunt made a disapproving noise. ‘He is a law unto himself, but I have every reason to think that he will not set foot in Newcastle. I, myself, have tried to persuade him for years to visit our mother’s grave, but he has always refused. His pigs must come before everything. I swear he uses them as an excuse to avoid doing his duty.’

      ‘My father is a man of steadfast devotion to his pigs.’

      His aunt fixed him with a stare and he had to wonder if she had guessed his true reason for being up in Newcastle. ‘I shall have to write to your father about this fiancée of yours. You understand why it is necessary, I hope. The best that can be said for her stepmother is that she is no conversationalist.’

      ‘You do that. It will not change the outcome, Aunt.’ Richard nodded towards the stairs. ‘Here comes my intended, Aunt. I would hate to think you had caused her one moment of distress.’

      His aunt put her hand over his. ‘Any wife of yours should be a credit to our family and its standing. You must not allow love to cloud your judgement.’

      ‘We are agreed on that. Love will never do that.’

      Richard went towards Sophie, who looked absolutely fetching in her dark-blue leghorn bonnet and matching cloak, truly a breath of fresh air and peace in his turbulent life.

      She did not have any side in his parents’ war. He’d learnt a long time ago that explaining about his family only made him feel uncomfortable and awkward rather than contributing anything meaningful. He saw no reason to break the habit with Sophie.

      ‘Where are these horses?’ Sophie asked with a pretty smile after his aunt departed.

      ‘Waiting outside. Will you be bringing your maid?’ he enquired, wondering how much further he’d push her today. She would melt.

      Sophie hesitated, understanding what he was asking. It would be prudent to have someone else there to prevent things getting out of hand, but it would also mean speaking in front of her. She could hardly explain about the party débâcle with someone listening in.

      ‘We are an acknowledged couple.’

      He tucked her hand into his arm. ‘So I am given to understand. I promise to be on my best behaviour.’

      ‘My maid hasn’t been with us very long and she has a pile of mending to do.’

      ‘I understand entirely now. Do you go through servants easily? I only ask because your butler appeared quite new.’

      He made it seem as though she was careless. ‘My stepmother does demand the best, but normally I keep my maids unless they marry. My last one ran away with the underfootman from two houses down. Jane has only been with us for two weeks.’

      ‘And you have no idea if she is reliable,’ he said, handing her into the smart carriage.

      ‘Precisely.’ Sophie turned towards him. ‘I have no idea if she can be tempted to tell her story to the papers. Such things have been known to happen.’

      ‘With great regularity.’ The dimple showed in the corner of his mouth. He stretched slightly and his arm came around the back of the seat. Sophie sat straighter.

      He gestured to the coachman, who started off abruptly and she was jolted back against the seat and his arm, which instantly tightened about her. She gave him a sideways glance, certain he had arranged the incident. His hand squeezed her shoulder, sending a warm pulse through her before he removed it.

      ‘I’m pleased with your foresight,’ he said. ‘What did you want to speak to me about? What has agitated you? You were positively clinging to that teacup with a death grip.’

      Sophie gulped. He had noticed! It made it worse that he’d noticed. She could almost think he cared. She pulled her bonnet forwards so that it covered her face. ‘Was I that obvious?’

      ‘Only to me. My aunt takes unholy glee in making people agitated and upset. It provides her chief amusement.’ He put his hand over hers and squeezed it. ‘You appeared perfectly in control to everyone else, I am sure.’

      Sophie swallowed hard and withdrew her hand from his. She concentrated on looking out the carriage window. Every time they met, she found a reason to like him more. He said precisely the right thing to reassure her, but how hard was that? Men like him did these things for one purpose only—seduction.

      ‘I need to apologise for my stepmother and her engagement-party scheme,’ she said before she lost her nerve or he developed the wrong idea about why she’d agreed to come without a chaperon. ‘She had the idea fixated in her brain. I had no idea she entertained the notion … until it was too late.’

      ‘And you haven’t told her the truth.’

      ‘How could I!’ Sophie turned slightly and faced him. He had to understand about her stepmother and her kind heart. ‘I planned to say something this morning, but my stepmother was preoccupied with the At Home arrangements. I want to let her down gently, Richard. My stepmother means well. She made this promise to my father on

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