Getting up, Sophie disregarded her physical weakness and locked the letter in her jewel case. This time, she hid the key between the leaves of the Wordsworth book on her night stand.
She decided that she must write back and tell Frank of her feelings. Sitting at her desk, she pulled a piece of vellum from the drawer, dipped her quill in ink and began, though her fingers were trembling.
My dear Frank:
Though it was wonderful to see you last night, I am afraid your news has eclipsed the occasion in my memory. I know enough about the ton to know that men cannot break off engagements. I know enough about Melissa’s parents to know they will hold you like a landed fish, well-hooked.
I do not see any hope that this will end as we planned. In any case, you cannot be engaged to two women, so I will not consider myself engaged to you any longer. I know that you love me, and though our time together has been short, I will remember it with fondness all my life. But this must be an end to it. Melissa is my closest friend. I want you to treat her well, and I want you to be happy together. You must promise me that you will give me up and make Melissa a good husband. She deserves that.
Sophie
Ringing for her maid. Sophie knew that no matter how dejected she felt, it would not do for her to linger in bed. She would dress, go downstairs, and send her letter off with a footman. Maybe tonight, when all were asleep, she could give way to tears.
~~*
Fanny was surprised to see her in the breakfast room. “Sophie, are you certain you are well enough to be out of bed?”
“At this point, being in bed only makes me feel worse.”
“Lovely flowers from Frank.” Fanny returned to her eggs and toast.
“I need to talk to you about Frank. I’ve had a letter from him.”
“Oh?”
“Not to put too fine a point on it, he has found himself engaged to Melissa.”
“Sophie! I was certain, I am certain it is you he loves.”
“Lord and Lady Kent say that she has been compromised by him. I am certain that if you read the gossip columns, you would have seen it already.”
“Whatever has he done?” Fanny’s brown eyes were large and dark with suspicion.
“He was found with her in the garden last night. Her mother missed her. Knowing Melissa’s parents, they were only too happy to have trapped a viscount for her.”
“Is Melissa in love with Frank?”
“Not to my knowledge. Frank assures me that they will find some way out, but I am not counting on it.”
“And so you should not.” Fanny studied the piece of toast she was buttering. “I think it will not be impossible to bring Shrewsbury up to scratch.”
Sophie’s eyes welled with tears. “Oh, Fanny, do not talk so. I love Frank. I do not expect that I will ever find anyone who will take his place in my life.”
“Maybe not, dearest. And I hate all these ton shibboleths that rob people of their joy in life. But Frank knows them. He knew what he was risking. What was he doing with Melissa in the garden anyway?”
Sophie bit her lip. “I do not know, but nothing scandalous. Perhaps she needed a breath of air. It is horribly close in a ballroom.”
At that moment, Perkins announced, “Lady Melissa Aldridge is here, Miss Sophie.”
“Show her into the morning room, Perkins. I will be with her directly.”
Sophie poured herself a cup of tea and sipped it. For the first time in her life, she really did not want to see Melissa.
~~*
“Frank was dreadfully upset last night, Sophie,” Melissa said. “I just want you to know that. We have decided that we are going to find some way around this.”
“But what can you do?”
“Frank is jolly quick. He will think of something. I do not want you worrying. I know how much you love him, and I do not have any desire to take him away from you.”
“But your parents …”
“Are absurd. If it had been anyone but Frank, they might have been more understanding. But they have had their eye on him for me since they first met him at my come-out ball.”
“But all this is hardly fair to you, Melissa. You are ruined.”
“Never fear. We shall come about. Just you wait and see. Frank told me to tell you that you are not to worry.”
“Melissa, I must ask you something.” Sophie shut her eyes and took a deep breath. “If I were not involved, if you did not know that Frank and I were in love, would you not be happy about this marriage? Are you not partial to Frank?”
Her friend’s eyes welled. “I did not know the depth of your feelings, Sophie. You did not confide in me. I have been foolish.”
Sophie had known in her heart what Melissa’s feelings were. “So if you have to go through with the marriage, you will not be unhappy?”
“Of course I would be! Frank would be miserable, and you are my dearest friend! Do not talk this way, pray. I have no intention of marrying Frank. Trust me, we will see this matter mended.”
Sophie embraced Melissa. “Oh, I am sorry that you should be in such a horrid position. That you care for him makes it all the worse.”