Melissa patted her back. “Do not fret. I do not think Frank has a tendency to corpulence. He is not the man for me.”
Sophie sighed. “What have I ever done to deserve as loyal a friend as you are?”
“You have been a loyal friend yourself. Do not dwell on my feelings, Soph. I shall come about.”
~~*
Sophie was not sleeping well. There was a bright moon tonight, shining through a crack in the drapes onto the door across from her. She was thinking too much about that door, about Frank’s arrival the night before and how she had welcomed him. A longing to be back in his arms rose up inside her like steam from a boiling pot. She had her cry earlier, but it had not eased her sorrow. The pain was really much too deep for tears to ease.
Climbing out of her bed, she grabbed her brush, went to the window seat, opened the drapes all the way, and looked down at the garden bathed in moonlight. She shivered in her white satin nightrail. Absently, she began unbraiding her hair. It was soft and silky from its washing that evening. The plait had left it wavy. Drawing the brush through it, she smoothed it with her other hand. She could almost sit on it, it was so long. The strokes of the brush were somewhat calming. But then she thought of Wordsworth’s Ode, and tears slid down her cheeks.
Before she knew what was happening, the brush was taken from her hand and someone else began to brush her long locks. Blinking away the tears, she turned her head to face Frank, dressed in black evening attire.
“My lord, whatever are you doing here?”
“Taking my life in my hands. Do you know what would happen if Buck caught me?”
“He would most likely scalp you like a Red Indian.”
“At the very least. Can you not sleep? Oh, Angel, you have been crying.”
“No and yes,” she said simply.
“This is a bad business, Sophie.”
“I know. It is worse than you think. Melissa is in love with you.”
“I think she does not fancy me at all. She has made no secret of the fact.”
“She is playacting.”
“I cannot credit what you tell me. But in any event, she is willing to help me end this farce.”
Why did the brush strokes seem thrilling when Frank was performing them?
“Angel, I came to warn you about my plan.”
“Warn me?”
“Yes. I’m going to revert to my old ways, only ever so much worse. I am aiming to give Lord and Lady Kent a disgust of me. I want them to decide I am not the man for their daughter.”
“Frank! You must not mar your integrity in that way! If you care for me at all, you will continue to be the gentleman you are.”
“There is nothing else I can do. I must get free of this wretched engagement!”
“I would not have you do such a thing, even if it is for me,” Sophie said.
“Can you think of a better plan?”
“I do not want to think. I want you to kiss me.”
“I want to, believe me. But with you clad like that, I do not think it would be such a good idea.”
“And you think to pretend to be a rake?”
Putting down the brush, he took Sophie in his arms and kissed her long and deeply. Her heart turned over when he said, “You are my only love. You are to remember that. Do you understand?”
“Yes, darling, gorgeous Frank. I will try. But I do not expect it to be easy.”
“I really must leave before I do something we would both regret, Angel. I hope you will find yourself able to sleep better now.”
“And you will not revert? You will stay the Frank that I love?”
He sighed heavily. “If I must. Have you a better plan?”
“No, not at the moment. But think. The Kents would have to accept you, no matter how roguish you became. They have put it about that you ruined their daughter! Even if Melissa broke the engagement because you took up with your mistress again or ruined yourself at the gaming tables, she would still be ruined! She would be unable to attach a worthy husband.”
Frank balled his right fist and slammed it into his left palm. “You are right. I would only make the situation worse.”
“Do not despair, Frank, darling,” she said. “Both of us have forgotten our Wordsworth.”
Frank gave her a half smile. “No matter what happens, Angel, I will love you ’til death and beyond.”
“I do not think we need to be quite that melodramatic,” she said. “Now you must go or be scalped by Buck!”
He kissed her with such thoroughness, it clearly spoke of his desperation. Though it ignited a thrilling response within her, she pulled away, putting her hands on both sides of his face and touching his forehead with hers. “Do not worry, Frank. And if you descend into debauchery, I will not marry you in any case.”
“Angel,” he whispered. “Good evening.” He kissed her forehead, her eyes, and her cheeks and was gone.
{ 24 }