“But I have heard that he is very reclusive and does not do readings!”
“For the Duke of Devonshire, he does. Perhaps he is a patron. Or perhaps Wordsworth hopes that he will become a patron. Lady Susannah was given an invitation for five people, and as luck would have it, or perhaps Providence, I was there for lunch today when she mentioned it. She graciously allotted two of her invitations for me and for you.”
To his complete surprise, Sophie threw herself onto his chest and put her arms around him. “Oh excellent, excellent Gorgeous Frank! What an honor! What an evening! I could not have dreamed of anything I would like better.”
He wrapped her securely in his arms. “Even if you must endure my company?”
She hid her face in his waistcoat. “You must know, Frank, that there is no one I know who appreciates Wordsworth as you do. No one else in whole company I would rather be.”
He tipped her chin up with his fingers. “And you still claim that we do not suit?” He looked at her smooth, full lips, and wondered if a kiss would be welcome, or whether it was asking too much.
As if reading his mind, Sophie put her fingers up to his mouth. “What does it matter how well we suit when you are still engaged to Melissa and the time of the wedding grows ever closer?”
Releasing her, he ground his teeth in frustration. “We will go to the reading. We will enjoy this opportunity which may never come again. Then, if things should not go as we wish, we will always have Wordsworth. We will always be able to look back on the evening as a grand apex in our personal experience.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “I want the chance to treasure you forever, darling, to smooth every frown, to lighten every cloudy sky. Ever since you walked toward me the first night I saw you, I have desired that.” Pulling her to him, he encircled her once again in his arms. “And when I heard your violin and realized how much more there was to life and love than I had supposed, I knew that we belonged to one another. Something will happen. Providence could not be so cruel to keep us apart. We must have faith.”
{ 37 }
SOPHIE COULD NOT WAIT to tell Fanny her news. She found her in her upstairs sitting room, finishing the embroidery on Alexa’s new white lawn dress.
“What a picture of contented domesticity you present, Fan! If I did not know you better, I would think you were tamed to this life.”
“Ah, but I know Italy waits in the wings. One can endure almost anything if one knows Italy awaits. Has Frank been here? You look very cheerful.”
Sophie told her the news.
“Oh, that is famous! How I wish I could come. But Alexa would rule that out in any case. I am glad Elise will be there, as well. You and Frank have some history with Wordsworth, do you not?”
“Yes. Though events seem to have made a mockery of it.” She described their mutual feelings of having known each other before when “trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home.”
Perkins entered the room. “Lord Shrewsbury is waiting to see you,” he announced.
She sighed. “Show him in to the yellow sitting room, please.” To Fanny, she said, “Merciful heavens, what can the man want now?”
“He is truly a gorgeous man, you know,” Fanny said.
“Remember, you are leg-shackled to Buck.”
“As though he would let me forget it! And as though I would want to. Run along, dearest.”
~~*
Sophie had never seen Lord Shrewsbury so pleased with himself. He was positively beaming.
“My dear Miss Edwards,” he announced, “I have such a wondrous surprise!”
She had a terrible presentiment. “Oh yes?”
“I have the pleasure of extending an invitation to you by way of the Duke of Devonshire to attend a reading by the poet William Wordsworth!”
Sophie gave a little smile. “That is indeed wonderful, Lord Shrewsbury. How very kind of you to think of me! However, I must tell you that I have already received and accepted another such invitation.”
The baron’s brows came crashing down. “Where did you come by such a thing?” He was clearly vexed.
“Lord Trowbridge was here before you. It was he who tendered me the invitation.”
“But where did he come by it? There are very few invitations available.”
“From the Duke, of course.”
Shrewsbury had never showed such poor grace. His face was in a full scowl. “Do you still hope to marry the man?”
“I believe he is still engaged to my friend, Lady Melissa.”
“And likely to remain so. Do you still refuse to entertain my suit?”