Page 36 of A Dreamy Match Made in Heaven
“If you have no interest in Mr. Gregory, I understand. Perhaps you find him unattractive or uninteresting. Or maybe there is something else entirely. And if that is the case, there is no obligation.
“In fact, I do have another woman in mind for him. But I felt that you were the most ideal match. I thought that it was best to allow you the first opportunity to interact with him and refuse if you did not find him to be the match for you,” Miss Wainwright explained.
A fire lit for a moment within Sophia upon hearing those words.
…I do have another woman in mind for him…
A bitter jealousy raged through her veins for a moment before Sophia was able to suppress it. She had no right to feel envious or angry at the thought of Thomas finding another to be his wife.
In fact, that was exactly what she had been intending. If she was going to refuse him, to be unwilling to even spend time around him, then was it not the logical conclusion that he would find a wife elsewhere?
And why had she come to this place of hoping for that? Had Sophia forgotten why everything ended between them anyway?
Her shock had turned into anger overnight. It felt better to cling to that than to cling to the sadness and pain she felt at having lost him to begin with. But all of this was his fault. All of this was because of his actions.
Thomas had abandoned her when she had needed him most. When she had been stuck, trapped by the Earl, he had simply left her. Her dearest friend as a child, a man that Sophia had truly believed cared for her, loved her even.
And yet he ran away when the Earl of Bastion came sniffing around. Thomas had fled when he could have put an end to the Earl’s interests by issuing a proposal first. But he hadn’t done so. He hadn’t made the effort to pursue her then, and he couldn’t do so now.
If Thomas had remained with her, everything would have gone so much better in her life. Sophia would have married him all those years ago. She would have rejected the courtship that the Earl had offered and would have been saved all of the pain and humiliation.
She would have two years of her life back. Not wasted as they had been. But enjoyed, cherished and indulged them.
Yes, all of this was Thomas’s fault. There was no reason for her to be jealous for his attentions when it was far easier to blame him for the parts of her life that Sophia detested. It had been his actions that brought it all about. And she would not easily let that go.
Miss Wainwright lingered before Sophia, waiting for some kind of response. Thus far Sophia had been silent, thinking through all that she had experienced and what her life had been like. But now she was being offered another chance to spend her life with Thomas.
And if not to spend her life, then at the very least she would have an opportunity to confront him.
“A second meeting, then?” Sophia asked, hesitantly.
Miss Wainwright’s face smoothed in relief.
“Indeed, a second meeting. To take place as soon as possible, that you might get to know one another better. I truly think it is the best option for both of you. Oh, he really is a lovely man and you are such a wonderful young woman that I can only imagine things shall go well for both of you in a marriage,” Miss Wainwright said.
Sophia nodded.
“Then I suppose that I must agree to it. After all, you are correct that you are always successful in your matches. Who am I to second guess you? I cannot challenge the odds that everyone in London knows of,” Sophia flattered.
Miss Wainwright seemed delighted by the response and she clasped her hands together in joy.
“I am thrilled to hear that you are thinking of it so thoroughly. Yes, all is going to be well. You and Mr. Gregory shall meet in just a few days. I have already spoken with him and he agreed to give you a second chance as well, so I must now go and arrange everything,” she insisted.
Miss Wainwright stood and readied herself to go. Sophia could hardly believe that Thomas had agreed to another meeting. Her final hope had been that, perhaps, he had said no. But alas, he had agreed and that meant that this meeting would indeed take place.
And when it took place, Sophia would be honest with him about her thoughts and feelings. She would tell him how angry she was. She would watch him try to explain himself, probably spluttering as he always had done when he lost a game to her as a child.
“Excellent, I look forward to the meeting,” Sophia said, walking Miss Wainwright to the door.
“Now, my dear, do not be anxious this time. If things do not go well, as I said, we shall find him another match and I can keep searching on your behalf. But I am truly of the belief that this is the one. He is the man you are meant to spend your life with. There will be a spark, I’ve no doubt,” she continued.
Sophia nodded along and remained quiet, trying to humour Miss Wainwright, despite believing that the Matchmaker had lost her mind if she thought that this would ever work out.
She urged the woman out of the door as politely as possible and said goodbye three times before Miss Wainwright made it into her coach. By the time Sophia closed the front door to the townhouse, with the maid watching her awkwardly as if Sophia had got in the way of her job, she was tired.
Sophia made her way up the stairs and to her room. She sat on the bed, thinking and trying to process what she had agreed to. Moving back into position by the window, watching the rain all over again, she played the scene over and over.
Sophia planned every word, every motion. She would tell Thomas what she felt. And she would finally have her closure.
