Page 40 of A Dreamy Match Made in Heaven
His actions had led Sophia on a path to despair and loneliness and he would know that now.
Before the two men had fully reached the ladies, Adrianna was curtseying and giving a sweet but flirtatious smile to the friend that was with Thomas.
Miss Wainwright appeared out of nowhere, just in time to make formal introductions.
“Miss Hastings, you have met Mr. Gregory. And I believe Miss Alcott and Mr. Kingsley have met as well,” she noted.
The men bowed and Sophia joined in a curtsey of her own. Lord and Lady Faversham were introduced as well and everybody was clear with each other. But Sophia still felt the strain in the air between herself and Thomas. They were hardly about to make eye contact, but she had determined to be strong and firm, so she held her chin high regardless.
For a moment, Miss Wainwright eyed Officer Kingsley and Adrianna.
“Lord Faversham,” she began. “I think you should very much like the topiary maze, just through there. Perhaps you could take along Miss Alcott and Mr. Kingsley?”
Lord Faversham instantly understood the inflections in her tone and received the message that this, too, was a set up. Sophia wished that someone had warned her, so she might have known that she would not have her dear friend to fall back on if things should prove too difficult.
But as the three of them went off, Sophia was also glad that Adrianna would have another opportunity to spend time with the man she clearly liked. She wondered if Melody had had such an opportunity.
“And I believe we ought to go in this direction,” Miss Wainwright gestured, insinuating that Thomas ought to take the lead.
Sophia followed just behind them and felt Miss Wainwright and Lady Faversham trail slowly behind, giving ample space for the two of them to converse without being directly overheard.
“I believe we are meant to make polite discussion to begin with?” Thomas suggested, almost laughing.
“Indeed,” Sophia replied, not knowing what to say. She had chosen not to run away no matter how uncomfortable things might become. She would stand tall and show Thomas that she would be pushed around no longer.
“Then perhaps I shall note the vast array of species of flowers within this garden? And you might comment on looking forward to seeing the topiary mazes?” he suggested.
“Certainly, if that is what you wish for me to remark on. Topiaries are quite a delight of mine,” Sophia replied somewhat sarcastically.
Despite the tension of their conversation she felt that at least he understood her humour and knew that she was not simply being rude, but she was pointing out the ridiculousness of their expected conversing.
From the corner of her eye, she saw that Thomas was trying to hide a subtle grin.
“I have amused you?” she asked.
“More than once in this life,” he admitted.
It made her stomach flip for him to say that. But still, she did not wish to show him that she enjoyed his attentions. Sophia made every effort to maintain a cold exterior, a hard demeanour. She would not be swayed by the feelings of the past. She would not be swayed by Thomas, no matter how much she had enjoyed his company for all those years.
A serious expression overtook his face and Sophia tried to ignore it, thinking that perhaps he was of the same mind as her. And she would not allow him to be the one to reject her again. If he had anything to say to prevent the match from occurring, she would insist upon saying it first.
And she would still bide her time for the full confrontation, even if he said nothing. They simply had to be far enough away from the two women behind them before she could truly unleash her sentiments.
But Sophia had no chance to do that. Thomas began to speak first, softly and kindly as she had always known him to do.
“I am sorry for how things occurred between you and the Earl. It saddens me that he treated you so poorly. You did not deserve that,” he began.
Sophia glanced at him in surprise. She had not expected the tenderness, perhaps because she was gearing up to speak to him out of her own anger and the thought of speaking kindly had not even occurred to her.
“Th-thank you,” she said.
“I mean it. I was shocked when I heard how he had behaved. Clearly he did not have a right understanding of you. He did not recognise what a fortune it was to court you or how wonderful you are. I imagine that before long, he shall be overcome by regret. He shall one day realise the mistake he made in causing you so much pain,” Thomas said.
Sophia was touched by his words. She had not known how he might respond to her having been jilted. Thinking that Thomas likely didn’t care, she even imagined that he had laughed it off or gossiped about her himself when he had learned the news. So to have him behaving so sweetly was a bit of a shock.
And yet, despite the tenderness of his words, despite the kind tone of his voice, she could not shake the underlying anger and resentment.
If Thomas had just stayed with her, none of this would have happened. She would not have gone through so much pain and he would have no reason to empathise with her. Could he not sense his own responsibility in this? Was he so blind to his role in her sadness?
