Page 18 of A Sham Betrothal
“And I by such women,” Basile added. He exhaled and flashed her a smile born of relief. Sophie had not demurred over his crazy scheme, and perhaps he would indeed be free of Claudia. By the time he and Sophie ended the charade, he would be safely back on his estate beyond the widow’s reach. His relief made him want to offer something to Sophie—an unaccustomed personal disclosure.
“I should probably explain that I was once betrothed to Claudia, and she broke off the engagement for a man with better prospects. Ever since she arrived in Paris in her widowed state, she has not stopped hounding me with proof of all the reasons we should make a match of it again.I, of course, have learned my lesson and cannot be tempted.”
“So you do understand to some degree what I am facing with Sheldon,” she said.
“All too well.” He pressed the hand that rested on his arm. “I promise you, this will be an advantageous move for us both.”
The garden began to fill with more of the guests with people coming nearer—ostensibly with the object to listen. It would not do to discuss details here with such a public audience, and he must certainly call on her tomorrow to align their stories. He glanced up into the vast, candlelit drawing room, beckoning in its gaiety. At the door stood one of the king’s courtiers, and he made a signal to Basile that he wished to speak to him.
Ah. Basile had not yet been summoned to Versailles, but it appeared the time to show his allegiance to Louis XVI was now upon him. He only wondered how quickly he would have to obey the summons.
“Shall we go inside?”
Chapter 8
Sophie’stête-à-têtelasted only a short time before Basile brought her back indoors. Within minutes of stepping inside, they were drawn from one conversation to another with people she scarcely knew but who were all brimming with curiosity. She was hard-pressed to hide her alarm, even with Basile at her side. It was more from fear of questions she would have trouble answering than his sudden declaration, although to find oneself suddenly engaged without a prior understanding did pose an upset to one’s equilibrium.
She had pretended a very natural indifference to his announcement and assured him that by no means would she hold him to it. This, indeed, was true. The thought of trapping a man into marriage was abhorrent to her, even if he had created the trap and stumbled into it all on his own. She would never force his hand.
But to be the object of such scrutiny was unnerving. Zoé was the first to come over to them the minute she and Basile stepped indoors.
“How very, very naughty of you to become secretlyengaged and not tell even me, Basile.” Zoé managed a pout which soon split into a grin. “But I am so happy for you both. In sooth, I had guessed your feelings ran deep when you asked me to escort Sophie here tonight.”
Before Sophie could recover fromthatdisclosure, Zoé slipped her arm through Sophie’s and led her away, saying over her shoulder, “I shall learn all the news from her, for I know you will tell me nothing.”
That caused Sophie’s heart to accelerate, a feat she had thought not possible considering how nervous she was already. How could she prevaricate without any time to prepare, and to a woman who had shown herself to be a friend?
“So tell me everything,” Zoé said, leading her over to a false column built into the wall and painted with ivy. “I want to know all the details of how you caught Basile when no other woman could do so.”
“Oh, well…I suppose we…” Heat rushed up Sophie’s face as she struggled to think how to answer. “We met in England first, you see. And I suppose it must have been love…” Her words trailed away when she saw Zoé’s look of disbelief.
“That will not do, my dear,” Zoé leaned in to whisper. “Basile has told me that he in fact met you here in Paris, and only a few days ago.”
Sophie grew hot with embarrassment which caused a surge of irritation to rise. How dare he put her in such a position! “Then why do you pester me about a love story? You must know it is not true.”
Zoé’s changeable features moved to chagrin. “Oh, did I anger you? I am sorry. I thought itmightbe true. For you see, I am a romantic at heart, and I have never seen Basileact this way. I was quite convinced he did indeed fall for you at first sight.”
Tumultuous thoughts and feelings raged inside of Sophie. One of his closest friends thought his attachment was real? What if it was?No, no—it can’t be! Don’t travel that dangerous, futile path of thought.
When Sophie did not respond, Zoé tugged at her arm, which she was still holding on to. “Oh, do forgive me for causing you distress. I can see that you do not like this subject at all.”
Sophie attempted a smile that would not appear bitter. If it was this difficult to explain their sham betrothal to Zoé, who was something of a friend, then it would only be harder with everyone else.
“So you have not fallen in love,” Zoé said quietly, underneath the murmur of voices that filtered around them as she studied Sophie’s face. “It is a betrothal that is not meant to last?”
“’Tis only to keep persistent suitors from harassing me, and I believe Basile has the same objective.” She lifted her gaze to meet Zoé’s. “At least that is what he seemed to have in mind when he announced it.”
Zoé’s eyes opened very wide. “Do you mean you did not agree in advance to pretend a betrothal? Oh, that isinfâme! And just like Basile to do it. That is why I was never tempted to make a push for him, myself. Not,” she added dismissively, “that I’ve ever had the slightesttendressefor him.”
Sophie thought she had no blushes left, but she was wrong. She had not intended to throw Basile to the wolves. “Will you kindly keep this to yourself and not tell Basile I have told you this, for I should not wish to embarrass him.”
“Have no fear on that head.” Zoé reached out for twolemonades from a servant who was passing by. “Basile is never embarrassed, although he deserves to be.”
She handed a drink to Sophie, whose tongue was cleaving to the roof of her mouth. The sweet lemonade was at first unpleasant, but the cold liquid soothed and calmed her as it went down.
“Nevertheless, I will keep this secret,” Zoé said. “I may look frivolous, but I am a good friend to have. I do not gossip.” She sipped her lemonade, her eyes drifting across the room to where the English ambassador stood.
Sophie followed her look and crossed that of Sheldon’s. As soon as he caught sight of her, he marched forward to take her hostage with his speech. Zoé took one look at his face and said, “I believe he will have his say no matter what I do, but do not forget that you have promised to leave with me, so you must not give into his entreaties if he orders you to leave early.” She moved from Sophie’s side just as Sheldon arrived.
