Page 28 of A Secret Infatuation
“Mrs. Sandhurst is skilled at cutting profiles, and she will make some for us today.” Mrs. Taylor looked around. “I think we all agree that the most interesting profiles will be those of the young people, is that not so?” This was met by general assent, and she went to take Sophia by the arm. “My lady, you will be glad to sit for your profile, I am sure, for it is such a pretty one.”
Sophia submitted to it. She did not like to be under scrutiny but did not wish to offend her hostess. No sooner had she sat than Mrs. Taylor had a servant bring another stool. “Would it not be lovely to have paired silhouettes? Mr. Cunningworth, I saw you rescuing the flower to Lady Sophia’s bonnet. Why don’t you pose together? You may sit here and face Lady Sophia.”
Mr. Cunningworth hastened to comply, and Sophia brought her eyes to Camilla in a desperate plea. Her sister returned it, eyes lit with sympathy, but she was powerless to help. Sophia’s gaze then shifted to Mr. Harwood, who had folded his arms and was watching them. When Marie walked up to him to say a few words, he smiled at her and offered his arm. She placed her hand on it, and they returned to the edge of the hill to admire the view. Sophia, left with the trial of suffering Robert’s stare from inches away, blinked and sat upright.
Chapter 13
Felix led Miss Mowbray away from the crowd collected around the artist and two people sitting for portraits, a helpless anger building up inside of him. He was able to read people to a certain degree, and although he could not convince himself that he was a worthy suitor for Lady Sophia, he firmly held to the idea that she should have a husband of her choosing. And he was nearly certain she did not choose Robert.
He did not fully understand why Robert persisted in pursuing Lady Sophia in the face of so little encouragement and went through his likely reasons for doing so once again. To Robert, position and prestige were important. It would therefore be essential that he select a wife who brought something to the marriage of equal or greater value than what he already possessed. She must be of a noble family; in this case, Lady Sophia was even his superior. She must be wealthy, and although Felix knew nothing of Lady Sophia’s dowry, he had no reason to believe her family lacked wealth. It went without saying that she must be a well-looking woman for that was generally important to all men—a man must find his wife attractive. For Robert, it would be particularly important, for he would only be happy if others envied him his prize.
Felix considered all of these factors, but what he thought was really driving Robert in this instance was something deeper. As Lady Sophia’s neighbor, he would feel he had a prior claim and would expect her to respond to the flattery of his interest. The fact that Robert had set his mind on someone who did not return his regard would cause him to push harder until her resolve was worn down. It would be a matter of pride.
Miss Mowbray did not immediately pull him into conversation as they walked, allowing his thoughts to wander. As soon as he realized it, he searched for a suitable topic of interest. By this time, they had approached the place where the land sloped downward and stopped to stare once again at the skyline. She turned slightly to address him.
“Are you achieving your aims in Parliament, Mr. Harwood? You must not fear discussing such matters with me, for my father is in the habit of speaking to me almost as an equal. He has always shared freely his naval exploits, and more lately, his effort at reform.”
“Your father is an estimable man.” He believed her claim, but even if her father did speak to her of his affairs, Felix did not want to bore her by expounding on his own.
“The Naval Inquiry Commission is taking form in a way your father finds satisfactory. Perhaps he has told you that?” She nodded for him to continue. “Most MPs appear sufficiently aware that appointment should be based on merit rather than rank, and they support the inquiries into situations where that does not seem to be the case.” He sent her an apologetic glance. “You understand I cannot speak of any specific incidents, for that would be divulging confidential information.”
“Yes, I would not ask you to do such a thing.”
She looked at him as she said this, and as much as he saw friendliness in her expression, he observed a hint of expectation that made him pull back since he could not return it. He faced the view and allowed his gaze to roam over the London skyline. He liked living in it much better than he would have imagined. He was fond of the village where he was raised, but there was something exciting about being in a place where things happened, one where he had a part of making them happen. Miss Mowbray turned to face forward, and he continued.
“So, in one sense I am satisfied. I continue to participate in the committee meetings to provide for the wounded sailors and the families of the dead and add my voice where I think it is needed. But since I am in my first year, my aim at this stage is more for support and voting than it is for eloquent speeches.”
She lifted a brow playfully. “Perhaps you underestimate yourself.”
“Perhaps.” He smiled at her, unconvinced, and another silence fell between them. He scarcely noticed it, both because his mind was elsewhere and because she did not force herself on him.
“As for the widows’ pensions we are hoping to achieve,” he went on absently, more in an attempt to keep up the conversation than a desire to speak about it. With his mind on Lady Sophia, he seemed to forget what was so important about the active reform he was attempting to bring about.
“There is sympathy in Parliament for the fallen soldiers and sailors, and many supportive institutions such as the Royal Naval and Military Asylums. However, I am finding that it is easy to offer sympathy when all it requires is words. It is more difficult to offer it when one is required to give up coin.” He shot her a wry smile, and she returned it.
“Yes, the two are very different.” She allowed the silence to fall, and he knew he wasn’t giving her his best. His heart was tied up with an impossible choice, for he should not aspire to Lady Sophia and yet could not help his attraction. He had no wish to give Miss Mowbray the wrong idea either.
He turned back to the area where their large group and other smaller ones were gathered. More had arrived since they had begun their picnic. His eyes settled on Lady Sophia, who perched stiffly on the edge of a stool facing Robert. Although Robert’s eyes were fixed on her face, hers stared somewhere around his cravat.
“Mr. Grantly is a fellow I cannot at all make out.” Miss Mowbray was looking in a different direction, and he pulled his eyes from Lady Sophia. “Perhaps Lady Camilla should not have teased him, but I assure you, when we first arrived, he turned away from her as soon as she began speaking in what seemed a decided snub. And, if you’ll recall, during your morning call, he seemed visibly against the idea of escorting her to the opera. It is all so awkward. What do you make of it?”
Felix observed Lady Camilla and Grantly still speaking together, appearing slightly more in harmony. But without a doubt, Mr. Grantly looked as though he wished to be elsewhere.
“Ever since I have known Mr. Grantly, he has been excessively awkward around women, for maintaining a conversation does not come easily to him. I would not be surprised if he ends his days as a bachelor, for he prefers just about anything over attempting conversation. Believe me when I tell you that he is quite a different gentleman when in the clubs, or sparring, or going to watch a race. You would not recognize him.”
“That makes me like him a little better,” Miss Mowbray admitted. “For at least I know he is not insulting Lady Camilla specifically.”
“Not at all, I assure you.”
She turned suddenly in what felt rather like a surprise attack. “If you return to the naval asylum—that is, I have not yet seen it, and I would be interested in going.” She left the rest unsaid, but Felix knew she was hoping for an invitation.
“I hope you will have a chance to see it, for the work they are doing there is inspiring.” He smiled at her in a way he hoped was kind. “At present, I am unable to get away for a second visit, unfortunately. I am sorry to disoblige.”
She flushed. “Oh, it is of no matter. Miss Edwards and I will go. Or I shall see if Lady Sophia wishes to return to it.” She shrugged. “Shall we see how the profiles are coming along?”
He nodded and walked beside her, conscious that he had probably relayed, no matter how awkwardly, that his heart was not unengaged. She seemed to have accepted it, and he silently sent her thanks for being so gracious.
When they returned, Mrs. Sandhurst was holding up two cut profiles, independent but still joined at the top and bottom of the paper. Felix found one of them very pretty and wished he might have it.
