Page 68 of Love Unraveled
“I am so obvious?”
“Only to me, Sophia. I’ve learned much from Laurence about this game you all play. I doubt anyone else will notice. You have always toyed with men in public. No one will give it a second thought.”
“I grow weary of the game,” she said quietly. Since the return of Gaston, she dreamed of a normal life once again. No flitting about where she’d rather not be. No subterfuge. No lies.
Stratton squeezed her arm in acknowledgment. “Where shall I escort you? Have you decided?”
“The games room would be best.” She was glad Stratton had stayed. There were few women in there, and she would have been too obvious had she strolled in unattended. Two gentlemen were putting aside their cues. “I would have you teach me billiards,” she said.
“But you know how to play.”
“They don’t know I do. Teach me. Flirt with me quietly, so no one is drawn to initiate a conversation with us. The men will be convinced you are preoccupied with me.”
“A painful job, but I’ll do it.”
She smiled at Stratton’s loud laugh and looked at him adoringly as they strode into the room. She spoke coquettishly to a few of the men nearby before turning her undivided attention to Stratton. At least, she hoped it looked like it was her undivided attention.
Stratton spoke softly about chalk and pockets, and she watched attentively as he bent over and demonstrated. There were four tables within hearing. One discussed the sequence of cards being played and whether it was easy to cheat. Another spoke loudly, each man trying to outdo the other in boasting about accomplishments. The third was focused on their game and said little.
The fourth table held her attention. Two men she did not recognize sat there. Their tones were subdued, but she sensed an underlying tension. They seemed to be playing vingt-et-un but far too slowly, and neither of them looked terribly interested in the game itself.
Lord Acherton’s girth filled the doorway, drawing Sophia’s attention. He scanned the room and scowled before entering. He paused at several tables, and in contrast to his expression of seconds ago, he laughed jovially at something someone said. Then he moved on to join the two men, his face once again reflecting displeasure. “He has not yet arrived. I’ve only a few minutes, gentlemen. Get to your point.”
Stratton must have sensed something was afoot, for he stopped talking. He leaned in behind her and took her arm in hand as though teaching her how to hold the cue. His breath lifted strands of her hair, his mouth moving as though he was whispering to her, but he said nothing.
“Overthrow? And how am I to do that?” Lord Acherton asked.
“It should not be all that difficult. A scandal.”
Lord Acherton guffawed. “With Prinny at the helm, nothing is scandalous anymore.”
“Then an assassination. It wouldn’t be the first.”
Lord Acherton did not respond.
“We don’t care how you accomplish it. Create confusion. End the direct line of communication to Wellesley, and we’ll begin a campaign of misinformation.”
Sophia strained to hear more, but the man’s voice had dropped to an indiscernible level.
“I don’t see how—”
“Just do it.”
Chairs scraped the floor, and the two men walked by the billiards table without a glance at her. She pushed back against Stratton lightly, and he immediately pulled away. She turned, smiling, risking a glance at Lord Acherton, who remained in his chair. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped at his brow, seeming to notice her for the first time. He glanced at Stratton and frowned.
She returned her attention to Stratton, laughing as though they were having a grand flirtation. Her mind was busy sifting through what she’d heard, but she could make no sense of it. Overthrow here or somewhere on the continent? Assassinate who? What confusion? Lord Acherton rose and stepped to the billiard table, a scowl darkening his face.
“Lord Acherton,” she said politely. “A lovely rout this evening.”
His eyes darted to Stratton before he fixed his gaze back on her. “Where isyourduke tonight?”
She tilted her head sideways, hoping she looked annoyingly vapid. “Myduke? I don’t believe I own one of those,” she said, and Stratton chuckled appreciatively beside her.
Lord Acherton shook his head and walked away, and Sophia laughed. She wouldn’t be bothered by his rude departure even if she didn’t know he was part of something untoward. Something she needed to find out more about.
“Let us go see where he’s off to,” Stratton suggested.
He set aside the cue, and she rested her hand in the crook of his arm. She spotted Bentley in conversation with Lord Acherton, who was not looking any more pleased with him than he had been with her. She directed Stratton to stroll to them. Before they reached the two, Lord Acherton spotted her and scooted out of sight around a corner.
