(Lester Family Saga 02) - A Lady Of Expectations by Stephanie Laurens

Author:Stephanie Laurens [Laurens, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-02-22T05:00:00+00:00

"My aunt was commenting on that fact," Sophie returned, keeping her gaze firmly on their surroundings. "I believe that a number of ladies are considering holding coming-out balls next week."

"My own ball will be held on Friday," Clarissa volunteered, suppressed excitement quivering in her tone. "Mama says there's no reason not to get into the swing of things."

"Your mother is indeed very wise, Miss Webb." Jack smiled down at Clarissa's delicately flushed face. A few days of Ned's company had more than sufficed to bolster his instinctive liking into solid support. He was quite determined that, come the end of the Season, Ned would retire from the lists with Clarissa's favour firmly in his possession. "I suspect there are few subjects on which you would not be wise to heed your mother's advice."

"Have you been on an excursion to the Royal Exchange, Miss Webb? I'm told the wild beasts are a fearsome spectacle." Ned's tone was commendably even, devoid of over-eagerness.

Hearing Clarissa, still warily suspicious but too unsure of this new Ned to risk any airs, answer with unaffected openess, Sophie was hard put to hide her grin.

Seeing her lips quirk, and deciding he had done enough today in furthering Ned's enterprise, Jack slowed his pace.

Sophie noticed. Her head came up. Looking her escort firmly in the eye, she raised a brow at him. When he merely smiled back, maddeningly, she surrendered to temptation. "Am I right, sir, in supposing you are helping Ned to adjust to town life?"

Jack smiled and leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Ned's a likeable chap. But having come up fresh from the country, he was facing opposition of unfair proportions. I thought it only fair to even the odds a little."

Sophie felt her lips soften. "Indeed?" she replied, her eyes on his. "So your actions are prompted by nothing more than a passing interest in righting an inequity?"

"I'm very keen on righting inequities," Jack informed her, his brows rising arrogantly.

Then, abandoning his haughty attitude, he added, his tone deepening, "Not that I don't have reasons of my own to wish Clarissa settled."

"Oh?" Sophie held his gaze, warmly blue. Caution went winging. "And what might those be, sir?"

"Jack." Glancing ahead, Jack asked, "Do you think I'm succeeding?"

Although his glance had taken in Clarissa and Ned immediately ahead of them, his gaze had swung back to her on his question. Sophie, her heart increasing its tempo, was not sure how to reply. With a determined effort, she switched her gaze forward to where Clarissa was still viewing Ned curiously, like some specimen she did not yet understand. "My cousin certainly seems enthralled by Ned in his new guise."

A heartfelt sigh came from beside her. "Perhaps I should take a leaf out of his book?

Mayhap Percy could give me some hints."

At his defeated tone, Sophie swung about, her eyes automatically travelling the length of his elegantly accoutred frame before, realizing she had fallen into his trap, her gaze snapped up to meet his. Warm amusement, and a clear invitation to play this game-with him-glowed in the deep blue.

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