Fiennes Estate, Late Afternoon
The whispers reached her before Benedict did.
It was impossible not to hear them—two footmen passing in the hall, Lady Cowper's maid gossiping with Sophia's attendant, even Beatrice's hurried note delivered by messenger:
Margaret Seymour has secured Lord Lockhart's attention and the ton is talking.
Sophia read the letter twice, then folded it neatly.
"Well," she said, almost to herself, "that is… good for her, is it not? She sought admiration and it appears she has found it."
She genuinely meant it—somewhere beneath the pride and the rivalry and the sting of being criticized by Margaret so publicly, Sophia still carried the remnants of childhood affection. Margaret finding a suitor should have pleased her.
Should have.
The door opened.
Lord Benedict Montgomery entered with the kind of deliberate calm that meant he had opinions. Very strong ones.
