“See,” Elizabeth said. “You cannot leave us now, Nicholas.”
Each woman paired up with her husband as an escort into the dining room. Sophie stood, unable to move past Nicholas and unwilling to accept his arm. Everyone left, save them.
“Sophie, may I escort you into the dining room?”
“I believe you should be escorting your betrothed, not me.”
Nicholas frowned. “But she is not here tonight.”
“Then you should not be either,” she replied stiffly.
“Take my arm before everyone becomes suspicious of our behavior.”
She reluctantly linked arms with him, trying to ignore the sensual aroma of his sandalwood soap. As they walked down the steps, she could feel the strength of his arm under the wool of his waistcoat. Being near him was such a dreadful thing. It brought back memories of lying in his arms, naked and satisfied.
She couldn’t do this. It was wrong.
“Are you all right?” he whispered as they reached the bottom step. “You look a tad peaked.”
“No, I need to leave.”
He pulled her closer until she wanted to drown in his intoxicating scent. “You will go nowhere.”
She yanked her arm out of his grip and stepped away from him. “You have no say in what I do.”
Nicholas clasped her hand and led her into the small receiving parlor. Closing the door behind him, he said, “What is wrong, Sophie? Are you upset because I followed your demand and proposed to Miss Littlebury?”
“No,” she almost shouted. “I am upset that you are here tonight instead of with her. At the very least, you should have let her accompany you.”
He shook his head. “Are you mad? I went to White’s where I met the other gentlemen who invited me to dinner. Should I have invited Miss Littlebury to White’s?”
“Of course not.”
“Do you honestly believe she could handle herself with any of our friends?”
Sophie knew enough about the girl to realize that her friends would dislike her immediately. They would consider her too young for Nicholas and only interested in gowns and fashionable balls. “No,” Sophie finally admitted.
“So I should stop seeing my cousin and friends on the off chance you are there, too?”
“No.” Sophie turned away from him. “It is not right that you stop calling on your family and friends. Therefore,
I should leave. My friends will call on me at my home.”
He blew out a long breath. “I never wanted this, Sophie. Besides, your brother is here, too. It’s hardly fair to keep you away from him.”
“I know that.” She turned around and faced him again. “But again, Somerton can call on me. I will take my leave now.” She walked past him only to have his large hand grab her arm. “Good-bye, Nicholas.”
“Sophie, do not do this,” he warned in a low tone. “You have as much a right to be here as I do.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “That I do. But I just cannot be in the same room as you now. Good night.”
Sophie twisted out of his grip and walked out the door. As she rode home, she realized that leaving London, and quite possibly England, was her only recourse.
Nicholas stared at the closed door for a long moment before moving toward it. He was quite certain he had lost her for good. Never again would he see her face brighten as she smiled up at him. Or hear her infectious laugh. Or her glorious cries of satisfaction as her climax washed over her.
“Where is Sophie?”
He looked up to see Somerton frowning at him. “She decided she could not be in the same room as me and left.”