One Night Scandal by Christie Kelley Page B

nineteen and would come to love Nicholas. She was perfect for him.
    “Miss Wainscott?”
    “Yes.”
    “Are you certain?” He stared at her with a disbelieving frown.
    “Absolutely. She is the one for you.” Sophie released his hands and opened her eyes. “She is a fine young lady and your father will accept her.”
    He moved his hand across the table and caught hers again.
    Sophie couldn’t take her eyes off his face. What was it about him that drew her toward him like a moth to the flame of a candle? He was handsome, but there was more to it than that. There was a loneliness in his eyes that she understood. And pain there, too. Pain that she couldn’t divine and he would not tell her about. She should tell him the truth about her vision, but she needed to give him hope.
    Something she had lost completely.
    “I suppose I shan’t be seeing you much now. You will be busy courting Miss Wainscott.”
    He frowned and nodded slowly but refused to release her hand even when she attempted to pull away. “I suppose I will.”
    “You should leave now,” she whispered. “I have a client arriving in ten minutes and must get ready for her.”
    “Sophie,” he started, then paused. “Neither of us was prepared for our first night at your home. And even though you told me you took precautions after that night, they can sometimes fail. If you find yourself with child, please let me know. I will not betroth myself to another until I know for certain.”
    She closed her eyes against the pain of that thought. “Of course.”
    He squeezed her hand a final time then released her. “I shall take my leave now.”
    “Good-bye, Nicholas.”
    “Good day, Miss Reynard.”
     
     
    Nicholas spent the next two days attempting to discover some information about Miss Wainscott. Although, he wondered why he bothered. Sophie’s reading of him made no sense. He had no desire for Miss Wainscott. Shouldn’t true love also mean desiring your partner?
    In his heart, he’d known from the first time he met her, that Sophie would never marry him. With her background, she would consider herself below his station. And if that was the case, he should move forward. He still needed to marry. If Sophie had been correct with all his friends’ matches, shouldn’t he trust her?
    With that in mind, he’d attended one ball just to watch Miss Wainscott. She danced with several men but allowed each of them only one dance, except for Lord Claybrook, whom she danced with twice.
    Something felt wrong about her but he couldn’t determine what. There was one person who could help him with this matter. He walked into White’s hoping to find Somerton there. Scanning the room, he found Somerton speaking in hushed tones with Lord Brentwood.
    Nicholas strolled toward the men. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. Somerton, when you have a moment, I need to speak with you.”
    “We’re done here,” Somerton said, then turned back to Brentwood. “Remember what I said, Brentwood.”
    “Thank you, Somerton.” Lord Brentwood rose and nodded to Nicholas. “Good day, Lord Ancroft.”
    Somerton leaned back in his seat. “Have a glass of whisky, Nicholas.”
    Nicholas poured a small amount and then refilled Somerton’s empty glass. “What do you know about Miss Wainscott?”
    Somerton scowled. “I thought you were interested in discovering the owner of the earring. I doubt Miss Wainscott was in Venice recently.”
    “I was but Miss Reynard is now assisting me in finding a suitable match.”
    “Is she now?” Somerton grabbed his whisky and drank it in one gulp. “And she believes Miss Wainscott is the one for you?”
    “Yes.”
    “Interesting,” he said before filling his glass again. “The last I’d heard, Miss Wainscott was all but engaged to Lord Claybrook.”
    Nicholas sipped his drink as he thought. Perhaps Sophie was wrong about this match. “But is it a love match or a financial match?”
    Somerton shrugged. “I would not be privy to that