Grateful for the distraction and the linen, Sophia dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose.Warmth suffused her whole body when Vincent dropped a kiss on the top of her head and he rubbed his hand up and down her back in soothing, slow strokes.
After a few moments she sat up, not remembering when she had buried her head against Vincent’s chest.She gulped in a few deep breaths, willing the tears to retreat, her breathing to calm.“You must think me the silliest goose,” she whispered.
He shook his head.“I was thinking this is much more comfortable in a chair than on the cold, rocky ground.”
She gave a shaky laugh.“You’re mad if you think I’m going to stay here like this in front of all these people.”She sincerely hoped everyone was paying attention to Mildred and Matthew rather than to her little drama in the corner with Vincent.
“The Mad Viscount.I like it.”He tightened his arms around her waist.“You didn’t let me enjoy it for very long last time.”
“It wasn’t any more appropriate then than it is now.”She primly folded her arms, fighting hard the urge to snuggle against his chest once more.
“Ah, but then we weren’t betrothed.Now we are allowed a few more … liberties.”His voice trailed off.
She glanced at his face, then followed his gaze to where he was staring.At her decolletage, unintentionally displaying more bosom than usual because of her folded arms.“You’re incorrigible.”Ducking her head to hide her grin, she tucked her fichu in to better fill the gaps.
“Insatiable,cara mia.”He slid loose braids to the side and kissed her neck just below her ear.Tingles crept down her spine and she wanted to beg him to do it again.Offer him more bare skin.Find out if it gave him pleasure if she kissed his neck, dipped her tongue into that hollow between his neck and collarbone.
She sucked in a shaky breath.“How soon did you say you want to use that special license?”
He groaned.“I have to let you up now.Otherwise I won’t be able to leave this chair for quite some time.”
It took her a moment to understand what he meant.She felt her cheeks flush.“Oh!”She hopped down and took her time shaking out her skirts once she’d straightened, and didn’t move away until he stood beside her.
Her arm tucked through his, they rejoined the group and stood behind the sofa, listening to David and Matthew now singing a duet while Xavier accompanied them on pianoforte.
Mrs.Digby—no, Aunt Gertrude—sidled up next to Sophia.“Everything all right, my dear?”
Sophia nodded.“I confess I was overcome when I realized what I would be gaining with marriage, in addition to my husband.”Her throat tightened again at referring to Vincent as her husband, when just this morning she thought she’d never see him again.
“We are a lot to take in, but I think you’ll fit in well.”
“Just as we thought the first time we heard you sing, m’dear.”Aunt Agnes had come up on the other side of Gertrude.Sophia couldn’t begrudge them the self-satisfied grin they both wore about the success of their matchmaking.
Vincent leaned back to look at Gert’s face.“What did you mean earlier, do right by her?”
Aunt Gertrude took one of his hands and one of Sophia’s in hers.“After your night in the cave, you both had scratches, just like Matthew, Bickford, and Kendall.”
Sophia tried not to flinch.She thought Ruby’s creams had hidden the redness and helped the scratches heal quickly.Apparently not quickly enough to escape Gert’s notice.
Vincent huffed.“I tried to offer but—”
Gert patted his cheek.“Never mind, dear boy.I am confident you’ll make everything all right.”
After the song ended and the applause died away, Aunt Agnes spoke up.“Vincent played his new composition for us the other night, but we have not yet heard David’s newest song.”
“His award-winning song,” Ashley softly added, smiling proudly at her husband.
“I arranged it for four voices,” David said after he smiled back at his wife.He scanned the room until he found Vincent.
“I would be happy to join you.”Vincent pointed at Matthew.“As would Matthew.”
“Oh, yes, please,” Mildred said, giving Matthew a little push.
“If I am to be the third, Xavier can be our fourth.”
Xavier looked nonplussed but nodded his assent.
As David left the room to get his sheet music from their trunks upstairs, Vincent caught Matthew’s eye and indicated that he should join them.Vincent led Sophia to the corner by the harpsichord, and within moments, Mildred and Matthew joined them.
