She rose. “Is something wrong, Grandmama?”
“Wrong?” Lady Bracknell fixed her slightly protuberant eyes on Sophy. “Of course not, my love. Can’t I visit my favorite granddaughter at breakfast time?”
“Yes, of course, Grandmama.” Sophy forbore to point out that she was her ladyship’s only granddaughter and dutifully came around the table to plant a kiss on her grandmother’s lined cheek. “It’s just… I didn’t know you were back in town.”
Lady Bracknell waved. “The Season is all but over, so I came up to see how you and everyone else is getting on.” She beamed at Richards as he held a chair for her. “Thank you, Richards.”
Sophy returned to her seat. She waved to the toast rack and pots of jam. “Can we offer you anything?”
“Just a cup of tea, dear.” While Sophy duly poured a cup, her ladyship turned to Julia. “How are you faring, Julia?”
Julia uttered the usual assurances of her continuing good health and asked after Lady Bracknell’s famously more-robust constitution.
Sophy surrendered the cup and saucer to Richards to deliver and listened as the pair opposite settled to discuss several local acquaintances, with Julia bringing her ladyship up to date with the latest gossip.
“Well, that’s all very much as I expected. Gladys should never have countenanced that match.” Lady Bracknell set down her cup and turned her attention to Sophy. “The other reason I called was to remind you, my dear Sophy, of the charity ball that will be held tonight.”
Sophy smothered a grimace before it showed.
Her grandmother fixed her with a knowing look. “You are going, of course.”
That was a statement—a definite statement with no room left for any other answer.
“I…hadn’t forgotten.” She’d just hoped she would be able to ignore it.
Her grandmother nodded decisively. “Of course not. As the head of Carmichael Steelworks, you have no option but to attend. Everyone—literally everyone who is anyone in this town—will be there, as you’re perfectly well aware. I daresay I’m fussing over nothing, but I wanted to ensure that you looked your best. I’ve brought you a new gown from London. I had it from a modiste who’s the latest thing and made sure she fashioned it out of silk in your favorite shade of aqua blue.” Lady Bracknell beamed at Sophy. “I gave it to Richards to hand on to your maid.”
Sophy inwardly sighed. Outwardly, she smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Grandmama. Of course, I’ll wear the new gown tonight.”
“How very fortuitous, Sophy!” Julia’s eyes were bright. “A new gown always gives one confidence, and perhaps Mr. Cynster will be there.”
“Cynster?” Lady Bracknell looked stunned. “Here?” She looked from Julia to Sophy and demanded, “Which Cynster?”
Resigned to the inevitable, Sophy replied, “Mr. Martin Cynster. He’s interested in Carmichael Steelworks and has been assisting me with a bit of bother we’ve been having at the works.”
Lady Bracknell stared at Sophy. Silently, for quite some time.
Sophy braced for some sort of overreaction, but eventually, her ladyship blinked, twice, then in a faintly strangled voice, said, “Well, that’s…interesting.”
It was Sophy’s turn to blink. Since when didn’t her grandmother leap on any scent of an eligible gentleman?
She was quite sure Martin Cynster qualified.
But after staring unseeing across the table, apparently lost in thought—or contemplating some vision only she could see—Lady Bracknell turned to Julia. “I take it you plan to attend as well, Julia?”
“Oh yes! I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Excellent!” Lady Bracknell beamed. “I’ll call for you and Sophy in my carriage at eight o’clock.” She shot a glance at Sophy. “Don’t keep me waiting, child. You know I like to get in before the crush.”
“Yes, Grandmama.”
Her grandmother rose, and Sophy followed suit and dutifully saw her ofttimes-trying relative to the door.
Although her grandmother looked energized and quite desperately eager, she said nothing more—demanded nothing more—but just parted from Sophy with a pat on her wrist and an unwaveringly delighted smile.
Sophy struggled not to narrow her eyes as she watched her grandmother being handed into her carriage. After the carriage door shut, Sophy closed the front door and returned to the breakfast parlor, where Julia was still sipping her tea.
Sophy rounded the table and sank into her chair. Then she looked across and caught Julia’s gaze. “What is she up to?”
