A Regency Match by Elizabeth Mansfield Read Free Book Online Page A

similar nature. Although she would not have expressed herself like Bertie, she was convinced that her volatile granddaughter would not remain in the doldrums for very long. However, she could not be easy in her mind while the girl was unhappy. If the prospect of a fortnight’s visit to her stepmother could depress the girl to such an extent, perhaps it behooved Alicia to cancel her trip to Sussex.
    She dismissed Miss Leale, put a wrapper over her nightdress and padded in slippered feet across the hall to her granddaughter’s bedroom. “Sophy,” she asked, tapping lightly on the door, “are you asleep?”
    â€œNo, Grandmama. Come in if you wish.”
    Lady Alicia stepped into her granddaughter’s room and peered about her in astonishment. The girl had not even undressed. Her portmanteau, which had already been packed for her trip home, was lying open on her bed. Her trunk stood open on the floor. She had evidently been rummaging through her luggage. Petticoats, shawls, dresses and shoes were scattered about in considerable upheaval. “What on earth are you doing?” Lady Alicia asked bewilderedly.
    â€œPacking, as you see,” the girl told her curtly.
    â€œPacking? But you’d already packed.”
    â€œWell then, if you wish me to be perfectly accurate,” Sophy said, ruthlessly crushing an expensive silk evening dress into a ball and tossing it into the trunk, “I’m re packing.”
    â€œBut … whatever for? And why are you taking that ball gown? Surely you won’t need it in Wiltshire.”
    â€œThat’s just the point. I’m not going to Wiltshire.”
    â€œNot going to—?” Poor Lady Alicia dropped into the nearest chair, groaned and put a hand to her forehead. “Sophia, you are giving me the most fearful headache. If you’re not going home to Wiltshire, will you kindly tell me where you plan to go?”
    â€œI’m going with you … to Sussex.” The words were said with grim determination, the girl sorting out clothes with careless dispatch.
    â€œ What ! To Sussex !” The old woman studied her granddaughter narrowly. “What sort of hum is this. You’ve been adamant in your refusal to set foot in Wynwood Hall. What has caused this sudden about-face?”
    Sophy ceased her frenzied packing and looked down at her grandmother with a glint in her eye which Lady Alicia had not seen before. “I’ve changed my mind,” she said, elaborately casual.
    â€œWhy?”
    Sophy shrugged. “Call it a whim.”
    â€œA whim ? Listen here, girl, I don’t like whims. For days now, you have been swearing—and for no reason that I can determine—that you’ll never face Lord Wynwood again. Suddenly, because of a whim , you make a complete reversal. How can I plan our lives on whims ? Perhaps, when the wind changes, you’ll reverse yourself again.”
    â€œI promise I shall not.”
    â€œAre you telling me that you are now willing to face Lord Wynwood?”
    â€œWilling?” Sophy smiled, a slight smile that held no warmth and caused her grandmother to feel a twinge of apprehension. “I’m more than willing. In fact, there’s suddenly nothing I’d rather do than face Lord Wynwood again.”
    Lady Alicia returned to her room, her brow creased in thought. What had caused this shocking turnabout? That something had happened in the theater was obvious. She could even pinpoint the time of the occurrence: the intermission following the third act. And of course, Marcus Harvey, Lord Wynwood, was somehow involved. What part had he played? Had he cut the girl? Was Sophy planning a foolish revenge of some sort?
    She shook her head and climbed wearily into bed. She must give up this pointless speculation. Whatever had occurred, it would lead to some sort of disaster—of that she was sure. Well, she’d long been aware that Sophy’s headstrong