quickly snap it back shut from Elise’s determined scowl.
“Well?” Sophia said, elbowing Anne Marie in the ribs.
“Um,” Anne Marie’s eyes darted between Sophia and her grandmother. “I think it’s lovely and shows a great deal of personality.”
Elise chortled in a high pitch. “Oh, yes,” she agreed, surprising Sophia. She took a step forward. “But I believe it shows quite a bit more than just personality. What do you think, Katherine?”
Sophia stood even straighter. It was like she had a stick-straight two-by-four glued to her back. “Yes, Mother,” she said as pleasantly as she could without hissing. “What do you think?”
Katherine hands fluttered as she clasped them together in front of her. “I think we should go.” She took several steps forward. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late.”
Elise’s forehead wrinkled. She pointed at Sophia and Anne Marie. “You shall be riding with us.”
“What?” Sophia’s stomach knotted. “Why? I’ve already sent for our car.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Elise said, breezing toward the girls. “I’ve canceled it. Your mother and I have done some chatting whilst we waited for you, and I believe we have some things to discuss.”
Sophia took a step back and cast her eyes away as Elise brushed past, her chin high. “As you wish, Grandmother.”
“Come, then, everyone,” Elise called. “A night of dinner, dancing, and charity waits.”
Sophia clamped her mother’s elbow and dragged her away from her grandmother and Anne Marie as soon as they walked into the Renaissance. “I want you to know that I thoroughly enjoyed that lesson in manners and my family duties during the ride over. Why did you invite her?”
Katherine brushed Sophia’s hand away. “I didn’t.”
“Really? She happened to show up at your doorstep the same night we were attending this function?”
Katherine sighed quietly. “Something like that.”
Sophia’s hold loosened. “Why didn’t you tell her we had plans? Or company? Or something?”
Katherine curled her fingers around Sophia’s hand, giving her a gentle, pleading squeeze. “Please, dear. Your father—God rest his soul—was her only child. We are the only family that connects her to him. The least we can do is appease her.”
Sophia took the hint to heart. She didn’t dislike her grandmother, and a part of Sophia did love her. But she couldn’t help but be bitter about how pushy and in-her-face her deceased father’s mother was. Something Sophia’s father wasn’t. Her grandmother was like Katherine—only ten times worse. And Sophia didn’t have the patience for it anymore.
They stepped through the glass door together.
“Fine,” Sophia agreed. “But if she starts lecturing me about getting married again, I’m not promising anything.”
Katherine nodded. “Believe me, I understand. Please do your best to act like you were raised.”
Sophia hid her snort. Wasn’t that part of her problem?
Hansom Hall, the largest event room inside the St. Pancras Renaissance, sat just beyond the lobby. The expansive room was flanked on both sides by brick walls with arched windows. Glass walls on the other two sides enclosed the airy space. A two-story-tall ceiling drew Sophia’s eyes up to beams, blue girders, and a glazed roof. Normally used for casual seating, it was now decorated to the extreme and transformed into an eating area that included a large stage surrounded by huge Greek-style columns wrapped with gold and red silk. The spicy scent of expensive perfume assaulted Sophia’s nose. The numerous round tables and chairs were draped with white linen, and the chairs each had a gold taffeta bow tied around the back. Polished red plates adorned the tables, with crystal wine glasses that held neatly folded gold napkins. Huge bouquets filled with red and gold flowers sat at the center of each table.
It was beautiful…but the noise was clattering against Sophia’s eardrums.