Sophie's Halloo by Patricia Wynn Read Free Book Online Page A

merits all the attention you can give him.”
    Lady Corby looked up from her sewing with interest. “What is this, Sir John? A new acquaintance or someone you already know?”
    “Just met him today, my love,” answered her husband. “But took to him right away. He’s just the kind of fellow I’d hoped we’d find for Sophie, though I’d not much hope of it here in London. He’s what you would call a complete hand! A Corinthian! Awake on every suit. Sophie could not do better.”
    Sophie’s spirits sank. She doubted that she and her father would be struck equally by a gentleman’s qualities, so she sought her mother’s aid with a pleading look.
    Lady Corby understood the message. “Let’s not be hasty, Sir John,” said she gently. “We will be delighted to meet him, of course, but since you have just met the gentleman, perhaps we should know more about him before we make any judgement.”
    Sir John’s good humour was not diminished by this lack of confidence. “Oh, we will take our time, naturally. But wait until Sophie sees the fellow. Then she will thank her old father.” He lay back in his chair with a smug expression. Sophie smiled at him weakly.
    An hour later she was making her curtsey before a tall, athletically built young man, and she had to admit that he looked much more promising than she could possibly have believed. He was handsome and polished, well-dressed and well-mannered. As he was introduced, he bent over her hand with an accomplished bow, but he was, she fancied, more impressed with his own performance than with any appearance of hers.
    “My daughter Sophia, Mr. Rollo,” her father was saying. “A fine girl, if I may say so, and out in society just recently.”
    Mr. Rollo bowed again in her direction with just the right touch of admiration in his expression. “Then I count myself fortunate that I should be in Town this season. Indeed, the whole city of London should count itself fortunate,” he added with a little smile at this pleasantry.
    Sophie blushed uncomfortably. She did not know how to respond to this extravagant form of flattery and was not certain that she liked it. But her mother and father both looked pleased, and there was nothing in Mr. Rollo’s manner that could be considered offensive. She smiled prettily and said nothing.
    She need not have feared that her father would embarrass her at the dinner table by extolling her qualities for Mr. Rollo as though she were on the auction block, for Sir John was much more impressed with their guest. He repeated what he had learned about Mr. Rollo that day as they sat over their joint of beef. “A fine sportsman you must be, Rollo, to be a member of the Four-in-Hand Club.” Their guest was gratified.
    “It would be wrong in me to boast, Sir John, but I cannot deny the excellent driving ability of our members. Sir John Lade, of course, has such a reputation with his fine team of matched greys that I need not describe them for you, but the others do quite as well with perhaps not the same style. I feel fortunate to be among them,” he finished modestly.
    Sophie told herself she should be pleased by his modest answer to the question, but somehow she was not struck that way.
    “Have you other interests, Mr. Rollo?” she ventured to ask.
    He regarded her indulgently. “Yes, Miss Corby, I have many, and perhaps you ladies would rather converse on topics other than sport. I can assure you of having more cultivated interests,” he said with a smirk. “For example, I am not a small collector of fine art works. My apartments are amply furnished with both beautiful paintings and noble pieces of craftsmanship.  I fancy myself something of a connoisseur in that line.  Perhaps you would accompany me one day to the Royal Academy. I would be delighted to show you the galleries and trust that my comments will not be entirely unwelcome instruction.” He looked around the table for a response.
    Lady Corby smiled agreeably. “That sounds