An Unexpected Love (5 page)

“I promise! Now go on before we lose any further time with this prattling.” Sophie waited until Amanda arrived at her position at the end of the passage and turned toward the companionway. “We should knock, just in case he’s inside.”

“What if his door is locked?” Fanny whispered.

Sophie retrieved a key from her pocket. “I batted my lashes and told one of the porters I’d locked myself out of this cabin. I need only return it after we’ve completed—”

Before she could finish her explanation, the cabin door swung open, and Sophie gasped. Clearly taken aback, Daniel settled his gaze upon Fanny, and soon a smile played upon his lips. “To what do I owe this extraordinary surprise?”

Rarely at a loss for words, Sophie was struck speechless. She stared at Daniel, her thoughts in a whir. She hadn’t expected this turn of events. Granted, she’d momentarily considered the possibility, but she had convinced herself Daniel wouldn’t return to his cabin until time to dress for dinner.

Fanny peeked over Sophie’s shoulder. “We are in need of an additional glass. They seem to have shorted us. Would you happen to have one we could borrow?”

He grinned. “Of course. Do come in, ladies.”

Fanny shook her head. “Oh, we dare not. Aunt Victoria would not approve.”

“Of course, of course. I would never want to tarnish your reputation, Fanny.”

“Or
mine
?” Sophie inquired, having regained her voice.

Daniel’s brows drew together. Her question had apparently befuddled him. He mumbled an unintelligible remark before crossing the room to locate the requested glass. They thanked him profusely and backed away from the doorway. Once certain he’d closed the door, they motioned for Amanda to join them.

Staring at the water glass when she drew near, Amanda asked, “Why do you have that?”

Leaving Fanny to explain what had occurred, Sophie revisited the promenade deck to return the duplicate key. Not wanting to admit defeat after only one attempt to enter Daniel’s cabin, Sophie mentioned her enduring forgetfulness to the unsuspecting porter, and he genially offered to assist her in the future should the need arise. She thanked him profusely and then hurried back to their suite. If their encounter with Daniel hadn’t completely alarmed Fanny, they could make another attempt tomorrow. Next time, she would insist Amanda or Fanny keep Daniel occupied on an upper deck.

Amanda greeted her with a quick reprimand. “I knew your idea was foolhardy. I’m thankful Fanny was able to devise a clever response. She tells me you were struck speechless when Daniel appeared.”

“ ’Tis true. I was thankful to have her with me. Tomorrow we will revise our plan.”

“Tomorrow?” Amanda’s voice echoed throughout the cabin.

Fanny pointed toward the door. “Do keep your voice down, Amanda. We don’t want every passerby to overhear our conversation.”

“Fine! But I expect further explanation of what you mean by
tomorrow
, Sophie.” Amanda folded her arms across her chest and scowled. She looked like an irate mother preparing to reprimand a naughty child.

Hoping to appear nonchalant, Sophie dropped to the sofa beside Fanny and shrugged her shoulders. “With or without your help, I plan to keep my word and help Fanny. I will secure the key again tomorrow, and while one of you keeps Daniel occupied on an upper deck, I will execute my plan.” She patted Fanny’s hand. “I am exceedingly sorry that you will be forced to abide his presence this evening, but you may rest assured that I will be successful tomorrow.”

“I think it’s time you lay your plan to rest, Sophie. I’m certain Fanny can avoid Daniel without the necessity of going through his wardrobe and making off with his clothing. I find the idea boorish. We are no longer schoolgirls playing pranks on our childhood friends.”

Amanda was trying Sophie’s patience. “Think what you will, Amanda, but I would do the same for you.”

“What would you do, Sophie?” At the sound of her aunt’s voice, Sophie twisted around toward the door.

“I was pledging to help Amanda and Fanny whenever necessary, Aunt Victoria.”

“Why in the world would they need help? Is something amiss?” Her eyes clouded with concern.

“No, of course not. We were merely affirming the close kinship the three of us share,” Amanda said, beaming a winsome smile at her mother.

“It would appear none of you have paid heed to the clock. If the servants are to have time enough to fashion our hair, we must curtail this idle conversation and begin our preparations for tonight’s dinner.”

Sophie was first to jump up from the sofa, pleased to be out of earshot and spared further questioning from her aunt.

“I can’t decide who is the most stunning among you,” Mrs. Medford said when the three young ladies entered the captain’s private dining room.

Paul stepped forward, his gaze fixed upon Sophie. She hoped he didn’t intend to sit next to her. If so, she would likely fail to keep her promise to Aunt Victoria. In an agile move, she managed to step between Amanda and Aunt Victoria. Though sitting next to her aunt throughout the meal didn’t appeal, it would be preferable to forced conversation with Paul. Sophie thought she’d found the perfect resolution until her aunt insisted upon an entirely different seating arrangement.

Victoria wiggled her finger at Paul. “Why don’t you sit next to Sophie? I prefer a mixed seating arrangement.”

By the time her aunt had rearranged the group, Daniel and Fanny were seated side by side. Due to the uneven numbers, Paul sat to Sophie’s left and his mother to her right. She was surrounded by Medfords! Even Fanny’s situation didn’t seem nearly as bleak as her own.

While Aunt Victoria plied the captain with questions regarding the ship and their route, Mrs. Medford quizzed Sophie about her future plans. The woman appeared momentarily taken aback when Sophie confided she planned to pursue all of the pleasures life had to offer.

While Mrs. Medford was suggesting several different charities that might be of interest to fill Sophie’s free hours, they dined on consommé, followed by Blue Point oysters, turbot browned in butter, small entrées of delicious pâtés and mutton chops, and finally turkey and chicken served with asparagus hollandaise. Each dish was more exquisite than the previous, yet Sophie couldn’t wait to make her escape. She declined dessert, hoping to be released from the boring conversation that swirled around the table and to be allowed to join the passengers who would be gathering for the dance in the ballroom.

When Sophie discreetly made her wishes known, Aunt Victoria immediately vetoed the idea. Thus far she’d been polite and gracious, but if her aunt planned to hold her hostage for another hour, Sophie would have to break her promise. She absolutely could not bear another hour of the prattle circulating around her. She must find some method to extract herself. Glancing about the table, she decided difficult circumstances sometimes required thorny resolutions. Though she didn’t want to mislead Paul, he appeared to be the answer to her dilemma.

She leaned in his direction and, keeping her voice a mere whisper, explained that she would be ever so grateful if he would accompany her to the upper deck for a breath of fresh air. “All of this rich food, combined with the movement of the ship, has me feeling a bit under the weather.”

Sympathy emanated from Paul’s eyes. He was the epitome of concern. “Perhaps I should escort you to your cabin so you could retire for the night. I’m certain you’ll feel much better come morning.”

His solution, however, was not what Sophie expected. She faltered only momentarily. “I do believe, once I leave this stuffy room and breathe in the fresh ocean air, I shall feel much bet- ter.” She lightly touched his arm. “If not, then I shall heed your advice.”

Her response appeared to win him over, and his quiet explanation brooked no objection from her aunt. Though she would have preferred to leave with her cousins, her early departure would permit her time to assess the available men attending the dance and to secure a table with excellent access to the dance floor. The music floated up the stairway as they ascended to the promenade deck.

“Let’s stand by the railing and see how you feel once you’ve been in the fresh air for a brief time,” Paul suggested.

Sophie agreed and made a great show of inhaling slow, deep breaths. After several breaths, she clasped one hand to her chest. “I feel much better, Paul. Thank you for your concern.”

He arched his brows. “I’m surprised you’ve recovered so quickly.”

“Fresh air does wonders for me.” She glanced toward the ballroom. “Why don’t we go and sit down?”

“Don’t you fear the closeness of all the people in the salon will cause a recurrence of your ailment?” The tone of Paul’s question matched the question in his eyes.

She’d been too hasty in her desire to join the dancing, and she could see he now wondered if she’d played him the fool. “You are likely correct. However, my legs are feeling a bit wobbly.”

Paul’s gaze softened. He placed a protective hold around Sophie’s waist and walked her to an arrangement of deck chairs. “You’ll be able to sit, yet still enjoy the benefits of the fresh air. I believe this is the perfect solution.”

Sophie didn’t agree, but for once she held her tongue. She must bide her time. In a short while she would convince Paul the breeze had grown too strong for her liking. Hopefully, the wind would cooperate. With Paul sitting beside her, she settled in the chair and waited for the time to pass while couple after couple passed by them on their way to the ballroom. At this rate, all of the tables near the dance floor would soon be filled. When Paul glanced her way, she casually rubbed her arms.

“You’re cold! How thoughtless of me. Perhaps we should go inside. The library might be a good choice.”

Sophie shook her head. “I believe I’ll go into the ballroom. I’ll be fine if you’d rather return to the captain’s dining room.”

Paul rubbed his jaw and stared at her. “I couldn’t possibly permit you to enter by yourself—especially since you’ve not been feeling well. Though I believe you’re making a poor choice, I’ll go inside with you. But only if you promise that you’ll go to your cabin if you feel ill again.”

Placing her hand atop his arm, Sophie lowered her eyelids to half-mast and gently squeezed Paul’s arm. “I promise.”

Undeniably, she shouldn’t be taking advantage of Paul’s kind nature, but she pushed aside a pang of guilt. Once her cousins arrived, Sophie planned to shed herself of Paul’s company and truly enjoy herself. In fact, she hoped the three of them could successfully escape all of the other members of their group. Then they could have a quite marvelous time.

Once inside the doors, Sophie surveyed the ballroom. The band sat on a raised platform that bordered the dance floor. The coffered ceilings were bordered by a delicately carved frieze of mermaids and dolphins, and chairs, covered with beige and green striped silk, framed the round mahogany tables. One unoccupied table remained near the dance floor, and Sophie lost no time claiming it. She and Paul had barely been seated when the others arrived. Even though Fanny attempted to avoid Daniel by taking a chair between Sophie and their aunt, her effort proved futile. It appeared Aunt Victoria was set upon keeping them together, for she insisted upon moving to the other side of the table. With the older woman’s blessing, Daniel immediately claimed the vacated chair next to Fanny.

“I’m beginning to wonder if Uncle Jonas convinced our dear aunt to assume the role of a matchmaker on this voyage,” Sophie whispered.

Fanny positioned her fan to hide her lips. “I was wondering the very same thing. She appears determined to keep Daniel near me at every opportunity. I do wish both she and Uncle Jonas would turn their attention to Amanda and quit worrying over me. I have, after all, made my future plans known. With or without their blessing, I plan to marry Michael upon his return.”

A young man several tables away captured Sophie’s fancy, and when he smiled and pointed toward the dance floor, she nodded. He pushed away from his table and approached in record time. “May I have this dance, miss?”

Paul grasped her hand. “Miss Broadmoor is not feeling well this evening. I doubt—”

Sophie yanked her hand free and stood. “I am quite well, Paul, but thank you for your concern.” She turned and strode toward the dance floor without a backward glance. No doubt she’d hurt Paul’s feelings, but she didn’t need his protection, and she certainly didn’t want him taking charge of her comings and goings.

The young man was an excellent dance partner, though his vanity soon wore thin, and Sophie requested he introduce her to the other men at his table. Much to her delight, several of the men took turns dancing with her, and soon she found herself in the arms of a roguish fellow who appeared to be at least ten years her senior. His tight embrace held her much too close, but she didn’t object, for he proved an impeccable partner. Keeping her eyes closed, Sophie followed his expert lead until he came to an abrupt stop that nearly landed both of them on the floor. While she had been enjoying the dance, Paul had apparently tapped her partner on the shoulder and requested permission to cut in.

Rather than employing the close embrace of her former partner, Paul held her at a proper distance. He didn’t laugh or admire her as the other young men had, and she longed to escape his dull company.