Page 39 of A Translation of Desire
Sophia glanced at Diana. “Would you excuse us while Sinclair and I take a short walk?”
He had to force himself not to groan out loud. Diana nodded. “Of course.”
“I’m supposed to be joining Lady Viviene.”
His friend rolled her eyes. “She is talking with someone and won’t notice if a few more minutes of your absence goes by.”
Sighing, he held out his arm. She beamed at him, and they began to walk. He stated, “I’m not looking for you to play matchmaker, and the lady and I do not suit.”
Sophia rolled her eyes. “No, not at all. Oh, except she is intellectually your equal; she loves antiquities, and you can’t seem to stop staring at her. Truthfully, I think you at least like her more than Lady Viviene.”
He did, but wouldn’t share that aloud. Augustus had already determined that he would not call on Lady Viviene in the future. The young woman seemed lovely, but something was missing.
“I’m right,” Sophia said with a giggle. His mouth pressed together in a flat line. Sophia glanced back at Rose. “Why not tryto court her? While no one would envision her as your duchess, there is something that seems right about Rose.
“I appreciate your opinion, you know that, but Rose Calvert and I don’t suit. I think she is brilliant, but she isn’t my duchess. I promise I’m looking and will tell you when I find someone.”
Sophia glanced back at the lady in question, skeptical. “If you say so, you both seemed to have so much fun on the field together.”
He shook his head. “That is a game. Not real life.”
His friend sighed. “If you insist.”
“I do. The lady and I are simply friends with similar interests,” Augustus stated. Still, he wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince more, himself or Sophia.
Chapter Thirteen
Rose was stillgrinning from having bested Sinclair earlier in the day when she entered the great hall, where others were gathered for drinks before dinner. She spotted him speaking with Lisbeth. They were an elegant pair standing together. She wondered if Lisbeth would ever be a consideration for him. Distaste filled her, but she tried to remind herself she would be leaving soon. Her thoughts were irrelevant.
She made her way to them. Lisbeth beamed at her. “Sinclair was telling me that your win was lucky. I told him I disagree.”
Rose snorted and shook her head at him. “You wish. I beat you because my team was better.”
His lips turned up at the corners, amused. He jokingly lifted his arms and said, “I concede. I can’t fight with you both.”
She and Lisbeth giggled. The duchess smiled. “It has been a nice reprieve from all the problems in London.”
Rose grimaced, remembering that she’d told Lisbeth she’d explain the situation to Sinclair, but she hadn’t. His brows drew together in confusion. “What problems?”
Lisbeth glanced at Rose. Sinclair’s frown deepened. She sighed. “There was another break-in at the Seely House.”
“It wasn’t a break-in. She was chased from the building, and our guard was hit over the head,” Lisbeth countered.
Sinclair clenched his jaw and swung his gaze to Rose. “You didn’t think to tell me this over the last few days.”
Rose hated his stern voice. She stubbornly tilted her chin up. “I was planning to tell you. I just hadn’t found the right time.”
He gave her a knowing look because she’d had plenty of time to explain in the kitchen, but she didn’t. She added, “It has nothing to do with you.”
Sinclair glowered more. Lisbeth looked between them. “I think I see Lady Derry. I will give you a moment to talk with each other.”
The clench in Sinclair’s jaw made it obvious he wasn’t happy. He said, “You should have told me.”
“I planned to, but then I figured you had your own problems.”
His blue eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward. “What problems? No one in my life, other than you, is being chased out of a building.”
She rolled her eyes. “That is rather dramatic. I wasn’t chased. He wasn’t after me but my research.”
