Page 12 of His Scandalous Siren
Six
Sofia had never wanted to wrap her hands around a person’s neck and squeeze the life out of them before. If asked, she would have declared she didn’t have a violent bone in her entire body. She was altogether congenial and even-tempered, or so she had believed. Trust Andrew Marsden to bring out her vicious side…
How could she love a man with such a mean streak? Why couldn’t she completely erase him from her heart and mind? Love was a tricky thing. It sneaked its way inside and once it gained control, it refused to cede victory. Sofia wished she had never met Andrew Marsden. Wished she had never fallen so hard for him. Wished she could let go of that little bit of hope that still lingered inside.
But no amount of wishing would make anything happen.
It was futile to hope for an outcome that had already come to pass. Much like she couldn’t go back in time and stop herself from falling once again to his charms. She had allowed him to touch her intimately, to make love to her, to kiss her senseless… Sofia had been the biggest of fools. She would like to believe she had set aside such ill-advised nonsense, but she knew better. Several times now she had declared her feelings for Drew were no more. Look where that had led her? Right into the scoundrel’s arms.
So that was why she was staring out the library window at Huntly Manor and condemning her actions and trying to determine what she should do. Thus far she hadn’t been able to discern anything useful. She’d messed up, and badly. Her decisions may have some dreadful consequences. The biggest one being Andrew Marsden. What would he do next? There was a time she had wanted nothing more that to gain his attention. Now she realized how colossally ignorant she had been.
“What has you so broody today?” her sister asked. Gabrielle had been quiet until that moment. Something Sofia had been grateful for.
She sighed. “I hate rain.”
Gabrielle glanced out the window. Rain had been pelting the glass all morning. Otherwise, Sofia would be outside pacing the garden instead. The gloom that raged outdoors had spread to her mood. Ever since she had left the masquerade a few nights ago, she had done nothing but think about what had happened. Even her dreams had plagued her. Sofia couldn’t escape Drew, no matter what she did.
“Since we are unable to control the weather,” Gabrielle began. “Perhaps we should consider an activity that will take our minds off what we cannot have.”
Sofia almost snorted. She didn’t want to give her sister any ammunition to use against her. Gabrielle had been extra cheeky the past couple of days. “What do you suggest, dear Sister?”
“Have you been practicing chess?” Gabrielle lifted a brow.
Chess was not a game that Sofia had particularly excelled at. She wanted to be better, though, so she had been reading about strategies. Not that she could recall any at the moment. “I’d rather play cards or billiards.” She didn’t want to do anything that required any actual thinking skills. Her brain was not working properly. Otherwise, she would never have willingly gone into Drew’s arms. Clearly, she had some sort of damage inside her mind to subject herself to such torture.
Gabrielle wrinkled her nose. “Neither of those sound very pleasurable to me.”
“I think they sound wonderful myself,” a man drawled from the entrance to the sitting room.
Sofia turned her gaze toward the sound and then frowned. Had she conjured him by thinking about him so darn much? She rolled her eyes. “Then perhaps you should find someone to play a game or two with you.”
“But I already have,” Drew answered. “You want to play. I want to play. Problem solved.” He grinned as if he had just resolved all the world’s problems with the simplest of solutions.
“I don’t want to play with you.” Sofia glared at him. “Go find someone else.”
“I don’t want anyone else.” He moved farther into the room. “I’ve found the exact person I came for.” He plopped down in a chair near Gabrielle. “What are you reading?”
She blinked at him several times without muttering a word, then closed her book and set it aside. “I haven’t the foggiest idea, if you must know. I just opened it to make it look as if I was doing something. I hate reading.”
Sofia did snort at that. She couldn’t control it. Her sister was lying through her teeth. There was nothing Gabrielle liked more than a good book. What had Drew done to irritate her? “She loathes it,” Sofia said. “Don’t ask her for any recommendations. You won’t like anything she suggests.” That part was probably true. Drew didn’t look like the type to enjoy a good Gothic novel.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He tilted his head to the side. “You wouldn’t be interested in a game, would you?”
What was he trying to accomplish? The urge to strangle him was returning. Sofia took several breaths. In. Out. In. Out. “Go away Drew. No one likes you here.”
He turned his attention back to her. “Now I must disagree with you. We all know you like me more than you’re letting on.” His lips turned upward into the most sinful smile she’d ever seen. God help her. Sofia’s heart was about to burst, it beat so rapidly inside her chest. And her stomach… Butterflies did a whole ball’s worth of dances inside of it. Someone had to save her from herself because, clearly, she was her own worst enemy.
She gritted her teeth. “And we all know that you have never cared for my feelings. Why should today be any different?”
He leaned lazily back into the chair and crossed one leg over the other. “Because pet, we’re betrothed.” Drew lifted a brow. “Or have you not read today’s Times yet?”
What the bloody hell was he talking about? She blinked several times and rushed out of the room. She had to find that paper, and fast…
* * *
Drew had senta telegram to Conte Leone, Sofia’s father, the night after he’d taken her innocence. It was only proper to ask for her hand. It was too bad that it had taken this long for a response. Even without her father’s permission, he fully intended to marry her. Which meant announcing their betrothal in the times and arranging to have the banns read. He had considered a faster wedding, but decided against it. They could wait three weeks to say their vows. It would give her parents time to come to England sooner than they had originally planned. A lady should have family at her wedding after all, and one sister wasn’t enough.
“What nonsense are you spouting, Drew?” Gabrielle said. “Please tell me this isn’t some horrible prank you’re playing on my sister. You know how much she loves you.”
