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Pleased that everything was running srand staircase and watched the guestson the terraced lawn below She located Ross at once His dark forh he wore his authority coendary accouests were clearly in awe of him
Sophia felt a prickle of jealousy as she saw the way the women fluttered around him in nervous excitelances Apparently Ross’s reputation as a chaste-living gentleman did not daorous flame Sophia was certain that e or circued to snare the elusive er’s interest
Sophia’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps on the marble staircase She turned fro an extree trunk, their faces reddened fro a slender and very pretty blond girl Neither of the
Dipping into a curtsy, Sophia murmured, “Good afternoon, Mr Cannon”
Matthew regarded her with obvious surprise Amused, Sophia realized that he had not been told that she was here But of course,servants would certainly be of no interest to him
“What are you doing here?” he asked rudely
She kept her gaze submissively lowered as she replied, “I was summoned by Mrs Cannon to help with the preparations for the party, as the previous housekeeper left rather precipitately”
The young blond woman looked up at Matthew “Who is she?”
He gave a dis “Only my brother’s servant Co”
As the pair left, Sophia observed thelish beauty, golden and fair, her eyes pale blue, her mouth as small and red as a rosebud Iona see in a tee to a spoiled brat like Matthew could not be easy
Much later in the evening, the guests proceeded into the dining roolenook fireplace Great stone arches fralittered in the blaze of candlelight Sophia concealed herself fro with the footht-course meal, which included braised beef, John Dory fish, roast hare and teal, and pheasant sausage After a lengthy succession of removes, a selection of jellies, cakes, and ices was served
At the conclusion of supper, the footmen removed all the dishes and used clean silver knives to scrape any crumbs from the tablecloth The ladies withdrew for coffee in the drawing rooentlemen remained at the table for port and masculine conversation, a few headed to the billiards rooation, the entire crowd rejoined in the drawing room for tea and entertainment
Sophia entered the roolanced at Catherine Cannon to see if she was satisfied As their gazes estured for Sophia to come to her
Sophia obeyed quickly “Yes, Mrs Cannon?”
“Sophia, the guests wish to play a game of murder”
“Ma’am?” Sophia asked, mildly startled
Catherine laughed at her expression “Murder is all the rage just now—haven’t you heard of it? The players draw slips of paper from a bowl to see what parts they are to take One slip says ‘ator,’ and all the rest are potential victioes to hide The ator tries to discover his—or her—identity”
“Like hide-and-seek”
“Exactly! Now, Sophia, take one or two of the o about their ithout getting in the way of the players”
“Yes, Mrs Cannon May I ask which areas of the house are to be dimmed?”
One of Catherine’s coold hair, answered disdainfully “The whole of it, of course! The ga if we couldn’t use the whole house”
Ignoring the woman, Sophia lowered her head and est that the kitchen rereat deal of washing up to do?”
Catherine’s green eyes sparkled with aestion, Sophia You may keep the kitchen lit Now hurry, please, as I fear in”
“Yes, ma’am”
As Sophia walked away, she heard the red-haired woman say to Catherine, “I don’t fancy her manner, Cathy Rather proud, if you ask me Not at all appropriate for a housekeeper”
Sophia’s ears burned when she heard herself being criticized “No one asked for your opinion,” she ht, she could not stop herself froht have been a guest this very evening She had been born the social equal of these people, and she had little patience for their pretensions In fact, her blood was bluer than the Cannons‘, though that was of no consequence now
After directing the housemaids to darken the rooms, Sophia went to turn down the lalowed through the , and she began to draw the velvet panels over the glass panes
Soht as she turned toward the visitor At first glance, the man’s shadowed form reminded her of Ross, and her heart jolted with anticipation But the sound of his voice caused her spirits to plummet abruptly
“What a clever little cat you are,” Matthew Cannon declared conte your way into my brother’s life, and now into my family’s home You must be quite pleased with yourself”
Sophia strove to sound eht had he to follow her up here and insult her? “I do not knohat you mean, Mr Cannon I only hope that I have pleased your mother”
He gave a guttural laugh “I’m sure you have No doubt you’ve pleased my brother as well, in more ways than one”
“Sir?” She pretended not to understand his an to leave “Please excuse me—”
However, heher exit His face rounded with a nasty set,” he co as awith a bone”