Thank goodness for Nordstrom Rack. Sophie’s little black number, Calvin Klein no less, was exactly right. It also helped that during the last hour she’d giggled until her sides hurt as she and Bella got ready. Definitely one of the upsides to sharing a room. Now walking into the crowded salon, full of peacock-bright ladies in showy dresses, lit up with enough diamonds to put the crown jewels to shame, she felt perfectly relaxed. Formal dos didn’t faze her, there’d been enough of them at home.
Although he was talking to an elderly couple, Todd spotted her immediately and shot her a smile of such focused warmth it made her knees wobble. It didn’t help that in black tie, he looked even more ridiculously film-starry handsome.
‘Put your tongue away,’ muttered Bella in her ear. ‘Oh darn. I’ve just realised. Are you two doing the dirty yet?’
‘Bella!’ Sophie punched her arm.
‘Didn’t think so.’ Bella grinned unrepentantly. ‘And I’ve cramped your style. Sorry.’
‘I meant that’s a horrible phrase. And I don’t think I could … at his parents’ house. Not the first time.’
‘Oh, Sophie you’re so sweet. That’s the whole point of these house parties. Beds available at any part of the day. No one knowing where anyone is.’
Sophie giggled. ‘Sounds like a house party in a regency novel. Clearly things haven’t changed that much.’
‘Thank goodness they have. You and I would probably have been scullery maids if we traced our family trees back. My grandad made his money through technology and built up a huge telecoms company. And Dad and Uncle Ross built it up even more.’
And what did she say to that? What would Bella’s reaction be if she told her that on her father’s side she could trace her family tree back to 1660 to the first Earl of Hanbury?
‘Bella darling!’ Celine interrupted, bringing another lady with her. ‘Sandy, this is my clever, clever niece.’
‘Oh, I adored your little cakes. Now, I have a party coming up …’
Sophie drifted outside onto the terrace overlooking the gardens, enjoying the background hum of chatter and laughter. The balmy evening air carried the faint clean scent of pine, rather welcome after the overwhelming fug of rich perfumes.
‘I’m starting to wish I was back in New York,’ said Todd as he slipped his arms around her middle and came to stand behind her, resting his cheek against hers.
‘And why’s that?’ asked Sophie, turning around with a flirtatious smile.
He kissed her firmly on the mouth.
‘Because then I could get you all to myself.’
‘And why would you want to do that?’ Her voice came out slightly breathless and a touch husky, which she hadn’t meant to do, at least she didn’t think she had.
Todd’s eyes darkened and his direct smile that held more than a hint of smoulder made her swallow hard. Oh dear heaven, the man simply oozed sex appeal and she was drunk on it.
With a feather-light touch, he stroked one hand down her arm, his thumbs skimming the outside of her breast. She didn’t normally play sexy siren, but when his smile ratcheted up the smoulder to damn near combustible, she smiled back, letting the desire swim in her eyes. Which was pretty tricky given that she was about to go cross-eyed with lust.
‘Do you really need me to answer that?’ he asked with smooth self-assurance, looking down at her as she stood bare inches apart from him.
Sophie’s femme fatale upped and left. Todd was so much more experienced at this kind of stuff. Biting her lip, she lifted her shoulders in a half shrug, ducking her gaze.
‘Hey,’ he tilted her chin with a hand and gave her a gentle kiss on her lips. ‘We’ve got plenty of time.’
‘Sorry,’ she muttered, feeling stupidly gauche and suddenly near to tears.
‘Don’t worry,’ he gave her a quick kiss on her forehead. ‘Sorry, I realise it’s probably still quite soon. Come on, let’s mingle.’
That’s not what she’d meant at all, but Todd was already leading her back through the French windows and into the crush. There had to be nearly two hundred people there. Of course, everyone wanted to talk to Todd. Why wouldn’t you? He was easily the most handsome guy in the room.
‘Can you see Marty anywhere?’
Sophie glanced around the room.
‘I’m worried he’s up to something.’
‘Like what?’
‘With him, it could be anything, but he seemed a little bit too pleased with himself when we came off the beach. And when I went into the study he was on his laptop and shut it pretty quickly as if he had something to hide.’
‘Do you want—’
‘Sophie! Sophie Bennings-Beauchamp. It is you. Gosh, whatever in the world are you doing here?’
‘Margery!’
‘My dear gel. Don’t you look just delicious and isn’t this a lovely party? Don’t you just love the uninhibited trashiness of new money? Dear lord above, black champagne, in gold goblets. What fun! And who’s this handsome young man?’
Sophie couldn’t help smiling back. Margery Forbes-Bryson was one of her parents’ oldest friends and famed for her social faux pas. Luckily she had such a warm, eager manner, she was quickly forgiven for her tactless observations which usually came from garrulous enthusiasm rather than unkindness.
‘Margery,’ Sophie kissed her on either cheek before stepping back to introduce Todd. ‘This is one of our hosts. Todd McLennan. This is his parents’ party.’
‘Whoops,’ she patted Todd’s arm. ‘Lovely to meet you and pay no mind to me. Known for planting my size nines in just about everything. Now Sophie, I had no idea you were over here. I’m staying with my dear friend Cissie Newham, she moved here over forty years ago. She’s Johnny’s daughter. Was Cissie Blenkinsop, wouldn’t you marry just to get rid of that name? Caused a great scandal at Diana and Charles’ wedding. There she is.’ Margery started to wave at a woman across the other side of the room, her big voice bellowing, ‘Cissie! Cissie! Come here. Come meet Sophie, Lady Bennings-Beauchamp. You remember Freddie, the Earl of Hanbury? This is his daughter.’
Sophie wanted to sink through the floor as half the faces in the room seemed to turn and stare. Bella’s open-mouthed surprise registered, as did Celine’s delighted, approving smile. Luckily the approaching Cissie and her rather magnificent bulk shielded Sophie from the curious gazes. She didn’t dare look at Todd, although she felt his hand slip into hers and give it a squeeze.
‘Oh my word. Freddie. Haven’t seen him in yonks. Is he still an old reprobate?’ Cissie let out a larger-than-life cackle. ‘Although I probably shouldn’t be asking his daughter that? Dear lord, Margery. Do you remember when you, Freddie and Charlie went for a dip in the lake at Buck House?’
Thankfully the two of them launched into a trip down memory lane and all she had to do was nod and smile as, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Bella advancing.
‘Well, someone’s made Celine’s day,’ muttered Bella in her ear. ‘She’s telling everyone that you know Prince William. You don’t, do you?’
Sophie ducked her head.
‘Oh, shit. You do!’
Sophie moved away from the two ladies, now deep in conversation, to face Bella with Todd flanking her.
‘Bella …’
‘Lady Sophie. Forgot to mention that one, didn’t you?’ Although there was a teasing note in her words, her voice cracked slightly and Sophie could tell she was hurt. Before she could say anything, Bella turned to her cousin, ‘Did you know, Todd?’
‘Yeah, I did.’ Sophie did a double take but her attention was held by Bella’s furious blinking and the tell-tale glisten in her eyes.
‘Bella,’ Sophie reached out and touched her on the forearm. ‘I wasn’t keeping it from you.’
‘I thought we were friends.’
‘We are … I never tell anyone. Honest. The only reason my friend Kate knows is because she saw my passport. People I work with in London have no idea. It’s not that important to me, but other people … well, it affects their perception of me. Look at Celine’s reaction.’
‘So is your dad a … you know … a real-life lord?’
Sophie smiled at Bella’s sudden diffidence.
‘Yup, the fourteenth Earl of Hanbury. And I’m still exactly the same person I was yesterday morning, before you knew.’ She sneaked a look at Todd’s profile. To her relief he turned his head and gave her a quick wink and a warm smile.
‘Wow,’ said Bella. ‘Fourteenth whoa! You really are an aristocrat. Not a scullery maid in sight. And do you have a place like Downton Abbey?’
Sophie laughed. ‘No, nothing like! That’s Highclere Castle which is huge and a proper stately home. Felton Hall is … well, it’s not that big.’
‘No wonder you weren’t thrown by my parents’ house,’ said Todd.
‘You’re kidding. Felton Hall is old but it’s nowhere near as grand and luxurious as your parents’ place. No swimming pools or private access to the beach.’ Sophie laughed. ‘Can I put this in context? My dad is the Earl and his first wife was Lady something or other before she married Dad. When they divorced he married my mum, who is very ordinary. She was his housekeeper before they got together.’
‘So you’re only half posh, then,’ said Bella. ‘Phew.’
‘Does that make it alright?’ asked Sophie with a grin.
‘Yes, half posh I can cope with, but whatever you do, don’t tell Wes. He’ll never speak to you again.’
‘Why, is he some kind of Trotskyite?’ Sophie frowned. The big, gentle guy seemed too shy and thoughtful to indulge in forceful politics.
‘No,’ bitterness roughened Bella’s voice, ‘but he doesn’t believe people from very different backgrounds are compatible. That’s why I’m too chicken to ask him out.’
‘You still haven’t done it, then?’
‘No, because I know what will happen. Last year I invited him out here and that’s when it all went balls up.’
‘Ah, and was he was a bit uncomfortable when he saw the house? I guess that’s natural, if you’re out of your comfort zone.’
‘You’re kidding, the concept of a house in the Hamptons freaked him out. He refused to set foot out of Brooklyn with me. Dunderhead male.’
‘Harsh, Bels,’ interjected Todd.
‘No, he’s an idiot. Said we were too different. But I know he still likes me. Too freaking proud. His loss.’ Bella’s bravado didn’t quite ring true. Suddenly she changed the subject. ‘So how come Todd knows?’
‘Yes,’ Sophie frowned. ‘How do you know and why didn’t you say anything?’
‘You never mentioned it, so I didn’t.’
Sophie’s eyes narrowed. ‘When? And how …?’
‘Work. Your visa paperwork. Trudy mentioned it in a meeting. Ages ago.’
Sophie groaned, putting both hands over her face. ‘Does everyone know?’
‘I’ve never heard anyone else mention it and there were only four of us in the meeting. Trudy, Paul, me and a woman from HR.’
‘Paul knew.’ Sophie grimaced and rocked back on her heels. Now some of his comments made sense. No wonder he’d been so unexpectedly keen. Him and his seven-year plan. He probably thought her name could open a few doors.
‘Sorry,’ mouthed Todd. She gave him a sad smile. He might not do commitment or long term, but at least he was honest about it. She knew exactly where she stood with him. She didn’t need to trust him because she wouldn’t be making an emotional investment. From now on, she was keeping things light and fun.