Hearts Entwined (Victorian Love #3) - M.A. Nichols Page 0,101

low, her gaze filling with anguish as Sophie relayed all she’d heard. Her words could not come fast enough, and as she spoke, Sophie’s heartbeat picked up its pace.

“I do not know where Lily is, nor do I know who they’ve unwittingly used in their plans to humiliate her—”

“But we must discover it before she does and stop this,” said Miss Caswell, her gaze swinging away from Sophie as she scanned the crowds. “Do you spy her, Mr. Dixon?”

The gentleman shook his head.

Miss Caswell let out a burst of breath and rubbed her temple. “What have they done?”

“We will sort this out,” murmured Mr. Dixon, and the young lady gave his arm a light squeeze before nodding.

“Can you not speak to Miss Thompson and Miss Nelson? They shan’t listen to me,” said Sophie, and Miss Caswell stilled, blinking at her for a heartbeat.

“Of course…” The young lady was moving before she could finish her thought, hurrying to the pair with Mr. Dixon and Sophie trailing behind her.

“What have you done to Lily?” demanded Miss Caswell.

Miss Thompson cocked her head, staring at Miss Caswell as though she couldn’t understand the clearly worded question, while Miss Nelson’s gaze fell to the ground, her cheeks pinking. Miss Thompson began defending herself, and Sophie’s attention turned to the crowd. There was nothing for her to do with the culprits, and her muscles tightened at the thought of what might’ve happened to Lily.

A hand at her back had Sophie jumping, and she turned to see Mr. Kingsley standing there with a silent question in his eyes at finding her in such company. With a few quiet words, she relayed all that had happened, and Mr. Kingsley’s eyes darkened, turning a burning fury towards Miss Thompson and Miss Nelson.

Before he could say a word in defense of his sister, Miss Thompson launched into a litany of reasons why the whole situation was his fault, and though none of their voices rose enough to be heard by the general populace, the tone of their conversation carried enough to draw the curious looks of a few groups nearby.

But Sophie gave the others no notice, only focusing on a quick twist of Miss Thompson’s lips as her gaze slid beyond their party. Following it, Sophie spied Lily approaching Mr. Peter Dosett; though her smile held a hint of apprehension, Lily met him with squared shoulders, her eyes growing brighter as he turned to greet her.

Gripping Mr. Kingsley’s arm, Sophie drew his attention to his sister, and the others all turned their gazes in Lily’s direction. There was nothing to be done at this distance. No intervention to be made. No manner in which to halt the coming blow. All they could do was watch as she flirted with the younger Dosett son. Lily nodded towards the dancers, and the fellow’s brows rose with a hint of a sneer. With a quick step, he backed away and gave a curt bow before scurrying in the other direction.

Sophie raised a hand to her mouth and clutched her stomach with the other, as though that might calm the bile churning inside her. Lily fought to keep hold of her composure, but even at this distance, it was impossible to miss the pain in her eyes as they filled with tears, and Sophie’s own heart broke in two.

Mr. Kingsley stepped forward, and Sophie moved with him, leaving Miss Caswell to deal with the pair. But before they made it halfway there, Mr. Dixon outpaced them, waving them away as he strode towards Lily. Taking the fellow’s cue, Sophie pulled Mr. Kingsley to a stop.

“Let him handle her,” she said as he tugged against her hold.

“But she needs—”

“Having her brother step forward to rescue her would only add to her humiliation.”

Mr. Kingsley frowned. “But—”

“Watch,” she said, nodding at Mr. Dixon as he bowed to Lily.

Though the young lady attempted to blink away her tears, there was no mistaking their presence as Lily watched Mr. Dixon with a wary eye. With a sweep of his arm, he nodded to the dance floor with a smile, though the accompanying invitation was lost to Sophie and Mr. Kingsley in the noise around them. Lily’s chin trembled as a hint of a smile eased into her expression. Taking the gentleman’s arm, she allowed him to lead her into the dance.

Sophie’s heart ached for the poor young lady, who grasped her decorum by the barest hold. Lily’s tender soul had been dealt a blow few would easily forget, and