Hearts Entwined (Victorian Love #3) - M.A. Nichols Page 0,73

Kingsley when everything around her sparked some memory of him. Even the breeze carried his voice, calling out to her like a phantom set to haunt her the rest of her existence.

Silly Little Sophie. Never had that appellation been more apt.

Mr. Kingsley’s voice rang out once more, and just as she was determined to cover her ears, Sophie noticed footsteps accompanying it. She didn’t think phantoms had feet.

Lifting her head from her knees, Sophie saw the gentleman in question striding quickly to her, and pain pricked at her temple. Taking in a breath to ease the knot in her chest, she wished she could hide. The polite thing to do would be to stand and greet him properly, but Sophie didn’t trust her limbs to keep her upright.

“Miss Sophie.” Mr. Kingsley came to a stop just before her, and Sophie hugged her knees, her neck cricking as she looked up at him.

“What are you doing here, Mr. Kingsley? I thought everything had been settled between us.”

Mr. Kingsley opened and closed his mouth several times. With one hand he scratched at his head, mussing his hair into an adorable mess.

“Miss Sophie…” He fidgeted some more. “I thought through my words the entire trek here, and yet I fear they’ve abandoned me.”

Flinching as raindrops began falling in earnest, Mr. Kingsley stepped under the canopy. Sophie shifted as though to stand, and he took her by the hand, pulling her to her feet. She wasn’t sure when her gloves had gone missing, but the feel of his bare hands against hers sent a shock running through her. Sophie leaned against the trunk, allowing the roughness of the bark to ground her in reality—though it did little to help, as Mr. Kingsley did not relinquish his hold once she was upright.

Lifting his other hand, Mr. Kingsley shoved a bedraggled posy of wildflowers at her, his brows creasing as he took in their sad state. The stems and many of the leaves were crushed in his grip and the rain had done its fair share to damage the blossoms.

“They looked prettier when I picked them,” he mumbled as the delicate blooms drooped over the side of his hand.

Sophie nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Digging deep inside, she managed to smile as the gentleman verbally stumbled over himself while apologizing for their sad state.

“I wanted to present you with something more fitting,” he added, but Sophie thought them quite fitting as they matched the sorry state of her heart. “I wished to ask you if I might call on you tomorrow.”

Sophie’s brows furrowed. “That would make it difficult to maintain the distance we agreed upon. Besides, tomorrow I am bound for Nottinghamshire.”

Mr. Kingsley frowned, his lips pinching together as he shifted in place. “I know what we agreed to do, Miss Sophie, but things have changed…I had thought…we might go for a drive…” He puffed out his cheeks with a heavy sigh. “Please don’t leave.”

Breath caught in her chest, Sophie stared at him, scrambling to decipher his meaning. A drive was so much more than the informal outings and meetings they’d shared. It implied something that Sophie dared not hope he meant. Her gaze fell to their hands, which were still clasped together.

“Miss Caswell may not be pleased with that,” she replied.

He gave a huffing laugh. “She may bludgeon me if I let you leave.”

When Sophie simply stared at him, Mr. Kingsley added, “Miss Caswell and I have parted ways.”

Her breath came in quick, panting bursts, and Sophie struggled to control it as she was trapped in his warm gaze.

“Then you are not engaged?” she whispered.

“Not in the slightest.” His grin grew at that, and Sophie’s own matched his. “Luckily, Miss Caswell has saved this stubborn fool from his folly and broken ties with me. Despite all expectations to the contrary, Miss Caswell would not engage herself when my heart is so clearly enamored with you.”

And then he echoed his previous question. “Would you honor me with a drive tomorrow? And allow me to escort you to the Nelsons’ ball the week after next? And squire you about the countryside to examine flowers and insects and anything else you like?”

Now, instead of rapid breaths, Sophie found her lungs did not work after that rapid succession of questions. She knew she must look the fool with her mouth gaping and eyes wide, but there was no mistaking his intent. Her hands held fast to his, and Sophie began to nod, her lips forming the answer she