Turning to Lily, Reese said, “Are you all right, Your Grace?”

“I am fine,” Lily replied, her shrewd eyes assessing. “But I am concerned about my friend. I’m going to escort Sophie to the terrace so she can take a bit of fresh air.”

“Thank you,” Charles said stiffly. Turning to Sophie, he said, “Miss Kendall, I trust that you’ll be feeling much improved in time for our midnight toast.”

Sophie blinked back tears of frustration and rage. “I doubt that I shall, my lord.”

“Please, accept my apologies,” Reese said. He placed a hand over his heart as the women left the dance floor and cast Sophie a furtive, reassuring smile.

She tried to smile back but faltered. Nothing was all right. Charles had the means to destroy the reputations and lives of dozens of her friends. And the only way Sophie could protect them was to deny her own heart and marry him.

Chapter 35

Lily whisked Sophie outside and ordered her to sit on the half wall that surrounded the terrace. “Are you hurt, Soph?”

“No,” she assured her friend. “I’m fine, physically.”

“Good,” Lily said, smiling sweetly. “Because I want to know what the bloody hell is going on, and you had better tell me.”

“It’s awful,” Sophie said, hardly knowing where to begin.

“Lord Warshire is in love with you, isn’t he?”

Sophie nodded. “How did you know?”

“From the moment he entered the ballroom, he couldn’t take his eyes off you. It’s clear he’s smitten, Soph.”

She felt herself blush. “I love him too. I tried to call off the engagement, but Charles found out about the Debutante Underground and is threatening to publish a list of all its members … unless we are married.”

Lily gasped and clenched her fists. “What a cold-hearted, self-righteous, narrow-minded little—”

“There you are!” Sophie and Lily turned to see Fiona anxiously gliding across the flagstones toward them, her auburn hair gleaming in the moonlight. “I saw what happened on the dance floor. Are you both all right?”

“Yes, yes,” Lily said, not bothering to hide her agitation. “But it turns out Lord Singleton is a malicious prig.”

“Oh no,” Fiona said. “I must admit, I much prefer Lord Warshire—even if he is a bit rough around the edges.”

Sophie sniffled. “He’s all edges. But he’s also the most honorable, selfless, decent man I know.”

“Speaking of Lord Warshire,” Fiona drawled. “He asked me to give you a message.”

Sophie leaped off the wall and clasped Fiona’s hand. “What did he say?”

Fiona gave her a knowing smile. “He asked you to meet him in the library.”

“When?” Her heart squeezed.

“As soon as you can slip away, I imagine.”

Sophie frowned. “If my parents or sister ask where I’ve gone…”

“We’ll cover for you,” Lily said, making shooing motions with her hands. “Go on, now.”