Masquerade Read Online Free Page B

attempted to place her wrist against Sophie’s forehead. “Are you unwell?”
    Sophie waved her off. “Certainly not, although your concern is quite sisterly. No, I am not ill…I am—oh, I don’t know what I am.” There were no other ladies in the room at present, but Sophie lowered her voice anyhow. “I guess I was more excited by the idea of the dance rather than the actual event itself. I feel wrung out from the drive over. Father will be gathering us together before too long to toss us back into the carriage so we may make another near-death trip back the way we came. To top it off, the weather is so terrible hardly anyone will show up tonight. Why have we bothered at all?”
    “Don’t get yourself all worked up! I hate to see you like this; I am usually the one who is all aflutter, not you. It unsettles me to see you so…well, to find you so unsettled. Isn’t that senseless?” Rachel patted her hand soothingly, and for an instant it was almost as if they had exchanged roles.
    “You’re right. I’m sorry for being such a crank. I suppose I am living up to my station, being a spinster and so long on the shelf.”
    Rachel looked scandalized. “Hush, Sophie! Don’t you dare say things like that about yourself! I won’t hear it, I tell you. It’s not right—you are not a spinster and certainly not on the shelf. Why, if you won’t take mine and Penny’s advice and consider Colin a suitable marriage candidate, you will simply have to look around and choose someone else to fall in love with.”
    Colin. Between his morning’s soaking and the afternoon trip he planned to take to visit an old school chum, he probably wouldn’t even make an appearance at the dance. Too busy, or too tired from all his traipsing around in the sleety wet weather.
    She said as much. “You and Penny must stop your girlish prattle. Besides, I doubt Colin will even be here tonight. He had an engagement earlier today, so who knows where he is stuck in this weather?”
    Both women turned, and stared into the blowing white mess outside the window. The snow seemed to have picked up considerably. Icy pellets hit the glass pane at random intervals.
    Sophie shivered, despite the warmth of the room. A fire blazed in the hearth, but it did nothing to quell the chill in her heart at the thought of Colin out in the blizzard. She hoped he had the good sense to stay put—wherever “put” was.
    “I do hope he isn’t stuck anywhere. And I’m sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t bring Colin up again in any conversation with a romantic tone. I have already broken my promise, and it is only hours old! Oh, Sophie, whatever am I going to do with myself? I have the best intentions, not only for myself but for those I love, but I still make a bumblebroth of things without meaning to.”
    “Don’t apologize, dear. You are young, and will find your way into your own skin sooner or later.” Sophie gave one of Rachel’s ringlets a gentle tug. It extended, and then bounced back into place. She smiled. “I know you don’t have a mean bone in your body, Rachel. You only want what is best for all of us, and we all see that.” She stood and brushed a palm down the front of her green gown. “Now, let’s see who has arrived, what kinds of refreshments are being served, and, perhaps most importantly, which eligible bachelors have braved the storm for the opportunity to dance their frozen toes off!”
    She turned and headed for the bedroom door, but Rachel stopped her.
    “Wait—Sophie, your mask.” Rachel caught her up and quickly handed one of the identical black silk-and-ostrich-feather masks to her. They tied at the back of the wearer’s head with black ribbons, and were so wide and concealing they easily hid most facial features from view. “It is a masked dance, remember?”
    “Of course,” she said with a resigned sigh. An idea struck her as she tied her disguise into place. If no one could see her face, they wouldn’t recognize her.