"Colette, dear lord! Would you hurry up! We are to meet your fiancé's mother! We cannot possibly be late!" Sophia cried as she stormed into Colette's room. Colette was in a state of utter dishabille, her lovely blond locks barely caged into the proper coiffure that was necessary for an important occasion such as this. Her corset strings still remained undone and were hanging down the length of her back.

Sophia stormed over to Colette and tugged sharply at her corset strings. Colette cried out as the bodice suddenly hugged her skin.

Colette shoved at Sophia's hands. "Sophia, Sophia, stop it! We have nearly two hours to be there. We can take our time! Besides, before I go there, I need to pay a visit to Lady Harrington."

"Lady... Lady Harrington?" Sophia sputtered. "Whatever for? Who even is she?"

"You wouldn't know her. I met her at my debutante ball and we instantly became friends. She gave birth to her daughter today, just a few hours ago. I must go see her! And she nearly died from childbirth! She barely survived. I must offer my support."

"Couldn't you do this tomorrow? Meeting your fiancé's mother with a family dinner is an especially important event, and it is all the more necessary when the engagement is to be announced soon. You must maintain amicable relations with you mother by law. Being late will not give her the right impression of us." Sophia cried, her hands shaking with anxiety at what this evening meant for her family.

If all went well, her sister's engagement would be announced the following week, and she would be wed in a month's time to Lord Cavendish. Sophia didn't know how that made her feel except for it deepening the cavernous hole of her heart.

Yet, tonight preyed on her mind even more, making her feel queasy. She was absolutely terrified at what Blake's mother would think of sister and this union, but most of all, what she would think of Sophia. She would surely know who Sophia was, without a doubt. Her son was involved with her ruin after all.

"Lady Harrington has a been a dear friend to me! When people spoke ill of our family name at my debutante ball, without a moment's hesitation she stepped in and defended me, and she didn't even know me. Besides, she had a brush with death! I can't refuse to see her and not offer my support!" Colette raged, pulling away from Sophia was trying to coil her curls into a coiffeur.

"But this is your future we're talking about Colette. Your future with the Marquess! Lady Harrington can wait until tomorrow." Sophia protested, but Colette ignored her and battled on.

"We have been exchanging correspondence all this while, and I have grown quite fond of her. And she sent a letter to me, to see her child first, out of all of her other so-called friends. She values me. I cannot ignore her request. We have very few friends as it is. Besides, I promise, as soon as I see her, which will only be for a period of half an hour, I will meet you at Lord Alton's home. I promise. Her house is on the way to Lord Alton's too." Colette cried, pleading with her palms entwined. She cocked her head to the side and widened her eyes—a posture she knew that worked well to convince Sophia.

Sophia's heart told her to let Colette meet the one person in her life outside of her family that actually mattered to Colette. Friends like that were a rarity and were hard to come by, and Colette needed someone like that in her life.

Sophia's mind, however, protested that this was an important moment for all of them. The little voices in her head called for a rational decision, not one ruled by her heart.

If she were late, or god forbid, didn't make it, the relationship between Colette and her mother-in-law would certainly be strenuous. Yet, Colette's face, so close to tears tugged at her heart.

When she finally couldn't take it anymore, Sophia sighed out, "Do you promise to meet me at the marquess's residence as soon as you finish meeting with your friend? Will you be there on time?"

"Yes. I will. I promise."

"Are you certain?" Sophia asked again, and her eyebrows shot up and disappeared under her mop of curls.

"Yes, yes a thousand times yes. I don't want to make her feel like I abandoned her, but I assure you I will not abandon this. At times you are so understanding and calm and at others, you are an absolute thorn at my side and frantic mother hen." Colette huffed as she slipped on her dress.

Sophia lightly slapped Colette in the arm, affronted. "I am not."

But when Colette gave her a smile that clearly indicated that Sophia was trying to defend something she couldn't, Sophia let out a soft chuckle.

"Ok, I will admit, sometimes I am. But it is only for your benefit! Anyway, I will send word ahead that I will be there, and develop relations in your stead."

"Thank you, Sophia. I will meet you there."

"I will hold you to that promise. Do not fail me."

"I shall not."

And with that statement, the seduction of Lady Sophia Brighton was set into motion, although it was a seduction unbeknownst to the seducer and the seducee.  

Sophia had not expected Lord Cavendish to open the door when she arrived at his doorstep, but it was he who stood there in the fading twilight. His body was still hidden in the shadows, but in the minimal light, his devilish features shown. The shadows danced across his face and highlighted his sharp features. In the light of the setting sun, eyes appeared a very dark, dark green, a green that almost looked like onyx.

"Lady Sophia, what pleasure to see you." He leaned against the frame of the doorway, a slow smile spreading across his face. He bit his lips and raised his eyebrows, causing a shiver of sudden warmth though pass through Sophia.

How handsome and wickedly delicious he looked standing in front of her. Sophia couldn't help the butterflies from kicking in her chest.

"Lord Cavendish. An equal pleasure to see you as well. May I step in?"

He moved to the side, allowing her passage into his home. As she brushed past him, his fingers slightly flitted across her waistline hem and her skin immediately starting burning, even under her layers of cloth. A thrill of excitement shot through her and she drew in a sharp breath.

How much ever she tried to deny it, she was wholly and completely affected by him, as he was with her.

"Lord Cavendish, please take no offense that Colette isn't here with me. She Colette, your fiancé will be arriving shortly. She had to make a minor detour to pay a visit to a friend who nearly died in childbirth but she will grace us with her presence soon enough. However, for the time being, would you introduce me to your mother? I would love to meet her, " Sophia announced formally.

"Unfortunately, you cannot. I was expecting her to arrive from the countryside yesterday but it was only an hour before that I found she had to extend her stay because my grandfather fell ill. It would have been improper for me to rescind the invitation so close to the gathering, not to mention you probably were already on the way here."

The truth was, Alton's mother did not know about this dinner at all and was only due to come back from the countryside three days from now. However, as Colette has requested, he had ensured his mother would not be here, because only in his sole company did he feel Sophia really opened up. And the truth was, he enjoyed being alone with her and oddly wanted her all to himself. Ever since that day in the fountains and gardens, Sophia seemed to avoid him like the plague.

"Oh." Sophia cried at the sudden proclamation. "Then shall I depart, pick up my sister who is at her friend's home and return to my manor for a meal. It seems rather a nuisance to burden you now with serving us supper when the entire point of this dinner had gone to moot." Sophia twirled away from him, but he caught her hand. Where their hands touched, it sizzled like a bolt of lightning had captured it.

"Stay."

It was for them to get to know each other better. That's all. Nothing else, like the evil seed of seduction that Colette had planted in his mind.

No. Blake had to stop thinking about that. Tonight, was about spending time with Lady Sophia and getting to truly know her.

When sensual images flooded his mind, he shook his head again. Not in that way. Goddamit. His mind was driving him mad.

He growled which caused Sophia's look of surprise at his request for her to stay turn into confusion.

"All I meant is, just because my mother isn't here, does not mean the three of us cannot enjoy a meal. Please do stay. I do enjoy the pleasure of your company," Blake smiled, his eyes twinkling like crystals in the light and her face lighting with a dangerous kind of smile.

"My pleasure?" Sophia whispered, licking her lips unwantedly.

"Indeed." Blake's smile grew wider as Sophia's skin flushed redder and redder.

He wanted to punch himself in the face. He had to stop flirting because when he did, his thoughts carried him away to places he should never be thinking of.

Sophia suddenly spun away from him, hiding her beautiful face from his appreciative gaze. She tucked her curls behind her ear, a movement he noticed she did often when she was nervous and said, "Very well then. We can all acquaint ourselves with one another and get to know each other much better if we are to be family. However, it would be rude to start the meal before Colette arrives. Shall we proceed to the drawing-room and perhaps talk about the arrangements for your marriage ceremony? It's going splendidly, but we still have to decide on a few more things."

"We can discuss that later, Sophia. How would you feel about a game of chess instead?" Blake clasped his hands behind his back, giving her a small smile.

"Chess? Now?"

Blake shrugged. "Why not? You are almost half an hour early which I presumed was to talk up my mother." This earned him an ashamed grin from Sophia. "Besides, supper is yet to be finished by the help and Colette is yet to arrive."

Sophia's face shone brightly and she gave him a wide smile. "Very well then. It would be my pleasure to play and win. I must warn you; I spare no mercy for my opponents."

"There is that word again. Pleasure," Blake said. His tongue rolled seductively over the word and he could see it caused trembles of desire shuddered through Sophia.

He knew he should stop doing that, but he couldn't resist. 

"But... but I am serious. I am quite unmerciful."

Blake's eyes gleamed like two twinkling stars in the black night, the golden strip in his right iris glowing like the sun. "And I would expect nothing else."

"Ha! Checkmate! Once again!" Sophia cried as she moved her queen to officially finish his king off in the game. He was all cornered, with nowhere to go. She shrugged her shoulder and cast him a superior smile.

"Indeed. The third game in a row. You are awfully good at this," Blake said proudly, flashing her a small amused grin in return. Sophia bowed her head in acceptance.

"That I am. Do you know I once reduced an old childhood friend of mine, Lord Darnley to tears, because I continuously won? He ran to his mother bawling like a child. Never have I ever seen a man reduced to such unmanly sobs. My mother, of course, reprimanded me. She believed I had to let men win, as their pride would be hurt if I didn't, but I never bothered to listen."

"Is that so?" Blake laughed under his breath.

Her face lighted up with mirth as she continued, "And you should have seen his face. It was splotchy and red and it looked as if he had the worst rashes on the planet as if bees had stung him all over and he had scratched his face off. And his insults, dear lord. I almost died from laughter." Sophia hid her face with her hands in embarrassment and shook her head. Her loose curls bounced on her cheek.

Blake yearned to reach across and tuck it behind her ear. Then maybe he would trace the shell of her ear, then move down her neck....

He closed his eyes, trying to shut out the image in his mind. No. He would not think that.
Damn Lady Colette for even suggesting seduction. Now, he couldn't get it off of his mind. Damn her.

"Do you know, that is the first time in my entire life, anyone has bested me in chess?"

"Is that so? I told you I was ruthless when it comes to chess but I still had to consider my moves a lot more than I usually would with other opponents. How did you learn to play so well?" Sophia tilted her eyebrows upwards and tilted her head.

Blake cleared his throat and rubbed his hand behind his beck. "Well...uh....my father taught me. However, I would say those weren't your usual lessons. He would box me on the ear quite a bit when I made a terrible move or scream at me when it was significantly less terrible but bad move nonetheless. Chess was a game of intellect and control and evaluating your enemies. It should never be played in haste, was what he used to say."

Sophia flashed him a sympathetic smile. "Seems like your father enjoyed control very much."

Blake gave her a tight-lipped grin. "I suppose you could say that."

She considered him for a moment, her bright sky-blue eyes roving over his face. She opened her mouth and then closed it as an afterthought.

Suddenly, Blake wanted to desperately know what she was going to say. "Lady Sophia? Were you going to say something?"

"No...no I wasn't."

But on Blake's inviting look she sighed.

"Well, I know how you must have felt under your father's grasp. My father has always sought control in his life although his...practices and indulgences would convince anyone otherwise. He always had to be in charge. Take care of everyone and keep them under his rule. But I remember a time when he wasn't so and also such a foul drunkard. I remember him dancing with me when I was quite young. He even introduced me to chess."

"What happened?"

Sophia shrugged sadly. "I am unsure but I think whatever his father did to him in his youth...it did not help. Over the years, his mind became too wearied and he turned to drink more than usual. Glasses became bottles, shouts to slaps. The man my mother fell in love with," she cast her eyes down and bit her lip, "was not the man that killed her."

"What?" Blake breathed out as his chest seized.

Sophia hadn't seemed to realize what she said but when she glanced up to see his aghast expression, she went pale. "No. Please my lord, forget I said that. It was...nothing. Please."

"So, it's true? There were rumors I heard when you came on to the debutante scene and so did your sister. Many believe your mother was beaten to death, not consumed by a fever. It was never truly confirmed but..."

Sophia let out a shaky breath. "You mustn't tell anyone. Please."

A tear rolled down her cheek and instinctively he reached across the table and wiped it away. Where his finger grazed her cheek a hot burning sensation emerged, coiling through his entire body after that.

He drew his hand away. "I apologize. And I promise," he shot her an earnest stare, "I will repeat this to no one."

"Thank you." She had clasped her hands together tightly, and even through her gloves, he could see the sharpness of her knuckles, indicating her tenseness.

"My lady," Blake whispered softly, drawing her scared, vulnerable face upwards to meet his gaze. "I promise. I will never say this to anyone." He ached to reach across and lace their fingers together and squeeze it but he restrained himself. That was a dangerous territory.

A little more convinced, she nodded as she wiped away her remaining tears. Sophia took in a large breath. "Well, sorry for burdening you with this but I appreciate it, my lord." Glancing at the clock that had struck nine, she sprung up. "Oh, dear lord! It has been much too long and I have overstayed my hospitality. It seems as if though Colette has failed to keep up her promise to show. Thankfully your mother was not here, or that would have been terrible. She is in for a reprimanding. I must be returning home."

"Won't you be eating some dinner and going?" It just spurted out of Blake's mouth without any volition. The truth was, they had spent time together, although at that time he had completely forgotten it was to aid the plan. Yet, it never felt like enough with her and he didn't want her to go just yet. Over the course of the chess games, they have exchanged friendly banter and random bits of knowledge and although it would have been meaningless to anyone else, he truly felt like he was seeing the Sophia that was buried under all those layers of selflessness and duty.

"It's getting rather late and we should have started eating half an hour ago, but we both got carried away with our game. I will eat a mild supper when I go home. I must be departing. Send my regards to your grandfather and mother. Please do arrange a meeting as soon as she is available. And thank you for letting me stay here awhile. It was a must needed reprieve from all the wedding planning and I suppose you aren't the worst company." She shot him a bemused glance which he returned.

"I am glad I could be of service."

Sophia nodded slightly and made a move to parade out of the room, but Blake's fingers circled around her wrist and pulled her closer.

"Don't leave yet. "

"Why ever not?" Sophia drew her hand away from his. Her cheeks were stained a bright red and she was biting her lip feverishly which was doing all sorts of things to Blake.

"I have something to show you. It's regarding your sister and our impending nuptials."

"Well, then, bring it to me. I will take a brief look and then leave."

"It's in my chambers upstairs. It's rather heavy, Sophia and I cannot, as the only man in sight, bring it down. Enlisting your help would be futile when we can just go up and see it, rather than making an effort to move it all the way down here. Would you please accompany me upstairs to see the same?"

"To your chambers? That would be unwise." She laughed awkwardly, smoothing down her red dress.

"It is regarding the bridal gift for Colette, which I imported from India. I need your approval on which of the jewels I can give to her."

What was he doing? He should let her go. They could schedule a secret courtship date another night. This night didn't have to continue. She was right. It was getting late and with every passing second, she was here, all he could do was resist the temptation of burying his hands in those luscious curls and tracing fingers across her sharp cheekbones and jaw. Resist the temptation of kissing her and running his tongue over her mouth. Even when they talked about science and literature and music, half the time he was absorbed by the movement of her lips as they formed words, the soft pink arches touching each other...

He had to stop himself there. No more.

Sophia looked at him with suspicion and disbelief. But when he fixated on her with a very serious expression, she sighed softly. "Are you quite certain you cannot bring it downstairs?"

"Quite certain, my lady Sophia. I promise it is only for a few moments."

Blake knew he could just pick out any necklace and Colette would not pay much heed to it, considering that very fact he wasn't (hopefully) even marrying her given the whole plan. However, he could think of no other valid reason to possibly make her stay.

"Very well then." She started strutting towards the stairs and clambered up them, her red skirts trailing behind her. When Blake made no move to follow after her, she exclaimed, "Come on now. I must finish this business soon and return home."

"Coming, Lady Sophia."

He was just making her stay to talk. Nothing else.

Little did he know he was digging into the very grave Colette wished he would.    

A/N: Oooh. Things are heating up between the pair. Are you excited to see what follows? 

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