has quite spoilt my evening and here I was having such an enchanting time. Perhaps another dance with you will restore my mood.’
‘Putney’s behaviour was not what I would have wished for, not tonight of all nights, but I could hardly allow your plea for help to go unanswered.’ A faint smile touched his lips. ‘Another waltz will suit admirably, Miss Ravel.’
‘He won’t marry you, Miss Ravel. You will have only yourself to blame when it ends in tears,’ Sir Vincent called out, halting their progress. ‘You should look to your own reputation before you start smearing others. Do you know how many women he has cozened and fooled? How many women he has ruined?’
Richard’s entire being stiffened as his hand became a clenched fist. Sophie knew what she had to do to prevent a brawl breaking out. Richard might want to beat him into the ground, but she had a better means of destroying him once and for all.
The moment had come. Silently she thanked his foresight of getting her a ring. Her stomach clenched slightly. Finally the time had come to triumph. She peeled off her glove and raised her hand so the two sapphires twinkled in the candlelight.
‘If he has no intention of marrying me, why did Lord Bingfield give me this ring?’ Sophie asked, twisting her hand to and fro so everyone could see it. ‘And my behaviour this very evening? You must forgive the extravagant display earlier, but how often does a woman accept a proposal from the man of her dreams?’
Sir Vincent spluttered, but no sound came from his throat. The gathered crowd, however, gave a long collective sigh.
She put her hand on Richard’s arm and forced her feet to move away from the scene where Sir Vincent was now surrounded by various people intent on getting their penny’s worth in before he was hustled out of the ballroom. It would appear he was not as well liked or thought of as he’d boasted.
A great crowd of people surrounded them, blocking Sophie’s view. The men wrung Richard’s hand, offering congratulations, while the women all wanted to admire the ring. Everyone said how delighted they were with the outcome. One or two of the ladies confessed that it was the most romantic thing they had ever seen and wasn’t Lord Bingfield the epitome of a hero. Sophie found it harder and harder to mouth the words about how much in love they were and how sudden and totally thrilling it was.
Her head started to spin and she gave a helpless look at Richard. He appeared to understand instantly and ushered her away to a small antechamber, the very model of a solicitous fiancé. Her heart did a queer leap as her body instantly responded to his touch and she knew her cheeks flamed worse than before.
Once they were away from the crowds, he removed his hand. Sophie sank down on a chair and waved her fan frantically, hoping Richard would think it was speaking to all the well-wishers, rather than his touch, which had caused her high colour. The cool breeze did much to restore her equilibrium.
‘My knees threatened to give way out there. The number of people who wanted to congratulate us was simply astonishing. I didn’t anticipate there would have been so many interested in my ring. The news of our betrothal seems to have spread like wildfire. The redoubtable Miss Ravel has captured the Rake.’
He stood with his back to her, making it impossible for her to tell his true feelings. ‘Interesting and dramatic tittle-tattle has a way of doing that. Particularly when you announced things in the way you did.’
‘I’ve recovered from my faint,’ Sophie said firmly. She refused to apologise for her actions. Surely Richard had to see they were positively inspirational. ‘The crush overwhelmed me. So many people demanded to see my ring that I struggled to breathe.’
‘Your timing was impeccable both in leaving the crowd and earlier when we left Putney,’ he said, turning around to look at her. His eyes glowed with a sort of admiration. ‘Well played, Miss Ravel. Very well played indeed.’
‘Yes, I was rather proud of the way I handled Sir Vincent, particularly the final flourish.’ Sophie leant forwards. ‘I simply had not accounted for how many people were listening in.’
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. ‘I quite like the thought of being someone’s dream, although it gives me a lot to live up to.’
Sophie primly folded her hands in her lap. Perhaps her word choice had been extravagant, but it had utterly crushed Sir Vincent.
‘A figure of speech, that is all,’ she said, meeting his gaze full on. ‘I never thought you would hit Sir Vincent.’
‘I saw the opportunity and seized it. The punch was long overdue.’
Sophie pressed her lips together. She had to remember that Richard had his own reasons for wanting to hit Sir Vincent. It had nothing to do with her and her troubles, but what had passed between the pair years ago. He had no finer feelings for her. She was simply the means to the end of exacting revenge on Sir Vincent. Because he had made a vow. She was a duty rather than a pleasure.
Drawing a steadying breath, she stood. It was imperative to keep her wits about her and not to start believing in the romantic fantasy she had spun for various female acquaintances in the crowd of well-wishers. She knew precisely the sort of man Richard Crawford was and she’d be a fool to forget it.
‘My father used to say that opportunities are to be used, rather than lamented about later. You make your luck. Thankfully everything went the way I hoped. Sir Vincent is utterly destroyed.’
‘With a little assistance from me.’
She smiled up at him. ‘Some very welcome assistance. I couldn’t have done it without you. Cynthia’s parents will hear of tonight’s events. They may not be so quick to offer one of their daughters up as Sir Vincent predicted. A fantastic victory.’
‘Do you play croquet?’
‘On occasion.’ She tilted her head and regarded his features. ‘It is the latest craze. We brought a set back from the Great Exhibition. I spent last summer in Corbridge perfecting my technique. I used to play cricket and was quite handy with the bat. It felt good to be hitting a ball again.’
‘I suspect you give no mercy to your opponents.’
‘I enjoy winning, but I don’t grind my opponents in the ground like some.’
‘We must play some time.’
‘It might be a pleasant way to pass the time.’ Sophie hesitated. The time had come to end their fake engagement and put temptation beyond reach. ‘I must warn you, Lord Bingfield, that what I said last night remains true. I have no intention of giving up my reputation, even for a man like yourself who did save me. I fear we must soon part.’
His finely chiselled features frowned. ‘Do you wish to go home?’
‘Now that tonight’s performance has ended?’ Sophie stopped and replaced her glove, covering up her ring. She had only worn the ring for a short while, but she would be sorry to give it back.
‘I am at your disposal.’ He inclined his head. ‘Most women would be overwhelmed by what just occurred. No one will remark when we leave.’
Sophie froze, considering. Did he mean that he wanted her to stay or that he thought a woman of delicate sensibilities would have to leave the ball immediately? Her backbone was made of far sterner stuff, but she could see how leaving would make matters easier. ‘Before you hit him,
