Free Sophie's Halloo by Patricia Wynn

curious lift of his eyebrows, and she coloured without reason. He continued, “I told the Countess a political secret that she has been hoping to learn. She was most grateful and willingly repaid me by sponsoring your name to Almack’s.”
    Sophie’s eyes widened in horror. “But, Sir Tony!” she cried. “I would not have you do such a thing for me! Why, I had much rather not be admitted!” She was dismayed to think that, in her inexperience, she might have misunderstood this man.
    But Tony smiled reassuringly and squeezed the hand laid so lightly in his. “Miss Corby, you may rest assured that I would never do anything in the least dishonourable, certainly not attached to your name. The secret I gave her is no longer a secret. It will appear in the papers tomorrow. By now, even the Countess has learned that it is common street gossip, which will be confirmed tomorrow by the government.”
    Sophie’s relief was so strong that she sighed as she gave a laugh. “But will you not lose your goodwill with the Countess now that she knows?”
    Tony shook his head confidently. “I do not think so.  As I made it appear, the knowledge came to me through a member of the government, and as far as the Countess knows, I was as ignorant of its becoming public as she was.” He looked at her and winked conspiratorially. “That was the genius of the plan.”
    Sophie again laughed happily. A wave of elation had filled her. It was wonderful how Tony could make her feel, somehow, more in the know than those in the know. He could laugh without malice at those who laughed with malice. And he made her feel as open, free and at ease as he always seemed to be.
    The dance ended soon, and Sophie reluctantly turned to find that her next partner as to be Mr. Rollo. On this occasion he was willing to give her his full attention, and so, not begging an introduction to her previous partner, led her back into the dance. Mr. Rollo, too, exhibited considerable skill on the dance floor, but somehow he lacked the easy delivery of Tony’s performance. There was a studied air to Mr. Rollo’s dancing, almost as though he were certain of being watched.
    “You handle the steps beautifully, Miss Corby,” he said, and Sophie resisted the impulse to return the compliment in the pause that ensued. “One would say that you had been here many times before, instead of its being your first assembly.”
    Sophie smiled politely, but preferred to direct the conversation away from herself. “Have you been a member for many seasons now, Mr. Rollo?” she asked.
    Condescendingly, he replied, “Indeed, yes. But that must not discomfit you in any way. You will find the society here overwhelming at first, I know, but you must not consider your place in it in any way inferior to those with more experience of Town life. With time, you, too, will have the same confidence.”
    Sophie thanked him as they parted in the set, but she stifled a grimace of distaste as she turned away. In truth, she was finding Mr. Rollo’s conversation to be unreasonably centred upon himself and his opinion thereof. She had not been thinking herself inferior to the company in any way, merely different. And that, she trusted, would always be true.
    She had no trouble attending to her dance steps in this set, and the time passed quickly until she was reunited with her partner.
    “It has occurred to me, Miss Corby,” Mr. Rollo said after a well-executed bow, “that my experience in society might be of some use to you in these rather awesome circumstances. I fear that the quiz, to which everyone is subject on entering, may have been disconcerting to one only recently out of the school-room, such as yourself, and perhaps I may be of service.”
    He grimaced smugly. “You must first realize that you have been accepted by one of the most exclusive assemblies in the world. Here you will meet with princes and princesses, lords and ladies—and these, too, I must remind you, have had to apply for