Like No Other

Chapter 6: And the Courtship Begins...

                                       

      Caroline had never felt so motivated in her life. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t attempt in order to see two people getting married with the help of her matchmaking ability. Well, not that she had claimed she had one, although she certainly had the inclination on such task, and there was Lord Stefan being besotted with her cousin Sophie, and although she was yet to perceive his attentions, (because in truth Caroline had never actually seen the man endeavoring to make his attentions known) surely a little nudging would do to make them bind together for marriage. And Caroline, the pertly meddlesome and annoyingly determined Caroline, (she did not mind being those adjectives) would see it possible. Make it possible, even.

                The mere thought of this made her giddy inside, and so, humming to herself, she decided to hunch over her embroidery in the drawing room to make herself occupied while waiting for Stefan’s arrival. Sophie joined her a few minutes later, clutching her own hoop.

                “Have I told you that Lord Stefan would call upon us today?” Caroline asked offhandedly.

            Her cousin’s brows rose, completely surprised with the piece of information. “No, you haven’t.”

                 “Hmmm… Well, perhaps he is on his way here.”

                 “I daresay he is. But,” Sophie laid her embroidery on her lap and looked at her pointedly, “you could have told me earlier about his visit.”

              Caroline shrugged and said, “I forgot to tell you, but it doesn’t really signify at all.” She grinned and casted an appraising eye on Sophie. “You always look in your best, so no need to fuss on it.”

                  “And what, dear cousin, does that suppose to mean?”

                “You don’t need to fix yourself, because you look very well and pretty.”

              Sophie arched a delicate eyebrow at this overflowing compliment. Not that Caroline did not often pay her flatteries, as she was aware that her young cousin always admired her, only that something was definitely hovering on her remark. “What does it have to do with Lord Stokeford’s calling upon us?”

             “Surely you wouldn’t want to look less presentable when he is here, would you?” Caroline replied. Her wide green eyes might appear all innocent, but Sophie knew better.

             “Caroline, what are you up to now?”

            “Nothing, really,” she fibbed and darted her gaze to the embroidery again.

             “Caroline!”

             She looked up again, only to see the narrowing blue eyes of Sophie. “What?”

            Just then, the butler had appeared on the doorway, intoning that they have visitors. Robert entered the drawing room with easeful strides with Stefan in tow. 

         “Hullo!” he said with unaffected amiability. Caroline hadn’t expected Robert, but as it happened, she was pleased to seeing him again.

                 “Lord March and Lord Stokeford! How lovely of you both to come visit us,” Sophie remarked smilingly.

              “Believe me, there is nothing lovelier to spend this afternoon than to be with the company of such beautiful young ladies,” Robert answered with flourish, being the debonair he was, and grinned.