Mr. Rollo had informed Sir John that two of his friends had begged to be included in the scheme, and Sophie’s father had then suggested to Lady Corby that she stay at home. The young people would have more fun without her along, he had said. They would get to know each other better. And in reply to Lady Corby’s disappointment at not seeing the Academy, he had promised to take her there himself at a future date, with no intention, of course, of ever keeping it. Lady Corby was not deceived. Her married life was full of such unkept promises, though she did not accuse Sir John of purposefully lying to her, merely of putting off into an obscure future all the things he did not truly wish to do. Friday afternoon arrived, and Mr. Rollo appeared at the door; his two friends were waiting in the carriage. Sophie had only been apprised of the change in plans that morning and was not terribly pleased to find that the “two friends” could have been more accurately termed “a pair.” The young lady and gentleman were seated in the rear seat of the phaeton with, it seemed, no more than an inch between them, and her arm was rather permanently linked through his.
