Sophia scoffed in playful injury when he mentioned he detested the poor, one hand dramatically clutching metaphorical pearls at such a statement. It was a testament to her own privilege in life that she wasn’t truly offended, as living as a poor artist in squalor had been very much Sophia’s choice. For in all the aspects of life that mattered - good education, a place to live, food on the table, even now the opportunities afforded to her children as they lived with her sister – the ballerina always benefited from her proper middle class upbringing. It was the estranged sister who greedily obsessed with having even more. Skipping high society parties altogether would circumvent the liability of Soph’s ‘wealthy’ sister catching their interactions, at any rate. She would not be so charitable as her other sister, if she noticed anything.

In that way their worries about the risk seemed to be opposite; the thought of hospital events stole away that smile Sophia had grown to adore. Subconsciously she curled into him further, entwining their legs while he thought through the challenge. Took in a clipped breath as he seemed to decide it was worth the risk. “We can think of something when that happens,” she murmured. Perhaps it was not such a negative that Lydia had her suspicions about them; she’d guard Sophia’s secret to the grave and perhaps agree to Sophia’s refusal to attend any events with the rake present. “I know I can manage Lydia,” she added quietly. Or at the very least, now knowing the risks, find a way to keep her distance.

The move to take her hand and kiss it felt surprisingly tender then, a romantic gesture of confidence that put butterflies in her stomach like a naive little debutant. It drew a soft, curious smile as their eyes met. Why are we still doing this, she felt tempted to ask – tempted, but worried enough by the tailspin it could cause that she did not want to voice it. But they were being more open now with each other than they ever have been, in a way Sophia was not sure they would be again. Not without the threat of tearing down everything over their heads.

“...I never expected any of this, when we met,” she said instead. “I certainly was not looking for such a distraction. Though as the distraction persisted, I cannot say I have any regrets.”

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