sophie:
Initially,hearing adorable thrown her way hadthe vampire’s brow quirking. Oh, how she hatedbeing called things like that. It never failed that they often fell from thelips of lycan males. However, hissave was quick, as Sophie found the comparison to rain being one she ratherenjoyed. A hint of a smile formed, only to widen when the lycan presses hislips to her hand. Surprise was practically etched into her face. It had beenages since she had been greeted in such a way. His mishap was suddenly forgiven. “Thepleasure is all mine, Mr. Isham,” she informed him as she withdrew her hand toclasp it with the other in front of her.
His questionshad the vampire laughing softly from sheer amusement. “I regret to inform youthat I’m not like every other girl.” Her words were ones she was sure had beenspoken a thousand times by others. But she meant hers entirely. The 18thcentury wasn’t a good fit for her, and while she loved the modern world, it wasalmost as difficult to navigate these days as her human life had been. The inventor struggled, though you’d never know it.Narrowing her eyes to the male, Sophie shook her head at him. “You think youknow me so well already, don’t you?” There was a playful tone in her voice, onethat gave way to another light chuckle. “Those princes were unappealing becausethey saw me as nothing more than a convenient arrangement. When a man is capable of viewing a woman as all thewonderful things she is, that’s when I’m impressed. –And quite frankly, menlike that are severely lacking.”
“Mr. Isham? Good god, woman, I don’t think anyone’s ever called me that.” Johnny gave a snort. “All due respect, m’am, after thirty-some odd years, you’re no longer considered a girl. Not saying you look old --- I would never imply such a thing about a woman! --- but . . . yeah. Give yourself some credit. Don’t worry ‘bout it, though. You’re still a five-star dame and girls are no fun when there’s a lady around..” He gave her a little wink, lips loose with a grin. She didn’t look a day over thirty, but with the smell of the leech disease on her skin and breath, Johnny was sure little Sophie was old Sophie. “Oh, I wouldn’t dare,” he replied, quick to the defense. “You know what they say about appearances. They’re nothing but deceiving.”
Cocking his head the side to lend a listening ear, he laughed at the idea of someone he’d found swirling around in the ballroom finding princes lacking. “What can I say, doll? We men are nothing but DOGS.” His chest rumbled with a bit of laughter. “But you can be honest with me, Muffin. It’s their breeches, isn’t it? The waistcoats? I’ve seen the old paintings and all those fancy pant-wearers look like they just want a pretty face to wear as a beard. Look like they’d rather roll in the sack with each other rather than a little princess.” He tsked his teeth, shaking his head in mock disappointment. “Perhaps what they lacked was an interest in women. Now that would put a damper on things, wouldn’t it?”









