Grand Sophy Part III

Sophy is not as pretty as her cousin, but she is more sophisticated and has a circle of friends in London. These are men who were in the army when they were stationed in Spain and Portugal, and she is popular with them. One suitor is the rakish Sir Vincent Talgarth, who keeps proposing to her, but she keeps refusing him... He is flirtatious with Sancia though he knows she's engaged to Sir Horace. She gets on well with her cousins, becoming close friends with Cecilia and amusing the children...However, she and Charles don't hit it off. Miss Wraxton dislikes her and tends to emphasise her faults to her fiance. Charles thinks that she has caused uproar in the family. Sophy organises a ball to launch herself into Society. Charles is furious as he wanted the family to lead a quiet social life. The Duke of York attends, and so does Augustus Fawnhope. Then Cecy's suitor, Lord Charlbury, turns up having recovered from his illness. Cecilia panics and announces to Charles and Charlbury that she and Augustus are engaged. Sophy can see that Charlbury is a good man and would probably make a better husband than Augustus. She also sees that Augustus was not expecting the engagement thing, and is taken aback by it.. She feels sorry for Cecy, as Charles's nagging drove her into a corner. However, she talks to Charlbury and tells him that he still has a chance with Cecilia, if he plays his cards right. She suggests that after a week or 2, he should start to flirt with her. She is sure that that will spark off jealousy in Cecilia, as she does admire Charlbury and likes him. Charlbury is not sure he is much good at these sort of plans but he likes Sophy and is willing to give it a go. Meanwhile, Sophy finds out what is bothering Hubert. He got into debt and pledged a valuable ring to a moneylender.. Sophy visits the money lender and threatens him with a pistol so that he gives back the ring....in return for her giving him back the money Hubert borrowed. When Hubert hears of this, he is ashamed and goes to his brother and tells him of his folly. He and Charles achieve a better understanding. Eugenia, however disapproves of Sophy's conduct. She thinks that her fiance's cousin is brash and unfeminine.