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‘Allow me to be the judge of that. For instance, what were you doing fleeing from a jeweller’s shop with a member of that establishment after you shouting, “Stop, thief!” I am immensely interested in that.’
She gasped. ‘Why ever would I do such a thing?’
‘You tell me.’
‘Whoever told you must be mistaken. I am not a thief.’
‘I have not accused you of it. But I see you do not deny it was you. I am glad because I should not like to think you are a liar.’
She could feel the heat in her cheeks and knew she could not prevaricate with this man who seemed to witness or hear about every one of her indiscretions. He was looking closely at her now, waiting for her to explain. ‘I did not know...’
‘That you had been observed. I am afraid, my dear, you were.’
‘By whom?’
‘My man, Farley. He was on the way back from the docks after locating your brother when he saw you running and being bundled into a carriage. I feared you had been kidnapped, though it was Farley’s opinion that the occupant was an accomplice.’
‘That’s silly.’
‘I am not accustomed to being called silly, Sophie. Who was in the carriage?’
‘A friend.’
‘Had you arranged for him to be there?’
‘Certainly not! It was pure coincidence, but I own I was very glad to see him.’ She sighed. ‘I suppose I had better tell you the whole.’
‘It would be best.’
‘I went to Rundell, Bridge and Rundell to sell my necklace, but they started questioning me about where I had got it and I realised they thought I had stolen it, so I ran.’
‘But surely you could have answered their questions?’
‘Not without naming Jane, and it would have hurt her to think that I would sell her gift to me.’
‘Why didn’t you think about that before you went?’
‘I don’t know. I was so anxious...’
‘I assume it was that scapegrace of a brother you were thinking of. Had he come to ask for more money to see him safely aboard a passenger ship? Were you supposed to meet him by the docks with it? Was this friend going to take you to him?’
‘Certainly not! I had no idea where he was. You know that. You were looking for him for me. It is my belief you got that black eye in the course of your enquiries.’
If she had hoped to divert him from his questions with that, she was disappointed. ‘Then why did you need the money? Are you a gambler, too?’
She stared at him. Did he really think that? ‘My lord...’
‘Come on out with it. How much do you owe and to whom?’
‘I don’t know the exact figure, my lord, but my debt is to you.’
‘Me?’ he asked, astonished.
‘Yes. You paid Teddy’s debts and as far as I am concerned it is only a loan.’
‘It is his debt, not yours. Why do you have to burden yourself with his problems?’
‘He is my brother. I love him in spite of his gambling. In every other way he is the best of brothers. We have always been very close. And I know he tries not to gamble.’
He was silent for some time. She wondered what he was thinking, but his face was inscrutable. She sighed and looked out of the window. They were deep into the country now. Fields, trees, farms, hovels, livestock went by in a flash as the horses cantered on. The carriage pulled up at the coaching inn in Epping where they were to change the horses. Adam went off to pay their dues and Sophie got out and asked Bessie if she wanted to return inside. ‘If it’s all the same to you, Miss Sophie, I’ll stay here. It is so much cooler and Joe has been telling me all about his adventures as a coachman. I had no idea it could be so interesting.’
Farley had done his job well. Fresh horses were ready and waiting and they were soon on their way again, cantering northwards once more, this time through the forest, which made the inside of the coach cooler. Sophie was far from cool. She had been glad of the stop, wondering how much more Adam would have managed to worm out of her but for the interruption. She really must guard her tongue or before she knew it he would know exactly how she felt about him, and how much more mortifying would that be?
Chapter Ten
While the swaying coach negotiated the rough road, made rougher by tree roots making their way up through the hardened track, Adam contemplated the young lady beside him. For the first time since Anne’s death he found himself drawn towards another woman. Sophie was as unlike Anne as it was possible for anyone to be—perhaps that was her attraction. Anne had come from working-class stock. Her father had worked his way up to become a mill manager and then had taken over the mill when the owner retired. He had been blunt and down to earth, at the same time bringing up his motherless daughter to be the epitome of genteel behaviour. He did this with the help of the daughter of a nobleman fallen on hard times who needed a home and a way to earn a living.
