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Daringly, she reached up and ran a finger over the deep crease on his brow. She sensed that something had left him deeply disturbed.
Jeb revelled beneath that tender caress. He had never felt anything like it before in his life and, for a moment, struggled to know what to say or do. Tenderness was such a vague and sadly lacking part of his life that he had never really noticed how badly lacking in kind and loving gestures he was until now. That single caring touch was all it took. He was hooked. He wanted more, and as often as possible, but only from Sophia. Even with her problems, she still had the generosity of heart to worry about him, and that endeared her to him even more.
“You look pensive,” she murmured gently when he didn’t immediately tell her what was wrong.
“I am afraid I have some bad news,” he began cautiously.
He struggled to find a way to tell her without replacing her wonderful smile with a frown. Still, he was here for a reason. He had to stay focused on something other than the delectable curve of her lips he wanted to lose himself in just to forget his awful morning.
“Is it about the thefts?” she asked cautiously.
“No, it isn’t. At least, I hope not.” Jeb sighed and ran a weary hand down his face. “Tabitha’s body was found last night.”
“Where is she?” She gasped.
“She has been strangled. Her body is at the church now.” Jeb held her hand to comfort her.
“Oh, good Lord,” Sophia murmured. She looked at him with wide, terrified eyes. “You don’t think it has anything to do with that man I saw loitering in the village the other day, do you?”
She felt hot, she felt cold, and sick at the thought. She clutched Jeb’s hand tighter.
“I am not sure, Sophia,” he replied honestly. “Can you remember what he looked like?”
She nodded and rattled off his description in surprising detail.
“Excellent. Well, that gives me something to go on.”
It sounded to Jeb like he was the same man who had set on him in the street the other night, but why was he watching Sophia or the butcher’s shop? Had he been waiting for someone? Sophia was incredibly beautiful. Was he watching her the same way any man would observe a strikingly beautiful lady go about her business? Jeb frowned at that but when Sophia tensed beside him, having picked up on his worry, he forced himself to relax.
“There is more,” he added cautiously.
Sophia gulped and remained tense while she waited. She didn’t expect what he said next and, for a moment, was flummoxed to know what to say.
“Mrs Banks is dead.”
“Dead?” she repeated. “How? When?”
Jeb squinted at the fire. “Sometime last night, I think. She was strangled, just like Tabitha.”
“Oh, no,” she moaned. “Are you sure?”
Jeb nodded. “Yes, I am afraid so. She was still sitting in a chair downstairs. I don’t believe she made it to bed last night.”
He didn’t tell her that so
meone had helped themselves to the property since. It didn’t seem relevant to Sophia.
“Why, though? Why Mrs Banks?”
Jeb sighed. “I wish I knew. One could ask, why Tabitha? I'm not sure yet, but I am going to find out. Until I do, please do not go out anywhere by yourself. With your permission, I shall call by here each morning and escort you anywhere you wish to go each day. Do not venture anywhere by yourself; not even to the village. Also, make sure the doors here remain locked at all times, especially when you are here alone. Once it has gone dark, draw your curtains. With the lights on and the curtains open you are visible to anyone standing outside in the darkness. You won’t see them because they will be hidden but they will know the exact moment you have gone to bed. I don’t wish to scare you,” he added hastily when he read the fear in her eyes. “I just want you to be safe, Sophia. I cannot bear the thought that something might happen to you because you didn’t take the proper precautions.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, deeply touched by the concern on his face.
It didn’t dawn on her to question his instructions. As far as she was concerned, if Jeb wanted her to draw her curtains at night then draw her curtains at night she would. The very thought that someone might be able to watch her from outside without her even noticing left her quietly horrified.
“Poor Mrs Banks,” she whispered sadly. “I cannot say I knew the woman all that well, but nobody deserves to die like that.”
Jeb nodded. “Just stay safe, Sophia. There is a killer in the village somewhere still.”
