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“Have you learnt anything?”
“Not much.” He had, but couldn’t tell her what because it related to events in London, not Framley Meadow.
“Have you done anything with the stolen items yet?”
Jeb shook his head. “Not yet. But I do have an idea about the best way we can get rid of them without anyone connecting them to you.”
He had discussed the matter with his colleagues, and had been completely honest about what had happened, and Sophia’s part in it. It had been Marcus who had suggested the best way to deal with them. Jeb knew he was right.
As he spoke his gaze wandered over her, savouring the feminine curves and delicate beauty she carried so gracefully. Jeb had missed her far more than he had ever missed anybody. It reinforced his suspicions that he must keep her in his life.
“Oh?”
“Care for a walk?” His smile widened when he saw the relief on her face.
“I should love to,” she replied happily. She draped her shawl over her shoulders but after a glance at the sky, hesitated.
“What is it?”
She smiled at him. “Have you eaten?”
When Jeb shook his head, she went to find a basket to pack an impromptu picnic before they left the house.
“This is wonderful,” Sophia declared. She took a deep breath of the crisp morning sunshine as they wandered across the emerald expanse of fields next to the woods.
“It is,” Jeb agreed, but meant it was wonderful being with her rather than outside.
He had far less temptation to cope with now they were outside rather than in an empty house with bedrooms close at hand. Ignoring the needs of his flesh, he patted the back of her hand where it rested on his forearm and drew her infinitesimally closer. Their gazes locked when she looked up at him. She smiled softly at him. When he smiled back, her smile grew wider. In spite of everything that was happening in the wider world, for that brief moment of time, she was content, and he appeared to be so too if his heartfelt sigh was anything to go by.
“Where are we going?” she asked when they had made their way through the woods at the side of the house.
“To the church,” Jeb murmured quietly.
“Why?”
“We are going to leave the items Delilah has stolen in the church for the vicar to find. A friend of mine has written a note to ask the vicar to return them to their rightful owner. There is nobody in the village considered the epitome of reliability more than clergy. He is the only person in the group who has never been considered the thief, so nobody would point the finger at him if he found the goods and returned them to the rightful owners. It’s the quickest and safest way to get rid of them. Delilah will then be aware that she has gained nothing from taking them in the first place. Hopefully, she will see that the risk she takes is not as appealing as it once was.”
“Quite,” Sophia replied with a smile. “How clever.”
She threw him an appreciative look that made him a little bashful for a moment. He scratched the back of his head in consternation, not sure how he should respond. In all of the time he had been working for the Star Elite he had been praised many, many, many times, but it had never meant as much as Sophia’s appreciation.
“I try,” he mumbled around an uncomfortable cough.
As far as Sophia was concerned, he had just endeared himself to her even more. He had the manner of an awkward young adult when he looked uncomfortable like that. She wasn’t sure whether to tease him about it or just kiss him. In the end, she decided their acquaintance wasn’t on a firm enough footing for her to tease him too much, and instead walked beside him all the way to the church.
“Where do we leave them?” she whispered once they were inside the
hallowed building.
Jeb had collected the box of goods he had already secreted in the woods earlier, and carried them into the church.
Jeb glanced around. “There is a room at the back where they stored Tabitha’s body. I think it would be best if we left them in there. They will be away from the public’s eye should anyone happen to wander in. Few people go in there. The vicar may not find them immediately, but someone who works with the vicar will.”
Once the package was on the dresser there, he frowned at it. “Is there anything of Mrs Banks in there, do you know?”
“I have no idea,” she replied. “I didn’t know Mrs Banks well enough.”
“Let’s go,” he murmured, aware of the shiver she tried, and failed, to hide.
