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“Are you Mr. Zachary Newland?” the other peeler, sporting a moustache so orange it looked painted on, asked.
Zach nodded. “I am, as Harkins here can tell you.”
“I must ask you to turn around, sir,” Moustache said.
What in the world was going on? “Turn around? I don’t understand.” Then he spied the handcuffs.
“I’m truly sorry about this, Newland,” Harkins said. “But you do need to turn around.”
Moustache cuffed him. “Mr. Newland, we’re taking you in on suspicion of murder.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sophie awoke a couple of hours later, feeling more rested than she had in…well, her entire life. She welcomed the soreness between her legs and on her bum. She felt deliciously used. And used was a good thing, if she consented to it. It made her feel good, gave her immense pleasure. What could be wrong with that?
She summoned Hannah to help her with a bath and then clothed herself quickly in one of her weekday dresses, a light-green calico. She was a working girl now, and silk morning dresses would not do. She would save them for Saturday and Sunday mornings.
She strode to the stairs to descend for breakfast but instead decided to rise to the third level to check on Ally first. She rapped gently, so as not to wake Ally if she was still sleeping.
Ally’s maid, Millicent, answered the door. “Lady Sophie, how nice to see you. Lady Ally is awake. Lord Evan has already left on business for the day. I know Lady Ally would like to see you.”
Sophie smiled. Thank goodness! Ally was the one person she could speak to about her amazing night.
Ally sat upright in her bed, baby Sophie at her breast. “Sophie! How lovely to see you this morning. I was hoping you hadn’t left for the theatre yet.”
“I don’t have to be there until nine o’clock. It’s so good to see you awake, Ally. How are you feeling?”
“Sore. But that is to be expected. Honestly, I’m dying to get out of this bed, but Evan won’t hear of it. I’m only allowed out to use the convenience, and quite frankly, it’s becoming tedious.”
“Evan is right. You must take care of yourself.” Sophie gazed down at the baby, her heart warming. “And how is my little namesake doing today?”
“She is quite ravenous, as you can well see. I’m told by Mrs. Oakes that both babies are thriving. I could not be happier. Well, I could. If I were up and around and taking care of them as I should be.”
“The babies are in good hands. Mrs. Oakes is a treasure, and Mother and I dote on them whenever we can. You know that.”
Ally sighed. “Yes, I know. It’s just… Well, can’t be helped…”
“What?”
“I suppose you know that these are the only two babies I will ever have. I don’t want to miss one moment of their lives.”
Sophie took Ally’s hand. “So Evan told you.”
Ally nodded, a tear emerging in her right eye. “Last night. We both cried a lot. But then we both admitted to each other how happy we were that we had two perfect daughters and that fate had spared their mother.” The tear trailed down Ally’s cheek as she smiled.
Sophie swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She summoned a smile for her brave sister. “I truly am sorry for that loss, Ally. But there’s really nothing to mourn. You have your life, and you have two beautiful children. That is more than a lot can say. After all, Mother only had two children.”
“Yes, but Evan’s father and mother had three, and Auntie Flora and Uncle Crispin had three. And the good Lord only knows how many Lily and Rose will have. I just always imagined myself having three children, possibly more. And I’ll never be able to give Evan a son. He says it doesn’t matter. And perhaps it doesn’t. He doesn’t have a title to pass on. But doesn’t every man yearn for a son?”
“Ally”—Sophie patted her sister’s arm—“not every man is our father. We may have paid a price for not being boys, but these two little darlings never will. Evan will be a doting and loving father to them. Why, he’ll be so overprotective, he will probably never let them out of his sight, especially once they come of age.”
Ally sniffed and nodded, cuddling baby Sophie. “You’re right, of course. That husband of mine is a true treasure. I am pretty much the luckiest woman on earth.”
Sophie smiled. Happiness for her sister welled up in her heart. Ally was indeed a lucky woman. Would Sophie ever be as lucky?
Only time would tell. Though Sophie desperately wanted to speak to Ally about her previous evening, she couldn’t bear to at this moment, while Ally was mourning her loss. She stroked her sister’s hand. “I must go down and have a light breakfast. I’m due at the theatre soon. I hope you’re awake when I return this evening. I would love to have one of our long talks.”
“And I would love that as well, dear. I have missed you so much, Sophie.”
