“I am not sure.” He didn’t want to drive a deeper wedge between the relatives than was already there, but Sophia had an air of innocence about her that made him want to protect her.
Her aunt sounded utterly calculating, merciless, and selfish, and didn’t care one jot about her niece potentially being blamed for a crime she did not commit. In all honesty, he couldn’t say whether Delilah would try to stop the letters reaching Sophia, but he had to raise the possibility.
“Just write to him again, post the letter yourself, and warn him to disguise his writing or something, or send the message to me. As soon as it arrives, I will bring it to you. I am not saying she is interfering with your mail, but just in case she is, let’s remain one step ahead of her.”
He didn’t say so to her, but he was a little uncomfortable with her staying in the house with her aunt. He knew it was foolish really, because Delilah was more of a petty thief than a hardened criminal the likes of which the Star Elite were currently investigating. Still, a criminal was a criminal who flouted the law and had to be treated with caution. It was usually found that once a person broke the law in any way and crossed that invisible line of propriety, they were apt to do so again if the opportunity arose. He couldn’t risk that Sophia might just get dragged deeper into Delilah’s conduct through no fault of her own.
Although he was fairly confident he could use his Star Elite connections to stop any and all charges against Sophia from reaching a judge, he couldn’t do anything about preserving her reputation.
The clock on the mantle struck midnight. He was shocked to realise that how much time had passed. It felt as though he had been there for barely half an hour, yet three hours had passed since he had practically beaten the door down to get answers from her. He carefully ignored the fact that most of the time had been spent gazing at Sophia, and kissing her. At some point during the last hour, he had draped his arms comfortably around her in the manner of a couple who were entirely familiar with each other, but she was nestled against him as though she was revelling in every moment.
“I have to go. Do you want me to stay until Delilah gets back?”
“No, it is alright,” Sophia replied reluctantly.
In reality, she wanted him to stay for as long as he could, but she didn’t want to appear to be too clingy. Inwardly, she was battling the sensual daze that had wrapped around her more and more tightly each time he kissed her, and struggled to focus her thoughts on anything apart from just how wonderful he was, and how right it felt to be in his arms. Her behaviour was nothing short of scandalous, but her defiant nature refused to allow her to feel guilty about it. After all, they had not gone any further than a few kisses and a loving embrace or two. What could be wrong with that?
“How long should she be?” he whispered, eyeing her lips. He wondered if there was time for one last, very thorough kiss.
“She is usually the last one to leave the party,” Sophia admitted wryly. “She should be back within the next hour or so. The balls around here don’t go on until dawn like most do.”
“Good. Just make sure you keep the door to your room locked. May I call upon you tomorrow?” He lifted his brows and waited for her to nod.
“Of course, I should like that.” She beamed with delight.
“We can go for a walk, if you like? Then I can escort you to the posting office to post your letter to Hooky.”
It was a strange name for a man, but Jeb was used to working with a team of men who nearly all had nick-names, but he had no intention of telling her what his was.
Before he left, he retrieved the box of stolen items and carried them to the front door. Once there, he placed them at his feet and tugged her into his arms.
She melted into his embrace with an ease that was completely natural, and returned his kisses with an equal ferocity that left them both yearning for more.
“I will see you tomorrow, Sophia,” he promised huskily when he knew he had pushed his self-control as far as it would go.
“Tomorrow,” she sighed dreamily.
“Lock up behind me and don’t answer the door again,” he ordered, tucking the box under his arm as he stepped outside.
Sophia whispered goodnight and closed the door gently, a tender smile on her wondrously bruised lips.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The following morning, Jeb arrived in the breakfast room at Briggleberry, to find his father looking stern.
“Have you heard?” his father demanded without preamble.
“What?” Jeb collected a plate and heaped piles of bacon, eggs, and toast onto it.
“That Tabitha girl has been found.” He nodded when Jeb turned to look at him.
Jeb knew from the dark look on Algernon’s face that the news wasn’t good. “What happened to her? Where did they find her?”
“The Dobbs boy found her on his way back from the market last night. He took a short cut through the fields. She was discovered in a field to the woods on the far side of the village. According to Tranvers, the gardener, who was in the tavern at the time, the boy rushed in as white as a sheet and was barely coherent. He had fallen over and came almost face-to-face with her.”
“God in heaven,” Jeb muttered.
“Yes. When they eventually calmed him down, they were able to get him to tell them where she was because he refused to show them.”