would do well not to antagonise him seeing as he works for the authorities in London, and is the Lord’s son.”
She lifted her brows when Delilah shot her a panicked look but could feel no sympathy for her older relation.
“What authorities does he work far?” she demanded from the doorway. She glared at the front door as though an evil snake was lurking behind it ready to strike.
“The law,” Sophia declared coldly. “So I suggest you answer it and don’t offend him.”
She mentally sent a silent apology to Jeb for telling a little fib about him, but if it secured Delilah’s compliance in allowing her to stay a while, and prevented her from stealing again, and even forced her to be nice to Jeb, Sophia didn’t feel too bad about it.
“Why? What a surprise,” Delilah cried in over enthusiastic welcome as she opened the door.
It was clear from the lack of a smile on her face that she was less than happy about the new arrival but, unless she was prepared to slam the door in his face, she had to step back and allow Jeb into the house.
“Miss Carney, Sophia,” Jeb drawled as he walked into the hallway.
He began to relax now he knew she had made it home safely. “I should like a word with you, Miss Carney. Sophia?”
“Oh, but it isn’t quite convenient at the moment,” Delilah replied, not budging from her position beside the door.
Jeb’s eyes turned cold. He levelled her with a look that would have made even the most hardened criminal hesitate, and watched the effect it had on Sophia’s aunt. Her eyes widened; she paused briefly while she tried to decide whether to attempt to throw him out or ask him to leave. She realised that it would be foolhardy to offend him until she had heard what he had to say, especially after what Sophia had just told her.
Reluctantly, she waved toward the sitting room.
“Tea?” she asked.
“No, thank you. This is not a social call,” Jeb growled coldly.
He followed Delilah and Sophia into the sitting room.
Sophia studied him searchingly as she passed him but detected nothing of his intentions. When she smiled at him, he winked and then adopted a stern look for the woman waiting impatiently for them to join her.
“What is it? Has there been another theft?” Delilah demanded impatiently.
Although she tried to look innocent, Jeb eyed her tell-tale hand-wringing she failed to hide and knew she was unnerved. Aware that she hadn’t offered him a seat, he moved to stand beside her and used his towering height to his advantage. She had no choice but to look up at him.
“Not yet,” Jeb replied. “It would be a foolish person indeed who stole another item from anyone around these parts. I should have no hesitation in reporting them to the magistrate, I can assure you.”
He allowed a moment’s silence to settle over the room. He saw a flicker of threat in Delilah’s gaze, and knew then that the woman before him was not just a thief, she was dangerous. If only he could understand how much danger she posed to Sophia, he could decide whether or not to insist Sophia stayed at his father’s estate for the time being.
“I do hope you haven’t been tattle-tailing, Sophia,” Delilah declared coldly. “Or I will throw you out on your ear.”
“Not to worry,” Jeb replied. “She can come and stay at father’s house if you are that self-centred.”
“I have just told the truth,” Sophia answered. “You should try it sometime.”
Jeb almost smiled at Sophia’s spirit, but didn’t want an argument to break out.
“I know what has been going on,” he announced, keeping his gaze locked on Delilah.
“Oh? Do you now?”
“Oh, yes, Delilah, and I warn you that should anything else be reported missing in this village, I shall use the full weight of my authority to march you to the magistrate myself. You will then have to prove your innocence before you are released. Unfortunately for you, I have had the dubious honour of returning several of your stolen goods on your behalf already, because you have refused on several occasions to do so yourself. Goods that were, I warn you, found by me in this house. Be very careful what you say next because I work for the War Office. However, my authority stretches into my job wherever in the country that takes me. At the moment that is here, in this village, where we not only have a thief taking advantage of villagers, but a serial killer who has already claimed the lives of two innocent people.”
“That isn’t me,” Delilah protested, panicked at the thought that she might be blamed for the deaths. “It isn’t. Really it isn’t.”
Sophia opened her mouth to argue on her aunt’s behalf but then found that she couldn’t. Not least because she couldn’t be entirely sure who her aunt was connected to, and whether they would.
“Who was that man you were arguing in the woods with just now?” He lifted a hand when she opened her mouth to speak. “I warn you now that if I suspect for one moment that you have told me any lies, I shall have you in front of the magistrate for obstructing my investigation.”