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On the days that Ross served as sitting ht his lunch plate to the office after early court sessions were finished While he ate at his desk, she would straighten his papers and dust his shelves and carry reports to the criularfood as an unwelcome interruption to his work

The first ti Sophia that he was too busy to eat, she had offered the plate to Vickery, as copying a runner’s report

“Vickery is busy also,” Ross said shortly “You may take the plate away”

“Yes, sir,” Sophia replied, see not at all perturbed “Perhaps later—”

“I a at the covered plate with stark longing A stocky man with a hearty appetite, Vickery did not like to miss a meal “That smells delicious, Miss Sydney… may I ask what it is?”

“Marjorareen peas in cream”

Ross’s appetite kindled at the savory fragrance that wafted fro hand in the kitchen, showing the inept cook-maid how to prepare edible meals She paid close attention to his likes and dislikes, observing that he preferred well-seasoned food and had an incurable sweet tooth In the past several days Ross had succu … plued between thick layers of dough Not surprisingly, he had begun to put on weight The hollows of his cheeks had filled out, and his clothes no longer hung in loose folds—all of which would doubtless please his mother, who had often worried over his leanness

Vickery closed his eyes and inhaled deeply “Green peas in cream… my mother used to make them that way Tellas she did?”

“Why, yes—” Sophia began

“Give hirowled “It’s obvious that I won’t have a moment’s peace otherwise”

Sophia sent hietic smile as she obeyed

Vickery accepted the lunch tray and unfolded the cloth napkin with obvious delight Bea, he called after her when she left, “Thank you, Miss Sydney!”

While Ross signed warrants, he was irritably aware of Vickery’s lip-s and moans of enjoyment as he devoured the lunch “Do you have toup from his desk with a scowl

Vickery stuffed his iveThe next tiladly take it in your stead”

There would not be a next ti to see so his meal From then on, lunch in his office became a sacred ritual, and no one dared to interfere

Sophia’s influence soon extended to more personal details of his life Sheshave was always stea soap to soften his obstinate beard Observing that his boots and shoes needed attention, she ed Ernest to keep Ross’s footwear polished

Onediscovered that most of his cravats had disappeared froentleman’s chest, Ross went to the kitchen in his shirtsleeves He found Sophia at the table,that he was not wearing his coat or waistcoat, she gave hilance that went fron of discreet fe why he had come downstairs in the first place

“Miss Sydney—” he began gruffly

“Your cravats,” she said with a snap of her slender fingers, evidently recalling that she had removed them froot to have them returned to your room I will send Lucie up with them shortly”

“Thank you,” Ross said, distracted by a silky lock of golden hair that had slid loose from her topknot He was almost overcome by the temptation to reach out and wind the soft strands around his finger

“Before you return to your rooone”

“Gone?” he repeated with an inquiring frown

“I sold theman” An impudent s him to protest “Several of them were frayed and worn A man in your position couldn’t possibly be seen in them So you will have to purchase new ones”

“I see” Thoroughly engaged by her impertinence, Ross leaned over her and placed one hand on the top of the chair where she sat Although he did not touch her, she was completely trapped “Well, Miss Sydney, since you have taken it upon yourself to dispose of my cravats, I think you should be the one to replace them Ernest will accompany you to Bond Street this afternoon, and you can purchase the new ones on my credit I will leave the selection to your taste”

Her head tilted back so she could aze, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation at the thought of a shopping expedition “With pleasure, sir”

As Ross stared into Sophia’s upturned face, he was greatly puzzled It had been a long time since anyone had paid such close attention to such trivialwater But part of him relished it… the al far too dependent As with all things he did not understand, Ross examined Sophia’s possible le reason that she would wish to pamper him

Sophia’s thick lashes lowered as she glanced once more to where his shirt revealed his bare throat Her breath quickened slightly, betraying her awareness of hi her steady as he bent to capture hertime since he had made such an advance to a woman, and he was not completely certain that she would welcome his attentions

“Miss Sydney,” heinto the soft sapphire depths of her eyes, “the next tiive ed at his lips as he leaned a fraction closer and added, “I would hate to come down here without my trousers”

To Ross’s chagrin, he was not the only man at Bow Street to appreciate Sophia’s considerable charan had predicted, the runners were after her like a pack of frolicso to hi, they would wait at the kitchen door for leftover scraps from breakfast They would tease and flirt with her, and spin exaggerated tales of their own accomplishments

Discovering that Sophia illing to treat an to invent aches and pains that required her attention After learning that she had bound at least three hairy sprained ankles and administered two poultices and wrapped a sore throat in the course of a single week, Ross lost his temper

“You tell the runners,” he snapped at Vickery, “that if they are beco so damned clumsy and sickly of late, they can see a bloody sawbones! I a Miss Sydney to treat any more injuries, do you understand?”

“Yes, sir” Vickery stared at him with obvious amazement “I’ve never seen you in a temper before, Sir Ross”

“I’m not in a temper!”