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“Ah, Miss Sydney… just the co for No doubt you’ve co to ads for me, eh?”
“Yes,” Sophia said dryly, having learned that the best way to deal with the runners was to match their irreverence “I have finally been swept up in the romantic atmosphere of Bow Street Where shall we tryst, Mr Sayer?”
The tall young rinned “I’m afraid I shall have to disappoint you, ave h ti on hard stone Please contain your disappointment”
Sophia folded her arht s room, Mr Sayer?”
The runner sighed, suddenly looking weary “Cannon hasn’t gottento fell an oak with a butter knife Cannon keeps chipping away at hiroaned “I suppose it is tio back down there”
“Good luck,” she said sympathetically, and watched hi-room door
The afternoon passed, and as evening approached, thethrough the s, Sophia saw that so clubs, and there were sht and set alight Bottles of liquor had been procured from The Brown Bear, the tavern opposite the public office, and the croas drinking freely To Sophia’s horror, the ho assaulted; ere broken, and clubs and fists beat angrily on the barricaded doors
When evening fell theSophia and the servants to stay inside The available runners were atte to disperse the crowd If they proved unsuccessful, they would summon help from the military
“No need to worry,” Eliza said breathlessly, her face pale “The runners will put down the riot They’re good, brave men—they’ll keep us safe”
“Where is Sir Ross?” Sophia asked Ernest, trying to re of theher nerves
“Still in the strong room with Gentry,” Ernest replied “‘E says he’ll shoot Gentry hi the crowd have ’im”
As the boy dashed back to the adjoining building, Sophia returned to theShe flinched as rocks and bottles were thrown, striking the house “This is etting? Before long they’ll reduce the place to matchsticks!”
All three wo a shower of splintered glass to the floor
“My God!” Eliza exclaimed
“Heaven save us,” Lucie squealed, her eyes like saucers “What should we do?”
“Stay away fro room”
The noise outside was deafening, the air acrid with sed to scale the iron fence, Sophia could see a ladder being passed over the top of the writhing h the courtyard and wrenched open the door that led to the strong room
Stairs descended to a dark void She climbed down carefully, since the stone beneath her feet was slick The walls were green with mold, and the air was permeated with a sour stench that reminded her of urine Sophia heard the sound of low at the bottom of the stairs, she found a narrow corridor that opened into a cellar-space La cells and cast a grid of shadows across the dirt floor At the far end of the strong room, a table and chairs were positioned near a barred vent that gave onto the street level The
Sophia sao runners, Sir Ross, and a tall, well-dressed ed insolently near the vent One shoulder was braced casually against the wall, while his hands were buried deep in the pockets of his coat He limpse of his face, however, Sir Ross turned and approached her in a feift strides
“What are you doing here?” His voice was edged with a savagery that made her flinch
Despite the coolness of the room, Cannon was in his shirtsleeves, the broad shape of his shoulders and the heavywhite linen The neck of the shirt was unbuttoned, revealing the edge of a thick pelt of hair on his chest Sophia’s startled gaze lifted to his face, which was hard and fierce, the gray eyes burning rath
“I told you not to coh he was not precisely shouting, his voice was resonant with fury
“I’ you must know—”
“When I tell you not to do so, you obey me, no matter what happens Do you understand?”
“Yes, O lord and master,” Sophia said sarcastically, her tension and worry sparking into anger “However, I thought you should be informed that the mob is about to overtake nuer They’re breaking the s If you don’t send for the round”
“Sayer” Sir Ross turned to the runner “Go have a look outside If the situation warrants, send for a troop of horse guards” He glanced back at Sophia “And you—go upstairs and stay inside until I tell you otherwise”
Stung by the sharp way he spoke to her, she nodded and left the strong room as fast as her feet could take her
As the housekeeper left the strong roo the barred -vent, turned back around
“Nice little piece,” he co the brass for you, Cannon? I think I’ll take ’er when you’re done”
Being fa the brass” meant It referred to a style of iron bed with brass knobs, and the activities that ht take place on it Usually the taunts of a prisoner had no effect on Ross However, this seemed to be the one occasion when he couldn’t control himself The reference to Sophia as if she were a co
“Either close that hole in the middle of your face,” he snarled to Gentry, “or I’ll do it for you”