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“I called to Mr Vickery, but he couldn’t heara plaintive note enter her voice
Hestroke Although Sophia tried to ignore the pleasure of his touch, it spread through her body in an insidious tide Closing her eyes, she wondered how long she could endure the slow caress of his hand Her brsts fell full and heavy against his chest, her niles turning hard
Gently Sir Ross tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear The brush of his fingertips on her skin sent a ripple of warh her “Were you hurt in the crush, Sophia?”
“I… I’ht, she put her arhtly The closeness of his large body made her feel safe, supported, protected She wanted to stand like this forever He was her enemy, she reminded herself… but for the moment, that did not matter nearly as much as it should have
Sir Ross gave a cursory glance around theasped as he bent to pick her up “Oh, sir, there is no need I can walk, I’m—”
He ignored her protests as he carried her through the hall For a wo care of herself, it was acutely e to play the helplesspink, Sophia clung to the hard breadth of his shoulders Fortunately, the constables and handcuffed agitators were far too busy to pay any attention as Sir Ross carried her through the hall and up a flight of stairs
When they reached his office, Sir Ross set her carefully on her feet “Are you all right?”
She nodded, her heartbeat hurtling in a reckless cadence
“I want to talk about so roo a rather tense , and I—”
“I’m sorry”
“Let me finish” A sudden smile curved his lips “I’ve never known anyone with such a propensity for interrupting me”
Sophia ed to keep her mouth closed, and his smile deepened
“Questioning Gentry is hardly a pleasant occupation I’ve been in a foulyou down there was the last straw I rarely loseso in front of you”
Sophia found it aize to her for such a slight offense Somewhat unnerved, she moistened her lips and asked, “Why is it so important that I stay away from there?”
Carefully he took hold of the loose lock of blonde hair that had fallen to her shoulder His long fingers rubbed the silken strands as if he were releasing the perfume of a flower petal “I promised myself when I hired you that I would try to protect you There are so room has contained some of the most vile people on earth”
“Like Nick Gentry?”
Sir Ross frowned “Yes It is bad enough that you are exposed to the rabble who cross through the Bow Street office daily But I won’t allow you in the vicinity of men like Gentry”
“I am hardly a child who needs to be sheltered I aht”
For soleam with amusement “Well, despite your vast number of years, I would like to preserve as much of your innocence as possible”
“But I am not innocent You know that, after what I’ve told you of my past”
He released the lock of her hair and fraers “You are an innocent, Sophia As I’ve said fro here You should be married to a man ill take care of you”
“I don’t want to marry, ever”
“No?” To her surprise, he did not jeer or laugh “Why not? Because of your disappointment in love? That will fade in time”
“Will it?” she asked, not believing him It wasn’t what she had learned about Anthony that had made her a skeptic about love It hat she had learned about herself
“There are ,” he told her seriously “Men ill give you the honesty and respect you deserve You’ll find one of them someday, and marry him”
Sophia sent hilance from beneath her lashes “But if I left Bow Street, ould take care of you?”
A gruff laugh escaped hiaze held hers, and Sophia felt her insides tighten in response
“You can’t spend the rest of your life working for a surly old istrate at the Bow Street public office,” he said
Sophia sue the point, however, she stepped away and viewed his office critically “I will tidy up in here”
Sir Ross shook his head “It is late You need to rest Your ait until the morrow”
“Very well I shall retire for the evening… if you will also”
He seeestion “No, I still have ht, Miss Sydney”
Sophia knew that she should obey without further comment But the shadows beneath his eyes and the deep brackets on the sides of his lips were proof that he was exhausted Good heavens, why must he push himself so hard?
“I don’t require any more sleep than you do, sir If you stay up late, I a the same I also have work to do”
His broered in a forbidding scowl “Go to bed, Miss Sydney”
Sophia did not flinch “Not until you do”
“My bedti to do with yours,” he said curtly, “unless you are suggesting that we go to bed together”
Clearly, the remark was meant to intimidate her into silence