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Eliza’s eyes widened when she saw that Sir Ross had accompanied Sophia “Oh, sir… how very kind of you! I am very sorry to make so much trouble!”
“No trouble at all,” he said
Eliza’s gaze locked onto the pink rose in Sophia’s hand with keen attention Although the cook-maid forbore to comment, the speculation in her eyes was obvious Carefully Eliza lifted a few objects from the market basket and hobbled toward the dry larder Her voice floated behind her “Did they have all the ingredients for the seed cake, Miss Sophia? The caraway and rye, and the currants for the top?”
“Yes,” Sophia replied as the cook-maid disappeared into the larder “But we could find no red currants, and—”
Suddenly her words were smothered into silence as Sir Ross pulled her into his arms His lips descended to hers in a kiss so tender and carnal that she could not help responding Stunned, she struggled to retain her hatred of his of the past, but his lips were utterly warhts scattered crazily The pink rose dropped fro for his hard shoulders in a futile bid for balance His tongue searched her mouth… delicious… sweetly intimate Sophia inhaled sharply and tilted her head back in utter surrender, her entire existence distilled to this one burning moment
Through the pounding heartbeat in her ears she di from the larder “No red currants? But e top the seed cake with?”
Sir Ross released Sophia’sher lips moist and kiss-softened His face re in the silver pools of his eyes His hand ca over her cheek, his thued to answer Eliza “We f-found golden currants instead—”
As soon as the words left her , teasing Her groping fingers touched the back of his neck, where the thick black hair curled against his nape Sensation rustled through her, spurring her pulse to an intee of her surrender, he kissed herfor the deepest, sweetest taste of her As her knees weakened, his ar her body as he continued to ravish her mouth
“Golden currants?” came Eliza’s dissatisfied voice “Well, the flavor won’t be quite the sa”
Sir Ross released Sophia and steadied her with his hands at her waist While she stared at hiave her a brief sed from the larder
“Miss Sophia, where is the sack of caster sugar? I thought I had carried it into the larder, but…” Eliza paused and glanced around the kitchen “Where is Sir Ross?”
“He…” Sophia bent to retrieve the fallen rose “He left”
Her pulse throbbed in all the vulnerable places of her body She felt feverish, hungering for the kisses and caresses of a man she hated She was a hypocrite, a wanton
A fool
“Miss Sydney,” Ernest said, bringing a paper-wrapped package to the kitchen, “a ht this for you not ten minutes back”
Sophia, as sitting at the table for a e with an exclamation of surprise She had notfor the household And the distant cousin who had taken her in sometime after her parents’ death was not the kind ould send unexpected gifts “I wonder what it could be,” she e Her name and the Bow Street address ritten on the brown-paper surface, but there was no indication as to the sender
“Was there a note attached?” Sophia asked Ernest She picked up a knife and sawed at the rough twine that had been knotted around the parcel
He shook his head “P’rhaps there is one inside May I open it for ye, h The knife could slip, and ye er off I’ll ‘elp ye”
Sophia ser face “Thank you, Ernest, that is very kind But if I am not mistaken, didn’t Sir Grant ask you to fetch the bottles of ink he ordered at the chemist’s shop?”
“Yes, ‘e did” Ernest heaved a world-weary sigh, as if he had been greatly put upon that day “I’d best ’ave it ‘ere when Sir Grant comes back from court”
Sophia’s s her attention to the e, she expertly severed the rest of the twine and unwrapped the parcel Layers of thin white tissue enveloped so Curious, Sophia folded them back
Her breath caught in her throat as she beheld a gown—not a plain, serviceable one like the others she owned, but made of silk and lace It was suitable for a ball But ould soarment to her? Her hands shook with a sudden treown for a note The sender had either forgotten to include one or deliberately had not done so She shook out the gown and stared at it in confusion There was so that reached into the farthest corners of her memory…
Why, it reirl, Sophia had loved to try on her mother’s dresses and shoes and jewelry, and had played princess for hours Her favorite dress had beensilk that looked lavender in sooas the same rare shade, with the same low, scooped neckline and puffed sleeves trimmed with delicate white lace However, this was not her own; it was a copy, htly loaist and fuller skirts
Profoundly troubled, Sophia folded the garment in the brown paper and rewrapped it Who could have sent such a gift to her, and why, and was it e coincidence that the dress resembled her mother’s?
Instinctively she left the kitchen and took the parcel with her, heading for the one person she trusted most Later she would come to wonder why she had turned to Sir Ross without even thinking, when she had relied only on herself for so e in her, one that
Sir Ross’s door was closed, and the sound of voices indicated that he was in theCrestfallen, Sophia hesitated outside the door
Just then Mr Vickery happened to walk by “Good , Miss Sydney,” the court clerk said “I don’t think Sir Ross is ready to start depositions yet”
“I—I wished to speak with hihtly to her chest “But I see that he is occupied, and I certainly do not wish to disturb him”
Vickery frowned and gave her a reflective glance “Miss Sydney, Sir Ross has made it clear that if you ever have any concerns, he wishes to know immediately”
“It can wait,” she said firmly “It is a trivial matter I will return later when Sir Ross is available No, no, Mr Vickery, please do not knock at that door” She groaned with distress as the clerk ignored her protests and rapped decisively at the portal
To Sophia’s consternation, the door opened to reveal Sir Ross accoentle nonetheless, dressed in fine clothes with an elaborate white cravat tied over a lace-bedecked shirt His sharp dark eyes focused on Sophia, and he turned to smile wryly at Sir Ross
“Now I see, Cannon, why you are so eager to conclude ourcreature is doubtless preferable to mine”
Ross’s mouth quirked, and he did not deny the statement “Good day, Lord Lyttleton I will examine the draft of your bill most carefully However, do not expect that e”