page22 (1/2)
Her body bounced in his lap with each jolt of the carriage, arousing hi his ainst his chest and watched the alterations of her expression as she slept: the tiny frown that gathered between her dark brows, the restless twitch of her mouth It seemed that her dreams were far from peaceful He stroked the side of her face and murmured quietly, and her frown smoothed away Unable to help hiers over the voluptuous curve Even in sleep she responded to hi with a drowsy murmur He pressed his lips to her forehead, and cradled her as she stretched and yawned
“I’ into the slumbrous depths of her eyes “I didn’t intend to wake you”
She blinked sleepily “Are we almost there?”
“A half hour at most”
Her gaze turned wary “What will happen tomorrow?” she asked
“I’ to find out if I was the man who sent your brother to the prison hulk all those years ago”
Her fingers slipped inside his waistcoat, seeking the warmth of his body “Whatever you discover will not matter”
“Of course it will,” he said gruffly
“No” She levered herself upward Her hand curved around his neck, and she applied her lips to his, exploring daintily, her tongue lapping into the warmth of his mouth Ross remained stalwart for precisely five seconds, then responded to her tender witchery with a low groan Her tastefull and deep as he immersed himself in her sweetness
“Sophia,” he said, tearing his h it was not the time or place he had planned, he could not prevent the words that escaped him “I want to marry you”
She was very still, her face scant inches froitation caused her lashes to flutter, and she touched the tip of her tongue to her upper lip “Gentlemen in your position don’t marry servants”
“It has been known to happen”
“Yes, and the men who make such mistakes are exposed to ridicule and sometimes even ostracism And you are very much in the public view—oh, your critics would be merciless!”
“I’ve been publicly criticized too many times to count,” Ross said fir on as if I am a peer of the realm, when I am no more than a professional man”
“A professional man from a wealthy family with ties to the aristocracy”
“Well, if we are to start defining ourselves, I should point out that you are the daughter of a viscount”
“But I was not reared as one After my parents died, I had no further education I can’t ride a horse, or dance, or play an instru of etiquette and aristocratic manners—”
“None of that matters”
She laughed in disbelief “Perhaps not to you, but it does to me!”
“Then you will learn whatever is necessary”
Sophia fidgeted with a loose fold of his shirt “I cannot marry you”
“Does that e of her hairline and drifted to her temple
“Your fae between us”
“Yes, they would” He kissed her throat “My mother has made it clear that she will accept you with open arms The rest of the farandfather has practically ordered me to propose to you”
“No!” Sophia exclaimed, astonished
“He said that you were as pretty ato hio about it right away”
“Good Lord!” Sophia was torn between laughter and disine what else he said”
“He told randmother, and hoished that he had simply kidnapped Sophia Jane and eloped with her He has lived with that regret for decades God spareto do the same”
Sophia’s delicate face turned pensive “I will stay with you for as long as you want me Perhaps the best solution is that I become your mistress”
Ross shook his head decisively “That is not what I need, Sophia I’m not the kind of man who keeps a mistress And you’re not the kind of woement There is no reason toshameful I want you to be my wife”
“Ross, I can’t—”
“Wait,” he e too soon He should have waited patiently for the right tiive me an answer Just consider the idea for a while”
“I don’t need to consider it,” she responded “I really don’t think—”
He covered hertiot what she had intended to say
Chapter 12
Ross headed to Bow Street No 3 ireed to take up te Ross’s three-day absence, and the light at his desk was burning as evening settled over London When Ross crossed the threshold, Morgan glanced up frohed in patent relief“Thank God you’re back”
“Has it been that bad?” Ross regarded hi with his hands thrust into his coat pockets “Did anything out of the ordinary occur?”
“No, just the usual” Morgan rubbed his eyes with the pads of his fingers, looking weary “We served ten warrants, arrested a deserter, and investigated a murder at the thieves’ kitchen on the east side of Covent Garden And we looked into the an’s”
“A what?”
Despite Morgan’s obvious weariness, a s lad named Dickie Sloper took a fancy to a particular codfish at the shop Dickie fastened a hook to the gills, attached the other end of the line to the button of his inexpressibles, and walked away The fisher was understandably alarmed when he saw the cod july of its own accord When young Dickie was caught, he swore that he was innocent and the fish illfully following him”