Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street Runners #2)(43)

“I will go speak wi‘ Mr. ’Ordle,” the housemaid said, still giggling as she rushed from the room.

Staring into Ross’s smiling gray eyes, Sophia moistened her lips. He could not have been at Silverhill Park for long—he must have come to find her as soon as he had arrived. The weeklong separation had only intensified her feelings for him, and she had to stiffen her spine to keep from throwing herself at him. “Good morning, ”Sir Ross,“ she said breathlessly. ”You… you look well.“

Ross approached her, one large hand lifting to the side of her face. His fingertips rested briefly on the curve of her cheek. “You are even lovelier than I remembered,” he murmured. “How have you been, Sophia?”

“Quite well,” she managed to say.

“My mother cannot speak highly enough of you. She is very pleased with your efforts.”

“Thank you, sir.” Sophia lowered her lashes, afraid that her violent longing was all too easy to read. Feeling miserable, she drew away and wrapped her arms around herself. “Have you learned anything about the dress?” she asked, hoping to restore her self-control.

He understood at once that she was referring to the lavender ballgown. “Not yet. Judging from the make and fabric, Sayer has narrowed the possibilities to three dressmakers. I am going to question each of them personally when I return to London.”

“Thank you.” She gave him a small smile. “I must offer you some recompense. You must garnish my wages, or—”

“Sophia,” he interrupted with a scowl, as if she had insulted him. “I would not accept any payment from you. It’s my responsibility to protect you and the others who work for me.”

Sophia was nearly undone by his words. “I must return to my work,” she said gravely. “Before I do, is there something you want, Sir Ross? Some refreshments, or perhaps coffee?”

“Just you.”

The quiet statement made her knees weak. Sophia struggled to keep her voice calm. As if her mouth were not dry with longing. As if her body were not thumping with desire. She strove to change the direction of the conversation. “How is your shoulder, sir?”

“It’s healing well. Would you like to have a look?” His fingers went to the knot of his cravat, as if he were willing to undress for her right there. Sophia shot a startled glance at him, and saw from the glint in his eyes that he was teasing.

If she was ever going to put a stop to the attraction that had developed between them, it would have to be now. “Sir Ross, now that you are well again, and I have had a few days to consider our… our…”

“Relationship?” he supplied helpfully.

“Yes. I have reached a conclusion.”

“What conclusion is that?”

“A… an intimate association would not be wise for either of us. I am content to be your servant, nothing more.” She faltered only a little as she finished her recitation. “From now on, I will not welcome any advances from you.”

His smoky gaze held hers. Finally he spoke in a gentle murmur. “We’ll discuss the matter later. After the weekend. And then you and I are going to come to an understanding.”

Breathing in shallow gulps, Sophia turned to busy herself with the articles on a nearby shelf. Her fingers encountered a sheaf of dried herbs, and her fingers fumbled with the crackling leaves, inadvertently crumbling them. “I will not change my mind.”

“I think you will,” he said softly, and left.

Noblemen, politicians, and professional men moved through the circuit of common rooms and out to the gardens in back. Groups of ladies played cards, gossiped over needlework or magazines, or went on walks along the neat graveled pathways outside. The gentlemen gathered in the billiards room, read newspapers in the library, or strolled to the pavilion at the lake. It was a warm June day, the breeze insufficient to atone for the unseasonable strength of the sun.

Behind the scenes, the servants were busy cleaning, preparing food, and pressing and airing the many changes of clothes that would be needed for each day of the house party. The kitchen was steaming and fragrant, the bread ovens filled with baking dough, the spit-jacks turning roast fowls, joints of beef, and large hams. Under the direction of the cook, kitchen maids wrapped trussed quails with vine leaves and bacon, then threaded them on skewers. The quail would be offered as a late-afternoon luncheon to satisfy the guests’ appetites until supper was served at ten o’clock.

Pleased that everything was running smoothly, Sophia went to the large windows at the top of the grand staircase and watched the guests mingling on the terraced lawn below. She located Ross at once. His dark form was easy to distinguish from the others. Although he wore his authority comfortably, he was a man of almost legendary accomplishments, and the guests were clearly in awe of him.

Sophia felt a prickle of jealousy as she saw the way the women fluttered around him in nervous excitement, how they chattered and smiled and sent him flirtatious glances. Apparently Ross’s reputation as a chaste-living gentleman did not dampen feminine ardor, but rather fanned it into vigorous flame. Sophia was certain that many women present, no matter what their age or circumstance, would have loved to claim that they had managed to snare the elusive widower’s interest.

Sophia’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps on the marble staircase. She turned from the window to view a pair of footmen carrying an extremely large trunk, their faces reddened from the exertion. Matthew Cannon followed them, escorting a slender and very pretty blond girl. Neither of them seemed to notice Sophia until they reached the landing.