Sophie pulled her hand back as if scalded. “How can you be so sure?” Lydia turned away from her dark look.
She snatched up the last card and turned over the Fool. “Someone is manipulating events now unfolding.” Her gaze flew to Arnaud. “Be careful. All may not be as it seems.”
“Enough.” Arnaud put his hands on the table and culled the cards into a neat stack. He re-shuffled the deck and handed the cards back to Sophie. “No more serious talk. We’re here to play a game.” He stood suddenly and walked to a side table where numerous boxes sat in ordered piles. He returned to the table with fresh cards for whist. “Let’s play a round of something safe, no surprises.”
Sophie tucked the offending Italian deck back into her reticule and flashed Arnaud a grateful smile.
Arnaud shuffled the cards with a vengeance. Cullen gave him an odd look while setting up a scoring list beneath the names of the two sets of partners.
“What are you looking at?” Arnaud demanded.
“I’m wondering how long before you shred the cards and we have to get another box.” His ship surgeon’s smirk made Arnaud’s hands itch to swat him.
“Yes,” Lydia said. “Please deal before we fall asleep. My grandmother outdid herself with all the courses at dinner tonight.” She made a show of rubbing her stomach and stifling a yawn. “The plum cake was so good, I had a second slice.”
Lord Howick chose that moment to enter the game room. “Lydia, please keep your observations on food and bodily functions to yourself.”
Both Arnaud and Cullen leapt to their feet.
Howick nodded. “Gentlemen, please enjoy yourselves, but try not to keep Miss Brancelli and my daughter up too late. She’s had a terrible upset this week, and I would hate to see her have a relapse. She needs her rest.” He gave both girls a fond look.
Arnaud and Cullen bowed slightly as Lydia’s father made to leave. “Thank you so much for inviting us to your home and allowing us to ascertain for ourselves the two young women are recovering from their experience,” Arnaud said.
“It is my pleasure, Captain. My mother hosts dinners throughout the Season, and, of course, Miss Brancelli is like one of the family. We are deeply indebted to you and Dr. MacCloud for saving them from those ruffians.” At that he turned and disappeared through the doorway.
After a short, uncomfortable silence, Arnaud tried to ignore the blazing high color in Miss Brancelli’s cheeks and looked at the other card players. “Shall we play? Dr. MacCloud, I believe you should be first dealer.”
Dr. MacCloud slid the shuffled cards to his left to Sophie. She took a short stack of cards on top of the pile and pushed them toward Cullen. He began to deal each player the requisite thirteen cards. In the midst of a rapid slap-down of cards, he asked Arnaud, “Have you discovered anything about the kidnappers or why they accosted Miss Brancelli?”
Captain Bellingham picked up his hand and flipped the cards into quick, expert order with long, dexterous fingers.
Sophie flinched and looked away. The array of cards in her hand gave her the usual sense of desperation. What to do next? She hated card games.
Captain Bellingham tipped back in his chair and gave Dr. MacCloud a look. “I found some street urchins who I’m sure saw something. I have crossed their grubby little palms with silver and a promise of more. That may yield additional details.”
Sophie choked on a sip of water. “Captain, I appreciate your concern, but I cannot allow you to champion my safety.”
“Why not?” Dr. MacCloud finished sorting through his cards and pointed a thumb toward Captain Bellingham. “He sticks his nose into everyone else’s business. Why not yours?” Dr. MacCloud placed a low club trump in the center of the table.
Captain Bellingham placed his cards face-down and leaned toward Sophie. “I want to make sure you’re safe and happy. I feel responsible since I was there and saw how determined those fellows were in their attempt to drag you off. Can you think of anyone who would wish to hurt you? Anyone at all?”
Sophie stared a little too long before lowering and shuttering her eyes. “No, there is no one who would wish me harm. Perhaps they were confused and mistook me for another young woman.” She kept her gaze lowered and struggled to make sense of the array of cards in her hand.
Lydia wrinkled her nose and out-trumped Dr. MacCloud. “La, I wish you would play cards with us more often.” She took the trick and jerked away from a jab from Sophie’s foot beneath the table.
“Sir.” Lydia leaned away from Sophie and apologized. “I wish only for your scholarly company. We would much more enjoy your charming, civilized conversation rather than trouncing you at cards.”
“Is there no one you can name? Think,” Captain Bellingham said, undeterred from his probing questions. “A rejected suitor? Someone your father might have known?”
“No one,” Sophie said. “Not a soul.” Her heart hammered until she thought the fickle thing would spring free from her tight corset. Even she had rummaged through her memories for an inkling of something, anything to explain who would waste such hatred on an illegitimate orphan with little to commend her in society.
She had no idea what dowry her grandmother might have left her, but she doubted such a small sum would make her the target of kidnappers.
“Then it’s settled,” Captain Bellingham finally said.
“What is settled?” Sophie asked.
“My mother and I will accompany you to all the Season’s events. That is the only way to ensure your safety.”
