“Dash it all,” Richard said. “Here I thought boredom would be our undoing on this trip, but I would happily compound for some boredom at this point!”
The newspaper had to be shared, and although Caroline considered removing the offending page, it was one which also contained the second page of news. It would be very obvious that something had been concealed. In the end, she and Richard decided to leave it in. “Let us see if anyone else comes to the same conclusion,” Richard said. “Perhaps you are right that our anxieties have affected us.”
The next to demand the paper was Lady Marston, and after that it was given to Anne and Wentworth, and then to Mr. Belvedere. If he was at all frightened of a revelation, it was well-hidden, nor did the offending page disappear after he perused it. He gave it—apparently whole and intact—to Sophia when he was done.
“Ah, Lady Patience,” he said, royally putting the paper into her hands that afternoon, “you have outlasted us all. But, as is the norm with great virtue, there is no great reward awaiting.”
She had been sitting with Anne while Caroline played the harpsichord, and she took the paper placidly. “Virtue is its own reward,” she said. “Those who look for another rarely find it.”
His mouth tipped up. “That’s taught me what-for, hasn’t it?”
“I can only hope.” She spread the paper on the table and read while Caroline continued to play.
Sophia hadher own reasons for perusing all the business advertisements, but when she read the notice from the East India Company, she was even quicker than Caroline to see connections to their mysterious fellow passenger who was determined to persecute her. It did not take her long to realize the full ramifications of the accusation.
It almost did not matter if it was true—although she would give odds that Mr. Belvedere was the man in question—but even the suspicion would be enough for Captain Smythe. Their beleaguered captain would clap Mr. Belvedere in irons at even the possibility. The EIC had offices and agents everywhere. Smythe would happily deliver Mr. Belvedere toJohn Company—as her husband used to call the East India Company—the moment they reached Lisbon.
However, she was also constrained by the same impulse that had slowed Caroline and Richard from shouting it out. Mr. Belvedere made her uncomfortable with both his suspicions and his unwanted offers of help, but she didn’t want him to meet the business end of a noose.
However, if Mr. Belvedere continued to accuse her of theft, if he might cause others to suspect her, this was certainly a serious piece of leverage.
This time it was she who sought him out. Privacy was indeed hard to find, but she contrived to have Lady Marston leave her opera glasses on deck in order to have a reason to retrieve them at the opportune moment. There were not many things that might conceivablybe lefton deck, but that seemed a plausible one to Sophia.
A mention of waterspouts in the morning laid the foundation, along with the complaint that Sophia could not make out the whales. Sophia had only to wait until Lady Marston and Sir Mark were distracted to slide the glasses behind the small row-boat that was lashed down on deck.
That evening, after a supper of sausages, spinach with almonds, and perfectlyal dentepasta, the moment arrived. Sophia remembered the “forgotten” glasses, and Lady Marston required her to go retrieve them.
“Ah, I thought you might want to speak to me!” Mr. Belvedere said when she came up on deck. His fair hair waspulled back as he often did, although the wind had tugged out a few strands, which blew in the light breeze. He was perilously near the dinghy where she had left the glasses.
He motioned below to the dining room. “Put on that little charade for me, didn’t you?”
Sophia scowled. “Fine, yes, and I will be quick about this. At leastIam not so bold and lost to all sense of propriety as to barge intoyourcabin.”
He grinned. “You’re welcome any time, my dear.”
“Ugh, you are abominable.”
“I think you resent that I understand you so well.”
“I don’t have anything in common with acounterfeiter,” she hissed. “Isn’t that what you’re running from? You’ve defrauded the East India Company.”
His confident air was unimpaired. “Is this in the manner of a threat?”
Sophia was unaccountably angered, unhappy to be forced into the position of blackmailer. If he had responded with fear or uncertainty, she would probably have been overcome with guilt, but his nonchalance somehow enraged her more. “Yes, itisa threat. You have accused me of theft, but if you dare to slander me to others in that way, I have ammunition in return.”
“Was this in theGazette?”
“Yes, and you can deny that it’s you, but they say the man is just down from Cambridge.”
He placed a hand on his chest. “I hesitate to contradict you, but that does not sound like incontrovertible proof.”
“I’msureit’s you. It has to be you.”
“Why?”
“Because—that is not the point. Even theaccusationwould harm you, so don’t think to turn on me.”
“You have deeply misunderstood my intentions. I promise I won’t turn on you.”
