“What?
“You shall have to act even more reprehensible than ever.” She looked down at Sophia. “But you had some idea of becoming anactress,did you not? It should be right up your alley.”
Sophia did not rise to the provocation. “What would I have to do?”
“You will confess that you had a double purpose in tampering with the mail on Mr. Belvedere’s behalf. You were to find the letter which condemned him,andyou were to fetch the necklace, which he had hidden there in emergency.”
“No—I reallycannotimplicate him in anything further. And besides, that would have been so stupid. If he was there—why not take the incriminating letter at once—if it exists?”
“We can surmount that. He hid it there because he knew it was the only place on the ship that was sacrosanct. Perhaps he hoped to make a double job of it, but he was rushed and did not find the letter.”
“But then he will be blamed for the necklace also! They may lack evidence for the fraud—I can only hope they do!—but this will have witnesses. I can’t.”
“Fine, I will.”
“What?”
But Lady Marston was done waiting. She exited her cabin where they’d had theirtête-à-tête.
“Where is Captain Smythe?” she demanded in stentorian tones of the second mate. “Where is he? I must speak to him at once.”
Captain Wentworth and Colonel Fitzwilliam were still up, playing dice at the importunity of Sir Mark, who had been ousted from his room while the ladies spoke. They looked at her inquiringly.
The young second mate trailed Lady Marston as she walked past them all into the short passageway which led to the frontmost two cabins.
“Er—er, the Captain retired just after dinner, ma’am. If it is urgent?—”
“It is.” She knocked firmly.
“No,” said Sophia, catching up to her. “Itisn’t.Let us talk before?—”
“There you are!” Lady Marston said as Smythe opened his door. He was still dressed although his boots were off. “I’m afraid my naughty young companion has confessed the whole. I must request your assistance.”
“Of course, Lady Marston.” He looked none too approvingly at Sophia. He had taken her in even greater dislike after Captain Wentworth and the colonel convinced him not to press charges against her.
Sophia clutched Lady Marston’s wrist. “I mustinsistthat you keep your tongue, ma’am.”
Her mother looked at her coldly. “Remove your hand, or I shall turn you over to the law myself.”
Sophia looked in her eyes and knew she spoke the truth. Her mother would watch Sophia imprisoned in a foreign country where she had no friends and no recourse and she would walk away. She would probably be glad to be rid of her.
Sophia released her hand.
“That’s better. I know you are embarrassed, but once the captain understands, we can put this whole terribleimbrogliobehind us.”
She proceeded to the dining table, which was where all the serious discussions were held. Sophia had begun to hate this table and this room.
“The matter is thus,” Lady Marston said to the gentlemen, including the captain. “It seems that Mr. Belvedere told Mrs. Scott that not only did he need to destroy the communication from the East India Company, he also hid my priceless amethysts in one of the three mail bags. It was his second attempt, I assume, but due to haste, he was unable to find the bulletin. He therefore stowed the necklace and slipped away, knowing it to be the safest place on the ship for stolen goods until he could return for it. I suppose he trusted to luck—or this naïve young lady—to recover both.”
Only Sophia noted the flare of Lady Marston’s eyes as she looked at Sir Mark. She was warning him, no doubt, to be ready to produce the amethysts during this last, final “search.”
Despite what Lady Marston sometimes said, Sir Mark wasn’t a stupid man. He had been surprisingly kind to Sohpia. He looked a little sly as he caught her look, but he refrained from a broad wink or anything that would truly give the game away.
“I propose this,” said Lady Marston. “Send the steward to fetch the bags, and let us, on this very table, with the lamps lit,search them once and for all. I will have my necklace, and we can pretendthat,at least, never happened.”
The captain frowned. “I understand your eagerness, ma’am, but it is highly irregular. The bags are not to be opened. A counteroffer, ma’am: I will accompany the bags to the British consulate the moment we are anchored in the port, and I will not leave the consulate until I have seen with my own eyes if your stolen property is there.”
“Oh, but the delay!” she protested. “We wish to wait on Sir Mark’s solicitor at once. Heaven knows how long they will deliberate—are we to kick our heels on theLady Maryfor another whole day?”
