‘I must extend my thanks!’ he called out in perfect French, to the gawping females who’d held Sophie captive. ‘There are two gendarmes behind me who were most interested to know you’d taken my young friend under your wing. Pray tell them the crossbow is a pretty toy I took from a highwayman back in Somerset, with the compliments of Lord Rotherby!’
There was a short silence before a ripple of understanding filled the air, peppered by muffled gasps and suspicious glances. And then, two things happened at once.
The first was that the pretty fake was lobbed through the air like a tiny glinting arrow, directly at the barouche; and the second was that the gawping, muddied females took off down the street at impressive speed. Lord Rotherby watched with a smile of satisfaction as he leaned out to catch the weapon, before calling to Horace to drive on.
‘You shouldn’t be here,’ Sophie said, noticing his grimace of pain as he settled back in the seat opposite her.
‘Neither should you,’ he retorted.
She stared at his furrowed eyes and damp brow, and realised how much the excursion had cost him physically.
‘How did you find me?’ she added in a softer tone.
A mischievous smile flitted across his face.
‘It wasn’t that hard,’ he replied in amused exasperation. ‘I simply asked Horace to find out if anyone had seen a young lady in the company of known rogues. You know, you really are the most stubborn and wilful female I’ve ever met,’ he added through half-closed eyes.
For a moment, Sophie just wanted to laugh.
‘Surely it would be easier for you just to close your eyes and let me go?’ she asked instead. ‘You could say you provided me with safe passage, and I went on to stay with friends in France. You could carry on doing whatever it is you do, and in the end, they would all forget.’
‘Whatever it is I do?’ he repeated, his eyebrows arching. ‘I exist in a space where no one gets hurt Miss Fairfax– what’s so wrong with that? Far too many are ignorant of the impact of their actions, and I swore a long time ago never to join them.’
There was another silence while Sophie observed him.
It wasn’t the first time he’d said something curiously honourable, and it was unexpected for a nobleman she’d written off as the worst kind of rake.
‘And anyway, the ton never forgets. You know that.’
She glanced down, acknowledging the truth of his statement, despite her wishing it a thousand times otherwise.
‘But in answer to your question, he added softly, ‘I also believe it would be quite sad for a flame to burn so brightly, only to be snuffed out by a mistake. I would hate to be responsible for that fate, Miss Fairfax.’
‘As for your terrible judge of character, I claim no responsibility for that at all.’
Sophie chuckled, suddenly grateful for the darkness inside the small barouche.
‘Perhaps I have a penchant for rogues,’ she muttered.
He smiled wryly.
‘Perhaps,’ he concurred. ‘Though you certainly seemed to have the upper hand when I arrived and, while unusual, there is a certain charm to your… current raiment.’
Sophie flushed as she cast an eye down her muddied and torn gown, never more aware of the bedraggled figure she must present.
‘Does it hold some sentimental value?’ she tried to distract, with a nod towards the crossbow. Lord Rotherby’s eyes gleamed with mischief.
‘A little,’ he acquiesced, ‘but I’m quite partial to diamonds and mother-of-pearl too.’
Sophie bit her lip to stop herself laughing.
‘I must say I’m impressed,’ she replied when she could, ‘to know the full extent of your duplicity. But then why, if the crossbow is so precious, did you give it to me?’
‘I knew you would try to take off as soon as you could,’ he replied. ‘It was the most I could do to ensure you were not penniless when you did so.’
‘But… you owe me nothing,’ Sophie murmured.
‘I exist in a space where no one gets hurt, Miss Fairfax,’ he replied quietly, ‘and I am quite determined to stay there.’
