She'd remained outside the door allowing the girl to come to her. She doubted that Annabel had been allowed any privacy or freedom for the past three weeks.
The door opened. Standing in front of her was a beautiful young lady, no more than five feet tall, but that added rather than detracted from her loveliness.
'Miss Brotherton, I'd no idea you were coming. Are you saying that I can go out of the house right now as long as I'm with you?'
'Indeed I am. How quickly can you find a bonnet and a wrap?'
'Do I need to change my gown?' The girl gestured at the pretty sprigged muslin in the same modern style that she was wearing herself.
'No, you look enchanting. Your hair's somewhat dishevelled, but I'm sure we can pin it up under your bonnet. I think you need to have gloves as well. Everything must be exactly so.'
The girl was a quick study and understood immediately. 'I'll be every inch a demure young lady, believe me, Miss Brotherton, what I have endured these past few weeks has been enough to convince me that I must never transgress again.'
Mary arrived with Sofia's outdoor garments and minutes later the three of them were escaping down the back staircase. They fled through the side door that led to the courtyard and breathless and giggling only slowed their pace when they were outside on the pavement.
'I thought we could stroll in the meadow, Annabel, and you can tell me all about yourself and introduce me to any of the horses that belong to your family.'
Sofia had decided to address her charge by her given name but would insist she remained Miss Brotherton. The fact that she was only two years the girl's senior made such a move imperative. Her height, she believed, gave her a much-needed air of authority. The fact that she'd scraped her hair back in an unflattering bun added to the erroneous impression that she was several years older than her actual age.
'I don't recognise any of the horses grazing there, but then I've scarcely lived in Bath as I've been away at school in Switzerland.'
'I hadn't realised you'd been attending school abroad.' Sofia immediately began speaking in French, all three girls were fluent in that language as their mother had come from France herself.
Annabel replied and smiled happily. 'This way we can communicate with no fear of anyone understanding what we say. I'm the only one in my family with any linguistic abilities.'
'That's excellent. Your mother wanted me to tell you that if you so much as put a toe out of place your father will have you locked away in an asylum somewhere.'
'I don't doubt it. There's something I should tell you, nobody else will do so, they wouldn't dare. I'm not my father's daughter, my mother had ahistoire d'amour,and I'm the result.'
This explained everything. 'The unusual circumstances of your birth are not your fault. I'm impressed that your mother was allowed to keep you at home – in my experience such events are hushed up and the resulting baby fostered.'
Annabel smiled sadly. 'Nobody knew, especially not my father. It only came to light four years ago when my actual father died unexpectedly and my mother's heartbreak raised suspicions and it all came out.'
They were now in the field and had to pick their way carefully in order to avoid the cowpats and horse dung. Sofia was relieved that only the horses took an interest in them.
This had become more than a way of helping her own family. However unpleasant anybody made her employment, she'd remain so that she could keep this sweet girl safe from Mr Sinclair.
*
James was interrupted as he was coming in from his morning gallop two days after he'd discovered that he was the guardian of three unwanted female wards by his secretary.
'My lord, I've the most exciting news. I took the liberty of riding into Bath myself and speaking to my…' He hesitated and flushed before continuing. 'My uncle, who is one of the partners at your new law firm. It seems that I've already located one of your missing young ladies.'
James frowned. 'Missing? I wasn't aware that any of them were missing. What in God's name are you drivelling on about, Smithers?'
'I'm sorry, I've started my tale in the middle. It seems that my uncle was aware there was another family with the same name as yours. He hadn't heard that this Mr Brotherton was deceased, indeed was most surprised to hear so.'
'Get on with it, man, I'm standing here in my disarray and am waiting to remove my boots.'
'I beg your pardon, sir, I'll try and be concise. There's a family that lives on the Royal Crescent and they've just employed a companion to their eldest daughter and I'm reliably informed that this young lady's name is Miss Sofia Brotherton.'
'God's teeth! How the devil did this information come your way – or should I say the way of your uncle?'
'He happened to be meeting a client arriving on the Bath coach and the young lady had travelled on the same vehicle. Uncle Walter overheard her being collected and recognised the Landau as belonging to Mr Sinclair.'
James was no longer irritated but intrigued. 'Then there's no point in me divesting myself of my riding boots. I don't suppose you happen to know the number of the house in which this Miss Brotherton is now residing?'
Smithers grinned. 'Number four, sir. If you're going immediately to recover this young lady am I to suppose that you intend her to ride behind you?'
