“And now you will live out your days in hell knowing Timothy will have everything you do not,” Stephen added.
“I know it was you who spread that rumor about her past, Dutton, and I will ensure the next rumor has your name attached to it,” Patrick said.
“Well,” Stephen said, dragging Dutton toward the house, “I think it would be in your best interest to keep your mouth shut now. Don’t you?”
They heard the clop of hooves and turned to find the carriage rolling away.
“Let him go. He’s nothing to us,” Stephen said when Patrick reached for his gun. “If he had to work for Dutton, I’d say he deserves a nice carriage and horses.”
They secured the man in a room and tied him to a bed. Ignoring his pleading attempts, they then shut and locked the door. Within minutes, Patrick and Stephen were on their way back to the inn.
When they arrived, the innkeeper was awake and met them at the door after they’d stabled their horses. Patrick wrote a note to be delivered to the nearest magistrate and then went up to the room. Sophie opened her eyes as he entered and got out of bed. He pulled her into his body, crushing her in a hug.
“You’re safe,” she whispered.
“I am. Will you come with me to the next room?”
She nodded, and they left Amelia snuffling softly.
“But where is Stephen?” Sophie asked.
“Sleeping in the stables. That man can sleep anywhere.”
He closed the door behind them to the next room and then led her to the bed.
“What happened?” Sophie asked him when he’d stripped off his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt.
“We left Dutton and the other men secured in the place you were taken to. He was attempting to flee.”
Patrick washed quickly, exhaustion dogging his every move now that Sophie was safe. He felt like he’d been awake for days.
“And Jack Spode?” she asked.
“He is also locked in a room, awaiting the magistrate.”
He saw the relief in her eyes that he hadn’t died at her hand, and was glad he hadn’t told her the man was dead. It was a truth he would never share.
Pulling off his boots, he climbed into bed in his breeches.
“Come here, Sophie. I need to hold you now for a few hours, and only then will I believe you are actually safe.”
She lay down and put her head on his chest.
“I need you to know that I would not have stopped until I found you, my love. That you are my life now.” Patrick kissed the top of her head. “Do you understand that there will never be another for me?”
“As there will never be another for me,” she whispered.
CHAPTER 48
One week after their arrival back at Garland Hall, Sophie thought her life was just about perfect, even if Patrick had told her they would be returning to society soon.
Stephen had not left yet either, which Sophie privately thought was due to Amelia still being there. They were like two wary dogs circling each other constantly. One minute, they would be laughing; the next, angry. Patrick had told her last night it was some kind of odd courtship.
“Can I have a biscuit?”
“You’ve already had three, Timmy. I think that’s enough, don’t you?”
The little boy shook his head, face solemn. Beside her, Doddy had the same look in his eyes. Timmy had been feeding his biscuits to him secretly—she was sure of it.
