“Am I to be a lady of the night, then?” Sophie asked.
“I doubt you could ever look like a lady of the night—you’re too sweet—but it will be safer for you going into the tavern looking like that,” Patrick said.
He thinks I’m sweet.
Reaching for the ties at her throat, she then released her cloak.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m sure ladies of the night wear far less than what I currently am,” she said and then undid the top two buttons of her dress.
“I don’t believe that will be necessary.” Patrick’s voice sounded harsh.
“With just those few alterations, you could now pass as a lady of the night,” Stephen said, his tone mocking.
Sophie watched as Patrick shot him a dark look that had him laughing.
“I’m suddenly regretting my decision to have you accompany us,” Patrick said, running his eyes over her.
“If this will help us find Timmy, then I must do it,” she said.
“She’s right, Colt. Now let’s go,” Stephen said, reaching for the door as the carriage stopped.
I’m coming, Timmy.
CHAPTER 26
The Black Swan was at the end of a narrow lane the carriage could not comfortably turn in, so Patrick asked his driver to stay at the entrance.
“Let’s go,” he said, taking her hand. “Don’t let go of me at any stage.”
“I can’t walk in holding on to you,” she protested.
“You bloody will.”
“There is no need to swear,” she hissed at him.
Sophie may not have been born a lady, but he knew different. She was every inch one.
They walked with Patrick to her right and Stephen to her left, wedging her between them. Patrick’s chest felt tight, and his body on alert. Bringing her into this situation was a mistake, he could feel it, but she was right that only she could identify Jack Spode and the nanny.
“Don’t talk,” he said. “Just follow our lead and look like a… what you are.”
“Let’s stick with woman of the night even though there are many other terms for them,” Stephen added.
Patrick noted the faded sign decorated with a swan that was far more elegant than its surroundings. A few people wanderedthe streets, some in groups, and he couldn’t discount they were being looked over as a possible target to pickpocket.
“Stay close.”
“You’ve already told me that,” she said.
“But did you listen, that’s the point here,” he whispered back.
She muttered something he didn’t hear.
“If I don’t have hold of you, Sophie, then your nose is pressed to my back. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I am not a fool.”
