“You must wake Letty now.”
“I know.”
“And we will increase the amount of footmen in the household, and no one leaves this house without at least two of them plus a maid at any time,” he added.
She didn’t speak, just nodded and carried her brother into the house.
CHAPTER 27
They had woken Letty, and she was now dressed in a thick brocade dressing gown and slippers. Staff had been roused, much to Sophie’s horror, and tea was brewed, which Letty, Sophie, Patrick, and Stephen all now sipped.
Doddy was upstairs on guard beside Timmy’s bed. The dog had been ecstatic to have them all return home.
While Sophie felt like a wrung-out rag, both men still looked alert.
“You should have woken me. I could have helped,” Letty said for the fourth time.
“I’m sorry, Letty, I thought only to protect you,” Sophie said around a yawn.
The elderly woman waved her hand about as she struggled to contain her emotions.
“Yes, well, you will not do so again!”
“I promise.”
“You look like a courtesan in that outfit,” Letty added, looking at Sophie and shuddering.
“I could hardly go about dressed as a lady,” Sophie said, quickly doing up her top two buttons.
“She played her part very well,” Patrick surprised her by saying as he got to his feet. “I will arrange some men to guard the house, both front and back, until we catch Jack Spode,” Patrick added. “Plus more footmen. He will be angry when he realizes we have foiled his plans, and I do not want him attempting to enter your home again.”
“I had thought we were rid of him, that horrid beast who tormented you, Sophie,” Letty said. “It seems he is like a weed—extremely hard to remove.”
“We will remove him,” Patrick said steadily. “You need fear him no more.”
“I don’t think?—”
“Thank you, Lord Coulter, that should make us all sleep better,” Letty said, cutting Sophie off. “Please allow me to also thank you both again with all my heart for finding Mary and Timmy. I fear we owe you much.” Letty got to her feet, and after crossing the room, she kissed Stephen and then Patrick on the cheek.
“I have told them everything, Letty,” Sophie added when her sister-in-law reached her. “I had to.”
“I understand,” she said.
“Sophie’s secrets are safe with us,” Patrick said solemnly.
“I know they will be.” Letty kissed Sophie’s cheek now.
“You need to show caution now,” he said. “No risks.”
“We will of course take care, but that man is not turning us into victims,” Letty said. “We will not be hiding in this house but continuing with our lives. However,” she added as Patrick opened his mouth to speak, “we will go nowhere without footmen and maids. And never alone. I won’t have Jack Spode believing he has us cowed, Lord Coulter.”
“Very well, and your courage is to be admired, even as I wish you both simply stayed inside these walls for a while.”
“We will be cautious,” Sophie added.
“Excellent,” Letty said, and with a final goodbye, she left the room.
“I will see you in the carriage, Patrick,” Stephen said, giving Sophie a quick hug and taking his leave next.
