Sophie giggled; Patrick tried not to smile as he reached for the next pie. The villagers had only ever seen him look serious.Sophie loves me.
“That smile has to be a good sign, Ma,” Bessie added as he took a bite of what was clearly her mother’s pie.
“We’ll see.” Patrick watched Mrs. Puckett purse her lips until her entire mouth seemed to fold in on itself.
When he finished the savory, he moved onto the sweet and nudged the two plates close to Sophie he liked best.
“The two in front of you I like,” he said so only she could hear.
“I agree and will mark the numbers on the card.”
Sophie pinned the sash to Mrs. Stigg’s dress for the best savory pie and congratulated her on her win minutes later. Patrick presented the winner of the sweet pie award to Mrs. Puckett.
“If you and Amelia will just wait a few minutes, Stephen and I will accompany you home,” Patrick said as he led her back to the carriage after the ceremony was completed. “There is just a matter of the ale competition to judge.”
“These people love having you here for this day. Many of them have told Amelia and me that,” Sophie said. “Stay and do your duty to them, Patrick. We made the journey here safely, and we will make the return journey the same way.” She squeezed his hand. “Come along, Amelia. We will get back to Timmy and make sure he is not running Letty ragged.”
“Sophie—”
“I will be fine.” She brushed a kiss on his cheek. “Hurry home,” she whispered.
Patrick’s sigh was loud as he looked down into the twinkling eyes of his wife. “All right, you win,” he said, kissing her on the mouth this time. “Behave yourselves.”
“I find that comment offensive,” Amelia said as he handed her into the carriage behind Sophie. “We always behave. It is you men who can’t be trusted to do so.”
“Right, of course that’s the truth,” Stephen drawled from behind Patrick.
They stood shoulder to shoulder and watched the carriage roll over the bridge and disappear from view.
“She forgave you, then?”
“So Miss Logan appears not to yield to your charms as others so easily do. I shall enjoy watching whatever is between you unfold,” Patrick added.
Stephen muttered something foul and headed for the ale tent.
CHAPTER 43
Sophie smiled at the memory of Patrick’s words. He loved her, and while she was sure there were many more debates and arguments in their future, there was now also love.
“That is a very smug expression on your face, Countess,” Amelia said. She had her eyes closed because apparently her head ached from too much sugar.
Sophie had not said I told you so, but it was implied with a look.
“Did you and the Dark Lord?—”
“Ouch!” Sophie cried as the carriage swayed suddenly and she fell on the floor, banging her arm.
“What the bloody hell is going on?” Amelia yelled as she helped Sophie back to her seat. Opening the hatch, she yelled the same question at the drivers.
“We’re being chased, my lady!” Robbie called down to them.
Sophie leaned out one window, and Amelia, the other. There were four horses chasing them. Both girls pulled their heads back in as a gun was fired.
“Where is the man who was riding beside us?” Amelia asked.
Sophie hoped he wasn’t shot, but she kept that thought to herself. “Search for guns, Amelia, or anything we may use to slow them down. Check under the seats.”
She felt the long barrel of a gun under her seat and quickly unstrapped it. Amelia found another under the opposite one.
