“Very good, dears.” Lady Clifford closed the bedchamber door and took Sophia’s arm. They made their way downstairs, where Daniel was waiting for them in Lady Clifford’s private sitting room. His hard, dark gaze roamed over Sophia’s face. “Gray minded hismanners today?”
Sophia managed a smile for Daniel, despite the nerves churning in her belly. “He did, yes. He agreed to take me to Newgate with very little fuss, and now he’s spoken to Jeremy himself, he believes he’s innocent. He was kind to Jeremy. He even gavehim his coat.”
Daniel raised one thick eyebrow, and Sophia’scheeks heated.
Was she…defending Lord Gray?
“Aye? Is he going to do anything about it?”
“He’s bringing the matter to the Bow Street magistrate,” Sophia muttered, knowing as she did how scornful Daniel would beat that answer.
“Sampson Willis?” Daniel let out a harsh laugh. “May as well do nothing.”
“Lord Gray is a decent man, particularly as far as Bow Street Runners go, but I think we can all agree we can’t leave this matter in his hands. He’s well-intentioned, but he’s a bit too, ah…shall we sayethically rigid, to be of much help to us.” Lady Clifford waved Sophia to a chair, then took a seat across from her. Daniel remained standing, with one arm braced against the mantel.
“Now then, Sophia. How did you find our Jeremy?”
“Worse than you can possibly imagine. Another day or two at most, and he’ll succumb to the appalling conditions at Newgate.” Sophia winced at her own bluntness, but this was no time to mince words. “Whatever is to be done, it must bedone at once.”
“It will be. Tonight, in fact. We’ve come up with a way to get him out, but we’ll need as much information as you can give us, starting with where he is. Once we’re inside, we’ll need to remove him quickly.”
“He’s in the dungeons under the turnkeys’ lodge.” Sophia had paid close attention when Hogg had taken them out, and she now gave a precise description of the route they’d taken from the entrance through the maze of passageways. “Even with my directions, finding him may be tricky,” she warned. “It would be much easierwith a guide.”
“Is he locked in irons?” Daniel asked.
“He was, but Lord Gray insisted the guard remove them.” She didn’t mention she’d traded her locket to ensure the irons didn’t reappear. “His keeper, a Mr. Hogg, is quite susceptible to the flash of a coin.”
“Is he, indeed? Thatisgood news.” Lady Clifford glanced at Daniel, who gave her a quick nod. “Very good, dearest. What else can you tell us?”
“Jeremy’s not in any condition to walk, or even to stand on his own.” Sophia shuddered at the thought of the wreck her healthy, strapping boy had been reduced to. “He’ll needto be carried.”
Daniel grunted. “I expected as much. How’s the lad’s mind? Is he confused? Likelyto resist me?”
Sophia thought of the heartbreaking gratitude on Jeremy’s face when he’d seen her today, the way he’d hung on her when she had to leave him. “He’s confused, yes, and scared witless, but there’s no question he’ll do as you say. He’ll be tremendously glad to see you, Daniel.”
The first time Sophia had laid eyes on Daniel Brixton, her entire body had gone numb with terror. She’d been a child, yes, but he was still the most forbidding man she’d ever seen, with his black hair, huge hands, and tight, unsmiling mouth. But Jeremy was a decided favorite with Daniel, and even his harsh face softened slightly at Sophia’s words. “Andme him, lass.”
There wasn’t much more Sophia could tell them. Lady Clifford asked another question or two about Mr. Hogg, but she looked anxious as she studied Sophia’s face, and it wasn’t long before she sent her back to her bedchamber with strict orders to go directly to bed.
Sophia wasn’t in the habit of challenging Lady Clifford’s commands, but in this instance, she didn’t go to her bed, or even to her bedchamber. Instead she wandered into the dark library tucked into the back corner of the house. She remained there for a long time, staring out at the tiny terrace and handkerchief-sized garden.
She was still standing there much later when she heard the front door close behind Daniel. She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the glass doors, her lips moving in a silent prayer that tonight would be the end of Jeremy’s nightmare.
Of all their nightmares.
Somehow, though, without Sophia being aware of it, her thoughts turned from Jeremy to Lord Gray. She couldn’t forget the anguish in his voice, his grief when he’d spoken ofHenry Gerrard.
Jeremy might yet survive his ordeal, but there would be no rescue for Henry Gerrard. No triumph of good over evil for his son, Samuel, or hiswife, Abigail.
Sophia didn’t doubt Lord Gray truly believed Jeremy was innocent. She’d seen the shock on his face when Jeremy had told them his story today. He’d been kind to Jeremy, compassionate toward him. She thought of Lord Gray’s coat resting on Jeremy’s shoulders, and her breath tangledin her throat.
Lord Gray didn’t wish to see Jeremy hang for another man’s crime any more than Sophia did, but there was little chance he’d approve of the way they’d chosen to right this wrong. Tomorrow, when he woke up and discovered Jeremy had been taken from Newgate, he’d be furious. Disappointed, even. So much so, he’d likely never wish tosee her again.
Sophia rested her hands on the glass, pressing her fingertips against the cool, hard surface. Jeremy was the only important thing here—the only one who mattered. In the end, it should make no difference to her what Lord Gray thought.
It shouldn’t, but it did.
Chapter Eleven
