Coins in the innkeeper’s palm ensured they would be delivered as requested. Timing was important if everything was going to go right. If anyone got their note too early, it would give them time to ruin everything by trying to convince him to change his mind.
Even worse, they might succeed.
THE DISCUSSION OF where Aaron had gone and what he might be doing swirled around her, and Sophia wanted to be anywhere other than that stall. She’d even rather be doing another circus show.
Miss Hancock had finally stepped in and wrapped an arm around Sophia’s shoulder, guiding her out of the stall and past the hovering group of concerned aristocrats. “Since you are already home, Stildon, I’m borrowing your curricle.”
If Lord Stildon answered, Sophia didn’t hear him. She was too thankful to be out of there.
Miss Hancock drove the curricle with an ease Sophia envied. She’d never been able to drive. Normally Sophia fought feelings of jealousy, but right now she embraced them. Anything to ward off the numbness lurking at the edge of her mind.
They returned to Lady Adelaide’s, and Miss Hancock had a hot bath prepared. Sophia stayed in it until the water turned frigid. While she was soaking, Lady Adelaide returned and insisted on calling for a doctor, though in the interest of privacy, she sent the footman to fetch one from Cheveley instead of Newmarket.
There wasn’t much the doctor could do aside from bandage the strikes that were bleeding and suggest she rest. Because the perfect thing for her to do right now was lie around and think over every minute of the day and wonder what on earth had happened.
Maybe Lady Adelaide could recommend a good book.
After the doctor left, Sophia was tucked into that enormous cloud of a bed and a tray of food was brought in. Miss Hancock accompanied the meal and proceeded to distract her with story after story. Half of them couldn’t possibly be true, but Sophia didn’t care.
Miss Hancock was the only daughter of the only son of a wealthy businessman. The sum she’d inherited from her grandfather meant she could travel the world and never marry if that was her wish. According to her tales, plenty of men sought to change her mind, but a grand heiress with complete independence was a hard woman to tie down.
Sophia was just thankful the woman didn’t mind carrying the conversation by herself. As fascinating as her stories were, responding to them was outside Sophia’s capabilities. The way she saw it, her only task was to maintain her composure while deciding what to do next.
She fell asleep listening to Miss Hancock speak of ice skating in Russia.
AFTER AN INTERMINABLE wait, Aaron climbed aboard the mail coach. As much as he would prefer to ride Shadow to London, it would take too long. The coach would drive through the night, changing horses and passing tolls.
It wasn’t as if he intended to stay in London more than a few days. He’d be too busy to ride in Hyde Park anyway.
Sleep came in fits and bursts, and exhaustion rode him hard by the time he exited the coach at a London inn. Rest could come later. First, he had to see to the most important part of his plan.
He took a hack to a perfume store on Bond Street and climbed the stairs to the set of rooms he rented above the shop. He paid his landlord’s daughter to keep it clean and ready for whenever he came to town. It appeared she’d been doing an excellent job. The only dust and dirt in the place was what came off him as he shed his travel clothes and cleaned himself up.
Though the room felt fresh, the clothes he took from the armoire were rough and stiff, the boot leather creaking from lack of proper care. It all felt ill-fitting and out of place.
Rather like him.
Dressed and clean, he set out across Mayfair to a house he’d been to countless times.
Never without Graham, though.
Standing on the street, he looked up at the building, hoping he could trust the assurance he’d been given that this was the one place in London that would always grant him entrance. Would they still mean it when Graham wasn’t in residence? Even more important, once he was inside, would they want to help him?
Graham’s parents had always treated Aaron well, but Lord Grableton was still an earl. The idea of walking up those stairs and asking to see him rather than his son was daunting.
The door opened, and the butler appeared. He cleared his throat. “Lord Grableton wanted me to see if you intended to stand on the street all day.” The man held out a coin. “If you do, please purchase a copy of Sporting Magazine when the lad comes by.”
Aaron shook his head and climbed the stairs. “I don’t mind getting a paper, but perhaps I could find the lad after I’ve completed my business.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem, sir,” the butler said, face devoid of any judgment. “He doesn’t come by until tomorrow morning. This way, please.”
To Aaron’s amazement, he was chuckling as he followed the servant. Everything seemed possible in this house. If a miracle could happen for him, it would happen here.
Lord Grableton stood and shook Aaron’s hand as he entered the drawing room. “Nice of you to join us.”
“Grableton, be nice.” Lady Grableton smiled at Aaron. “Do sit down. I’ve rung for tea, so it should be here momentarily. Is this a simple visit, or have you business with Lord Grableton?”
Aaron lowered himself to the settee. “Actually, my lady, I needed to speak with you.” He took a deep breath and pushed on. These words were for Sophia. He could get them out. “I need a favor.”
WHEN SOPHIA WOKE, the sun was streaming in the window, and the chair Miss Hancock had occupied had been replaced by a chaise in which Jonas lounged. Sophia shoved her hair out of her face and sat up with a small wince as every muscle in her body announced its displeasure. “What time is it?”
“You might want to start by asking what day it is.”
Sophia blinked at her brother. “I slept more than a day?”
“No, but it isn’t the day you fell asleep anymore.” He frowned. “I suppose that’s normally the case when one goes to sleep, though.” He shrugged. “We just don’t usually start at five in the afternoon.”
Sophia blinked again, not yet awake enough to follow his thoughts.
He sighed. “Last I looked it was almost eleven.” He stood and crossed to the bellpull Sophia hadn’t had the nerve to use yet. “They told me to pull it when you woke and someone would bring you a breakfast tray.”
Considering Jonas’s face when he performed the task, he was as comfortable with the idea of summoning a servant as she was. He pulled his hand away after yanking the cord and wiped it on his trousers, drawing a giggle from Sophia.
“I suppose they need those in a house such as this one. Otherwise, you’d spend your whole day running about finding people.” She enjoyed the feeling of a smile on her face. It seemed like ages since she’d worn one. Was it just two days ago that she’d been thinking how nice it was that she and Jonas might not be on their own anymore, that perhaps they could stop living out of a knapsack?
“How do you feel?” Jonas asked.
“Sore. Surprisingly tired. I shouldn’t want to go back to sleep, but the idea of eating and curling back under these blankets is appealing.”
“You might as well.” He frowned at the windows. “I could get my hands on a ladder if you fancy an escape. Otherwise, they won’t allow you two steps past the door until you’re sufficiently healed.”