you. It could have gone dreadfully awry.”
Sophia sank back onto the settee, her knees shaking. “I just…I’m afraid I let my temper get the best of me. Peter Sharpe lied today, without a single qualm, or even a trace of regret. I never made any conscious decision to go after him. I saw him leave the courthouse, and the next thing I knew I was following him.”
“But to what end, Sophia? What did you hope to gain from such a risky scheme?”
Sophia grimaced. “I suppose I was thinking I could threaten him into a confession of some sort. I thought if I could prove he was a thief himself the court might dismiss his testimony against Jeremy. It was foolish, I know.”
Lady Clifford sighed. “I’m afraid it was. Your recklessness will get you nowhere, Sophia. I only hope you’ll learn your lesson before you get hurt. Now, Lord Gray said something about a promise. What did he mean?”
Gussie abandoned Lady Clifford in favor of Sophia’s lap. He rolled over onto his back, and she rested a hand on his fat belly. “Nothing nearly as significant as he seems to think. I gave him my word I’d stay away from Peter Sharpe.”
Lady Clifford raised a brow. “And will you? I know you don’t give your word lightly.”
“He wrung the promise from me by threatening to take me to the magistrate at once if I didn’t agree to his terms, but I do intend to keep it, yes, mainly because it costs me nothing to do so. Sharpe got a close look at me today, close enough he’d recognize me in an instant if he saw me again. It’s best if I keep out of his way.”
“Hmmm. You’ll have to find another way to go about this business, then.”
“Yes, but I can’t think how right now. My thoughts are all muddled. We’re running out of time, my lady.” Jeremy had been so terrified in the courtroom today, so wasted and defeated. Thinking of him made more tears spring to Sophia’s eyes. “Jeremy’s situation is desperate. If we don’t act soon, it will be too late for him.”
Lady Clifford rested her hand on Gussie’s head. “My dear child, it’s never too late for anything. But I have a suggestion for you, if you’re willing to hear it.”
“Of course, I am.”
Lady Clifford chuckled. “Don’t be so certain, because you may not like it. It occurs to me Lord Gray could prove quite useful to us.”
Sophia’s spine went rigid. “Useful? How? He’s meddlesome and high-handed, not to mention rigid and condescending. Worst of all, he lacks imagination.”
“That remains to be seen, but what matters here is he’s an earl, not to mention the Ghost of Bow Street. If anyone can get into Newgate to see Jeremy, it’s Lord Gray.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” At one point or other they’d each tried to gain access to Jeremy, but no amount of begging, pleading, threats, or bribes had done any good. Even Lady Clifford had been turned away.
But the Ghost of Bow Street? No one would dare turn him away. He likely had a dozen different ways to get inside the prison. If she could see Jeremy, even for a short time, he could tell her in his own words what had happened that night at St. Clement Dane’s. He’d give her something she could turn to account—she knew he would.
“But how can it be done, my lady?” Lord Gray believed Jeremy was guilty, and he despised the very sight of her. “Why should Lord Gray choose to help us?”
“Well, my dear, I can’t say for sure he will. He may refuse, but I think it might be worth asking him, just the same.” Lady Clifford chucked Gussie under the chin, then turned to Sophia, an odd little smile on her lips. “After all, there’s no crime in asking, is there?”
Chapter Eight
“Manipulative, at best. At worst, she’s devious.” Tristan slid one of his pawns across the chessboard without giving much thought to where it would land. “She gave me her word she’d stay away from Sharpe, but I’d be a fool to rely on her keeping it.”
God knew he’d been fool enough already. He should have taken her straight to Sampson Willis while he had her in his carriage yesterday. Perhaps then he wouldn’t have dreamt of a dark-haired phantom with a scandalously bare bosom.
“Yes, I believe you’ve said so once already.” Lyndon was toying with his knight and didn’t look up. “Check.”
“She’s shrewd, too. Lady Clifford