Still with her eyes closed, Sophia sat up, trying not to sway or groan.Oh dear.She was usually up and mostly dressed by the time Ruby came to her room.
She felt cool fingers pressed to her forehead.“You don’t seem to have no fever.”
“I am not ill.”She finally managed to pry her eyes open and give Ruby a reassuring smile.“Just fatigued.”
“I’d have had a hard time sleeping last night, too, if I’d known there was two handsome gentlemen visitors, unexpected like.”Stifling a yawn, she held up a shift for Sophia to slip into.“Much more fun than Enid nattering on that she saw a ghost again.At least she didn’t scream this time.”
That jolted Sophia awake.“A ghost?”
Ruby nodded.“Down on the beach.I think it was just a lady out for a stroll.Looked a bit like Mrs.Royston, all dressed in grey.She goes walking some nights when she can’t sleep.One of the girls mentioned her, warned us to be careful if we want to go out to meet someone late.”She clutched one hand to her cheek, her eyes wide.“Not that I ever would do such a thing!”
“No, of course not,” Sophia absently replied, her thoughts whirling.Who was the ghost this time?Surely the smugglers would not be using the cavern again so soon.
Good heavens, was it Mildred?Poor girl must be starving by now.Sophia had been unable to find her since the afternoon they’d found the contraband in the cave.Theo had promised to stay away from her excavation site, so she wouldn’t have been able to sneak food for the girl in her workbasket.
Once dressed, Sophia sat at the dressing table and held a cool, wet cloth to her still-gritty eyes while she let Ruby take charge of her hair.Her stomach clenched at the thought of poor Mildred going hungry and hiding on the beach.She had to get food to the girl before she got caught or was hurt.And find a solution to the girl’s fiancé issue.
Ruby refreshed and wrung the cloth out and handed it back.“It will help the puffiness go down.”Last night’s braids brushed out, Ruby held up a large section of Sophia’s loose hair.“Sure wish we could do something different today.Just a little bit fancy.”
“In honor of the handsome gentlemen visitors?”Sophia pictured Fairfax’s younger brothers, and remembered the tension she had sensed between the three of them last night.
Ruby grinned at her in the mirror.
After a glance at the clock on the mantel, Sophia shook her head.“I overslept and need to go downstairs.Perhaps we can do something different when I dress for dinner.”
Ruby brightened at that prospect, and quickly braided and pinned Sophia’s hair.
Xavier was already in the dining room when Sophia entered a few minutes later.He set aside his book—a bible—and stood until she was seated.
They had barely exchanged greetings when Mrs.Digby and Mrs.Royston arrived, then Wallace.
“May I suggest coffee this morning, Miss?”Kendall spoke so quietly, Sophia barely heard him.
She nodded her thanks, then held her hands to her face.Did she still look burnt to the socket?This would never do.It wasn’t a matter of vanity, she told herself; she didn’t want to worry Fairfax or answer awkward questions from Mrs.Digby.And she still hadn’t developed a taste for coffee, even though it had helped her stay awake yesterday when she’d desperately wanted to avail herself of any soft horizontal surface and lie down.
Fortunately no one was paying her much attention, what with two new people at table, especially when the feeling in the room changed entirely upon the arrival of Fairfax and Mr.Huntley.
Whatever caused the tension between the three brothers must be of longstanding, as no one seemed surprised nor attempted to resolve it.
“I brought a gift for you, Aunt Agnes,” Wallace said as soon as he sat down with his full plate and cup.
“All the way from London?”Mrs.Royston giddily clapped her hands together.
“Purchased from Señor Primeiro’s shop on Bond Street.”
Mrs.Royston started to rise, until Mrs.Digby rested her hand on her forearm.
“Eat first, then you can go play.”
Mrs.Royston gave a rueful smile.“I suppose I do tend to get carried away and forget to eat.”She smiled at Wallace.“I’ve been out of canvas for almost a month!”
“Then I’m glad I brought them.”
“There’s something in the trunk for you as well,” Xavier said to Fairfax.“A package Father wanted us to bring in case you were still here.”
Fairfax set down his fork.“And if I hadn’t been here?”
“If you were on your way to Italy, you wouldn’t need it, and Wallace would take it back to London.”
