The Earl's Dangerous Assignment

by Ginny Hartman

  Captain Wallace held the bag high above her head, dangling it just out of reach. “Not until I inquire about this,” he said as he reached in and pulled out a necklace and hung it right in front of her face.

  Sophia focused on the large, oval ruby pendant surrounded by a circle of tiny pearls and intricate silver filigree. She tried to snatch the necklace, but just like when she'd attempted to grab her satchel, Captain Wallace held it barely out of reach.

  “Give me that,” she hissed. “It belongs to me.”

  In truth, it actually belonged to her Aunt Caroline, but she'd given it to her the last time they'd been together, asking her to keep it safe until she wished to reclaim it. Sophia had thought it odd, for she wouldn't desire to part from such a beautiful, valuable piece had it belonged to her. She'd learned, however, not to question Aunt Caroline, for the woman was not keen to divulge details when prompted. At the last minute, she'd packed it and brought it with her when fleeing Tisdale Manor, eager to return it to its rightful owner.

  “Did you steal it?” Captain Wallace asked as he rubbed his thumb tenderly over the precious stone.

  “Of course I didn't,” she blurted, offended he thought her a thief.

  His question rankled Samuel as well. “Do not accuse the lady for your enjoyment. She said it's her necklace and I insist you take her word.”

  “Take the word of a traitor? Sorry,” Captain Wallace scoffed, “if that doesn't come as naturally to me as it does to you.”

  Without further notice, Samuel planted a facer to Captain Wallace's smug face. Sophia gasped as his head whipped back, several strands of dark hair escaping his queue.

  With a murderous look in his eyes, Captain Wallace bit out, “Take him to be flogged.”

  Sophia couldn't see who he was talking to and hadn't even been aware there was anyone close by until several men scurried forth to do his bidding. Samuel put up a fight as the men attempted to capture him. Unfortunately, being outnumbered and in a weakened state, he was unable to elude them.

  She watched in horror as they dragged him along, taking him away to be punished for defying the Captain. “No,” she screamed as she tried to race after him, but Captain Wallace caught her in his grasp and kept her firmly in place.

  “You can't save him any more than he can save you.”

  “You're evil,” she sobbed, refusing to look into his dark face.

  Ignoring her, he returned to his original line of questioning. “Tell me where you got this necklace.”

  “What does it matter to you?” she spit out, thoughts of Samuel being hurt making her stomach twist into knots.

  “It matters a great deal.”

  “Because of its value?”

  “Not precisely,” he admitted. “Though it's monetary value is great, it's sentimental value far surpasses it.”

  Sophia looked at him strangely, the hint of emotion in his voice shocking her. “What do you know of the necklace?” she asked curiously, her thoughts temporarily distracted from Samuel.

  “I know that it was never intended for you. It belonged to my mother, and her mother before that.”

  Sophia's eyes widened in shock. “Aunt Caroline never told me that,” she confessed.

  “Just as I suspected, you did get it from her. Did you steal it?”

  “Stop accusing me of being a thief,” she yelled angrily. “I've never stolen anything before. My aunt gave it to me last time I saw her and asked me to keep it safe. I was hoping to return it to her once I arrived in Cornwall, but as you know, I never got the chance.”

  “Where is she? What has happened to Caroline?” he asked, with more emotion than she knew him capable of possessing.

  “Why do you care so much about her?” Sophia asked curiously.

  Some strange emotion flashed across his face, but then his expression turned unreadable. “Do you know anything at all about her whereabouts?”

  “None,” she admitted sadly, “though I'm not certain I'd divulge such information to you even if I did.”

  Captain Wallace growled, unhappy with her response. “I can have the information beat out of you if I wish.”

  “You're nothing but a big brute, bullying people about if you don't get your way. Have you ever stopped to consider there are better ways to go about getting people to confide in you? Try being nice for once, showing some respect and kindness. I can assure you that will get you further than your bestial ways.”

  Sophia worried she'd said too much when his black eyes turned dangerous. She took a protective step away from him, fearing he might strike her, but instead he simply wound his fingers around the necklace and slid it into his pocket, then threw her satchel overboard. She ran to the side of the ship and watched as it was carried away on the waves of the sea.

  “You will come to regret the day you ever stepped aboard The Tempest,” he said from behind her.

  “And you, sir, will come to regret the day you ever met me,” she vowed.

  Unfortunately, her threat was lost to him, for it got swallowed up by the ship's horn blasting loudly, signaling they were coming in to port.

  Pain engulfed Sophia's heart as they departed The Tempest and not because she was sad to be leaving it behind. No, her pain was caused by Samuel's. Though he tried desperately to hide his discomfort, she could tell by the way he winced when he moved that the flogging he'd endured had been brutal.

  A carriage awaited them as soon as they arrived at the bustling docks. Captain Wallace shoved them inside before joining them and signaling his driver to take off. Sophia wanted to weep watching Samuel surreptitiously try to keep his back from leaning against the seat squabs, knowing if he did, it would cause him great distress. She hated Captain Wallace with every fiber of her being and couldn't wait to be rid of him.

  Though the day was young, the early morning London air was ripe with the stench of putrid trash and human waste. It was the one thing about London Sophia couldn't stand and had yet to become accustomed to.

  The carriage ride seemed longer than it was, due to the tense silence that filled the carriage. Sophia tried to communicate with Samuel with an occasional glance but became disheartened when he refused to meet her gaze.

  By the time they reached the Main Office, Sophia's spirits were exceptionally bleak. Captain Wallace led them inside, as though he were leading prisoners to the gallows. Shame engulfed Sophia, though she tried reminding herself she was innocent, as the curious glances of people stared her down as they traipsed through the halls.

  “I need to speak to Swinton at once,” Captain Wallace said to the young man sitting at the front desk. They were at once led to a small office to wait.

  Sophia frowned when Samuel refused to sit. Shortly after being shown to the room, a wiry man with spectacles and thinning hair arrived. He looked at the occupants of his office with great interest before turning to Captain Wallace and asking, “What's the meaning of your visit?”

  “I've discovered the traitor and brought her to you,” he answered smugly.

  Swinton looked curiously between Samuel and Sophia before addressing Samuel. “Lord Coldwell, is this true? Wait,” he interrupted just as Samuel was about to reply, “don't answer that yet. Excuse me for a moment.”

  Without further explanation, Swinton left the room. Several minutes later he returned with Finch, Sophia's contact at Whitehall, which caused hope to fill her breast. Certainly, he'd realize this had all been a mistake, a terrible misunderstanding, once Sophia had a chance to explain herself.

  “There,” Swinton said as he sat behind his desk, leaving the remainder of them standing around it. “I needed another witness here before allowing you to testify. Now, tell me, Captain Wallace, what the meaning of this is.”

  Sophia angrily listened as Captain Wallace gave his version of events, painting her out to be a horrible traitor with Samuel as her accomplice. It took everything in her not to interrupt. She glanced at Samuel, wondering if he felt the same way and could tell by his twitching jaw that he did.r />
  When Captain Wallace finally finished, Swinton turned to them and addressed Samuel. “Lord Coldwell, you were assigned to investigate this accusation against Lady Sophia. What were your findings?”

  “I've come to believe that the lady is innocent,” Samuel said with confidence. “The entire time I spied on her, there was nothing in her behavior that indicated she was working with the enemy or sharing secrets. She made no attempt to contact anyone besides her Aunt Caroline in Cornwall and...”

  “That should be evidence enough,” Captain Wallace cut Samuel off. “Caroline's disappearance is proof that she may be in connivance with the girl. I fear she's a traitor to The Crown as well.”

  “I allowed you to finish your diatribe without interruption,” Samuel snapped at the captain. “I would appreciate if you allowed me the same courtesy.”

  “Please do continue, Lord Coldwell,” Swinton interjected as Captain Wallace glared irritably at Samuel.

  “As I was saying, there had been nothing in Lady Sophia's behavior that caused any suspicion until I learned she was set to flee to Cornwall. I grew suspicious of her motives and followed her there only to learn that she'd run away to avoid her impending marriage to Reverend Balfour, a man she neither loves nor admires. Her intent in going to Cornwall was to seek out her Aunt Caroline, but upon arrival, she found her absent. She had no prior knowledge that Caroline has been missing, as no one from the Main Office had made her aware of that fact,” he added accusingly.

  Swinton nodded his head solemnly, taking in every word Samuel spoke. After a moment to process the information he'd been given, he turned to Sophia and asked, “Did you indeed deliver a letter for Bragg, as the Captain claims you did?”

  Sophia's head dipped in shame. “Yes, sir, I did, though I promise you I had no knowledge of its contents. He swore to me it was a missive to his former lover containing funds to support their child. I had no cause to doubt him or believe he was passing information to the enemy.”

  “This is a time of war, Lady Sophia,” Swinton chastised. “One must always be leery.”

  “Of everyone one meets?” she couldn't help asking, baffled by his claim. “I suppose it's not in my nature to be mistrusting, though I fear this ordeal is making me more so,” she said with disdain as she eyed Captain Wallace, who scowled back at her.

  Ignoring her comment, Swinton pushed his spectacles high on his nose and asked, “Did you deliver any other missives for Bragg or receive anything in return from his so-called ‘lover’?”

  “No, sir.”

  “And Captain Wallace, when was the last time you saw Bragg?”

  “It's been months, sir. He disappeared the night word was received from you that there was a traitor aboard The Tempest.”

  “Did you not search for him?”

  “Of course I did,” he snapped, clearly offended by the man's suggestion he hadn't. “Though I figured you, with your unending supply of the country's best spies, were better equipped to find him. Have you not been successful?”

  Swinton bristled at Captain Wallace's condescending tone. Sophia waited, secretly hoping Swinton would berate the arrogant man for his insolence.

  “We've had some of our best men searching,” he began to explain. “However—”

  “You forget that a woman can often do a man's job better,” a pleasant female voice interjected.

  All eyes turned at the unexpected feminine voice. Sophia squealed as Aunt Caroline walked into the room, looking as regal as the Queen herself. Her scarlet dress looked ravishing against her pale skin and dark hair, hair that was pulled to the side, cascading down her shoulder in thick, dark curls. Atop her head sat a stylish hat trimmed with black lace and feathers.

  Sophia ran to her, throwing her arms around her beloved aunt. “Oh, Aunt Caroline! Where have you been?”

  Caroline smiled as she clung to Sophia. “In cleaner places than you have, it would seem. Lud! How long has it been since you've had a bath, Sophia?”

  Sophia turned her head and leveled Captain Wallace with a glare. “It was not a luxury afforded me aboard The Tempest.”

  Caroline laughed as if she found the whole situation amusing. Letting go of Sophia, she went to Captain Wallace and gently scolded him. “I see you haven't changed much in my absence.”

  He looked at her with a mixture of embarrassment and appreciation, his eyes roving over her body, pausing and lingering at her exposed décolletage. “I see you haven't changed much, either.”

  The air sizzled between them, making Sophia uncomfortable. Ignoring the rest of them, Captain Wallace reached into his pocket and retrieved the ruby necklace and deftly slid it around Caroline's neck. She gasped as the heavy stone slid between her breasts.

  Captain Wallace reached up and ran one long finger down the chain, causing Caroline to inhale sharply. “It appears I wasn't the only thing you left behind when you disappeared.”

  Clearing his throat, Finch spoke for the first time, “You can continue your private conversation on your own time. Let's get back to the matter at hand.”

  Sophia was grateful for his interruption, for she actually felt rather disturbed by what she'd just witnessed between her aunt and the captain. There was more going on between the two than she ever realized, and it bothered her immensely. Surely, Aunt Caroline had better judgment of character, didn't she?

  “Well let me be the first to welcome you back, Caroline,” Swinton said as he came from behind his desk, took her hand, and bowed before her. “I must confess your absence was quite disconcerting for all of us. We feared for your life.”

  “Nonsense,” she said with a laugh. “Haven't I told you I'm like a cat? I've nine lives, Swinton, and I've only used up half of them.”

  Swinton smiled at Caroline, looking like a young man in love. Sophia marveled at the effect her aunt had on men. “Tell us where you've been.”

  Caroline straightened her skirts and turned her almond shaped eyes on each of them. “While all of you were busy trying to convict Sophia, I was busy searching for the real traitor. It is with great pleasure that I inform you all that Bragg has been found and turned over to the authorities, along with a half a dozen other traitors he'd been working with.”

  Mouths hung agape as Caroline took a dramatic bow and added, “Don't just stand there staring. Praise me for my noble deeds.”

  Sophia, her eyes wide with admiration, ran to Caroline and embraced her once more. “Tell me how you did it.”

  “Yes, please tell us,” Captain Wallace added, his voice one of awe.

  “The details need not be discussed,” she said with a brush of her hand. “Suffice it to say that your name has been cleared, dear one.” Then turning to the captain, she added, “Though I fear you have some explaining to do.”

  Captain Wallace looked at her with defiance. “You're the one that owes an explanation, my dear.”

  “I don't owe you anything,” she insisted as she let go of Sophia and approached him.

  “On the contrary. Shall I remind you of the last night we spent together?”

  Caroline inhaled sharply before quickly turning away from the captain. Sophia had never seen her aunt so unnerved. “I've nothing further to discuss with you.”

  “Good,” Fitch interjected, clearly annoyed with the entire conversation and anxious to get back to whatever he'd been doing before Swinton had collected him. “Then let us all disperse.”

  “Yes, let us,” Swinton said as he rose from his desk. “I trust you've filed a full report concerning matters with Bragg, Caroline?”

  “Of course,” she said proudly.

  Then turning to Samuel, Swinton ordered, “You will turn in your full report before leaving.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Very well. Good day.” With the bow of his head, Swinton left, followed by Fitch, then Captain Wallace, leaving Caroline, Samuel, and Sophia alone.

  Caroline was the first to speak. “Sophia, darling, you need a bath.”

  “That sounds heaven
ly.”

  Linking her arm with Sophia's, Caroline began leading her to the door. “Let's get you home.” Suddenly she came up short. “Wait, where is home and what do your parent's believe of your absence?”

  Sophia sighed, feeling too exhausted to explain everything. Thankfully, Samuel stepped in and did so, telling Caroline all about how she'd run away to avoid an unwanted marriage, how he was in love with Sophia and planned to wed her before returning to her parent's and claiming an elopement as their excuse for their disappearance.

  “Genius plan, Lord Coldwell,” Caroline congratulated Samuel before saying, “but I'm certain my brother is sick with worry about his daughter. Do you intend to travel to Gretna Green to be married before easing his mind about her absence?”

  Sophia's shoulders slumped as she glanced at Samuel. She hadn't thought about the logistics of being wed.

  “I fear there is no time for that, nor is there time to procure a special license,” Samuel mused, disappointment written all over his face.

  “Nor do I think they'd grant you one, considering the circumstances,” Aunt Caroline added. After a few seconds of silence, her face lit up. “I have a brilliant idea. Allow me to see to the details of the wedding. I can have it arranged it no time. The wedding will take place this evening.”

  Sophia and Samuel exchanged a hopeful look, though they were still doubtful it was possible for them to be wed on such short notice.

  “How will you do it?” Sophia asked her aunt, curiously.

  “Haven't you learned by now not to question my tactics? Suffice it to say, I will take care of everything. Now, if I'm to get this all arranged, I must be off at once. There is no time to waste.”

  “Is there at least time for a bath before then?” Sophia asked hopefully.

  Caroline paused and grinned. “In this case, it's a necessity, not a luxury. Lord Coldwell, keep Sophia with you while you file your report. I will return shortly to retrieve her after I've seen to business, then we will make sure you are fit to be wed.”

  Samuel nodded his head then they both watched as the mysterious and efficient Caroline Whitworth disappeared from the room, intent on accomplishing her mission.