Page 33 of Lady Sophia’s Lover (Bow Street #2)
The silence in the office was smothering as his gaze scanned the pages.
Sophia fought to keep her breathing steady, and wondered why she should be so nervous.
After all, she was fairly certain what the records would reveal, and as she had said to Ross, it no longer mattered.
She had forgiven him, and had found a measure of peace in the process.
However, her body felt like a watch that had been wound too tightly, and she dug her nails into the chair arms when she saw the frown that pulled at Ross’s forehead.
Just as Sophia thought she would go mad from the tension, Ross spoke with his gaze remaining on the court records.
“I remember it now. I was the sitting magistrate that day. After hearing the case, I sentenced John Sydney to ten months on a prison hulk. Considering his crime, it was by far the lightest punishment I could deliver. Anything less would have aroused such public outrage that I would have been forced to step down from the bench.”
“Ten months on a prison hulk because of picking someone’s pocket?” Sophia asked incredulously.
“Surely the punishment far outweighed the crime!”
Ross did not look at her. “Your brother was not a pickpocket, Sophia. Nor had he fallen in with a group of petty thieves. He was a highwayman.”
“A highwayman?” She shook her head in bewilderment. “No. That isn’t possible. My cousin told me…”
“Either your cousin was not aware of the truth, or she thought it was kinder to keep it from you.”
“But John was only fourteen!”
“He had joined a gang of highwaymen and embarked on a string of increasingly violent robberies, until all four were brought before me and accused of murder. For some reason Sydney never mentioned his title—he identified himself as a commoner.”
Sophia stared at him blankly.
Ross met her gaze then, his face impassive as he continued in a monotone.
“They stopped a private carriage containing two women, a small child, and an elderly man. Not only did they rob the ladies of their watches and jewelry, but one of the highwaymen—Hawkins—took a silver sucking-bottle from the child. According to the women’s testimony, the child began to wail so piteously that his grandfather demanded the return of the silver bottle.
A scuffle ensued, and Hawkins struck the old man with the butt of his pistol.
The grandfather fell to the ground, and whether he died of the injury or his excitation is not clear.
By the time the gang was captured and brought before me, public sentiment was greatly aroused against them.
I bound the older three over for trial, and they were condemned and executed in short order.
However, in light of John Sydney’s youth and the fact that he had not personally attacked the old man, I managed to give him a lesser sentence.
I had him sent to the prison hulk—which earned a great deal of public fury and criticism, as most were calling for his death. ”
“None of that sounds like my brother,” Sophia whispered. “I don’t think John would have been capable of such crimes.”
Ross replied with great care. “A young man would not be able to survive in the London underworld unscathed. I suspect your brother was hardened from his experiences in the rookeries and flash houses. Anyone would be corrupted by such a life.”
Sophia felt nauseated by the revelations, not to mention painfully ashamed. “All this time I’ve blamed you for injustice,” she managed to say, “when you actually did the most you could to help him.”
Ross contemplated the fragile parchment before him, his long fingers brushing over the faded script.
“I remember there seemed to be something in him worth saving,” he said absently.
“It was apparent that he had become involved in something beyond his ability to control.” Ross’s gray eyes narrowed as he continued to stare at the court documents.
“Something about this case troubles me,” he murmured, “I have overlooked something…I sense there is some connection that has yet to be made, but I’m damned if I can figure it out. ”
Sophia shook her head slowly. “I’m so sorry.”
His lashes lifted, and his gaze turned warm. “For what?”
“For intruding in your life…for seeking vengeance when none was deserved…for putting you in an impossible position.” She stood up with a great effort, her head pounding, her throat blocked, so that she could hardly breathe.
Ross came from behind his desk and tried to put his arms around her, but she gently repelled the attempt. “The best thing I could do for you,” she said, “is to disappear.”
His long fingers clamped around her upper arms, and he moved her in a soft shake.
“Sophia, look at me,” he demanded urgently.
A sharp note, like anger or fear, entered his voice.
“Look at me, dammit! If you disappeared, I would find you. No matter how fast or how far you went. So put that thought out of your head.”
Staring dazedly into his piercing gray eyes, she nodded while her mind buzzed with miserable speculation.
“Now promise me,” he went on tersely, “that while I’m gone today, you will not do anything foolish. Stay here, and when I return we will sort things out. All right?” When she didn’t respond, he lifted her until her toes barely touched the floor. “All right?” he repeated in a meaningful tone.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’ll wait for you.”