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S ophie had known and endured both fear and pain in her life, but this waiting was torture.

Helpless, she was forced to sit in this small space and worry about the people she cared for most in this world.

She needed her brother, who was so small and vulnerable, home safe in her arms, and Patrick…

the thought of never seeing him again was devastating.

Mary, too, was now living in fear because of her.

“Please keep them safe,” Sophie whispered as again she peered out of the window.

“Close that curtain, woman!”

Sophie pulled back at the words and closed the curtain once more as Patrick’s voice reached her. Seconds later, it opened, and he and Stephen climbed inside.

“Timmy?”

“We have a location where Jack Spode is most often found, Sophie. We are hopeful that we will find Timmy there,” Patrick said, taking the seat beside her. His hand took one of hers and threaded their fingers together.

“Our sources believe it is a tavern where he rents rooms above,” Stephen added as the carriage began to move.

“I will come with you this time in case Timmy is inside.”

“No, you will stay in the carriage until either Stephen or I come for you,” Patrick said.

Sophie looked at the man beside her, big and unyielding in a heavy greatcoat, yet in this she was determined to succeed. She needed to find her brother, and to do that, she had to be braver and stronger than she had ever been before.

“But only I know what Mary looks like, Patrick. Therefore, it is imperative I accompany you.”

“No, Sophie.”

“You could walk right past her or Jack Spode and would not realize either.”

“And he will see you,” Patrick added.

“But you will keep me safe,” she said, knowing the words for the truth. “Surely you see how important it is for me to come with you.”

Silence settled in the carriage for several minutes; only the clip-clop of hooves was heard in the night air.

“I want you safe, Sophie, and I can’t ensure that if I take you in that tavern with us.”

She waited a heartbeat before saying, “I understand that, but you know it’s the right thing to do.”

“I hate to admit she’s right, but she is. She could describe Jack Spode to us, but I’m sure it would sound like hundreds of men in London. Only she can tell us if he or Mary, the nanny, is in there,” Stephen said.

She didn’t speak, just sat quietly while Patrick came up with another way to stop her from accompanying them into a tavern.

“I don’t like it,” he eventually said. “You will not say or do anything unless I tell you, Sophie. This situation is fraught with danger, and if at any time Stephen or I order you to return to the carriage, then you will do so. Is that understood?”

Sophie nodded but stayed silent.

“There will be no negotiation once we are inside. You will do exactly as either Stephen or I say. Do I make myself clear?”

“I am a woman, my lord, and not a fool. I can understand simple orders,” Sophie said.

Stephen snorted, Patrick muttered, and Sophie turned to look out the window as she closed her eyes and prayed for her brother’s safe return. Keep him safe, Mary.

“One problem I can see, Colt, is that she can’t go into a tavern in these parts looking like she does.”

Sophie looked down at her clothes as Stephen spoke. Her cloak was black, so surely it was inconspicuous enough.

“She looks like a woman of quality or someone about to lecture people on being good citizens.”

“Surely not,” Sophie said. “I am dressed modestly.”

“You’re remarkably na?ve for someone who was in service and worked in a tavern,” Patrick said, reaching for the ties of her bonnet.

Undoing it, he lifted it off her head. “The women in there will be ladies of the night, Sophie,” he added, taking his knife from his boot and slicing off one of the lilac satin ribbons. “Do you know what that means?”

“Of course I do,” she scoffed. “I know about prostitutes. Why are you destroying my bonnet?”

Patrick wrapped the silk around her neck and tied it in a bow at the front, his fingers brushing the skin. She shivered, and his eyes locked briefly on hers before he finished.

“Take down your hair,” Patrick said.

“Now use the other ribbon to tie it all together loosely,” Stephen advised.

“Should I be worried that you believe you know how a lady of the night should look?”

“We were undercover, Sophie. We met people from all walks of life,” Stephen said smoothly.

“Am I to be a lady of the night, then?” Sophie asked.

“I doubt you could ever look like a lady of the night—you’re too sweet—but it will be safer for you going into the tavern looking like that,” Patrick said.

He thinks I’m sweet.

Reaching for the ties at her throat, she then released her cloak.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m sure ladies of the night wear far less than what I currently am,” she said and then undid the top two buttons of her dress.

“I don’t believe that will be necessary.” Patrick’s voice sounded harsh.

“With just those few alterations, you could now pass as a lady of the night,” Stephen said, his tone mocking.

Sophie watched as Patrick shot him a dark look that had him laughing.

“I’m suddenly regretting my decision to have you accompany us,” Patrick said, running his eyes over her.

“If this will help us find Timmy, then I must do it,” she said.

“She’s right, Colt. Now let’s go,” Stephen said, reaching for the door as the carriage stopped.

I’m coming, Timmy.