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Authors: Tracie Peterson, Judith Miller
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shoulder at every turn. And now that Paul is gone, we’re out here in the country with no men at all.”
“You succeeded in avoiding Paul much more frequently than I escaped Daniel’s unwanted attention,” Fanny said. “If you desire an escort, please take Daniel. I would be most thankful.”
Sophie shuddered. “No, thank you! Perhaps we should devise a plan to lose him while we’re in London. Better yet, we should leave him here. There must be someplace where he could be held hostage until we leave for the city. Or we could bribe one of the servants to keep him locked up!”
“Sophie Broadmoor! What a horrid idea,” Amanda declared. “How could you even consider asking the servants to take him prisoner?”
“Then perhaps we could convince Veda and Minnie.” Sophie called the two maids, who were busy unpacking their belongings in one of the adjoining bedrooms.
Veda, the younger of the two, peeked into the sitting room, and Sophie motioned her forward. “If we locate a garden shed or some other confined space, would you help us secure Mr. Daniel inside until we’ve left for London?”
A look of fear registered in the girl’s eyes. “Oh no, ma’am, I could never do such a horrid thing as that. Miss Victoria wouldn’t approve.” She glanced at Amanda. “Would she, Miss Amanda?”
“Go and finish unpacking our trunks, Veda. Miss Sophie is teasing,” Amanda said.
The maid peered at Sophie, who nodded her agreement. Once Veda was out of earshot, Sophie folded her arms across her waist. “I still think the plan has merit. I’d wager there is some sort of structure where the gardeners store their tools.” She walked to the French doors leading onto the balcony and stared down at the perfectly sculpted hedges and terraced lawns. “Of course, the gardeners would likely discover Daniel before we left.”
“I certainly want to rid myself of his company, but I’m not convinced we should do anything to cause him bodily harm,” Fanny said. “And I doubt Aunt Victoria would leave for London if Daniel turned up missing.”
Sophie shrugged. “We’d simply devise some story and say that he’d become bored with the journey and decided to visit London on his own. Aunt Victoria would believe us if the two of you didn’t act suspicious. You must be careful to speak with authority and keep your story straight. My father believes whatever I tell him.”
“I’m not at all sure you should be particularly proud of that,” Amanda replied. “And I, for one, do not intend to participate in any plan to abduct Daniel.”
“Fine!” With her palms on her hips, Sophie turned and was met by Amanda’s admonishing look. “I was merely attempting to help Fanny with a solution to her dilemma. Perhaps you should be the one to keep Daniel occupied, Amanda, since you’re concerned about his welfare.”
“Instead of worrying over Daniel, I think we should be more concerned with what we plan to wear to dinner this evening. In less than a half hour Minnie will go to Mother’s room to assist her, so if you prefer to have Minnie style your hair, you’d best inform her immediately.”
“I thought we were going to have a rest,” Sophie muttered.
“And I thought you longed for the excitement and invigorating pace of London,” Amanda countered. “Make up your mind. You cannot have it both ways.”
Sophie gazed heavenward. Amanda was beginning to act like the grumpy matrons who’d sat on their deck chairs aboard the ship with striped woolen blankets across their legs, books open and frowns tugging at their lips. Occasionally one would look up long enough to issue a curt reprimand to a noisy passerby. Sophie dearly loved her older cousin, but Amanda was growing old far before her time. She needed a beau. Not that Sophie would say so again, for Amanda would simply point out her desire to make a distinctive contribution to mankind. Sophie certainly didn’t want to hear such talk—she had listened to enough of that
“You succeeded in avoiding Paul much more frequently than I escaped Daniel’s unwanted attention,” Fanny said. “If you desire an escort, please take Daniel. I would be most thankful.”
Sophie shuddered. “No, thank you! Perhaps we should devise a plan to lose him while we’re in London. Better yet, we should leave him here. There must be someplace where he could be held hostage until we leave for the city. Or we could bribe one of the servants to keep him locked up!”
“Sophie Broadmoor! What a horrid idea,” Amanda declared. “How could you even consider asking the servants to take him prisoner?”
“Then perhaps we could convince Veda and Minnie.” Sophie called the two maids, who were busy unpacking their belongings in one of the adjoining bedrooms.
Veda, the younger of the two, peeked into the sitting room, and Sophie motioned her forward. “If we locate a garden shed or some other confined space, would you help us secure Mr. Daniel inside until we’ve left for London?”
A look of fear registered in the girl’s eyes. “Oh no, ma’am, I could never do such a horrid thing as that. Miss Victoria wouldn’t approve.” She glanced at Amanda. “Would she, Miss Amanda?”
“Go and finish unpacking our trunks, Veda. Miss Sophie is teasing,” Amanda said.
The maid peered at Sophie, who nodded her agreement. Once Veda was out of earshot, Sophie folded her arms across her waist. “I still think the plan has merit. I’d wager there is some sort of structure where the gardeners store their tools.” She walked to the French doors leading onto the balcony and stared down at the perfectly sculpted hedges and terraced lawns. “Of course, the gardeners would likely discover Daniel before we left.”
“I certainly want to rid myself of his company, but I’m not convinced we should do anything to cause him bodily harm,” Fanny said. “And I doubt Aunt Victoria would leave for London if Daniel turned up missing.”
Sophie shrugged. “We’d simply devise some story and say that he’d become bored with the journey and decided to visit London on his own. Aunt Victoria would believe us if the two of you didn’t act suspicious. You must be careful to speak with authority and keep your story straight. My father believes whatever I tell him.”
“I’m not at all sure you should be particularly proud of that,” Amanda replied. “And I, for one, do not intend to participate in any plan to abduct Daniel.”
“Fine!” With her palms on her hips, Sophie turned and was met by Amanda’s admonishing look. “I was merely attempting to help Fanny with a solution to her dilemma. Perhaps you should be the one to keep Daniel occupied, Amanda, since you’re concerned about his welfare.”
“Instead of worrying over Daniel, I think we should be more concerned with what we plan to wear to dinner this evening. In less than a half hour Minnie will go to Mother’s room to assist her, so if you prefer to have Minnie style your hair, you’d best inform her immediately.”
“I thought we were going to have a rest,” Sophie muttered.
“And I thought you longed for the excitement and invigorating pace of London,” Amanda countered. “Make up your mind. You cannot have it both ways.”
Sophie gazed heavenward. Amanda was beginning to act like the grumpy matrons who’d sat on their deck chairs aboard the ship with striped woolen blankets across their legs, books open and frowns tugging at their lips. Occasionally one would look up long enough to issue a curt reprimand to a noisy passerby. Sophie dearly loved her older cousin, but Amanda was growing old far before her time. She needed a beau. Not that Sophie would say so again, for Amanda would simply point out her desire to make a distinctive contribution to mankind. Sophie certainly didn’t want to hear such talk—she had listened to enough of that
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