Read Online Imposter Bride by Patricia Simpson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Patricia Simpson
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place?
“Is there something wrong, constable?” Mrs. Betrus
asked.
“Yes. My assistants and I are going door to door
warning good citizens such as yourself to be on the lookout for
this young woman.” He handed a paper to the housekeeper, which
Sophie guessed was the handbill being circulated about her.
Mrs. Betrus glanced down at the sheet. “Sophie
Vernet? Who might she be?”
“A murderess. A dangerous criminal.”
“Really?” Mrs. Betrus held the paper close to the
end of her nose as if nearsighted. “She looks so innocent!”
“It’s not the best likeness, madam, but yes. That’s
Sophie Vernet. We have reason to believe she might be in the
neighborhood. She was last seen near the Queen & Cross, which
is not far from here.”
“Where they had the fire last night?”
“Yes, ma’am. I wouldn’t doubt but she started
it.”
“Why would she do such a thing?”
“To cover her tracks. This young woman is devious,
madam. She’s managed to elude capture for two days. But we’ve got
more men on the job now and have notified all the ports, all the
turnpike officials. She won’t get far.”
“She’s young for such things, isn’t she? It says
here that she’s only nineteen.”
“True. But the devil is in this one, madam, and I
advise you to be wary of anyone who might fit her description.
Sophie Vernet would sooner slit your throat than ask for the time
of day.”
“Lord!”
“No need to worry, though, madam. We have men on
every street corner for blocks around. They know what this
murderess looks like, and they are keen on finding her. You can be
sure of that. In the meantime, keep your doors locked. Keep your
eyes open. And if you see anything suspicious, I would ask that you
to send a note around to the Chestnut Lamb. There might even be
something in it for you in the way of compensation.”
“I will keep it in mind, constable. Thank you.”
“And I thank you, madam. Goodnight.”
In despair, Sophie sank against the wall. What would
she do now, with thief-takers lurking on every corner, waiting to
apprehend a suspicious-looking female traveling alone? How could
she possibly get past them? And what would she do if she could make
it to a ship? More agents of the constable would be waiting for her
at the docks. One thing she knew for certain: she could not leave
this house for a few days at the very earliest. As Sophie Vernet,
she was literally trapped in the home of Captain Ramsay. As
Katherine Hinds, she could buy herself valuable time.
Sophie fingered the hard lump in the pocket tied
beneath her skirts. The diamond-studded buckle was her only hope
now. She would use it to buy her freedom and passage to another
country where she could start life anew, but only if she escaped
the local authorities.
Until the witch-hunt for her had died down, however,
she would have to conceal her identity and her whereabouts. What
better way to hide than in the guise of another woman. But would it
be possible to pull off such a charade? Sophie frowned. In
appearance, she was very much like her mistress. The small painting
that had been sent to Edward Metcalf could have been the likeness
of Katherine or Sophie. No one but Captain Ramsay had met
Katherine, and even he had not seen her face. The only problem she
might encounter would be if Katherine had survived the fire and
made herself known.
Sophie lingered in the dining room until Mrs. Betrus
returned downstairs to the kitchen. Then she retraced her steps to
her bedchamber to await the arrival of Captain Ramsay, whom she
hoped would be able to provide her with news of the fire.
Normally Ramsay ate alone near in his study at the
back at the house, but that evening he was forced to take his meal
in the dining room with Miss Hinds. Mrs. Betrus served a beef stew
and great chunks of bread, with slices of winter apples and cheese.
He was amused by the young woman’s hearty appetite, and decided to
let her eat her fill before he brought up the
“Is there something wrong, constable?” Mrs. Betrus
asked.
“Yes. My assistants and I are going door to door
warning good citizens such as yourself to be on the lookout for
this young woman.” He handed a paper to the housekeeper, which
Sophie guessed was the handbill being circulated about her.
Mrs. Betrus glanced down at the sheet. “Sophie
Vernet? Who might she be?”
“A murderess. A dangerous criminal.”
“Really?” Mrs. Betrus held the paper close to the
end of her nose as if nearsighted. “She looks so innocent!”
“It’s not the best likeness, madam, but yes. That’s
Sophie Vernet. We have reason to believe she might be in the
neighborhood. She was last seen near the Queen & Cross, which
is not far from here.”
“Where they had the fire last night?”
“Yes, ma’am. I wouldn’t doubt but she started
it.”
“Why would she do such a thing?”
“To cover her tracks. This young woman is devious,
madam. She’s managed to elude capture for two days. But we’ve got
more men on the job now and have notified all the ports, all the
turnpike officials. She won’t get far.”
“She’s young for such things, isn’t she? It says
here that she’s only nineteen.”
“True. But the devil is in this one, madam, and I
advise you to be wary of anyone who might fit her description.
Sophie Vernet would sooner slit your throat than ask for the time
of day.”
“Lord!”
“No need to worry, though, madam. We have men on
every street corner for blocks around. They know what this
murderess looks like, and they are keen on finding her. You can be
sure of that. In the meantime, keep your doors locked. Keep your
eyes open. And if you see anything suspicious, I would ask that you
to send a note around to the Chestnut Lamb. There might even be
something in it for you in the way of compensation.”
“I will keep it in mind, constable. Thank you.”
“And I thank you, madam. Goodnight.”
In despair, Sophie sank against the wall. What would
she do now, with thief-takers lurking on every corner, waiting to
apprehend a suspicious-looking female traveling alone? How could
she possibly get past them? And what would she do if she could make
it to a ship? More agents of the constable would be waiting for her
at the docks. One thing she knew for certain: she could not leave
this house for a few days at the very earliest. As Sophie Vernet,
she was literally trapped in the home of Captain Ramsay. As
Katherine Hinds, she could buy herself valuable time.
Sophie fingered the hard lump in the pocket tied
beneath her skirts. The diamond-studded buckle was her only hope
now. She would use it to buy her freedom and passage to another
country where she could start life anew, but only if she escaped
the local authorities.
Until the witch-hunt for her had died down, however,
she would have to conceal her identity and her whereabouts. What
better way to hide than in the guise of another woman. But would it
be possible to pull off such a charade? Sophie frowned. In
appearance, she was very much like her mistress. The small painting
that had been sent to Edward Metcalf could have been the likeness
of Katherine or Sophie. No one but Captain Ramsay had met
Katherine, and even he had not seen her face. The only problem she
might encounter would be if Katherine had survived the fire and
made herself known.
Sophie lingered in the dining room until Mrs. Betrus
returned downstairs to the kitchen. Then she retraced her steps to
her bedchamber to await the arrival of Captain Ramsay, whom she
hoped would be able to provide her with news of the fire.
Normally Ramsay ate alone near in his study at the
back at the house, but that evening he was forced to take his meal
in the dining room with Miss Hinds. Mrs. Betrus served a beef stew
and great chunks of bread, with slices of winter apples and cheese.
He was amused by the young woman’s hearty appetite, and decided to
let her eat her fill before he brought up the
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