The Infamous Rogue Part 41

The matron departed from the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Sophia stared at the barrier, thinking about the old woman who had served as teacher and chaperone and even mother for the past few months.

She sighed. She would miss the matron's companions.h.i.+p. Sophia would miss the friends.h.i.+p of others, as well. The d.u.c.h.ess, for instance. Even the Hawkins brothers- wel , three of the Hawkins brothers. She had learned that not every member of the peerage was a cutthroat...but that some cutthroats deserved the epithet. Some cutthroats truly carved the heart and sliced the soul.

She tamped down the bitterness that had welled in her breast. She resumed packing and reached for an other bundle of clothing...when a warm hand slipped over her mouth and a strong arm circled her belly.

Blood throbbed in her veins and she thrashed mightily, kicking her feet and swinging her arms.

"It's me Sophia," he hissed. "Be still!"

Sophia listened to the familiar low timbre and sighed through her nose, muscles loosening.

He removed his hand from her lips. "I'm sorry I frightened you, but I didn't want you to scream and attract attention."

She whirled around and glared at William. "What are you doing here?"

"We need your help, Sophia."

She glanced at the other two brothers, unceremoniously rifling through her luggage.

Quincy crooked his finger and lifted a silk stocking.

She s.n.a.t.c.hed the legging. "What are you doing with that?"

"Where are you going?" the pup wondered.

"I'm leaving for Jamaica in two days." She huffed and stuffed the material back inside the chest. "Now what are you doing here?"

"It's about James," said William.

She bristled. "What about the black devil?"

William frowned, looking haggard. "He was apprehended by the authorities tonight."

Sophia took in a sharp breath. "The charge?"

"Piracy."

"No," she said succinctly.

Quincy balked. "What?"

"No, I won't help you," she returned tersely, and set about packing again, methodically moving through the room, gathering more property.

"But he'll hang!" cried Quincy.

"Good."

William touched her elbow. "I know you're angry with him, Sophia."

She shrugged and dumped the rest of her possessions into the chest without a thought to the wrinkles. "No, you don't know or you wouldn't be asking me to help you."

The lieutenant said softly, "You still care for him."

"Like h.e.l.l I do!"

She slammed the cap over the br.i.m.m.i.n.g apparel and pinched her lips as she struggled with the gold clasps. Quincy sat on the lid, crus.h.i.+ng the items inside, but sinking the closure, allowing her to snap the locks tight and fasten the belt buckles.

"Thank you, Quincy," she said curtly.

William persisted, "And he cares for you."

She glared at the lieutenant. "Liar."

"It's true." Quincy moved away from the chest. "He's a miserable brute, you know that, but the year he spent on the island with you was the one time in his life he was truly happy."

Sophia shuddered. She was overwhelmed with joyful memories-and sick with wretched echoes.

I want her to know pain. I want her to feel the same f.u.c.king despair that I had to feel when she walked away from me.

"Well, he doesn't care for me anymore." The tightness in her breast was suffocating.

"He wants me to feel despair."

William looked at her thoughtfully. "He's angry with you for deserting him."

She cringed. The words stirred regret in her belly: an inkling of regret for walking away from the pirate captain in such a cruel fas.h.i.+on al those years ago.

I was never ashamed of you, Sophia.

She had believed the man deserved the cold farewell for the way he had treated her...

but if he hadn't treated her in an il manner? If he hadn't been ashamed of her, as he'd claimed? Then perhaps she had been wrong, deserting him without a word of good-bye?

"I know he's furious," she retorted. "I was eavesdropping."

"Then you also know you broke his heart when you walked away from him seven years ago."

She fisted her palms and gritted, "Well, now we're even."

The black devil had shattered her heart, too. What more did Wil iam want from her?

Tears? Wails? It was over. t.i.t for tat. Let the blackguard rot!

"We have to save him, Sophia," said Edmund. "He's our brother."

"So save him!" she snapped.

"We need your help." Edmund, so temperamental, furrowed his brow. "Newgate is heavily guarded."

Sophia imagined James paraded to the gibbet, the crowd heckling, before a coa.r.s.e noose was fastened over his hooded head.

She scowled. The vision had failed to bring her the pleasure she'd hoped for, the retribution she'd craved.

"Surely he won't hang tonight?" She placed her arms akimbo. "Before a trial?"

"No, a trial might even exonerate him." William slipped his hands over his hips. "We've already sent word to the castle for the duke to come to London to bear witness to James's character, to affirm his brother-in-law is not Black Hawk."

She brandished her fingers. "There, you see."

"And if the court rejects his testimony?" from Edmund.

"Why would they do such a thing?" She gathered her brows. "He's a duke."

"The authorities are desperate to hang someone for the crime," said Wil iam. "They might think the duke's testimony tainted because of his connection to our family."

"And it would be, but that's not the worst of it." Edmund glowered. "The duke might not even testify, considering his strife with James. He might let our brother hang!"

"Or James might incriminate himself," said Quincy.

Sophia balked. "What?"

"James ordered us not to save him." Quincy scratched the back of his head in an uncomfortable manner. "We intended to capture the leader of the impostors tonight, but it was a trap. James sacrificed himself so we could escape the authorities...but I don't think he cares whether he hangs or not. I wouldn't be surprised if he admitted in the Old Bailey courthouse to being Black Hawk."

"Why would he do that?" she demanded.

Had the notorious rogue lost his mind?

Quincy looked sheepish. "We had a falling out."

"What sort of a fal ing out?"

The pup glanced at the floor. "We want to join the navy as privateers...James isn't too keen on the idea."

Sophia lifted a brow. "I'm surprised you're still alive, that he didn't hang you."

Quincy sighed. "He thinks he's lost us...and you, too. I don't know if he's thinking with a clear head."

Sophia balled her fingers into fists and gnashed her teeth. The black devil was going to hang. And she had to save him? Curse him!

William looked grave. "We have to get to him before word leaks that he's been captured and the gaol is surrounded with spectators."

Quincy nodded. "Last time a woman hanged, forty thousand gathered at Newgate to witness the execution."

"Salacious criminals and infamous crimes draw spectators." Edmund frowned and crossed his arms across his chest. "How many do you think will come to Newgate once word spreads that Black Hawk's in the gaol? We'll never get inside the fortress then. We have to do this tonight!"

"Think of Belle," Quincy pleaded, eyes round and imploring in that charming- hoodwinking-fas.h.i.+on. "She almost died in childbirth two months ago. She's still recovering from the ordeal. The stress of James's execution might send her into regression."

"All right." Sophia lifted her hands in defeat. The pup had sensed her misgiving. He had offered her the one bit of sound reasoning she was wil ing to listen to: the d.u.c.h.ess's good health. "I'll help you save James from the gallows for Belle's sake. What do you want me to do?"

Chapter 24.

T he wal s of Newgate stood thick and craggy with soot.

Sophia stared at Debtors' Door: the ominous gateway that the condemned had to pa.s.s through on their short journey to the scaffolds. The hangman was already preparing the ropes for that morning's executions scheduled to commence at eight o'clock sharp. Simple wood coffins lined the platform, ready to protect the corpses from the rowdy mob seeking macabre souveniers and preserve them for the anatomists.

Sophia shuddered. She had a hard belly. She had witnessed many executions on the island. But knowing James was inside the st.u.r.dy stone walls, that soon he might stand on the gallows and take his place inside a dark coffin, chilled her.

"Where are they?" grumbled Edmund. "They're never late. It's every morning at half past seven, right?"

Quincy gesticulated with his hand. "Here they come!"

Sophia eyed the troupe of hooded ladies, dutifully bobbing along Old Bailey Street.

The females turned the corner onto Newgate Street and headed south toward the prison gates.

Quincy pressed the basket into her hands. "Remember your guise?"

"I'm part of the woman's reform movement for the better treatment of convicts," she repeated the mantra, while Edmund lifted her hood.

William then grabbed her by the arms and looked firmly into her eyes. "Find him.

Signal us when it's safe to enter. Don't go after him yourself. If you're captured aiding his escaping, you'll hang alongside him."

She nodded brusquely.

"We'll have you home in time for breakfast." He sighed. "Good luck, Sophia."

She snorted. Luck? She didn't believe in the rot. Sound wits, good instincts, and a flair with a dagger were all she needed.

Sophia stepped away from the protection of the shadows and scurried across the junction under the cover of dusk. She eyed the great dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, struck by the juxtaposition between eternal life and gruesome death, before she surrept.i.tiously joined the line of females, pretending to be part of the charitable organization.

As she neared the gaol gates, she gripped the wicker handle with more vim. The looming structure was three stories high. There were two single doors at ground level, positioned under lintels, leading to the quarters for the turnkeys. The main entrance was raised and flanked by the lesser doors. Two sets of steps, one from the north, the other from the south, sloped at a steady elevation toward the center entranceway.

Sophia mounted the northern steps, gazing through the double arched windows as she waited in formation, for each woman had to present the contents of her basket before she was permitted entry into the formidable gaol.

Sophia licked her lips as she reached the main door. She flicked her wrist and removed the white kerchief, revealing the bread and cheese.

The burly sentry prodded the contents with a fixed frown before he bobbed his head, granting her pa.s.sage.