She opened her mouth and dropped her jaw. What was he talking about?
The grey woman stepped forward. “I have told her not to speak.”
Ryland’s lips twitched. “She certainly is an obedient little thing, isn’t she?”
“Yes,” the grey woman agreed. “I’ve not had a speck of trouble with her. It’s been surprising, to say the least.”
“Well, my lady,” Ryland said, “I give you permission to speak.”
Sophie opened her mouth, but no words came out. After a few seconds, she finally said, “You have no right to hold me here. I have done nothing wrong.”
“You are aware that the distribution of obscene literature is against the law, are you not?” Ryland said.
“I don’t pretend to be an expert in any of our laws,” Sophie said. “But whether or not this literature you speak of is against the law has nothing to do with me.”
“Really, my lady, why must you lie to us?”
Sophie trembled. “I am not lying. I have nothing to do with any of it.”
“I’m afraid that we have proof of your association with an underground publication entitled The Ruby.”
Sophie gasped. The Ruby? The name sounded familiar. Of course, she had heard Ally speak of it. How Ally knew was a mystery to Sophie. She loved her sister dearly, but there were some things sisters did not need to know about each other. She couldn’t say anything about Ally, though, and risk these people going after her. She sealed her lips shut.
“So you have nothing to say for yourself?” Ryland said.
Sophie shook her head. The less said the better at this point. Soon one of the servants would notice she was gone from the estate, and they would begin searching. At least, she hoped they would. With both Evan and Ally gone, and her mother and the earl gone, it was quite possible no one would even notice she was missing. She spent most of her time stealing around the house quiet as a mouse. She was never a bother to anyone, or at least she tried not to be.
Then a thought struck her, q
uick as a bolt of lightning. Perhaps they had mistaken her for Ally. Perhaps Ally had something to do with that underground paper. She had always loved writing, and she did seem to do a lot of it lately…locked in her bedchamber…
No. It couldn’t possibly be. Ally would never write anything like that, though she did read a lot. She knew so much about things she couldn’t possibly have experienced herself. Although, the liberties she’d allowed Mr. Landon to take… Oh, Ally, how could you get yourself into such a mess?
There was only one thing to do. Sophie had to protect Ally, so she would continue this charade. And because she knew nothing of whatever Ally was involved in, she could tell them nothing. They didn’t look like the kind of people who would physically harm her, although she might be wrong about that. She shuddered.
Sophie let out a sigh and resigned herself to her fate. Van Arden had jilted her, and no other gentlemen had come calling. She wasn’t beautiful and vivacious like Ally. Though she’d tried to deny it, she had surrendered to spinsterhood long ago. Now she could do something worthwhile. She could protect Ally. Her destiny was no longer meaningless.
It was no less than Ally deserved. Though two years younger, Ally was stronger and braver than Sophie could ever be. So many times Ally had taken beatings from their father to protect Sophie. And she had allowed it to happen. She had been too weak to protect her baby sister.
This was her chance to make it up to Ally. For now, she was Ally, and if these people had any intention of harming Ally, the harm would come to Sophie. Though filled with fright, a calm peacefulness settled over her. She could finally turn the tables and protect her strong and beautiful sister. To be able to do so saturated her with a tranquil joy.
* * *
Ally’s heart nearly stopped. “What?”
Evan’s face went even whiter. He was truly frightened. Ally had never seen him this way.
“I have no idea. It’s not like Sophie to run off—not like some other people I could mention.”
“My goodness, Evan, you can insult me later. We must figure out what has happened to Sophie.”
“And of course all of my resources will be at your disposal,” Mr. Landon said.
Evan clenched his fists. “We have no need of your resources, Landon.”
Ally tugged at Evan’s elbow. “We should let him help. No expense can be spared to find Sophie. We must find her!”
“I have every intention of finding Sophie.” Evan shoved Mr. Landon toward the door. “Your business here is ended.”