Page 36 of Summoner of Sins

“We’ll marry tomorrow, provided Ironheart can get us the license. If I’ve not made progress with Whitehouse by the day after, we’ll leave London.”

“And go where?” Sophie asked quietly, not wanting to frighten Abigail.

But it was Abigail who answered. “We’ll go home.”

“Home?”

“Back to Mama and Papa’s.”

“Oh Abby…” Sophie wanted to explain that the house wasn’t theirs any longer.

But it was Max who answered. “Not a bad idea. I wonder if the cottage is yours by right.”

“It smells here,” Abigail wrinkled her nose. Sophie could only assume the child meant London. Ironheart’s home was very well kept.

“While Ironheart is acquiring the license, I’ll speak to a barrister about the sale of my townhome.”

Sophie looked back at him, her eyes wide. “You’re serious. We’re going to leave London?”

“If you would like to, then I’d be happy to go. London was only the place I had a position, it has never had my heart.”

“Had?” she asked, looking back at him.

“I think the club is dissolving, but even if it doesn’t, it’s not the position for me now that I’ll have a family.”

“You could do Papa’s job. He counted.” Abigail added, clearly full of ideas.

Max cleared his throat. “Counted?”

“He owned a counting house,” Sophie said.

“Did he own the building?” Max asked.

“I don’t know, and my mother didn’t say. She told me to come here and seek out my uncle.”

Max grimaced. “I wonder if she worried about you taking on the responsibility or if they didn’t own either property.” He gave them both a light squeeze. “Perhaps we can start by finding out.”

Sophie looked back at him, her lips softly parted. It felt as though, piece by piece, her life was falling into place. Max was the blessing she’d always hoped for. He left shortly after, saying he had a few details to arrange. Every time he left, worry ate at her gut, but she spent the morning with her sister, making the child as comfortable as possible. After a morning spent exploring Ironheart’s home, they settled in the library to read.

As the noon hour approached, a maid appeared at the door. “Miss Wren, you have a visitor.”

Sophie’s head snapped up, her brow furrowing, when Tabbie appeared in the doorway.

She cried out, jumping up from her seat, and ran to embrace her friend. “What are you doing here?”

Tabbie hugged her tightly. “I know I ought not have come. Ironheart sent word that I shouldn’t leave my father’s house, but I had to come.”

Sophie pulled back, assessing Tabbie’s clothes. “What are you wearing?”

Tabbie laughed. “I traded with my maid, walked here, while she plays croquet in the garden pretending to be me.”

Sophie shook her head. Her friend shouldn’t have put herself in danger, but she was so glad her friend had come. “I’ve missed you.”

“And I you,” Tabbie hugged her again. “When you didn’t come for tea, I became worried.”

Pulling the other woman aside, she whispered the events that occurred over the past few days, including Max’s proposal.

“Oh, that is wonderful!” Tabbie squeezed her hands. “But what of Lord Whitehouse?”

---