Page 78 of Solving Sophronia

“A pity. Sergeant Lester will be devastated to be deprived of his society news.” They crossed to the other side of the road, away from the heavier traffic. “What will you do now?”

Sophie moved closer to him as they walked past a crowded cart. “I thought I might start my own newspaper—one that workswiththe police. Mimi has offered the funding, and I—I am considering it.”

She sounded nervous and excited, and Jonathan was pleased that she wasn’t giving up on her dream. “If anyone can do it, Lady Sophronia Bremerton can.”

“And perhaps we will work together on another case.”

“Out of the question. I will not even consider it for a moment.” Jonathan shook his head, moving her between two stopped hackneys.

“I thought we were a good team, Detective Graham,” she protested. “But perhaps next time you will let me wear the disguise.”

“There will not be a next time.” He spoke in a firm voice but had the distinct impression that she would somehow talk him into it.

“Well...” She stepped away from a noisy fish vendor waving a herring. “Either way, I do think we should work closely together in the future.”

“My lady, you are not a detective. What will it take for you to realize how dangerous this work—”

She let out a sigh. “Jonathan?”

He turned, wondering what had made her stop, and was not prepared in the slightest when she grasped his face, rose up on her toes, and kissed him.

He recovered quickly, wrapping his arms around her, careful not to press against her injured side, and kissing her in return. Sophie’s lips were warm and her body soft against his.

“We should workcloselytogether,” she whispered as the crowd jostled around them like a stream flowing around a rock.

He smiled against her lips. His last bit of resistance fell away, and he kissed her again. His heart was filled with promise and hope. Jonathan knew he was no longer alone. He had a family; he was cared for. Sophie loved him, and he could trust her with his heart.

Epilogue

Two months later

“To Sophie.” Elizabeth raised herchampagne flute.

“Hear, hear!” Vivian said.

“Yes, to Sophie,” Dahlia said.

Hazel smiled, raising her flute as well.

Sophie grinned. “To theIllustrated Police News.” She clinked her own flute against each of her friends’ and took a sip. The bubbles blended with the excitement bursting inside as Sophie looked around the newspaper office.

Stacks of fresh paper sat on the reporters’ desks, ready to be filled with delicious stories, beginning first thing tomorrow morning. The engravers’ workspace was set at the front of the office with big windows and equipment handpicked by Mr. Potts, her chief illustration engraver. A desk in the far corner surrounded by filing drawers would be occupied by Mrs. Ingram, giving the paper the advantage of her quality researching skills.

Sophie’s own desk, around which her friends were gathered, was in the back corner, where she could watch over everything, separated by a wall from the presses. The smell of machines and oil and ink and paper made her giddy.

“To think you did all this yourself,” Dahlia said. “We are all so impressed, Sophie.”

“We are indeed,” Hazel said. “It is wonderful.”

“I did have help,” Sophie said. “All of this was funded by Mimi. And Vivian helped choose and supervised the assembly of the presses. And of course my connection with the police department...” She could feel the blush spreading over her cheeks.

“Connection,” Mimi said, entering the room. “Is that what you young people call it nowadays?”

“You most certainly could have established a news office without a man,” Elizabeth said, handing Mimi a glass. “But Inspector Graham isn’t so bad. He does at least admire your mind and encourages you to reach your potential. In that he is miles ahead of most of his gender.” She gave a sigh with an impertinent smile. “If you must be engaged, I suppose you could do worse.”

“I believe there are other attributes he also admires about Sophronia,” Mimi said. She winked. “And she about him. Or that is the impression I get from all the stolen kisses.”

“Oh, stop it,” Sophie said, blushing. She gave her grandmother a teasing swat. She wished all of her family were as delighted about the engagement as Mimi, but her parents were at least tolerant of the alliance. Jonathan had saved their family members from murder, after all. And it did help that her father had been fully reinstated into the hunting club. “Now, tell me, Elizabeth, how goes your search for a school?”

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