silence stretched longer this time. Lady Theo showed no inclination to interfere. She simply leaned against the wall of the room and waited. And waited. When it looked as though she was prepared to stand there until kingdom come, Daniel stepped forward. “We didn’t mean harm, Lady Thornleigh. My sister was just repeating gossip.”
Sophie closed her eyes at his stupidity. Not only had he identified Eliza as the tale-bearer, but he had as good as told Lady Theo that the gossip originated from his mother. Trying to deflect the hurt Lady Theo must feel, she stepped forward herself. “It really started when I called their mother a whore as well.”
Lady Theo glared at her. “I’ll deal with you later,” she said. Then she turned to address the others. “As for the rest of you, let me say one thing: I’m appalled and disgusted at the level of your conversation. Such words are never said in company and your manners show a regrettable lack of civility. Go home and tell your mothers exactly what happened here. You are to present yourself at your grandfather’s house tonight and either apologize in person or bring written apologies bearing your mothers’ signatures with you. And one more thing. Tell them I shall punish Sophie myself and that she’ll be over later to give her regrets in person. Off you go.”
The four cousins didn’t need any more encouragement. After they scuttled out of the room, Lady Theo turned to Sophie. “Come here, child,” she said softly. “You know what you did was wrong, don’t you?”
When Sophie nodded, the boy stepped forward again. “She was defending you, Lady Thornleigh. It was four against one.”
“That fact hadn’t escaped me, although your name has,” Lady Theo replied. “You are?”
The boy swept her a bow, as elegant as any she’d seen at Buckingham Palace. “Philippe Jean-Luc Morriset, at your service, milady. My friends call me Luc, though.”
“Well, Luc, I’m don’t understand how you managed to get involved in this brawl, but you have my thanks.”
“It was four against one, milady. A gentleman must always help in those situations. Only cowards stand around and watch, n’est-ce pas?”
“Indeed,” Lady Theo answered. “But force doesn’t solve problems. There’s no winner today, only losers, I’m afraid.”
“But, like today, force is sometimes the only answer. If you don’t believe me, look at Miss Sophie’s arms. I’ll bet they’re covered with bruises. Those four are always twisting them or pinching her when they think her papa won’t find out. Today, they got a bit more than they bargained for. Maybe they’ll think before they do anything next time.”
Lady Theo gently pulled up Sophie’s sleeve. As Luc predicted, recent and fading bruises covered her arm. Her lips tightened and her eyes flashed angrily but her voice was gentle as she asked, “Why didn’t you say anything, Sophie?”
Sophie shrugged. “What could you have done? You’re going to Beauharnois with Papa. I’ll be alone then, and if I’d said anything, it would have made things worse.”
Luc leant forward. “You’ve got to learn to stand up for yourself, Sophie,” he said. “My brother says that if you don’t, people will always take it for granted that they can walk over you. You’re going to get hurt anyway, so it might as well happen when you fight to protect yourself or the things you believe in.” He shot a look of apology towards Lady Theo, then added, “With all due respect, milady.”
Lady Theo looked at Luc, at his ripped jacket, torn trousers, and dirty, bloodied face with appreciation. “Luc, if I or Mr. Mallory can ever help you, do not hesitate to ask. You have my word on it,” she told him, holding out her hand. “Thank you.”
Sophie looked at Luc. She, more than Lady Theo, knew exactly how much she owed him. “I thank you too. And I promise to help you as well, no matter what.”
Luc blushed, smiled his thanks, and limped off. Lady Theo turned to Sophie. “Now, young lady, let’s go back to the house and get your injuries looked after. Then you and I are going to have a little talk. One of several I plan to have before the day’s over.”
CHAPTER FOUR
That night the house was crowded. The ABCs, their wives, and all their children gathered in the Green Drawing Room. Apologies were tendered and graciously accepted. Harmony should reign, thought Sophie.
But she knew, maybe more than anyone, that the strange war she’d sensed just days earlier had only intensified. Bert’s wife, the one whose comments had precipitated most of the day’s troubles, did not seem remorseful. She wore a “biding my time” look on her face that she thought no one noticed.
Elias assumed an angelic expression when he apologized for his conduct towards Lady Theo, but the glance he gave Sophie was pure venom. As he passed her he whispered, “It’s too bad the Morrisets have gone back to Montreal, isn’t it? Who’ll look after you next week when your father and Lady Thornleigh are in Lower Canada, now that Luc’s gone? I can’t wait to find out, can you?”
Sophie glared, but before she could answer the ABCs rose to their feet, along with their wives and children. Bart walked to the door but Bert stopped to play the diplomat. After kissing Lady Theo’s cheek, he showed his teeth in that crocodile’s grin. “Now that’s dealt with, perhaps life can go on as before. Remember what the Bard said, ‘All’s well that ends well.’ I’m sure the children will be the best of friends again now that they’ve let this out of their system. Boys will be boys and all that.”
“If he thinks that, he’s either remarkably stupid or even more clever than I’ve given him credit for,” Lady Theo commented acerbically once everyone had left. “I’m tired. Let’s get the final piece of business over with; then we can finish with this dreadful day.”
With that she rang the bell for Mrs. Bates, and when the housekeeper appeared, requested five minutes of her time. “And ask Mary to come as well, please.”
When Mrs. Bates stalked back into the room with Mary, Lady Theo beckoned Sophie across to where her father sat. “Show your arms to your papa, child,” she said softly.
Sophie felt ashamed. “I don’t want to,” she whispered.
“You must,” Lady Theo replied, so adamantly that Sophie reluctantly pushed one sleeve up to reveal the ugly black and blue bruises speckling her arm. Her papa gasped audibly and scowled, and Lady Theo turned to Mrs. Bates and Mary. “How could you have allowed this to happen?”
For once, Mrs. Bates was flustered. “We didn’t know,” she began.
“Didn’t know? Didn’t know that Daniel, his sister, and the twins have been making this child’s life a living hell for the past few weeks? Didn’t know, you say; well, I say, I think not.”
“We didn’t know it was this bad,” Mrs. Bates went on, trying to redeem herself.
“What about you, Mary? What excuse can you give? You’re the one Mr. Mallory entrusts Miss Sophie’s care to. You’re the one that bathes her, that dresses her, aren’t you?”
“I — I tried saying something, your ladyship,” Mary began, red-faced, but lapsed into silence immediately upon one glare from Mrs. Bates.
Sophie could see that Lady Theo wanted throw her hands up into the air
