Ghost of the Thames by May McGoldrick Read Free Book Online

the
moon.
    They were now rolling noisily over the
cobbled streets of London’s western suburbs, and before long the
carriage came to a stop. She looked outside the window and saw the
brick walls of Urania Cottage. She watched him put his hand out to
open the door. He stopped and looked into her eyes.
    “Did anyone know that you left the
house tonight?”
    “No.”
    “You might get into trouble if they
found you left the premises.”
    “That is true.” Sophy looked at the
house apprehensively. “The girls living here have very strict rules
they need to abide by. Do you think they would put me on the street
tonight?”
    “If asked, you tell Mrs. Tibbs that
you left the Cottage at my instruction, and that any further
inquiries should be directed to me.”
    “Thank you,” she whispered.
    Sophy was surprised when he stepped
out of the carriage and offered his hand. She took it. The effect
was the same as before, and she felt the sudden rush of beating
wings in her stomach.
    Outside, the smell of the coming dawn
was in the air. She took a deep breath and tried to rekindle some
memory. Nothing. Everything seemed so new.
    “The next time you dream of a place
you remember, you will wait for the daylight. Do you
understand?”
    She noticed his imposing height for
the first time. His mood was quick to change, and she could hear
the tone of command in his voice now.
    “Yes, Captain.”
    “You do understand that you exposed
yourself to extreme danger tonight.”
    “Yes, Captain.”
    “And you will not, in the future, ask
for anyone’s pistol.”
    “No, Captain,” she replied in a
serious tone. “I know it is better just to take it, fire it, and
return it to its owner rather than asking permission.”
    His face darkened. A muscle twitched
in his jaw.
    “I should go in,” she said quickly,
starting toward the alley leading to the back door.
    “Sophy,” he called after
her.
    She turned. “Yes, Captain?”
    “I will be going back to Hammersmith
Village tomorrow midday on an inquiry of my own. I can take
you.”
    She wished she never had to go back
there. She knew there was no need. But she also knew that the
opportunity of seeing Captain Seymour again made it more than
worthwhile. In fact, it changed everything.
    “Thank you. I would like that,” she
replied, turning and disappearing into the shadows.
     

CHAPTER 6
     
     
    Sophy was a temptation.
    How long had it been since he’d been
with a woman? Too long, Edward thought. Just one hint of
encouragement from her and he would find a room at the nearest inn
and take her there.
    Her hesitation and her vulnerability,
though, had only encouraged him to behave like a gentleman. Down
deep, he didn’t know for certain if her amnesia and her actions
were honest or diabolically calculating, but he did know one thing:
he was truly entranced by her beauty and her boldness in action. In
fact, he was downright excited at the prospect of seeing her
again.
    Even at twenty eight years of age,
Edward had never had a mistress for any extended period of time. As
far as marriage, it never struck him as fair or even logical to
keep a woman waiting for him during the long absences required by
his service to the Royal Navy—and he’d never met anyone that he
cared about enough to keep him home.
    The carriage stopped in front of the
house and Edward stepped out. The rosy light of dawn was already
spreading across the eastern sky. Inside, he was not surprised to
be greeted by Reeves, his butler. The housekeeper, Mrs. Perkins,
was waiting only a few steps behind.
    The household staff, especially Mrs.
Perkins, continued to be very anxious for any news of the
sixteen-year-old Amelia. For the past three years, Mrs. Perkins had
been the one primarily charged with overseeing the succession of
governesses and tutors for the young woman. She continued to
express the guilt she felt so keenly at what she saw as her lack of
supervision the night of the young people’s
disappearance.
    From all