Page 86 of The Duke's Only Desire

“You are the only other witness to what happened,” Shay finished. “We need you to testify about what you saw. Just state the facts. That will be enough.”

“No.” Fear flared in her eyes. “They’ll pin the blame on me at worst, accuse me of sitting on the information at the very least. Either way, I end up in Newgate.”

“You’ll be safe,” Shay assured her. “No one will hurt you. We won’t let them.”

The power of his position permeated the air at that small comment, but Sophie knew the real reason the woman hesitated to agree. “We will protect your daughter,” Sophie promised. “No harm will come to her. I swear to you.” She paused. “She’s part of our family now, too.”

“She’s a by-blow,” Cora snapped, but a distinct emotional quavering could be heard in her voice.

“That makes no difference.” Sophie tightened her fingers on Shay’s arm. “Will you help us, then? Will you testify about what happened that night?”

She glanced around the street, her jaw tightening with uncertainty. “I don’t know if…”

When her voice trailed off, Shay asked, “Has anyone else approached you about it?”

Sophie felt a chill slide up her spine. He meant Malcolm.

Cora White smiled with amusement at the idea. “No, or I would have made a tidy profit from it.”

Shay tensed beneath Sophie’s hand. “How so?”

“I need money,” she announced bluntly. “The work I get is piecemeal at best.” As if reading the suspicion on Sophie’s face, she clarified, “I need it for my child. Don’t want none for me, but her… Little Ruby shouldn’t be a foundling, stuck away in some wet nurse’s cottage where she’s treated no better than if she were a piglet at a trough, then raised in a hospital by strangers. I want my baby back.” Her voice broke. “I can’t do that without money.”

“Then let us help you,” Sophie urged as she left Shay’s side and took Cora’s hand. “Tell us how much you need, and we’ll be certain you receive it.” Oh, that was certainly not negotiating from a position of strength! But Sophie didn’t care. Shay needed this woman, and this woman and her child needed them. She looked straight into Cora’s eyes and promised, “And know—even if you decide not to testify on our behalf—we’ll still help you and Ruby. We’re not buying your testimony but simply helping you.”

Cora eyed them both for a long moment as she considered their words. Then she asked quietly, as if everything rested on this one question, “Do you know where my baby is? The hospital won’t tell me.”

“Yes,” Sophie answered with a squeeze to her hand.

“Then I’ll help you,” Cora decided. “I’ll testify about what I saw that night butonlyif you keep your promise about caring for Ruby.” She slid a distrusting glance at Shay. “I know how little a peer’s promise is worth, and the only way I can be certainyou won’t change your mind after I’ve given my testimony is to protect myself.”

“We’ll set up an account for you with any accountant or solicitor you choose,” Shay assured her, “and we’ll make certain it’s funded before you sign your statement. Five hundred pounds should suffice to begin with. Do you agree to those terms?”

The woman’s eyes widened only for a moment, before Sophie saw her regain control of her countenance. “Ononefinal condition,” she negotiated. “That you take me to see my child as you said you would.” She slid a hard gaze between Shay and Sophie. “I won’t do anything until I see for myself that Ruby is healthy and being cared for until I can get her back.”

Sophie didn’t blame her for being cautious. Yet she couldn’t help but wonder if Shay had ever faced such an obstinate opponent when negotiating prisoner exchanges during the wars. But theywerewaging a battle, and his life—and hers—rested on the outcome.

“Of course,” Shay agreed and gestured at their hired hackney waiting down the street. “She’s in Dulwich. We can take you there this morning.”

“No.” Cora clasped tightly to Sophie’s hand. “Only your wife can come with me. Just us. I don’t want to scare the baby or cause problems by having you there.”

Sophie bit her bottom lip and cast a glance over her shoulder at Shay. But his face remained impassive even as he asked, “Because I look like a monster?”

“Because you’re a man,” Cora answered. “Don’t care none what you look like. You’re aman,” she repeated, as if that fact weren’t at all obvious. “Women understand each other when it comes to babies. Men don’t.”

Sophie nodded, pulled her hand away from Cora, and turned to Shay. She repeated meaningfully, “Women understand each other.” She rose up on tiptoe to place a kiss to his cheek. “Goback to the George and come up with a list of accountants and solicitors who can establish a trust for Ruby, and I’ll return straight there with Miss White once we’re done in Dulwich.”

Considering her plan, he nodded reluctantly. “All right. But don’t be long.”

Sophie gave him a reassuring smile, then wrapped her arm through Cora’s and led the woman toward the hackney. “This way, Miss White. I have a spare coat in the carriage and lots of rugs to keep us warm. And we can spend our ride with you telling me everything you can about your daughter.” She squeezed her arm. “I can’t wait to meet my niece.”