by Rue Allyn
“Then why the need for privacy?”
Richard lifted a brow.
How could she tell her cousin that she wanted to confront Richard about his silence, especially when he’d proposed and she’d never given him a definitive answer? She couldn’t. “It is a private matter between Richard and myself. You need not concern yourself.”
She strode to the door, opened it, and paused in the hallway. “Are you coming, Richard?”
He shrugged and winked at René. “I think we’ll all be better off if we humor her.” He closed the door on her cousin, filling the small hallway. “Well?”
“Not here.”
“Where then?”
“Somewhere we can’t be overheard.”
“Behind the stables then. There’s little cover for anyone to hide, and it’s far enough from the tavern for privacy.”
They slipped down the stairs and managed to get to the rear of the stables without encountering anyone.
Her back to Richard, she stood beside the wooden wall and hugged herself.
“Mari, what is it? Why do you need to speak privately with me?”
His hand touched her shoulder with the same gentleness she heard in his voice. She turned to face him.
“You have been so silent these past few days. I am uncertain about what is to come.”
“If I have been silent, it is only because I, too, am uncertain. We must discuss our options, but Rene should be included in that conversation.”
“True. I had also thought we might discuss the future, and if we leave tomorrow, all opportunity will be lost.”
He smiled. “I gather you refer to my proposal.”
“You should not feel obligated to marry the French Duchess. My reputation would tarnish your hero’s luster.”
His lips thinned. “As if I would care for that.”
“You should. The ton will pity you for having a faithless jade as a wife. Consider how you felt at Fontainebleau when you thought your wife’s reputation ruined.”
“That was all pretense. Was I supposed to be happy to appear the cuckold?”
She hadn’t been happy about it either. She’d had too much of being painted faithless. All she wanted was the peace brought by the joy and safety of her family. She’d never have that if she married for propriety’s sake.
“No. But don’t you see that is what you would deal with if we were to marry in truth. Some would accuse you of fortune hunting as well. Do you want to be thought a man greedy enough to marry a loose woman in order to gain a fortune?”
His face twisted. “I would know better. The opinions of others do not matter so much.”
“They will matter when you lose friendships. When the army decides you are not fit to represent crown and country.” No matter how much it hurt she had to make him see that marriage to her was bad for both of them.
The corners of his mouth lifted. “I’d planned to resign my commission anyway.”
“Richard, no. You love the army.”
He shrugged. “Not so much these days.”
“Really?”
“What I feel about the army is neither here nor there. Have you considered that marriage to a hero of Salamanca might restore some luster to your reputation rather than lessening mine?”
She hadn’t. “I very much doubt it. I am beyond redemption.”
He reached out and pulled her close. “You need not be. Do not let the gossips define you. You are a much stronger, braver woman than I imagined. If you can wrest your cousin from the machinations of someone like Malveux, surely you can rescue a little thing like your reputation.”
His touch, light as it was, pulled at her. She wanted him as she had never wanted Jennings, whom she’d loved with all her heart. And wasn’t Jennings what really stood between her and Richard?
She stepped back, wishing with her entire being she could stay in his arms. She could if she accepted his offer. But he did not love her, and a loveless marriage would shatter under the weight of the guilt they both felt over Jennings’s death. No, Richard’s caresses were not for her.
“Reputation is no little thing to me. Even if it were, do you imagine that our marriage will wipe out all that has come before? Do you think to erase Jennings from my mind and heart? Or is your proposal an offer of absolution for driving him to his death?”
“I don’t believe that. You were not at fault for what Malveux did. I am sorry I ever suggested such a thing. I can only say I was crazed by grief.”
Grief. She had been mired in grief and remorse the day Richard came to Stonegreave. From that moment, she’d begun to recover, first in anger, then in eager excitement, and finally in passion. “What do you think now?”
“The Frenchman whose bullet killed Jennings is responsible for his death. Nothing either you or I could have done would change that. It’s not your fault, Mari. It isn’t mine. Will you condemn us to loneliness for the rest of our lives simply from some misplaced loyalty to Jennings?”
“No, not because of that.”
“Then why?”
“Because we are not in love.”
He searched her face for a long time. “But we are friends, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Love can come from friendship.”
“Perhaps with two people who have less painful histories, but not for us.”
“Why not?”
She shook off his hold and clenched her fists. “I don’t know. I only know that our marriage would hurt us both, and I won’t hurt you anymore. I’m weary of hurting as well.”
“I’ve no wish to bring you pain, Mari.”
“Nor I you. So please give up this idea of our marriage.”
“I don’t agree that marrying would hurt either of us. All I can do is try to convince you differently.”
“We haven’t time or opportunity for courting.”
“True. Promise you’ll allow me to court you when all this is done, and I will not mention the topic until then.”
It was the best she would get for now. “I promise.”
When the time came, she would find stronger arguments to convince him their marriage would be folly.
They returned in silence to their chamber.
“I’ve been thinking,” René said as they entered. “You might do well, Mari, to stay in disguise until we reach Stonegreave.”
Mari frowned at the clothes she’d left earlier. “Why?”
“We will not be out of Malveux’s reach in England. You won’t truly be safe until you are home at Stonegreave and can inform your aunt of the danger Malveux threatens,” Richard said.
“Then what? Live as a prisoner in my own home for the rest of my days?”
“Only until I can let you know that Malveux is no longer a danger to you and your family.”
“You intend to go after him yourself?” René asked.
“Much as I would like to, I believe dealing with Malveux must fall to other men.” Richard stared at Mari while he spoke.
He was challenging her to oppose him. She raised a brow in acceptance of his dare.
“Please excuse me, I want to try on my new apparel.” She straightened, slipped from the bed, and disappeared behind the screen that hid the chamber pot. The men continued to plan their movements for the journey to Dieppe.
She tuned them out as she changed clothes. Richard and René weren’t saying anything new. The three of them would ride hard and fast toward Dieppe, and three days from now, four at the most, they would stable the horses. Mari and René would remain in the stable until Richard could hire a ship and returned to get them. In England, they would continue at speed to Stonegreave. Once assured that Mari and her family were safe, Richard would proceed to London and report to his superiors.
He expected to return to Stonegreave and convince her to marry. Mari would have the few days of his absence to find the means to guarantee he could not wed her. Then she would get on with the rest of her lonely life. She would never marry.
• • •
>
They’d made good time, leaving the tavern before dawn and not stopping until noon before they settled out of sight in a small glade to wait for nightfall.
Now the last pale fingers of sunlight disappeared below the tree line as the three urged their mounts forward. No one spoke. What was there to be said? Only the sound of cantering hooves broke the silence.
The waning moon cast little light, which was why they were nearly upon the deadfall before they saw it. The horses slowed and came to a halt of their own volition.
The huge tree blocked the road completely, with both ends shrouded in the forest.
“We’ll have to go around and guide ourselves by feel. René, you take the lead,” Richard said.
The young man had begun to turn his mount when Richard heard the distinctive clicks of firearms being cocked.
A mounted figure, pistol in hand, rode out from the tree line.
“We meet again.” The sneer belonged to Malveux.
Richard reined his mount, moving to place himself between Mari and Malveux.
“Remain where you are, Captain, unless you prefer to watch her grace die before you can reach her.”
Richard halted. Mari was now slightly behind him and to his left, between him and René, who had stopped at the edge of the road.
“Very wise of you,” Malveux stated. “Now, the three of you be kind enough to toss all your weapons to the ground in front of you.”
Richard cast a quick glance at his companions. Both were pale and looking to him for help. “Do as he says.”
Mari nodded and tossed down her musket and pistol. René followed suit. Richard went last.
“All of your weapons, Captain. My companions and I were informed you carry a large knife, and I am certain that any well-equipped soldier would have a second pistol secreted about his person.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Richard drawled.
Malveux raised his left hand and extended his index finger.
One shot rang out. Richard noted the location of the muzzle flash in the instant before René cried out.
“My arm!”
“A small demonstration of the consequences for failing to follow my orders quickly.”
Richard kept silent as he tossed away his knife and the small pistol wedged between the top of his boot and his calf.
Malveux made a gesture, and a man hurried from behind the deadfall. He bound René’s wound then gathered all the discarded weapons to stash behind the barricade.
“It really is a pity that you threw in your lot with Marielle and her cousin. I had no interest in you until you helped these two foil my plans, making me and my compatriots hunted men in our own country. Now I shall have to get rid of you too.”
“If murder is your intent, why haven’t you killed us already?” Richard challenged,
“Tut, tut. While murder is perhaps the most efficient means of ridding myself of you, it is not sufficient to satisfy my requirements for revenge.”
“And what would those be?” Richard polished his nails against his coat to give the impression he cared little about the question or its answer. He was in truth much more interested in distracting Malveux and his men long enough for Mari and René to make their escape.
“I want to watch each of you suffer. However, I have not yet made up my mind how best to accomplish that. Enough of this. We waste time.” He raised an arm, waving at the trees and the deadfall. “Venez mes amis. Dépêchez-vous. Hurry, bind our prisoners then follow me.”
Richard’s arms were jerked behind his back and a blindfold fixed over his eyes. He could only assume that Mari and René suffered the same treatment.
His horse began to move. Staying in the saddle was not a problem for him. Every soldier had to be able to ride hands free. However, the same was not true of Mari and René. For now, he could do nothing to help them save pray.
The shifting of his weight in the saddle told him they had skirted the deadfall and returned to the road where they paused for a few moments. Their captors appeared to be arguing about something. He could hear Malveux’s voice and several others, but the discussion was too hushed for Richard to be able to discern what was said.
“Enough!” Malveux shouted. “If you wish to be paid you will follow my plan. Understand?”
Richard heard seven grudging agreements.
“Let us be on our way. I wish to be at the church by dawn. I am impatient to become a married man.”
Richard nearly fell from the saddle. The man was mad. The only woman available for Malveux to wed was Marielle. What could he possibly hope to gain? Only the Stonegreave fortune and the protection of one of the oldest duchies in England. Would England shelter a French traitor? Why not? No one in the English government knew that Malveux had plotted to murder Napoleon in the hope of gaining France for himself. Marriage to Marielle would not only give him fortune and rank but the means of ensuring everyone’s silence. No doubt the cur planned to hold Marielle’s well-being hostage to her companions’ silence. The man was clever enough to know how Richard and René would suffer to see her under Malveux’s thumb, thus giving Malveux everything he wanted.
The Frenchman would never succeed. Exactly how to accomplish that Richard was uncertain, but he would find a way.
• • •
Mari almost wept when she heard Malveux announce his impending marriage. He could only mean to marry her. It would be a fitting revenge, for she would suffer in ways she could not have imagined as little as one day ago. Duchess or not, as his wife she would have no rights over him. He could do with her land, her family, her person, exactly as he wished. The indignity of his touch would be insignificant with all the damage he could, and probably would, cause to her family and friends. She would be powerless to prevent the least cruelty on his part.
Could she refuse to say the vows? Perhaps she could slit his throat as he slept. Could she bargain for René and Richard’s freedom? She must watch and wait for an opportunity. One would arise, she was certain.
Malveux ordered the party to start off again, and Mari needed all her concentration to remain mounted. Riding blindfolded and without hands to control the reins was far from easy. She’d finally begun to feel steady in the saddle when her horse came to an abrupt halt.
“Stand and deliver,” a familiar voice squeaked.
“Halt,” Malveux called. “Well, well, what do we have here? Thieves? I regret gentlemen that I have no gold, silver, coins, or jewels. Let us pass. I am certain a richer pigeon will come along soon.”
“Mais non, monsieur le comte, you do have something of great value to us.”
“Arnoud, mon ami, is that you? Come closer, so I may see you clearly.”
Of course. Arnoud, No one else had a voice like that. But how could he be here? How could he have known which direction they took?”
A rustling of hooves sounded. “As you see, monsieur, it is indeed me, your old friend Arnoud.”
“Ha, ha, ha. This is a fine joke. I see you have brought twice as many men as I have. Put up your pistols now and join us. We go to celebrate my wedding to her grace, the Duchess of Stonegreave.”
“Tut, tut, that we cannot do, my friend. We have another event to attend. It is you who must join us.”
“Wh . . . what do you mean?”
For the first time Mari heard uncertainty and perhaps fear in Malveux’s voice.
“I mean that the men you believed loyal to you, who helped you capture the three English, are my men and loyal only to me because I pay them with real money, not pretty promises as you do.”
“But you promised me their aid for as long as I needed it.”
“Ah, but you no longer need their aid. Mes amis take his weapons and bind him. You there, release his prisoners and help them from their horses.”
Mari soon found herself standing on the ground beside Richard and René, free of blindfolds and ropes. She rubbed her aching wrists as she watched the exchange between the two villains.
&nbs
p; “I am very displeased, Arnoud. Why are you behaving so foolishly?” Malveux continued his brazen objections even as men who had recently obeyed him took him from his horse and tied his wrists behind his back.
“It is not I who is the fool. You crossed the wrong man. A very, very foolish thing to do. As a result, you are a great prize, monsieur le comte. Bonaparte has placed a high price on your head. Enough for me and my men to live well for the rest of our lives, and all we have to do is deliver you to Bonaparte. Fortunately for us, these English who you were looking for came to my tavern. They made it easy to draw you out from your latest hiding place.”
“No. No, Arnoud, you must not do this. Can’t you see that our alliance is more profitable than any one favor to an exiled emperor? Please, I be . . . mmph.
One of the men stuffed a dirty rag in Malveux’s mouth.
“Chien,” the man said. “Your yapping wearies us all.”
Mari choked back a snicker and looked at Richard. He was smiling, and beside him René grinned.
“Eh bien,” Arnoud muttered. “As for you, English.”
“Yes,” Richard replied with a great deal more calm than Mari felt.
They might be free of Malveux, but they were still at Arnoud’s mercy.
“Had I my way, you would be held for ransom. However, the reward for the capture of monsieur le comte is very large, and ransoming you would be troublesome. You may be on your way with my blessing.”
One of his men was leading their horses away. Malveux had been slung across a saddle, and the men began to disappear into the forest.
“Ah, we will need our horses.”
Arnoud nodded. “I suppose you will. But they are very good horses. I can get almost as much for them and their tack as I can for the ransom I am giving up for letting you go free.”
“I see. You seek compensation for your trouble.”
“But of course.” Arnoud smiled, revealing a row of tilted and blackened teeth.
“I don’t suppose you would take my word as a gentleman that I would return with payment twice the value of those horses?”
Arnoud frowned. “It is a tempting offer. But you must know that a horse in hand has much more value than the promise of money. I must decline your kind offer. Adieu monsieurs et mademoiselle. Good walking, wherever you are bound.” He wheeled his horse around, waved, and set off after his men.
