by Laura Landon
"Quickly, Mademoiselle," their driver said when the door opened and a very attractive young girl appeared. "Follow Jennie inside. It is best that no one sees you."
The heat from Gabriel’s hand pressed against her back as he ushered her into the building.
They followed the girl down a dimly lit hallway and up one flight of stairs and then another. Stale smoke and ale assaulted her nose, and jovial laughter echoed below them.
Lydia knew they must be above an inn because the boisterous voices they’d heard when they first entered gradually faded the farther they climbed.
When they reached the top floor, Jennie led them down a long, narrow hallway, lighted only by the sun streaming through two half-draped windows at either end.
"Here, my lady," she said, opening a door on the right. "I’ve prepared this room for you. Your lady’s maid will have the room next to you. And you, monsieur. You will sleep here." She pointed to a door across the hall.
Gabriel nodded.
"Thank you," Lydia said, stepping in front of the girl and into the room. Gabriel stepped in behind her.
The room was plain, but neat and clean, with a hand-sewn quilt atop the bed and a thick comforter at the foot. Besides the bed, there was a fireplace on one wall and a small chest and a table with an oval mirror on the other. A cushioned chair sat beneath the room’s only window and another chair, a straight-backed, wooden chair, sat on the other side of the bed. The furniture was roughly hewn and plain, but sturdy and serviceable.
Beside the bed was a small bedside table with a jar of fresh flowers in the center. The thoughtful gesture caused a lump to form in Lydia’s throat. In this very chaotic and dangerous world she’d entered, she suddenly found something that was normal.
"Are you all right?" Gabriel asked from behind her.
She turned to face him. "Yes, fine."
She smiled when the expression on his face relaxed.
"Would you like some tea?" Jennie asked, still standing in the doorway.
"That would be wonderful, if it’s no trouble."
"Oh, no trouble at all."
The girl left the room as the man who’d picked them up at the docks entered.
"Gabriel, my friend. How good it is to see you in the flesh."
A wide grin brightened the Frenchman’s face and in a gesture that was unexpectedly personal, the man called Jean-Paul pulled Gabriel toward him. The two clasped in a heartwarming embrace that exemplified a true friendship. "The last report I received said you’d left the Crimea more dead than alive. I’m glad to see you decided to live."
"So am I, Jean-Paul."
The two friends took a step apart and Jean-Paul turned to face her. "Do you know I owe this man my life?"
"I’m sure Lady Lydia isn’t interested in—"
"But I am," she interrupted. "Rumors of his heroic deeds have circulated throughout London, but not by anyone with firsthand knowledge. Please, continue."
"Jean-Paul..." Gabriel warned.
"See how humble he is?" A glimmer of mischief brightened the Frenchman’s eyes. "Only a humble man is embarrassed by tales of his valor."
"Jean-Paul," Gabe warned a second time, but she was glad his friend ignored him.
"Yes, this fool saved me not once, but twice. The second time he saved me from an ambush and took the bullet that was intended for me. He’s a very brave man, this courageous fool, and I would have hated for him to die before I could repay my debt."
Gabriel patted his friend on the shoulder. "I’m afraid when we’re finished, I’ll be the one who’s in your debt."
"No, my friend. I’m honored to help. But before we plan what we must do, please introduce me to this most beautiful lady."
Gabriel held out his hand and brought Lydia up next to him. "Jean-Paul, I’d like you to meet Lady Lydia Landwell. Lady Lydia, Jean-Paul Chandliere."
Jean-Paul bowed over Lydia’s hand. "Lady Lydia, it’s a pleasure to meet you." A frown deepened across Jean-Paul’s forehead. "Landwell? Are you by chance a relative of Captain Landwell?"
"His sister."
"Ah, I should have realized. Bravery must run in the family. Otherwise I cannot imagine a reason an English lady would choose to go anywhere with you."
"Lady Lydia is posing as my wife to help me get past the French soldiers. We’re on our honeymoon, you know."
"Brilliant!" A grin split Jean-Paul’s ruggedly handsome features. "What a remarkable plan. When I received your instructions, I feared you were attempting the impossible. French soldiers have every inch of coastline guarded. You wouldn’t have made it into France had you tried. Dozens of innocent people have already lost their lives because of the official order to shoot first and ask questions later."
"And I’ve put you in additional danger," Gabe said.
She heard the concern in Gabe’s voice and felt a twinge of guilt.
"There is danger all the time, my friend. But who would suspect a simple innkeeper of anything but serving a tankard of ale and a passable meal?"
She couldn’t help but be drawn to Gabriel’s friend. She guessed his age to be older than Gabriel by a dozen years or more, yet still enjoying the prime of life.
A thousand questions popped into her mind, but before she could ask any of them, the door opened and Jennie returned with a tea tray filled with warm bread and cheese. Jean-Paul took the tray from the girl’s hands.
"This is my daughter, Jeannette Louise," he said proudly. "After her mama. We call her Jennie."
The young girl smiled and curtsied properly.
"Jennie, fetch another chair so we can all sit. Lady Lydia, would you pour? I see by the look on my friend’s face that he is about to fall to the floor. Is it your leg?"
Gabriel sat in one of the chairs. "It’s fine. Just a little stiff from the ship."
Jean-Paul gave him a look that said he didn’t believe him, then sat in a chair opposite Gabriel.
She poured, handed each man a cup, then sat in the chair beside Gabriel. "What do you know about my brother, Jean-Paul?" she asked before taking the first sip of her tea. She couldn’t wait any longer. If there was any news, she needed to know what it was.
Jean-Paul’s arm stopped midway to his mouth. His gaze traveled first to her, then slowly moved to Gabriel. Only after Gabriel nodded did Jean-Paul answer her question. His voice was soft with a tinge of hesitation, and his reply nearly took her to her knees. "He is still alive. That is all I can say."
Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she held them at bay.
"They are holding him, along with another British citizen, at Mont-Valérien." Jean-Paul’s gaze moved to Gabriel. "Freeing him, if that is your plan, will not be easy. He is being kept under heavy guard. The idiotic French believe they have captured two valuable English spies."
"Two?" Gabriel muttered. "Do you know the other man’s identity?"
Jean-Paul shook his head. "No one seems to know who he is. But the rumors circulating suggest the authorities think they’ve made quite a catch. When do you plan to free them?"
"Before Monday."
Jean-Paul let out a slow whistle, then leaned back in his chair. "It can’t be done. That only gives us three days."
"We don’t have a choice. A Captain LeBrouche interrogated us when we arrived. He announced with a great deal of pride that the executions would begin on Monday." Gabriel stretched out his leg and rubbed his thigh. "And there’s another problem."
Jean-Paul focused more closely. So did she.
"Our French captain and I have previously met. Once he remembers where, he’ll connect me to Austin, and we won’t stand a chance of getting in without half the French army waiting for us."
Jean-Paul’s eyebrows arched. "Then let us hope the captain has a poor memory." He focused on Gabriel more intently. "Do you have a plan as to how we are going to get your friend out of prison?"
The serious expression on Jean-Paul’s face told Lydia how risky he considered their mission.
Gabriel smil
ed. "I thought I’d leave that minor detail up to you."
Jean-Paul laughed. "You know me too well."
"I know you’ve probably spent every waking hour since you got my message plotting a brilliant plan."
"Not brilliant, my friend. Just a simple idea that might work."
Gabriel nodded. "Are Jacque and Henri here?"
"Below, enjoying my fine ale."
"Perhaps you might persuade them to bring their ale and an extra glass to my room so we can go over this simple plan of yours?"
"Of course." Jean-Paul rose from his chair and turned to face her. "It was a pleasure to meet you. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask Jennie."
"Thank you."
Jean-Paul left the room and she sat without rising. Gabriel remained seated, too.
For several long seconds neither of them spoke. The air crackled with a tension she couldn’t explain, yet couldn’t deny. Now that they were here, she truly realized how dangerous their situation was. Complete strangers were willing to risk their lives to free Austin. How could she live with the guilt if something happened to one of them? Or, worse yet, if something happened to Gabriel?
She wasn’t sure she could survive if she lost him again.
"Are you all right?"
She looked into his eyes and the knot in her stomach clenched tighter. "I’m scared."
She hadn’t meant to say the words out loud. Hadn’t meant to let him know how frightened she was. But the look on his face said he understood.
"You’d be a fool if you weren’t."
"What if something happens and—"
His raised hand stopped her words. "Don’t," he said with a shake of his head.
His gaze held hers for a long moment, then he rose to his feet and separated himself from her. Even though she’d promised herself she’d do this without her heart becoming involved, that had been a lie. She’d never wanted to feel his arms around her more than she did right now, never ached for him to envelop her in his all-consuming strength like she did at this very moment.
A frown furrowed against his forehead as if her thoughts were obvious to him and he didn’t like them. He turned his back to her and braced one hand against the wooden frame around the window while he looked down onto the alley below. The gesture was an attempt to distance himself from her. Perhaps to allow her time to dampen the feelings he knew she felt, perhaps to keep her from making a mistake they would both regret.
She suddenly felt foolish again, as foolish as she’d felt that day in the garden when she’d professed her undying love, and he’d told her he didn’t want her.
He shifted his weight from his injured leg. The move didn’t lessen his formidable presence. Even injured he seemed indomitable, as if no earthly force could threaten him. Yet, she knew it could. He was human, after all. He’d nearly died once before.
She closed her eyes and told herself she could not care – she would not care.
But she did.
The love that bound her to Gabriel was an eternal love. She knew that now. She would become the Marquess of Culbertson’s bride, but she would never give him her heart. She’d given that part of herself to Gabriel the first time they’d met, and he still possessed it. He always would.
She’d told herself she no longer loved him, but she did. And she didn’t regret that he’d kissed her. Her regret was that she hadn’t kissed him back.
What if he didn’t come back to her after this mission?
She was suddenly desperate to keep him with her. "Will three days give you enough time to work out a plan to free Austin?"
He took a deep breath that stretched the material of his jacket across his shoulders, then he dropped his arm and turned to face her. "It will have to be enough."
He came toward her and leaned against the straight-backed chair. "It’ll be over soon. You’ve done all that was expected of you. We arrived safely. The rest is out of your hands."
"I know, but—" She stopped the words mid-sentence.
Heaven help her. She wanted to tell him how terrified she was that something would happen to him. She wanted to step into his arms and lean her cheek against his chest. She wanted to wrap her arms around his waist and feel the warmth of his body seep through hers.
What was wrong with her? Hadn’t the hurt he’d caused her been enough to last one lifetime? How could she consider letting him break her heart a second time?
"—I’m worried about Austin."
"I know."
He said nothing more, only pushed himself away from the chair and walked to the door. "Get some rest. I’ll have a tray sent up when you wake and hot water for a bath. Is there anything else you need?"
Yes, for this to be over. For all of us to be safe. For you to return my heart.
"No, I’m fine."
He opened the door. "Rest well."
She nodded and he stepped into the hall and closed the door after him.
And she was left alone.
___
Lydia paced the room. After three exhaustive days of planning, they were going to rescue Austin tonight.
Gabe had promised her he’d let her know when they were leaving, but it had to be ten or later and he still hadn’t come.
Jennie had come up hours ago, first to build a fire in the grate, then a short time later with hot water for a bath. After Lydia bathed and dressed, Jennie brought up a tray of food. The food still sat on the small table, untouched.
How could she eat when her brother was probably starving? Or when she knew this might be the last night any one of them might be alive?
What if Jean-Paul’s plan went wrong? What if none of them came back?
She wrapped her arms around her middle and held tight. She was afraid. More afraid than she’d ever been in her life. She was suddenly desperate to see Gabriel. What if he left without stopping to see her first? What if he was already on his way—
There was a soft knock and she ran to the door to answer it.
He stepped inside, then closed the door behind him. She waited for him to speak first, but he only looked at her without moving. She couldn’t stand the silence.
"Is it time?"
He nodded. "Jean-Paul and the others are waiting outside for me."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Just be ready to leave the minute we return."
"Maybe I could help. Maybe I could go with you and—"
He held up his hand to stop her words. "Come here. We need to talk."
She sat on the chair and watched him pull the other chair opposite hers. A feeling of dread settled over her. He was going to ask her to do the impossible. He was going to tell her to be brave, to go home without him if their plan failed, to live the rest of her life without him.
She couldn’t let him.
"Do you think your plan will work?" she asked in an attempt to avoid the inevitable.
"Yes."
She nodded then clenched her hands in her lap. Her heart lodged in her throat, and even though a fire blazed in the grate, she couldn’t stop the shivers that racked her body. "What if—"
"Liddy," he said, clasping her hands in his.
She squeezed her eyes shut and stopped herself from rambling nervously.
"Before I leave I need you to promise you will do something for me."
"No." She pulled her hands from his grasp and bolted to her feet. "Don’t ask me to leave without you. Without Austin. I won’t do it."
He stood, then pulled her into his arms. "You have to. I have to know that you’re safe."
"I am safe. I’ll be safe here until you come back for me."
"I know. But if for some reason we aren’t back by sun-up, I want you to go to the Silver Star."
She shook her head. She didn’t want to hear what she was to do if something went wrong with their plan. But he wouldn’t let her. He placed a finger beneath her chin and lifted until their gazes met.
"Jean-Paul left two men here who will see that you get to Rouen sa
fely. I’ve already given them instructions. Tell Captain Faraday to set sail the minute you board."
Her heart thundered in her chest. "No. I won’t leave you."
He lifted his hand and swiped his fingers through his hair. "You gave your word before we left."
"That was before. Because I knew you wouldn’t let me come if I didn’t promise."
"Don’t do this, Liddy. I can’t chance that something might happen to you."
"Nothing will happen to me. I’ll be safe here until you return."
"You don’t know that. We have to consider all the possibilities."
The earth shifted beneath her and she couldn’t keep her balance. He anticipated that something might happen to him and wanted her word that she’d leave him behind.
She took a step back and glared at him. "I won’t leave you behind. You can’t ask me to."
He slowly took a step toward her. His eyes were dark with emotion. His pain-filled expression wrenched her heart.
He placed his hands on her shoulders, then lowered his head and touched his forehead to hers. "You’ve been so brave, Liddy. Very few women would have been courageous enough to leave the safety of their homes and take the risks you’ve already taken. Very few could have faced our French captain with such calmness. You’ve already had to endure more than most men are asked to endure in their lifetimes. Now, I’m asking you to do something even more difficult."
He pressed his lips to her forehead. "Promise me you’ll leave the minute you realize we aren’t returning."
She shook her head. "I can’t."
"You have to. Jean-Paul and his family will be in danger if you don’t."
The thought of putting everyone who’d been so kind to her in danger affected her like nothing else could have, except—
He cupped one palm to her cheek. "Promise me, Liddy."
Her heart dropped inside her chest like a lead weight. She wasn’t sure she was brave enough to leave them behind, yet, she knew he wouldn’t give up until she gave her word that she would. She swallowed hard. "I promise I’ll leave as soon as I’m convinced you aren’t returning."
"That’s my girl," he whispered, then leaned forward and kissed her forehead again. "I have to go. Jean-Paul and the others are waiting."
