Dark Rider

by Iris Johansen

  Cassie had no doubt on that score. “Then I’ll hide in the stable.”

  Lani smiled and shook her head. “Don’t be foolish.”

  She was being silly, Cassie realized. A few gowns would make no difference, and arguing would only lend Jared’s action importance. “Very well, if you’ll have a gown made, too.”

  “Of course,” Lani said as she started up the stairs. “Several. I intend to make use of the man in every way possible.”

  That should be her attitude also, Cassie thought. Yet every time she made use of him, she found herself more deeply entrenched in his life.

  “You’ll see, it will be no trouble,” Josette told her. “You won’t have to make any decisions. Jared has already told her what he wants.” Josette took Cassie’s hand and pulled her up the steps. “And you’ll like Rose. She’s very quick, and she’ll be careful not to stick you with pins.”

  “That’s encouraging,” Cassie said. “It would be most uncomfortable trying to ride Kapu with pinholes in my bottom.”

  Two pairs of trousers and shirts and jackets arrived for Cassie the next week. The gowns arrived three weeks later.

  Four of the lovely garments were in delicate pastel shades. The fifth gown was a brilliant scarlet silk.

  Josette shook her head. “You can’t wear this. It’s far too … too bold. What could Jared have been thinking?”

  She knew exactly what Jared had been thinking.

  A reminder of those nights in the cabin. A silent assertion that he had not forgotten his intention to have her back in his bed. She stared blindly at the gown while memories rushed back to her.

  “Cassie?” Josette was looking at her, puzzled.

  Cassie tore her gaze from the gown. “I seldom have any idea what Jared is thinking.” She quickly crammed the gown into the rear of her armoire and out of sight. “But you’re right, it’s far too bold.”

  “You look very peaceful. Where’s Cassie?” Bradford asked as he strolled into the library, carrying a silver tray burdened with cups and teapot.

  “Where is she always?” Lani looked up from her book with a smile. “Out riding with Josette.”

  He set the tray down on the table before her and settled himself in the chair opposite her. “Good. Then I’ll have you to myself.”

  He poured her tea, then added the milk and dollop of sugar she preferred. He always remembered. From the first day he had come to the library to seek her out several weeks ago, he had subtly insinuated himself into her life. Sometimes he stayed for only an hour, other days he curled up by the fire with a book and stayed until it was time to dress for supper. At first having him constantly around had made her uneasy, but she had gradually become accustomed to his presence.

  He poured his own tea and took a sip. “Do you know, I’m beginning to like this. I never dreamed I’d say that about such an innocuous brew.”

  She smiled. “But not as much as your brandy?”

  “It’s not the stimulant I’d choose.” He leaned back in his chair. “But if you’re hinting I regret no longer drinking, it’s not true. I’ve been amply compensated.” He studied her. “You’re looking quite beautiful today. I like you in yellow.”

  “Do you?” She paused, then said deliberately, “So does Charles.”

  He stared down into the amber depths of the tea in his cup. “Not as much as I do.” He abruptly changed the subject. “Do you resent Josette?”

  She looked at him, shocked. “I like Josette very much.”

  “Everyone likes Josette. That’s not what I asked. Do you resent her?”

  “Why should I resent her?”

  “Cassie seems to spend more time with her than she does with you.”

  “I’m not a jealous child,” she said curtly. “It’s perfectly natural for Cassie and Josette to be in each other’s company. They’re both mad about horses, they’re close to the same age, they have similar natures. Of course I don’t resent her.”

  He made a face. “Then you’re more tolerant than Jared. I believe he’s less than pleased they spend most of the day together.” He paused. “And I think you’re feeling a little lonely yourself.”

  “Perhaps.” It would have been mean-spirited to envy Cassie her time with Josette, but she was willing to admit to loneliness. “She was never one to stay inside when she could be out and about, but I saw more of her on our island. Or it could be that I was busier there than I am here.” She added hastily, “But you must not mention it to her. When we’re together, it’s just as it always was, and being with Josette is good for Cassie. I was always mother as well as friend to her. Now, in a smaller way, she must take the same role with Josette.”

  He said dryly, “I haven’t noticed her acting particularly maternal. Yesterday she was demonstrating to Josette how to stand upright on a horse’s back.”

  Lani chuckled. “I’ve seen her do that at a full gallop. It frightened me at first, but she never falls. I gradually became resigned to it.”

  “Jared didn’t show signs of resignation. He pulled her down from the horse, shook her, and told her he never wanted to see her repeat that little trick.”

  “What did she do?”

  “She said she’d ride her horse in any fashion she pleased. Then she stomped away from him.”

  “She’ll do it again,” Lani said.

  He nodded. “Without doubt.” He went back to the original subject. “If you don’t want me to bring Cassie to a sense of her responsibility to you, what—”

  “She has no responsibility to bear me company.”

  “Don’t interrupt. You said that you were less lonely because you were busier on your island. It appears the remedy is to set you to work.”

  She raised her brows. “In what manner?”

  “Will you take the task of overseeing the castle?”

  “Jared already has a housekeeper.”

  “Mrs. Blakely is a competent soul, but every household needs a mistress.”

  She frowned. “What makes you think that I could rule this vast place? I’ve never had a home of my own. Clara even acted as housekeeper at the cottage.”

  “With you going behind her and smoothing the way, I’d wager.”

  She did not deny it. “A cottage is not a castle.”

  “My dear lady, will you stop dithering? We both know you could rule England if you chose.”

  She smiled. “From what you’ve told me of your king, it would be no challenge to do better than you Englishmen.”

  “Then you’ll do it?”

  “Rule England?”

  He grinned. “Later, perhaps.”

  She thought about it. The offer was very tempting. She was not accustomed to idleness, and it was fraying her nerves. “What would Jared say?”

  “Jared doesn’t care a whit about how Morland is run if all goes smoothly. Well?”

  She nodded slowly. “You’ll speak to the servants?”

  “I’ve already done it. You’ll find them both obedient and cooperative.”

  “You knew I’d do it?”

  “I know you,” he said softly. “It’s been my pleasure to study you for some time now.”

  She met his gaze, then glanced hurriedly away. “It was kind of you to take the trouble to consider my needs.”

  “I’ll always consider your needs and fulfill them,” he said. “I’m not like Deville. There won’t ever be a time when you won’t come first with me.” He rose to his feet before she could answer. “Now, come along and we’ll talk to Mrs. Blakely.” He strode toward the door. “You know, I’m going to miss not knowing you’re tucked in this library every hour of the day. Now I’ll have to seek you out in all kinds of uncomfortable places.”

  As usual he had struck, then neatly sidestepped any rebuff from her. He would say something that disturbed or touched her, then skip away before she could formulate an answer. She should confront him, be stern with him, perhaps even forbid him to come to her. Not that it would do any good. She had learned that beneath that indol
ent exterior Bradford could be completely immovable.

  Or was she surrendering too easily? she wondered with sudden uneasiness. She couldn’t deny she now looked forward to Bradford’s company. No day was complete without seeing that rough, craggy face. Silent or verbose, he made her feel … treasured.

  He stepped aside and held the door for her. “Just promise me that you won’t spend too much time in the scullery. I willingly embraced all those books you love so much, but I’ve no liking for cookery.”

  Now that she would not spend so much time with Bradford, surely there was no harm in postponing a total rejection. She smiled serenely as she passed him. “No cookery. I’d not endanger our stomachs. Actually, I planned on setting you to the task of plucking the chickens.”

  “It’s young Joe Barry watching the stable tonight.” Cassie let the heavy velvet curtain swing back to cover the deeply recessed window. “Jared could at least have sent one of the older men to stand guard on such a cold night.”

  Lani chuckled as she stretched out her hands to the fire. “You can tell him that at supper tonight. Somehow I don’t believe he’ll pay heed to your complaints as to his selection of jailers. You like this lad?”

  Cassie nodded. “He’s the one who sends Josette messages when she’s at school.” She crossed the library and dropped into a brocade chair before the fire. “And he may spy and follow me around, but he’s pleasant about it. Not like that big dour Jack Ramgale, who scowls at me all the time.” She leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees as she gazed into the fire. “Josette took me down to the cove to see her sailboat this afternoon.”

  “And dour Jack followed you?”

  “So close I thought he’d step on my heels.” She made a face. “Did he think I was so stupid I’d try to sail off with him watching me?”

  “Jared’s servants are very loyal to him.”

  “But it did occur to me,” she said wistfully. “We were surrounded by water. Why didn’t I ever learn to sail a boat?”

  “You were too interested in riding horses.” She held up her hand as Cassie started to speak. “And, no, I cannot sail a boat. I’ve never done anything but row a canoe. We’ll have to find some other way when the time comes.”

  When the time comes. It seemed to Cassie that the time to act would never come. “I dreamed about Papa last night.”

  “Ah, so this is why you’re so restless today. A good dream?”

  “No.” It had been a blurred, disjointed nightmare. Her father had been swirling in a dark whirlpool and reaching out to her in despair. “We have to find him, Lani.”

  “And so you’re ready to jump into the sea and swim to France to get to him.” She shook her head. “He might not even be there yet. You know it’s best to let Jared do our searching for us and then go to Charles. I’m in a much better position to know when messages are received now that the servants look to me for orders.”

  “That’s true enough.” How strange was their situation here at Morland: half prisoners, half guests, and since yesterday Lani was virtually commanding this vast castle. “But we must have a plan to leave when the word comes.”

  “We cannot leave from the port from which we arrived. It’s too close, and it may take time to obtain passage. Bradford mentioned there was a small port about ten miles south of here. That’s a possibility.”

  “I’ll ask Josette about it.” She was more cheerful now that there was action to be taken. Lani was right—they could not waste their scant funds in Paris. They must stay here until word came to Jared. She rose to her feet. “It’s time to dress for supper.”

  “You go ahead. I have time to stay here awhile.” She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t have to wash off the smell of horse from my person.”

  Cassie moved toward the door. “As you say, it washes off.” She paused at the door, hesitating. “Lani … do you dream of Papa?”

  “Not often. I’m not a dreamer, but when I do, they are good dreams.” She smiled. “He’s doing what he believes is right, Cassie. God will be with him.”

  Cassie wished she could be as sure. The dream last night had frightened her. God had not been with that poor creature caught in a whirlpool.

  “It was a dream, Cassie,” Lani said gently. “If you have another, come to me and we will talk about it.”

  Run to Lani as she had done when she was a small child, and everything would be all right. The problems were bigger now, the dreams more terrifying, and she must face them by herself. Lani had her own burdens to shoulder.

  She forced a smile. “I’m sure I won’t have any more nightmares about Papa.”

  Twelve

  October 1, 1806

  Paris, France

  “Monsieur David is in the salon, Monsieur Bonille,” Gaston said as he opened the front door, then took Raoul’s hat and gloves. “He’s been there since before luncheon. I told him he’d have to wait a long time, but he insisted he must see you as soon as possible.”

  “Indeed? I’m truly flattered. Monsieur David seldom bothers with lesser mortals since Napoleon became his patron.” He strolled toward the salon. “I hope you made him welcome?”

  The servant nodded eagerly. “But of course, monsieur. He’s a very great man, a glorious artist.”

  Raoul’s lip curled. These peasant fools always thought those who stood beside and shared the glory with the Napoleons and the Robespierres of the world were great themselves. He could have told him that it was always the men behind the throne who were the clever ones. He threw open the delicately carved doors of the grand salon. “Ah, Jacques-Louis, how delightful to see you. If you’d let me know you were coming, naturally I’d have postponed my visit.”

  “I didn’t know myself.” David rose to his feet. “I had a visitor this morning.”

  Raoul lifted a brow. “Napoleon?”

  David made an impatient gesture. “Would I come running to you if it was Bonaparte? No, it was someone else.” He paused. “Charles Deville.”

  Raoul carefully controlled his expression. “How … surprising. How is the dear fellow?”

  “Discomposed. He wants to know where Raoul Cambre is.”

  “And you told him?”

  “No, of course not. You swore me to secrecy when you changed your name.”

  And sealed the vow with a thousand influential introductions and favors. “Brandy?”

  David shook his head. “I must go. I’ve work to do. I’ve wasted enough light today waiting for you.”

  “Don’t leave yet.” He poured a brandy for himself. He needed it. “What do you mean ‘discomposed’?”

  “Disturbed, tense, frightened. He kept ranting that he had to see you, that he had to be sure. He said that he’d arrived in Paris just last night.”

  “And he came immediately to you. Interesting.”

  “He knew we were friends.”

  David had never been his friend, he thought contemptuously. He’d used the conceited fool as he had all the others. He smiled. “Excellent friends. What was his appearance? Does he seem to be a man of substance these days?”

  “No. He was gaunt and his clothes a bit shabby.” David frowned. “I felt a trifle guilty lying to another artist.” He hastened to add, “Though he’s not on my level, of course.”

  “Of course. There’s no one on your level, Jacques-Louis. All Paris knows how brilliant you are.”

  “I don’t like to lie,” he said peevishly. “My life is quite comfortable now. It’s very distracting having these people pop up out of your past bothering me. First there was that Jean Guillaume asking questions on behalf of the Duke of Morland, and now Deville himself.”

  Raoul restrained himself from pointing out that he had been responsible for a good deal of that comfort. In the chaos following Robespierre’s death, he had been careful to make sure he protected all his spheres of influence. It would do no harm to remind David of their mutual past. “It’s natural that some ghosts would come back to haunt us. Those were troublesome times.” He sighed reminisc
ently. “I remember how ardent you were, with your revolutionary fervor and that wonderful vest with those buttons that had little guillotines painted on them.”

  David flushed. “As you say, those were different times.” He rose to his feet. “Deville’s your ghost, not mine. I’ve warned you and I’m done with it.”

  “But I fear he may trouble you again,” Raoul said. “Disturbed men can be very embarrassing. Your glorious present may be tainted if memories are stirred. Napoleon might even think your allegiance fickle if he’s forced to remember how passionately you embraced the revolution.”

  “Then stop Deville,” David said flatly. “Talk to him. I won’t be connected with this, Raoul.”

  “Did I say you would be?” His tone became soothing. “Of course I’ll speak to him and send him on his way. I just need your help in planning a meeting. I must be discreet for both our sakes. Do you know where he can be reached?”

  “He said if I discovered where you could be found, he’d be at sixteen rue Grenadier.”

  “Then why don’t you send him a message and tell him you’ve located his old friend Raoul, who is eager to meet with him and welcome him back to France? I’ll be at the Café Dumonde on the West Bank tomorrow night at eleven o’clock.”

  “Why don’t you have him come here?”

  “My dear Jacques-Louis.” He glanced pointedly around the luxuriously appointed salon. “You said he was gaunt and shabby. It’s neither kind nor wise to reveal one’s affluence to those who might ask to share that wealth. I do hope you didn’t boast how wealthy you were becoming under our illustrious Emperor.”

  He looked taken aback. “I didn’t boast. You know money means nothing to me. I did tell him my fame had spread since he’d left France.”

  Raoul clucked reprovingly. “Then it’s just as well I’m ridding us of this fellow. After you send him the message, dismiss him from your mind. I’ll protect you as I’ve always done.”

  David nodded in relief. “Thank you, Raoul. You know an artist should not be troubled by these mundane matters.” He strode quickly toward the door. “I’ll leave it in your hands. Good day.”