Within a few minutes, they had gathered a group of six guests who trekked to the ruined castle. Louis found himself with Adele Monet glued to his side. The young lady had even looped her arm through his. He had to admit she was persistent.
As they walked, his attention was never far from Colette, as he had taken to using her Christian name in his mind, who was being escorted by Monsieur Gustav, a young, boisterous gentleman. Louis made sure to keep her in his line of vision. He did not know why it mattered so much, but a part of him was fascinated by the woman.
“Oh, shall we go up the stairs and enjoy the view?” Adele asked Louis, pulling him toward the crumbled stairway.
“I do not think that wise. Half the wall has collapsed, and the stairs do not appear safe. Perhaps we can find another spot.”
“You are no fun, monsieur.” The young lady pouted.
Louis took a step when Adele released her hold on him and climbed the first few steps. “Well, if you will not go with me, I suppose I shall have to go by myself.”
He knew this game well. She thought he would act the gentleman and go with her—a perfect opportunity for them to be alone. He would not fall for the bait. He’d had enough of the lady for one day, so he let her do as she pleased. “Suit yourself, mademoiselle. I will continue my exploration.”
Louis turned without seeing what Adele would decide. He walked through the ruins. Nature had taken over most of the castle. Moss and vines covered the walls. An occasional bird’s nest sat within the parts of the roof that still spanned across the structure.
He entered the next room and spotted Colette with her gentleman escort. “Have you been enjoying yourself, Mademoiselle Durand?”
“Yes, very much. Monsieur Gustav has been an amiable companion.” She beamed at the gentleman whose arm she held.
Louis felt some resentment toward the fellow. Was she purposefully trying to provoke him? He was about to engage them in further conversation when a scream interrupted their conversation. The trio ran toward the sound. They hurried into the room where Louis had left Adele. They searched but saw nothing. Then the scream came again. Louis glanced up and saw Adele hanging from the landing. The structure had given way when she had climbed the steps.
“Hold on, we will find a way to get you down,” Louis shouted to her.
As he looked, Colette sprang up the stairs. Pieces of stone broke off as she climbed toward Adele. The woman was mad—the stairs would not hold two people.
“What are you doing?” he yelled at Colette.
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
Louis put a foot on the first step when Colette hollered at him. “No, do not come up. I am lighter. The steps will hold me.” The demure timbre she had used earlier when speaking to him was gone and had been replaced by a firm, take-charge tone.
He watched her reach Adele. She grabbed one of Adele’s hand and tried to pull her up, but the young lady kept squirming. Louis heard Colette curse at the foolish girl, and he could not help but laugh. Finally, Adele seemed to understand what was happening and tried to lift herself up with Colette’s aid. As the two women worked together, Louis saw pieces of stone crumble away. He had to do something.
“Gustav,” he called to the other gentleman. “Stand underneath Mademoiselle Monet. You may need to catch her.” The man nodded and took position.
Louis cautiously ascended the stairs. He came within a few feet of the struggling women. “Ladies, be still. The stone is starting to fall away from all the movement.”
Both women paused in their efforts. He slowly walked over to Colette.
“You should not have come up here. This thing will not support both of us, let alone all three of us,” Colette chastised him. “Foolish man, I could have handled this myself.”
“We will discuss my faults at a later time. For now, we are saving Mademoiselle Monet.”
They each grabbed a hand and started to lift Adele when a large crack formed on the landing they were standing on. Colette let out a yelp and her grip loosened. “It’s not going to hold.”
Louis had to think fast, or they were all going to fall. “Gustav!”
“I am here.”
“You will have to catch Mademoiselle Monet.”
“I am ready.”
“But I’m not!” yelled Adele.
“Monsieur Gustav is just below you. He will catch you so you do not injure yourself.” Louis tried to keep his voice calm. “You have to trust us. Ready?”
“No, please, just pull me up.” Tears streamed down Adele’s face.
Colette finally spoke up. “The fall is not far, you will be fine. If we pull you up, we all risk getting hurt. This is the only way.” She did not wait for Adele to reply. Colette glanced at Louis who gave a small nod. Together they lowered Adele as much as they could before releasing their hold.
The young lady screamed as she fell to the ground. Monsieur Gustav caught her, as planned, and they both landed on the ground with a thud. Though Adele ended up lying directly atop Monsieur Gustav, neither appeared worse for the incident.
Louis expelled the breath he had been holding. Now they just had to get themselves down to safety. Another sound of stone crumbling told Louis they had to move fast. He guided Colette toward the stairway and carefully down the steps. They hopped off the bottom stair just as it collapsed. He pulled Colette to him and shielded her from the spray of rock and dust. He held her close, her petite frame fitting perfectly within the circle of his arms.
After the dust settled, he checked to see if she was injured. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, thank you.” She was no worse for wear except for the layer of dust coating her hair and clothing. “I must say that was rather exciting.”
Colette smiled, and it was the first time Louis saw a spark in her eyes. He could not help himself and grinned in return. Almost without thinking, he brushed with his thumb at a smudge of dust on her cheek. Her breath hitched at the contact. What was he doing? This woman had jeopardized both of their lives, and he was tending to her like a love-struck fool. He had to get his emotions under control.
“That was a very unwise thing you did, going up there to save Mademoiselle Monet,” Louis said in stern voice.
“I did what any other person would have done.”
“You put yourself in danger, and me as well, when I had to come up to help.”
Colette wormed her way out of his hold. “I am sorry if my self-sufficiency annoys you. Most people would call my actions brave.”
“Well, I call it foolish.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “You men are all alike. You cannot stand a woman who can take charge or see to her own needs.” She went to walk away, but Louis grabbed her hand to stop her.
“I will agree that what you did was brave, but it was still ill-advised to scale a crumbling staircase with no thought for your own safety. There is nothing wrong in asking for help.”
Colette removed her hand from his grasp and stormed out of the ruins. Louis watched her leave. The woman was indeed a mystery.
CHAPTER 2
Colette Dubois closed the door to her bedroom and sagged in relief. The afternoon had not gone as expected. When she had agreed to this assignment, she had assumed it would be easy: Pretend to be Monsieur Bisset’s niece, under the alias Durand, and wait for instructions for Bisset’s rendezvous with an informant.
She had not anticipated the attentions of Monsieur de Coligny, who she knew to be a Comte. In the past, she'd had to thwart the attentions of gentlemen, but the Comte was different. He had the look and airs of the nobility, but when she had studied him closely, Colette saw there was more hiding. He was not boastful like other men; instead, he listened and observed those around him. When he spoke, there was a purpose to his speech. He left her feeling unsettled, and Colette could not put her finger why, so she would have to be careful. In these uncertain times, she could not be sure who was friend or foe.
Working for the Fox over the years had made her
suspicious of everyone. It was the very reason she was here. Her cunning and instincts had kept her alive—and had made her one of the Fox’s best agents. After years of practice, she was able to blend in with high society and converse on a range of topics.
Monsieur de Coligny left her feeling confused. At their first meeting, he had been cordial, asking the usual questions. Thankfully, she and Bisset had agreed on their cover story during the trip to Monsieur Laurent’s estate. When they had spoken earlier today at the picnic, he had flirted with her, and she had returned the flirtation. She had to admit there was something fascinating about him. It was rare that a man caught Colette’s attention, and never in such a short time.
Perhaps it had something to do with the way his dark charcoal eyes had twinkled with mischief when she had mentioned the rumors about him. Maybe it was the way his silver-blond hair had blown freely in the wind, giving him a roguish appearance. It might have been the way his kiss had left her feeling flushed. Even now she could recall where his lips had caressed her skin. She chastised herself for having forgotten her gloves. It was the little details that could give her away. She would have to be more cautious against the Comte and his devilish good looks.
Colette enjoyed a brief respite before she had to prepare for dinner. She used the time to wash the dust out of her hair and ask the maid to have her gown laundered. That was another issue that bothered her. She had acted out of character and risked her cover when she had raced to save that ninny of a girl from falling off the ledge. Any respectable lady would have deferred the rescue to the men, but Colette was not a lady.
She had grown up on the streets of Paris with only herself to rely on. Her instincts had taken over when she had rushed up the stairs, not caring who might be watching. After the stairs had collapsed and Louis had held her close, for a brief second, she had wanted him to hold her longer. The spell had been broken as soon as he had insulted her. In the end, he was not much different from all the other men who underestimated her.
At the appointed hour, the maid came back and assisted her in dressing. One thing Colette would not miss was all the trappings that came with being a proper lady. The crinoline underskirts, the confining corset, and the form-fitting dresses did not make her envy the society ladies who wore these all the time.
As she finished attending to her toilette, there was a knock on the door. It was Bisset. Colette dismissed the maid and let Bisset enter—since he was supposed to be her uncle, the maid would not think it improper.
She gazed at the burly older man. He was not cut out for intrigue. Why he had been chosen to accompany her on this assignment was a mystery. During the trip to Laurent’s, he had complained about the possibility that they would be caught. Colette had assured him that if he stuck to simple answers, everything would go as planned.
“Any news?” she asked as she checked her appearance in the mirror.
“I received a message. I am to meet the contact from the Ministry at an inn. He will give me the list of ships and their cargo, along with dates of departure.”
“Make sure they are sailing out of Marseille. That is where the men have been sent to pick up the cargo.”
Bisset puffed out his chest. “Do you think I am an idiot and cannot follow simple instructions?”
Colette rose and moved toward the man. “Mistakes can still happen. Just make sure the ships and cargo are coming out of Marseille. If anything goes wrong, or the information is false, I will make sure my employer knows the fault lies with you.”
Bisset shied away. She may be petite in stature, but Colette knew how to intimidate a person, and the easiest way was to mention her employer, the Fox. His name put fear into the eyes of most men.
“When are you to meet the contact?”
“Tonight, so I must leave now. Give my excuses at dinner. Say I am not feeling any better.”
“Of course, but make sure you are up tomorrow morning. Any longer and it might draw suspicion from our host.”
Bisset nodded his head and exited. Colette needed the information Bisset was collecting and would see it personally to Marseille. It appeared tonight would be her last at Monsieur Laurent’s home, Beaumont. If Bisset got the information, she would have to leave early in the morning. What a pity she would not be able to further engage Monsieur de Coligny in conversation after tonight.
That last thought was still on her mind as Colette headed to the dining room. She chatted with the other guests until it was time to be seated. She gave Bisset’s excuse to Laurent, who accepted it graciously. It did not escape her notice that a few moments later Laurent whispered something in Louis’s ear. What is merely a coincidence?
After desert, everyone proceeded into the ballroom which had been set up with seats for a house concert. Colette took a chair at the end of a row, looking forward to the piano performance planned for the evening.
“Is this seat taken?”
Colette looked up and saw Louis’s questioning face. “No, please be seated, monsieur.”
“Please call me, Louis. After our escapade at the ruins, I think you can call me by my first name.”
She stiffened. “I do not think that is appropriate, monsieur, seeing we have only been acquainted for such a short period of time.”
He grinned and took the seat next to her. Colette did not speak at first. Odd, she had been close to him earlier today and yet this time, it felt different. There was an awareness, something had changed between them. She had stolen a few glances at him during dinner. He cut a dashing figure in his evening attire. In the close quarters, she could smell his cologne—cedar wood, if she had to guess.
“I hope I did not intrude?” he inquired.
“Intrude?”
“Yes, I did not know if your uncle would be joining you. I would not want to impose.”
Keep to the story, she told herself. “Oh yes, my uncle. He is still not feeling well. He has excused himself for the night.”
“Perhaps I should have Monsieur Laurent call for the doctor.”
“No,” she blurted out loudly, “that will not be necessary. I saw that he had some broth and tea delivered to his room. I checked on him earlier, and he is doing much better.”
Colette prayed he did not ask to see Bisset for himself. The gentleman was either extremely polite and concerned about Bisset’s health, or he had an ulterior motive.
“Well, more’s the pity. Then I suppose I will have the pleasure of your company all to myself.”
His quick change of subject still left her doubtful of his motives, but she would not press the issue. “I suppose it does unless Monsieur Gustav plans on attending me as well. He was pleasant company this afternoon, before our little adventure.”
“Gustav is a pup. He does not know the first thing about entertaining a lady.”
“And you do?”
“My dear Mademoiselle Durand, I am well versed in the amusements of the fairer sex.” His fingers lightly traced the top of her hand.
She should not let such a trifle affect her, but it did. Suddenly Colette found the air warm, and she could not get a deep enough breath. Damned corset! She had flirted with men before, but this one was different. In the past, from other men, a pat on her arm or a suggestive stroke down her back had left her cold and disgusted. When Louis touched her—was near her—it stirred something inside her. It was an unfamiliar sensation.
Thankfully, the pianist arrived before she could answer. Colette turned her attention forward and pretended to listen to the performance. For the next hour they sat in silence. Colette was painfully aware of Louis’s form next to her. She wanted to glance over at him but feared he would catch her. Dear Lord, she had never been in such a state over a man. Perhaps it was fortuitous that she was leaving in the morning.
The moment the concert ended, Colette politely excused herself and went to her room. The maid helped her change into her nightgown, but Colette did not go to bed. She waited for Bisset to report back to her. At last, she heard a quiet tap on her d
oor. She motioned the man inside.
“Well?” she said impatiently.
“I have the documents.”
She grabbed the papers out of his hands and scanned the contents. It was all there. The list of ships with cargo, date, and times of departure from Marseille. The Fox was very particular on how information was received and distributed for use. In this instance, their contact within the Ministry of Defense had stolen the needed information. He had been given instructions to contact Bisset once he had reached the inn. Neither Bisset nor the contact he had met knew the other’s name, which helped in case anyone got caught. It made it difficult to trace anything back to the Fox.
For certain jobs, ones that needed precise handling, those closest to the Fox, like Colette, were brought in to make sure the job was completed. It was now her duty to take the information to her contact in Marseille, who would use it to steal the cargo. What happened after that, Colette did not know. She had learned over the years not to ask questions. Curiosity could get you killed.
“I must leave at first light. Send a message to have the carriage readied at dawn.”
Bisset fidgeted. “How am I to return to Paris? You will have the carriage.”
“You forget sir, that the carriage is not yours, but was hired by my employer. Therefore, it is at my disposal since I am using it for business purposes. I am sure you can hire a carriage to take you back to Paris.”
He did not argue and left to relay the message. Colette stored the papers under her pillow. She crawled into bed, but she would not sleep well. She never did when she had to wake early. The ticking of the clock finally lulled her into a restless slumber.
Colette rose before the sun peeked over the horizon. With any luck, she would be in Marseille in two days. She hurried down to the waiting carriage and departed in haste. As she sped away, she remembered that she had not told Bisset what excuse to make for her disappearance. She hoped the man would be bright enough to think of a feasible reason. It was a shame she could not have stayed longer. She had enjoyed the company, especially the dashing Louis de Coligny.
The Secret to a Spy’s Heart: A Steamy Victorian Historical Spy Series (Romancing Intrigue Book 4) Page 2
