Gabriel noticed his friend’s pale complexion and the dark rings that circled his eyes. Worry and lack of sleep were evident.
“Is something wrong with Lydia?”
Harrison shook his head. “It’s Austin. They have him.”
Gabriel’s heart clenched tightly in his chest. “Who has him?”
“The French. I just received word from the Ministry of Defense. Of course, officially our government denies they know Austin or that he has any military connection. But at least they were considerate enough to inform me that he’d been captured.”
Gabe took a few steps into the room. “Tell me everything you know.”
Harrison swiped his fingers through his hair. “I received a visit from one of the undersecretaries during the night. He wouldn’t tell me why Austin had been sent to France, only that he was there.”
Gabriel breathed a heavy sigh. “If Austin is in France, he was sent there to watch Napoleon III.”
Harrison’s brows shot upward. “Why do you think that?”
“It’s been rumored for some time now that the emperor has ambitions as great as his uncle.”
Harrison released a heavy sigh. “Yes, I’d heard rumblings along those lines but hoped they were unfounded.”
“Where is he being held?”
“I’m not sure. All I know is he was last seen in Paris.”
Gabriel thought of Austin being held in a French prison. He’d move heaven and earth to save him. That’s what Austin had done for him. “It won’t take me long to locate him.”
“No, Gabe. I can’t let you go after him.”
“You can’t stop me.”
“You’d be arrested before you stepped on French soil.”
“I may walk with a limp, but my injuries haven’t affected my thinking, or the connections I have in France.”
“But it has affected your mobility, the way you get around. Sending you over to save Austin would only get you killed.”
“That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“Well, I’m not!”
“You have no choice. I have connections in France.”
“If you can get to them.”
“I will. I’ll go ashore in Le Havre or Rouen and make my way to Paris.”
“Your limp draws attention to you whether you like it or not. You can’t hide. And you can’t enter France from someplace else. They have every inch of French coastline guarded night and day. You’d never make it past the military.”
“Then I’ll sail in under their noses.”
“You can’t! I won’t let you!”
“If you didn’t bloody want me to go after Austin, then why the hell did you send for me?”
“Because I need your help. Give me the names of people over there who can go after Austin. Names of people I can trust.”
“No one! I’m the only one who can get to Austin. If the country’s as unstable as I hear, do you really think I’ll give you the names of the agents I know the government is looking for? No. I won’t take such a risk. I’ll go. Or no one will.”
Etherington slammed his fist down on the top of the desk. “You can’t do it! Not alone! Not with your injuries! You’d need a diversion. Something or someone who could draw attention away from you!”
“There isn’t anyone who can do that!”
The door opened and both men spun around to where Lydia stood inside the room.
“I can do it.”
Gabriel’s heart leaped to his throat. He’d spent every day since he’d left her trying to convince himself he could live the rest of his life without her. Seeing her today undid everything he’d tried to forget—the feel of her in his arms, the way her hair smelled of lilacs and roses, the feel of her lips pressed to his.
Oh, how he missed her.
Harrison stepped around the desk to go near her. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Gabriel noticed the red rimming her eyes and the lack of color to her cheeks.
“I can be the diversion. I can help the major get into France without bringing attention to either of us.”
“No,” Gabriel answered, the thought too ludicrous to entertain.
“Yes, Major.”
“No, you can’t,” he argued again, only this time he wasn’t the only one to voice his disapproval. Harrison’s negative reply brimmed with determination. It was to Lydia’s credit that she didn’t slink away in fear.
Instead, she lifted her shoulders and faced them. “You have no choice. None of us do. We can’t sit idly by while they have Austin.”
Lydia’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “We don’t know what they’re doing to him.” There was a catch in her voice. “He could be starving, or injured. Or...worse.”
One errant tear streamed down her cheek. “You asked to see Gabriel because you hoped he could help us. He can. But we have to help him, too, Harrison.”
“No,” Gabriel said firmly. There was no way he would endanger her. No way he’d put her at risk.
“You don’t have a choice, Major. Neither do you, Harrison.”
She looked from one of them to the other and Gabriel saw the depth of her resolve. He’d never been more proud of her than he was at this moment. He’d never been more afraid for her than he was now. What if Harrison actually considered allowing her to help in some way?
But he wouldn’t. Harrison understood how dangerous it would be for her to go to France. He’d never allow Lydia to—
“How do you think you can help, Lydia?” Harrison asked.
Gabriel spun to face Harrison. “You can’t think to consider letting her go to France.”
“No, of course not. But I want to hear what she has to say.”
“It doesn’t matter what she says. She’s not going to be involved in this.”
Lydia cast a quick glance in his direction then let her final gaze rest on Harrison. “Why don’t we all sit down and discuss this calmly. Please.”
Harrison breathed an anguished sigh then pointed to a chair. “Gabe?”
He hesitated, knowing that whatever Lydia was about to suggest, it was probably better than anything either of them could come up with on their own. Her brothers had always underestimated her intelligence. He never had. He’d been in awe of it from the day they’d met.
“Now, Lydia,” Harrison said, sitting in his chair behind his desk. “What do you see that we’ve missed?”
Gabe’s heart jumped in his throat when she turned her head and looked at him.
“Do you agree that Austin is probably being held in Paris, Major?”
“That would be most likely, yes.”
“If you had a way to get into the city, do you have the proper resources—the proper contacts to get him out?”
“Yes, but I can—”
She held up her hand. “I’m not doubting your ability. But don’t you see, the risks are twice as great if you try to accomplish this alone. Austin’s life is too important. Why not work with every advantage we have?”
“Because I don’t want to put you in danger.”
“But didn’t you just say you had friends to help you once you reached Paris?”
“Yes.”
“Then the greatest chance for failure is before you ever get to them. That is when you will be the most vulnerable.”
“I’ll think of something.”
“What? A diversion to keep you from being suspect by the French authorities? A cover to get you into the country?”
“Yes.”
“I already have a plan.”
Her voice contained such confidence that a shiver throttled his spine.
“I won’t allow you to be involved.”
“I’m already involved, and if there’s something I can do to ensure that Austin comes home safely, I’ll do it.”
“What are you suggesting, Liddy?” Harrison leaned forward with his arms propped on the top of the desk.
“Let me go with the major.”
“No,” Gabriel argued.
&nb
sp; “Let me pose as the major’s...wife. We could be newlyweds on our honeymoon.”
“No!” he said louder.
Harrison rose from his chair and paced the small confines behind his desk. “Do you know what you’re suggesting, Liddy?”
Gabriel couldn’t believe what he’d heard. Even more astounding, he couldn’t believe that Harrison would even listen to such a plan, let alone consider it. Yet he seemed to be doing just that.
“Of course, I do. The major needs to get into France without causing undue suspicion. I hardly look suspicious. As my husband, he’ll hardly be considered a threat. His injury will be to our advantage. I have no doubt we can both pass as a newly married couple visiting France on our honeymoon.”
Harrison came around the corner of his desk and stepped close to her. “You couldn’t go without a chaperone.”
Gabe threw out his hand in frustration. “Harrison! Think what you’re doing. You can’t let her go.”
Harrison slammed his fist on the corner of the desk. “I can’t let Austin die. And you’re the only one I trust to save him. Which means I’ve got to do everything possible to ensure your successful arrival into Paris.”
Harrison turned back to Lydia. “Who would you take with you?”
“I’ll take Hannah. No one would expect a lady to travel without her lady’s maid anyway. And Morgan will go as Major Talbot’s valet. Everything will be quite proper. I won’t be alone.”
“What if someone discovers that you’ve gone with the major?”
“You can cover for me here. Say I’m ill, or that I went to the country for a few weeks. With the Marquess of Culbertson away on business, no one will think it odd that I chose this particular time to leave London.”
Gabriel closed his eyes and shook his head. He couldn’t believe this was happening.
If he were honest with himself, he had to admit her plan was perfect. He wasn’t strong enough to make his way inland to Paris from the coast. His leg wouldn’t support him that long. And he’d stand out like the proverbial sore thumb if he arrived alone. What use would he be to anyone if he were arrested the minute he stepped foot on French soil?
The disguise of newlyweds was an ideal ruse to get into the country undetected. Once they reached Paris, Jean-Paul would hide them at the inn. Jean-Paul would protect Lydia until Gabriel freed Austin, then Gabriel would bring them both home.
But there was always the chance that something would go wrong. A shiver of dread overtook him. He moved his gaze to Harrison, praying he’d see some sign that he realized Liddy’s plan was too dangerous. Instead, Harrison’s tortured look sent a wave of fear rushing through him.
“Harrison,” he said. “Think what could happen.”
“Do you think I don’t know what could happen? I could lose my whole family.” Harrison looked as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. “I’d give everything I own for there to be another way,” he whispered.
“There isn’t,” Lydia answered for him. “This is the only way.”
A smile lit her face and she looked at Gabriel. “Nothing will happen to me, Harrison. Or to Austin. Gabriel will see to it.”
A hand gripped his heart and squeezed until the air left his body. There was no doubt he would willingly risk his life to save Austin. But how could he risk Liddy’s? How could he live with himself if something happened to her?
“I’ll have a ship ready to sail whenever you say,” Harrison said. “We’ll need a ship shallow enough to navigate the Seine from Le Havre to Rouen. To avoid suspicion, that’s as close to Paris as we dare go.” Harrison paced a few steps then stopped. “The Silver Star. It will be perfect. Once it arrives in Rouen, it will remain docked under the pretext of needing repairs, and stand ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Is there anything else you require?”
The bottom fell out of his world. But there was nothing he could do. “Money. I will need a substantial amount of cash. For the right sum, there isn’t a guard anywhere who can’t be bribed. And if things don’t go as planned and we are forced to go underground for any length of time, we’ll need cash to buy food and supplies.”
“I’ll get whatever you need,” Harrison said.
“When will we leave, Major?”
Her calm voice matched her look of confidence when she focused on him. Gabriel didn’t think he could bear it.
“Day after tomorrow on the tide. We need to arrive in Rouen in the middle of the day when the docks are busy. We’ll draw the least attention then.”
“Very well.” She rose. “I’ll be ready.”
She walked to the door, but Gabriel couldn’t let her leave without one last warning. “My lady.”
She stopped and turned around.
“I won’t blame you if you don’t come. In fact, after your brother has had time to think over what the two of you have decided, I’m sure he’ll realize the danger is too great and he’ll stop you from going through with this folly.”
She smiled again. “Thank you for your concern, Major. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready to leave on my honeymoon. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”
Gabriel watched her leave the room and fought the strong urge to run after her and force her to change her mind. He knew a stronger urge to grab Harrison and shake him until he came to his senses. But he could do neither.
He didn’t stand a chance in hell of getting Austin out of France without her.
Chapter Eleven
Gabriel stood on the docks below the Silver Star and prayed that when Harrison arrived she wouldn’t be with him. There were so many uncertainties with this venture. Anything could go wrong.
They could get to France only to find Austin dead. And even if he were alive, there was a chance Gabriel might be captured trying to free him, and Liddy would be stranded in a strange country, alone and unprotected.
Or, what if the French authorities implicated her in connection with his plan to free Austin and imprisoned her?
Gabriel swiped his hat from his head and raked his fingers through his hair. Bloody hell, she could even get killed trying to do this.
But most terrifying, how the hell was he supposed to survive being with her for the next week or more when he knew what it was like to hold her? When he couldn’t forget what it had been like to kiss her?
He leaned against his cane and took in a deep breath. He wasn’t sure he could.
“Good morning, Major.”
He slowly turned and came face to face with the woman who’d haunted his dreams.
“Good morning, my lady. I hoped that you’d decide not to go through with this venture.”
“I know. But I don’t have any more choice than you do.”
She smiled at him, the corners of her mouth lifting in a shaky smile that told him that at least a small part of her held reservations.
He faced her squarely. “It isn’t too late.”
“Yes, it is.”
“You don’t know what can happen, all the things that can go wrong.”
She stiffened her shoulders, the effect as brave a front as he’d ever seen. “Bringing Austin home is worth whatever risk we have to take.”
Gabriel couldn’t argue. He felt the same. “Where is Harrison?”
“He stopped to talk to the captain. He asked me to find you and ask you to join them.”
He looked over his shoulder and saw Etherington talking to the captain who would take them to France. He shifted his weight and turned, then offered her his arm. She didn’t take it.
“Before we join Harrison, I’d like to speak with you.” She stood with her hands clasped tightly in front of her and cleared her throat. “I’d like your promise that what happened at Chisolmwood’s ball will never happen again.”
Her cheeks turned a bright crimson and she was unable to hold his gaze. Of course she regretted him kissing her. How could she not? She’d been hand-picked by the Duke of Chisolmwood to be his son’s future duchess. Why would she consider going back to a
man who’d given her up when he found out she’d come without a dowry.
“You have my promise. Be assured that such a lapse in my behavior will never happen again.”
He should stop there. He knew he should. Yet, something inside him couldn’t keep him from revealing his feelings.
He turned his head and focused on nothing in particular. “But I don’t regret it, Liddy. That’s what’s going to make the next week or more unbearable.”
“Gabe—”
He stopped her from saying anything. “You’re right. We have to have an understanding. Even though I don’t regret kissing you, I won’t let it happen again—because if it does, I’m not sure I can trust myself to stop.”
The color left her face. He wasn’t proud of himself for embarrassing her so, but it was suddenly important that she knew he hadn’t given her up because he didn’t love her.
“Now, I think it’s time we played our assigned roles.” He extended his arm. She hesitated, then took it, and he walked with her to where Harrison was talking with the captain.
“Major Talbot,” Harrison said when they reached them. “Allow me to present Captain Faraday. Captain, Major Talbot.”
“Major.”
“Captain.”
“And this is my sister, Lady Lydia.”
The captain gave a curt bow. “My lady.”
“Captain Faraday is aware of our reason for sailing to France,” Harrison explained, “but his crew is not. They are under the assumption that this trip is no different than any other. That way, if they are questioned, they won’t be able to tell the authorities anything that might incriminate you.”
“Can your crew be trusted?” Gabriel asked. The grin that spread across Faraday’s face reassured him.
“To the man. I would suggest, though, that you and Lady Lydia give them no reason to doubt the ruse you are playing.”
Gabriel gave the captain a sharp nod, realizing that Lydia’s and his role would have to start sooner than he’d anticipated.
“Then, allow me to introduce you,” Harrison said as a group of sailors walked near them. “May I present my brother-in-law, Baron Talbot. And his wife, my sister, Lady Lydia Talbot.”
The captain nodded. “Welcome aboard, Baron Talbot. Lady Talbot.”
Heroes of Honor: Historical Romance Collection Page 64