Jean-Paul’s arm stopped midway in the air, and he slowly settled his teacup back upon its saucer. His gaze traveled first to her, then slid to Gabriel. Only after Gabriel nodded did Jean-Paul answer her question. His voice was soft with a tinge of hesitation, and his reply struck like a knife. “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 into the prison 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 smiled. “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 Liddy. “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 frightened.”
She hadn’t meant to say the words out loud. Hadn’t meant to let him know how fearful 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 along 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 exhausting 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 may 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 safely. 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.”
She was thunderstruck. 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.”
He turned and stepped away from her. Lydia felt a void unlike anything she’d ever experienced before, a loss unlike any grief she’d ever endured. She couldn’t let him leave her like this. What if he never came back?
“Gabriel?”
He stopped, then turned.
Their gazes locked and what she saw in his eyes stole her breath. She took one step forward then another. And waited. She’d run the gamut of emotions since he’d come back into her life, from anger to loss to desire to raging need. She didn’t want him to leave her this last time without…
She opened her mouth to speak but her words came out as a tortured whisper. “Hold me. Please.”
He looked at her, then closed his eyes and sighed as if in resignation to some inner battle he’d lost. “Ah, Liddy,” he answered, then opened his arms to let her in.
She rushed to him and let him envelop her.
He pulled her close, holding her as if he never wanted to let her go.
She knew the passion raging through her was real, knew the depth of emotion she felt for him was genuine. If this were the last time she’d have him, she wanted there to be more.
Lydia nestled closer and wound her arms around him.
“You don’t play fair,” he whispered.
When she lifted her gaze, Gabriel’s eyes were dark with emotion. “Tell me you never loved me,” she whispered. “Tell me you left me because you didn’t love me.”
His eyes closed. His breathing turned harsh and ragged. “I can’t.”
Her flesh burned where they touched, her chest heaved as it struggled to take in even one breath. She needed him to kiss her. She’d regret it forever if he didn’t. She raised her chin and whispered a plea that he would end her agony.
His loud moan echoed in the tension-filled room and he brought his mouth down to hers.
The kiss they shared was wrought with passion, with desperation, as if it required him to surrender his soul.
She clung to him because she could do nothing else. He’d stolen every ounce of strength from her, had weakened what little resolve she had left.
“Heaven help us,” he whispered, and he kissed her again.
His tongue entered her mouth and she leaned into him, gave in to him, ached to make herself a part of him. Again and again his tongue met hers, the rhythm explosive.
She was certain the desperation in his kiss held some higher meaning and searched to find it. But she’d lost all coherency.
A burning whirlpool swirled deep in the pit of her stomach, spinning, churning, then moved with molten intensity to a secret place lower inside her. A place he’d awakened when he’d kissed her before.
With a heart-wrenching moan of anguish, he pulled her closer.
She clung to him with all the strength she had.
She leaned her cheek against his chest and listened to the loud, pulsing thunder of his heart beneath her ear. This was so much more than they’d shared before—so much more than she thought there could be between Gabriel and herself. How could she ever be content with anything less?
Yet, she knew she must. And so did he.
Suddenly, the cold reality of what was expected of them loomed more menacingly. He stepped away from her and walked to the door.
She brought her hands to her mouth to stop the gasping cry, but it escaped anyway.
“If we’re not back by sun-up, go to Rouen and Captain Faraday so he can take you home.”
She wanted to argue with him but he didn’t give her a chance.
He closed the door and was gone.
Chapter Four
teen
“We’re here,” Jean-Paul whispered when the wagon turned at the entrance to Mont-Valérien.
Gabriel held himself as still as possible in the fake compartment beneath the bed of Jean-Paul’s wagon. If everything went as planned, the regular guard would be gone and one of Jean-Paul’s men would be in his place.
“Halt,” the guard demanded when the wagon stopped. “What do you have there?”
Gabriel reached for his pistol, prepared to fire. He relaxed his grip when he heard Jean-Paul’s answer.
“A dozen doxies for your evening’s pleasure, my friend.”
The guard laughed. “A dozen? Oui! Come right in.”
Gabriel breathed a sigh of relief then pushed himself out of the hiding compartment and jumped to the ground. “The guard took the bribe?” he asked, rubbing his thigh while he brushed the straw from his woolen trousers.
“Yes, but he didn’t come cheaply.”
“No matter. Money is the least of our concerns.”
Marcel led the way toward the open door and they followed. “The guard only promised to be gone an hour so we need to hurry,” he said.
Gabriel’s heart raced as he followed Marcel through a small side door. They walked past two guards lying unconscious on the floor, then to the heavy prison door that led to the area where the prisoners were held.
“There’s another guard inside,” Marcel whispered.
Gabriel pulled his pistol from his pocket, as did the others, and stepped closer. “I’ll go first.”
Jean-Paul clasped him on the shoulder. “I can lead the way. I know—”
“I’ll lead.” Gabriel knew his friend meant well, but he couldn’t let anyone take the larger risk. “No matter what happens, get Austin out first.”
Jean-Paul frowned. “We’ll all get out.”
Gabriel nodded then went to the door. “Ready?”
“Oui, Major.”
Gabriel pushed on the thick wooden door and rushed through the opening.
The sleeping guard sat to the right of the door with his chair tipped back against the wall and his chin resting on his chest. He was a heap on the floor before he realized what happened. Gabriel grabbed the keys from the guard’s belt and raced down the long line of cells until he found the one where Austin was held. He turned the key in the lock, then rushed to the corner where Austin lay.
Heroes of Honor: Historical Romance Collection Page 67