“That doesn’t mean all the responsibility falls on your shoulders. Many men and women risk their lives. Winning the war isn’t dependent on one man. It is the concerted effort of all those involved in the fighting.”
“Ah, yes, let’s talk about the women. You ladies have an entirely different set of skills in your arsenal.”
Charlotte frowned, “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Women fight for the cause differently since they aren’t as strong and capable as men. While we men fight on the battlefield, you women have other assets you use off the field.” Phillip wasn’t sure what he was doing. Was he purposefully inciting an argument? If he wanted distance between them, what he was about to say would extinguish any feelings Charlotte had for him. “Women use their bodies as a weapon against men. They ply their wily ways, luring us into a false sense of security. Then, when we are at our most vulnerable, they swoop in for the kill. I suppose it can be useful when used properly, but not as effective as what men can accomplish on the field with a sword or gun.”
Charlotte paled at his statement. She stiffened and clenched her jaw. “Well, in your case, Phillip, I guess it worked.”
He wrinkled his brow.
“Lisette used her weapons properly, I would say, wouldn’t you? Judging by the marks on your body, it appears to have been as effective as if she had shot you in the heart. Since you seem to have no heart to speak of.”
Phillip was taken aback that Charlotte would use his worst mistake against him. It was no less than he deserved. Apparently, time hadn’t softened his opinion of women. But hadn’t he admitted repeatedly that Charlotte differed from other women. She was above such deception. Phillip saw the hurt and anger in her eyes. At this moment he felt like the biggest fool in the world. Since meeting Charlotte, at times all sense would leave him. Another effect she had on him.
“I have no reason to spy on you or to hurt you, Phillip. What do I gain by giving you my body, other than what we have shared?” Charlotte was indignant. “Furthermore, I have sacrificed and fought as much as you have on this journey. I have killed men, lain on the cold ground, and been shot at. And have I complained once? No, because I know what I’m doing is important for the war. So, don’t tell me that women are inferior to men just because we are not on the battlefield.”
“I didn’t say women are inferior.”
“Yes, you did!” she yelled. “You imply that we use our bodies as a weapon, like a succubus, because we can’t fight like men. Am I misunderstanding you and your insulting insinuations? Perhaps, you were complimenting me and the rest of the fairer sex for assisting with the war efforts in our own special way. On behalf of all women who are fighting in this war, thank you.” Charlotte’s voice cracked, and she looked away from Phillip. “Thank you for thinking so little of us.”
Phillip wasn’t sure if he should go to Charlotte and apologize or not. Perhaps it was best if he left it alone. He had already done enough damage with those statements. If he continued to speak, he would make a bigger fool of himself. There was no point in arguing. He lay down with his back to the fire, but he knew sleep would allude him.
His arms felt empty without Charlotte in them. The air felt a little colder without her warm body pressed against his. It was his fault for allowing things to go as far as they had. From the first time he had unbuttoned her dress, he knew nothing good would come of it. She was too desirable, too beautiful for a man to resist. Last night, when he kissed her, stroked her to orgasm, and sheathed himself inside her, he cursed in happiness and anguish. Phillip hated himself for taking Charlotte’s innocence when he knew he had nothing to give her in return. There was no future for them. He was a broken man, but he knew she was the only woman who would ever come close to stealing his heart. Now, in a few short words, he had closed the door on the notion of any future relationship. It was how it had to be.
Chapter 12
Charlotte gazed at the fire, but her mind was far away. Phillip had all but accused her of using her body against him. How could she ever hurt him; she loved him. To Phillip, love was torture. He had loved before, and it had broken his spirit. She understood why he would hesitate to fall into the same trap, but she didn’t want to believe he meant the hurtful things he had spoken. She wanted to scream in frustration. After all they had been through, Phillip still distrusted her. She was naïve to think things would be easier between them once they had shared their dark pasts and made love. Instead, things were worse.
For tonight there was nothing to be done. Perhaps in the light of day things would be clearer. They were both under stress to get to the meeting place on time, which did nothing to settle their nerves. Charlotte would try to figure out a way to deal with Phillip once they reached their destination.
The neigh of a horse the next day startled Charlotte, and she sprung up with her heart in her throat. She sighed with relief when she saw Phillip getting the horses ready.
“I’m sorry if I frightened you. We need to get going. It’s possible to make it to the meeting place tonight if we keep a hard pace.” Phillip didn’t look at her as he spoke but continued to saddle the horses.
Charlotte did not answer but made her way to a tree to perform her toilet before leaving.
The two had a quick meal and were on the road in less than a half-hour. It was midafternoon when Charlotte noticed the scenery had changed. They passed through fields and pastures for most of the day. Now, they traveled through wooded land. She was on alert knowing anything could lurk in the distance.
As they rounded a bend, four riders were stationed, blocking their path. When they approached, Charlotte realized the riders did not move to make way for them. A cold chill crept through her body. She didn’t think these were Phillip’s friends. A glance at Phillip’s hard, calculating expression confirmed him not knowing them either. They pulled their horses to a stop.
Phillip walked his horse until they were within earshot of the other riders. No one said a word. Charlotte wanted to scream, but she knew Phillip had to keep his attention on the others. As the silence stretched, she heard more horses. A peek over her shoulder showed three more riders approaching. This was impossible! Nobody had followed them, Phillip had made sure of it.
Charlotte suddenly realized it was a trap. She didn’t know how far they were from their destination, but she doubted anyone would look for them if they failed to arrive by nightfall.
One of the riders interrupted her thoughts when he spoke with a Russian accent. “Since I know you do not speak my native tongue, sir, I will speak in yours.” He smirked.
“Who are you, sir, and what do you want of us?” Phillip asked in a firm tone.
The Russian drew his horse closer. “Forgive me, I am Captain Dmitriev. My men and I are here to escort you and the woman to a secure location to question you. I believe you are in procession of some information my superiors require.”
Charlotte glanced at Phillip and noticed he still had a firm grip on his reins. She was ready to do whatever was necessary. But where could they go? Her mind raced with possibilities. Charlotte silently braced herself for action as the conversation between the two men continued.
Phillip feigned innocence. “I don’t know what you are talking about, Captain. My wife and I are traveling from Austria to France. We are heading back to England.”
“I see. Then why, sir, would you not use a coach? Surely, it would make your wife more comfortable on your journey. Perhaps, you were trying to go undetected on the roads?”
Phillip measured his words before speaking. “We were taken upon by thieves a day back and could only find horses for transport. It’s dangerous times we live in, captain. Now, if you would excuse us, I would like to get my wife to shelter for the night.”
“I’m afraid I cannot allow that.”
“Why not? We have done nothing wrong, so if you and your men would kindly move, we will be on our way.”
How Phillip could keep so calm, Charlotte couldn’t guess. She knew if
she spoke, her hysteria would rise to the surface, so she remained silent.
Captain Dmitriev seemed uninterested in Phillip’s response. “I believe you have information that was smuggled out by a traitor from my country. My orders are to find the person or persons responsible and recover that information.”
“Neither my wife nor I have traveled to Russia. So, again, you are mistaken.” It was difficult for Phillip to contain his anger, “And may I remind you, Captain, you are not in Russia. We are in France, Russia’s current enemy, which makes it unsafe for you and your men to be here.”
The captain laughed and shook his head. “Enough of this.” He withdrew his pistol and pointed it at Charlotte. A tremor ran through her body, and her face turned ashen. She looked at Phillip for guidance.
“Dismount, or I will shoot the lady. It is a simple request.” The captain cocked the gun to show his intent.
Phillip glanced at Charlotte and nodded his head. They both dismounted, and the soldiers closed in on them.
“If you let the lady go, I will do whatever you want. But I will tell you again; we are travelers on our way home.” Phillip placed his body between Charlotte and the Russian’s pistol. He would sacrifice himself for her. Of course, he would. It was his mission to protect Charlotte at all costs. She knew it wasn’t a proclamation of his affection, but it still touched her.
The Russian chuckled. “Sir, you are not the one I am interested in. It is that traitor.” He said the word traitor in Russian, so only Charlotte would understand. He was toying with them.
Charlotte didn’t know what to do. If she answered him, she would confirm the accusations against her, but that may be the only way to save Phillip. If he would die for her, then she would do the same. They were in this together, but now it was her turn to take control of the conversation. Charlotte answered in Russian, “I will come with you, but only if you let him go. That is the deal.”
The Russian hissed in his native tongue. “I don’t deal with traitors.”
“I am no traitor.”
“You are,” he yelled. “You are a traitor to your people, your heritage. How could you embrace these English ways?”
She continued in Russian. “I was born English, sir. The traditions my Russian mother passed on to me include strength, courage, and honor. Surely you can respect that?”
Captain Dmitriev paused for a moment before answering in English. “I respect courage and strength; you are right.” He nodded to the men behind him, who dismounted and approached them. “What I don’t respect is a whore who spreads her legs for an Englishman and sells out my beloved country.”
A soldier grabbed Charlotte from behind. She cried out in surprise. Pain lanced through her arms as they twisted them in a strange angle behind her back. Phillip struck the soldier squarely in the face. It was only a momentary reprieve as another soldier grabbed for Charlotte, and the cold steel of a pistol pressed into her side.
At the same time, two other soldiers wrestled Phillip to the ground. She had never seen Phillip subdued; she had never thought it possible. The stark reality that her life was endangered came crashing down on her. All of a sudden it was difficult to breath, and her hands became cold and clammy. Charlotte felt as though she were about to faint, but she must stay alert.
Phillip struggled. “Let her go, take me. I have more information than she can give you, she is nothing.”
The captain stood next to Phillip. “True, but it will be more enjoyable getting the information from her.”
Phillip yelled, “No!”
**********
He needed to stall in order to devise a plan. It surprised Phillip that the Russians had ambushed them so close to Paris. They must be desperate to try something so bold on French soil. Hopefully their absence would spur Hugh and Ethan to investigate. There had to be a way to get more time. Perhaps the captain would talk long enough for Phillip’s friends to arrive.
“You are not to lay a hand on the lady,” Phillip said as he struggled to break free. “How did you even know about us?”
Captain Dmitriev circled him. Phillip had to keep the captain occupied. “We had informants all around the cities in Austria. We suspected a group of traitors were smuggling information. A few were captured, and we persuaded them to talk,” the captain laughed.
Phillip could only imagine their methods of persuasion.
The captain continued, “I discovered another traitor had stolen information about certain trade routes. The list of suspects quickly shortened. As we searched, it came to our attention that a Russian merchant had been shot crossing the border which led us to your cousin, I believe?” He directed the last part to Charlotte.
A soldier still restrained Charlotte. “What did you do to Nikoli?” Phillip heard the hitch in her voice and saw the fear on her face. The soldier continued to push the pistol against her side, an all too clear reminder that time was not on their side.
“Fortunately, we did not have to do anything. The bullet had already done its job. By the time we found him, your cousin was delusional from the loss of blood and mentioned some details. We put the rest together.”
Charlotte’s face crumbled at the mention of her cousin’s death. He wanted to rush over and comfort her, but he had to be careful. If he showed too much attention toward Charlotte, they could use that against him. Phillip could not risk her safety any more than it already was. There were still unanswered questions, and he needed to learn as much from the Russians as possible. He prayed Hugh and Ethan would notice their delay and come for them.
“How were you able to find us?” Phillip asked.
“You were at an inn a day or two’s ride from the Austrian border. Some of our soldiers were there. When they reported back to the post, we asked them if they noticed any travelers, and they mentioned you. We split up to search for you. When you shot some of my men, you confirmed our suspicions. We attempted to stop you from reaching the estate you cowered in, but I figured you may still make your way to Paris, so we waited. And now, we will finish what we started.”
Captain Dmitriev motioned to the officer holding Charlotte. He led her to a horse, but she refused to mount. The pistol pressed deeper into her side, but she stood firm. Phillip’s heart burned with love for her at that moment. Even in the face of death, she was courageous.
Charlotte stood, unmoving. He knew she was waiting for him to make a move, but they were outnumbered and out-gunned. It didn’t appear as if his friends were coming to their rescue. Phillip’s mind raced with ideas.
“Enough of this. If the lady does not mount, we will shoot you both. I give you one final warning.” The captain motioned for Phillip to be stood up, then he pointed a gun at him.
He hung his head in defeat, then peered over at her. She silently shook her head, saying she wouldn’t leave him. But what else was there to do? He had to try something, if only, for Charlotte’s sake. With new determination, he decided to play along with whatever the captain’s plan might be.
“Get on the horse, Charlotte.” His tone was soft but firm.
Charlotte hesitated and pretended not to hear what he said. He nodded his head to confirm the command. Charlotte mounted the horse and sat stoically as a soldier tied her hands to the pummel. Still, she said nothing.
The captain holstered his pistol. “Now, that was not so difficult, was it? And now for one last thing,” he looked at Phillip. “Shoot him.”
“No! Charlotte cried when she heard the command.
If Phillip was to die, he couldn’t let Charlotte watch. He lunged at Captain Dmitriev but was stopped short by one of his men. “Captain, surely you wouldn’t let a lady bear witness to such a thing. At least, let her leave first.”
His mind scrambled for a plan, and one started to form. First, he had to get some of the soldiers to leave to better his odds of overpowering them. If he could persuade the captain to leave before the job was done, he might have a chance. He could handle two or three soldiers, but not all of them.
&
nbsp; Phillip implored him, “What good is a prisoner who is so numb with shock that they won’t speak? Take her away, spare her. As one gentleman to another, although we are at war, we are not total barbarians, are we Captain?”
Dmitriev acquiesced, “Spoken like a man in love, I would say. But, no matter. You speak some sense. Take him into the woods and shoot him, then follow us.” He pointed at two of the soldiers to stay. The rest of the unit started back the way they had come.
Phillip didn’t know where the Russians were taking Charlotte. He couldn’t waste much time, or he wouldn’t find their trail. The tip of a pistol dug into his side, prodding him to move. The Russian soldier marched him up a hill. As they walked, Phillip surveyed the area and moved toward a group of trees. Thankfully the Russian followed his lead. This way, the soldier’s compatriot could not see what was about to occur. Phillip ever so slowly crossed his arms. With his right hand, he felt for the knife he kept in his inside jacket pocket. By luck, the arrogant captain had failed to search him.
Phillip walked until he was told to stop. He stood in place and waited for the sound of the pistol being cocked. The subtle noise was his cue. He withdrew the knife, turned around, and let it fly. The knife landed in the soldier’s chest at the same time the pistol fired. Phillip ducked a split second before the bullet whizzed through the space he had just stood in.
The soldier dropped dead in front of Phillip. He grabbed the knife and pistol, ran to the group of trees, and waited. It was only a matter of moments before the other soldier would come to investigate. Just as he guessed, the second Russian shouted out to his comrade after hearing the shot fired. Silence was the only answer he received. The crunching of the underbrush signaled the man’s approach.
Phillip held his breath and readied the knife in his hand. The footsteps came closer. The Russian spoke again. Phillip’s body laid flush against a tree, angled toward the dead body. There was silence and then a loud exclamation.
The Way to a Spy’s Heart: A Steamy Victorian Historical Spy Series (Romancing Intrigue Book 1) Page 10