“I cannot say that I blame her for that. It would have been foolish to rush into London and announce herself. The English think her family traitors and the French are after her to complete her father’s work.” An edge seeped into Jacques’s voice, which he tried to control.
With a nod, Michael sat up. “I will contact the Buckrose Horsemen. I have some influence, but it’s up to Alexander. Once I tell him, he may decide the best course is to arrest your friend. It’s a risk.”
Jacques held his breath and forced down his anger. “I realize that is a possibility. I will vouch for Diana. I will take full responsibility if she is not what she appears to be. She is no traitor, nor was her father. She said her father only gave them enough to keep his family alive, and I believe her. If he had helped them, they would be firing rockets farther and with more firepower. They had him for two years before killing him. You and I both know he could have given them what they wanted in that time if he had been inclined.”
“I’ll need to know what exactly Mr. MacLeod did tell his captors.” Michael’s acknowledgment that Jacob and his family were prisoners and not there of their own free will was a huge step in Diana’s favor.
“As that information would have had little meaning to me, I did not ask. I am sure she will be able and willing to tell you if the Horsemen are going to keep her out of Caron’s clutches.” Diana was not very forthcoming, but he believed she was sensible and would see the value in giving the Horsemen anything they needed.
Michael stood. “Perhaps it would be best if we went to Everton House and I had a chat with Miss MacLeod.”
“She will be at her assignment now. I can take you. But Michael, I will not let you bully her.” Standing, he knew that even in a fair fight, Michael was more likely to win. Still, Diana would not be made to fear anyone. Not if he could help it.
Cocking his head, Michael watched Jacques a few long seconds. “Are you in love with her?”
At the word, Jacques’s heart pounded, and warning bells went off in his head. “I gave up on love in France, as you know. I like her and she is important to me.”
Michael raised an eyebrow. “You know, Jacques, love has a funny way of not caring if you’ve given up on her or not. This woman is important to you. She is on your mind and you are willing to risk your own standing in England to save her. Why?”
“Damned if I know.”
Laughing, Michael called for a footman to bring his overcoat.
* * * *
It was not unusual to find the Edgebrook town house in total chaos, but since Diana had begun helping Francis there had been no accidents. Yet when Jacques and Michael arrived, smoke poured out the open front door.
Fenwick ran from the house. “Pardon me, sirs. I must open some windows. The fire is out, but the smoke.” Hair flopping in all directions, the butler ran down the stairs to the side of the house.
Bertram ran out next, coughing like mad. “No one was harmed.” He stopped at the bottom of the steps and kept a watchful eye.
Michael laughed. “I see Edgebrook is little changed.”
“This is the first incident in months. I wonder what went wrong.” Jacques waved at the smoke in his face and proceeded inside.
Doris rushed out of the basement door, coughing. “Goodness. It’s not much better up here. Oh, hello, Mr. Laurent, Your Grace, we weren’t expecting callers. There was a wee accident in the laboratory. It was the strangest thing. But the good news is, Mr. Edgebrook’s new fire extinguisher works with great speed and no one was hurt.”
Jacques’s heart began beating again. “Where are they, Mrs. Whimple?”
“Downstairs trying to find out what happened. I tried to get them to abandon the room until the smoke clears, but you know how they are.”
“Perhaps I can convince them some clear air would be more advantageous.” Jacques headed for the door to the steps, and Michael followed.
Most dukes would be averse to traipsing down to a basement that was recently on fire, but Michael was not like most dukes. “What are they working on that might catch on fire?”
Francis answered from below, “It was the mining lamp. That flared up. Shouldn’t have happened. We had put that aside to check on the plantings.”
Both Francis and Diana were covered in gray soot.
Her bright eyes widened at the sight of him and Michael. The dress she wore might have been blue, but it was now ash colored. “The good news is, the extinguisher worked even better than expected. I’m relieved it was handy. We think the vapor tank we were using for testing somehow leaked.”
It didn’t add up. Jacques asked, “I thought the lamp was designed to warn of dangerous vapors with a small increase in flame.”
The windows above opened one at a time, allowing the smoke to clear. “Is that better, sir?” Fenwick called down.
“Thank you, Fenwick. Much better.” Francis walked over to the singed lamp. “That’s the odd part. Somehow black powder got into the mix. It could have been much worse. I’m not sure how this might have occurred.”
Stepping forward, Michael coughed. He examined the table and lamp. “How do you know there was black powder?”
“Your Grace, what are you doing here?” Francis held out his hand to shake, having just noticed the presence of a peer.
His friend’s absentmindedness would be amusing if he and Diana hadn’t almost been blown to pieces. Jacques watched Diana as she studied the lamp.
“I came to meet your new assistant, who Laurent speaks so highly of.”
At that, Francis grinned, his white teeth shining against his filthy skin. “Miss St. Cloud is a marvel. If she were a man, she’d be at the top of the field in her own right. I, for one, am happy to have her help.”
“Did you have a theory about the gunpowder?” Jacques tried to get him back on the subject.
Pointing to a spot several feet from where the table was singed, Francis said, “We found the powder scattered here. I’m puzzled about how it could have gotten in the laboratory. I’m not working on anything regarding firearms.”
Jacques didn’t like the sound of any of this. “Miss St. Cloud, would you like to get cleaned up so that His Grace and I might have a word?”
Even through the grime, he could see her swallow, and fear enter her gaze. He longed to give her comfort, and all he gave her was trepidation and worry. It would change, he vowed.
With a nod, she climbed the stairs. “I’ll only be a few minutes.”
“Take your time. We’ll wait.” Michael looked over the other experiments.
Removing the handkerchief from his pocket, Francis took a moment to wipe his face. He cleaned his spectacles and stared at Jacques. “Is my assistant in some kind of trouble that might bring a duke to my humble home?”
“Why would you think that, Mr. Edgebrook?” Michael stopped perusing and stared at Francis.
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but you are not exactly a typical peer. You have military ties that are said to run deep. What in the world could you want with Miss St. Cloud?” Francis stepped around the table and faced Michael.
Jacques stood between them. “Francis, we are here to help, and you will have to trust me. We are not able to tell you all the details at this time.”
With a sigh, Francis walked to the stairs and turned, blocking the way. “I know what you and all of society think of me. Madman and putterer. I hear the rumors. You think my head is so far in my experiments and books that I don’t know what’s happening around me. If you’re here to arrest her, Your Grace, I’ll not have it. I’ll protect her by whatever means necessary.”
Certain that his mouth hung open, Jacques didn’t know what to say.
“You know who she is.” Michael watched, but didn’t move.
“Of course. I’ve known since she walked in here that first day. I knew her father, though I imagine since she’s on h
er own, he’s gone to his maker. Jacob would never have left that girl to fend for herself. She doesn’t remember that I met her once when she was just a child. I saw the resemblance to my friend, and with her knowledge of science and the name, I put it together. Now why are you here?”
Shaking his head, Michael laughed. “She certainly does instill a great deal of loyalty in people who barely know her. There must be something good in her.”
“She is all good. I sent multiple letters to Parliament when Jacob was declared a traitor. I knew he would never turn. Then, when the French didn’t have better weapons after six months, I sent another letter expounding on my knowledge of the man. It was the only time I wished I had a better reputation.” Sorrow laced Francis’s voice on the last sentence. “Jacob MacLeod was a good man and a great patriot. His daughter is a good girl, and I will defend her with my life if need be.”
Jacques couldn’t contain his smile. She really did have a way of becoming part of people’s lives. So much so that both he and Francis were willing to die for her.
With a sigh, Michael nodded. “That will not be necessary, Mr. Edgebrook. It is clear that if you and Laurent are willing to lose everything over a slip of a girl, she must be very special. I only came today to meet her and see if I can help.”
“Well, good.” Francis didn’t give an inch. “How can you help? What kind of trouble is she in?”
“I’d rather not tell her tale, if you don’t mind.” Michael looked around the laboratory. “I would suggest that you secure your home better and not use her true name outside present company. What happened here today may have been an accident, but there are a great many questions unanswered. That tends to make me uncomfortable.”
On the main floor, Jacques walked out the front door and down to where Bertram still stood. “Anyone make an attempt to enter?”
Shaking his head, Bertram kept his arms folded and gaze watchful. “A couple of odd-looking blokes walked by but turned down the cross street when they saw me. I have my doubts about odd accidents, sir.”
Jacques patted Bertram on the back. “You are a good man. Keep an eye out. I will have a wet cloth and a cup of tea brought out for you.”
“Much appreciated, sir.”
Back inside, Jacques joined Michael in the study. Francis was kind enough to vacate to his rooms. He said he would need time to clean up.
Shortly after they were seated, Diana came in with a clean face and hands. Her dress was still covered in ash, and she carried a towel.
Jacques and Michael stood until she had placed the towel on the divan and seated herself on top of it. Jacques marveled at how thoughtful she always managed to be. Despite her obvious nervousness, she still worried about the furniture.
“Are you here to arrest me, Your Grace?” Diana was right to the point.
Michael smiled. “I don’t think so, Miss… I suppose we should continue with St. Cloud for now. Because two men I respect have vouched for you, and because Lord Rupert and Lady Jane are excellent judges of character and have offered you employment and a home, I am going to help you if I can.”
Wide-eyed, she swallowed several times before she spoke. “How can you help?”
The towel she sat on covered a rose divan, and Diana ran her fingers along the patterned fabric. She must be terrified if she was unwilling to make eye contact with Michael. Jacques moved to sit next to her. “I will not let anyone harm you, Diana. You must trust in that.”
Looking up at him, her fear eased from her gaze. “I would not blame you if you turned me over to the government. You must be careful in these times.”
“Michael is here to help.” He wanted to take her in his arms and ease her worry, but that wasn’t possible with Michael present.
“I have a few questions for you, Miss St. Cloud. Do you feel up to a short discussion?” Michael leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. His expression was earnest, but not forceful. “I will try to make this as brief as possible.”
She folded her hands in her lap and straightened her shoulders. Resignation, bravado and a dozen other emotions crossed her sweet face. “Ask your questions.”
“What information did your father give the French?” Michael’s steely gaze was as direct as the question.
“My father didn’t have the military data the French were hoping for. They captured us with the erroneous idea that Father had been working with the British military. They had planned to get him to build them the same rockets he’d built for you. Of course, Father hadn’t built those rockets. He’d only sent the idea to the Royal Academy, where someone must have stolen the papers and given them to the French.”
“But he must have given them something, or there would have been no sense in keeping you alive.”
Jacques’s instinct was to rush to her defense, but that would be counterproductive. It was important that Michael believed her innocent. If he rushed in like a knight in shining armor, it would do nothing to show Diana’s character. Biting his tongue, he wished his friend would be a bit gentler.
She huffed. “He told them if they wanted a rocket to go farther, they would have to build a bigger rocket. They demanded he come up with a diagram for the larger rocket and then build it.”
Fire flashed in Michael’s eyes. “And did he?”
“Every month when Caron would come to see his progress, Father would explain about some trouble hindering the process. After a few months, Caron began torturing Mother and I to get Father to work harder. At the time of his death, Father had drawn up half a rocket that was aerodynamically unsound, and my mother had lost the thumb on her right hand and had her leg broken twice. I was lucky and only had a few broken ribs and bruises.”
Leaning back, Michael sighed. “I’m very sorry. When our government learns that they were wrong and left her citizens to suffer, they will be sorry as well.”
“How can you help me, Your Grace? Will you arrest Victor?”
Michael shook his head. “If I do that, there will be another just like him who will take his place. We need to expose them. I shall call on some friends who are experts in such matters. Have you heard of the Buckrose Horsemen?”
She shook her head.
“I’m not surprised. They work mostly in secret as an agency against the Terror. It was with their assistance that we managed to rescue Monsieur Laurent from his fate.”
“And you believe these Horsemen will be willing to save me from mine?”
With a shrug, Michael rose. “I cannot say, Miss St. Cloud. I will ask them and recommend that they help.”
She stood. “What shall I do in the meantime?”
“Nothing. Be cautious and send word if you notice anything unusual. I will contact you when I have the Horsemen’s response.”
“And you are sure these are not the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse come to carry me off.” She walked him to the door.
A rare full laugh fell from Michael’s lips. “I think they would be very amused by the comparison. Laurent, I’ll make my own way home.”
Jacques nodded and waited for Michael to leave.
She stood with her back to him by the door. “I thought you might have betrayed me, but I couldn’t blame you.”
“I shall never do that, Diana. I will protect you no matter the cost.” He walked to her and caressed her shoulders. It would be best to keep his distance, but was impossible to achieve. Between the gravel in her voice and the anxiety in her stoic stance, he had to touch her, ease her fears.
“You say lovely things for a man who is not the marrying kind. I don’t know what you want from me, Jacques. I only know that people who care about me end badly, and I don’t want that for you.”
Gently, he eased her around to face him. “It is too late to stop me caring for you. It might have been past that point the moment we met. But the road we are on is an uncertain one. I suggest we try to get through a
ll of this and get you safe. After that we can worry about the rest.”
Her eyes were like the deepest, clearest pools as she stared up at him. Her dark eyelashes framed them in stark contrast. They glistened as if she might cry, but held those emotions just below the surface. “If I live, I would like to go home. That will take me out of your view, which will be best for everyone.”
The idea of her leaving him for the borderlands created a knot in his gut that would not release. He ran his hand from her shoulder up the soft skin of her neck. Her skin was pink from washing away the grime of the laboratory fire. Longing to kiss the path his fingers took, he touched her jaw and cupped her cheek. “Do not speak of leaving me, my goddess of the wood. I fear I would seek you out to the ends of the earth.”
She wrapped her hand around the back of his but did not pull his touch away from her face. “You mustn’t say such things. Our paths are not the same.”
Threading his fingers through her soft, dark hair released the smoky odor from the fire, but also her own scent that lingered beneath. The night he’d held her, that floral warmth had enveloped him and made her mark on him. “I should not say a great many things to you, Diana, but I find all I want to do is spew sonnets in your presence. You must forgive me.”
A giggle like bells in winter fell crisp and rich from her lips. If he could have bottled the sound and drank it like fine wine, he would have made himself drunk every day and longed for more. Suddenly shy, she cast her eyes down. “I should find Bertram and go back to Everton House. I need a bath and a fresh dress.”
Lord in heaven, the idea of her submerged in warm bathwater was too much. “You can do that in just a moment.”
Turning her head up to meet his gaze, she gasped at what she saw in his eyes.
Jacques could no more stop himself than he could stop breathing. Leaning down, he ran his hand along her jaw and tipped her chin up. She breathed in as he breathed out, like one beautiful heart beating. It wasn’t their first kiss, yet as his lips touched hers, it was as if her soul joined with his for that brief moment. He felt her inside him, like the blood pumping through his veins.
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