Surrender Read Free Page B

decipher his thoughts, but
his expression was bland. “Sir—will you help us—please?”
    She could not believe how plaintive she sounded. But he was
still crowding her. Worse, she now realized she could feel his body’s warmth and
heat. And while she was a woman of medium height, he made her feel small and
fragile.
    “I am considering it.” He finally paced slowly away. Evelyn
gulped air, ignoring the wild urge she had to fan herself with the closest
object at hand. Was he going to reject her plea?
    “Sir! We must leave the country—immediately. I am afraid for my
daughter!” she cried.
    He glanced at her, apparently unmoved. Evelyn had no idea what
he was thinking, as an odd silence ensued. He finally said, “I will need to know
who I am transporting.”
    She bit her lip. She hated deception, but she had no choice.
“The Vicomte LeClerc,” she lied.
    His gaze moved over her face another time. “I will take payment
in advance. My fee is a thousand pounds for each passenger.”
    Evelyn cried out. “Sir! I hardly have six thousand pounds!”
    He studied her. “If you have been followed, there will be
trouble.”
    “And if we haven’t been followed?”
    “My fee is six thousand pounds, madam.”
    She closed her eyes briefly, then reached into her bodice and
handed him the assignats.
    He made a disparaging sound. “That is worthless to me.” But he
laid them on his desk.
    Evelyn grimly reached into her bodice. He did not look away,
and she flushed as she removed the diamond-and-ruby necklace. His impassive
expression did not change. Evelyn walked over to him and handed him the
necklace.
    He took the necklace, carried it to his desk and sat down
there. She watched him take a jeweler’s glass from a drawer and inspect the
gems. “It is real,” she managed. “That is the most I can offer you, sir, and it
is not worth six thousand pounds.”
    He gave her a skeptical glance, his gaze suddenly sliding to
her mouth, before he continued to study the rubies with great care. Her tension
was impossible now. He finally set the necklace and glass down. “We have a
bargain, Vicomtesse. Although it is against my better judgment.”
    She was so relieved she gasped. Tears formed. “Thank you! I
cannot thank you enough!”
    He gave her another odd look. “I imagine you could, if you
wished to.” Abruptly he stood. “Tell me where your husband is and I will get him
and your daughter and the others. We will disembark at dawn.”
    Evelyn had no idea what that strange comment had meant—or, she
hoped she did not. And she could not believe it—he was going to help them flee
the country, even if he did not seem overly enthused about it.
    Relief began. Somehow, she felt certain that this man would get
them safely out of France and across the Channel. “They are at the Abelard Inn.
But I am coming with you.”
    “Oh, ho!” His gaze hardened. “You are hardly coming, as God
only knows what might arise between the docks and the inn. You can wait
here.”
    She breathed hard. “I have already been separated from my
daughter for an hour! I cannot remain apart from her. It is too dangerous.” And
she was worried that, if someone discovered her party, they might take Henri
prisoner—and Aimee, as well.
    “You will wait here. I am not escorting you back to that inn,
and if you do not do as I say, you may take back your necklace, and we will
cancel our agreement.”
    His gaze had become as sharp as knives. Evelyn was taken
aback.
    “Madam, I will guard your daughter with my life, and I intend
to be back on my ship in a matter of minutes.”
    She inhaled. Oddly, she trusted him, and clearly, he was not
going to allow her to come.
    Aware of her surrender, he opened a drawer and removed a small
pistol and a bag of powder with a flint box. He closed the drawer and his stare
was piercing. “The odds are that you will not need this, but keep it with you
until I return.” He walked around the desk and held the gun out to