A Sister's Quest (29 page)

Opening her eyes, she looked up at his face. Her finger wobbled like her rapid pulse as she touched the angle of his high cheekbones underlined so perfectly by his scar. “I don't know, but wherever it was, it was wonderful.”

He chuckled. “I agree,
Liebchen
. Wherever it was, it must be paradise.” Kissing the curve of her throat where her uneven heartbeat pounded, he smiled at her sharp intake of breath, then pressed his mouth over hers.

Lifting her arms around his shoulders, she delighted in the passion that had controlled them so completely. She smiled when he raised his lips from hers.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” he asked as he drew the covers over her. He laughed when she shivered against the cool sheets. “I will be glad to keep you warm all night.”

“All night tonight and every night for as long as we can.”

“For as long as we can.”

It was a vow she meant, although she knew the time they had together might be short. But, in the afterglow of ecstasy, she wanted to let herself be lulled into forgetting for this one night the rage waiting to destroy them.

Chapter Eighteen

The moon reflected off the wet roofs of the city. Melting clumps of dirty snow edged the street. In the carriage, Michelle ran her fingers along the wall. She gasped when her hand was caught and drawn away from the leather edging the window.

“It is over,
Liebchen
.”

She closed her eyes and put her forehead against Alexei's shoulder. Without her sling, she could move much more easily. As his arm swept around her, she said, “When we ride in this carriage, I cannot look away from the holes left by the balls shot at us. That reminds me that the ones who fired on us are still free.”

“It has been a long time since the night we were attacked. Mayhap they wished only to give us a warning.”

She raised her head and frowned. “You don't believe that.”

“Of course not, but I was hoping you could. At least for tonight I enjoyed dancing with you.” He tweaked her nose and laughed. “You are not going to be able to use that injured leg much longer as an excuse for stepping on my feet.”

“Who stepped on whose feet?” she retorted.

Laughing, he settled back and crossed his legs. “It will soon be of the least importance.”

“Are we leaving Vienna?”

If he was surprised at her insight, he did not let any hint of astonishment color his voice. “Soon,
Liebchen
. I would guess by the end of the month, we will be on our way.”

“Where?”

“Does it matter?”

“Don't you trust me enough to tell me?”

He took her hands and pressed the palms to his lips. “I trust you, but I am not exactly sure where I will be sent next.”

“Not to Russia, I hope.”

He chuckled. “You have an obvious aversion to the czar's empire,
Liebchen
.”

“I do not want to go where I cannot speak the language.”

“What about England?” he challenged.

Her eyes widened. With the alliance between the Allies eroding as each day of the congress passed, it would not surprise her that the Russians would send agents into King George's realm. She thought about the English she had met in Vienna. They were self-satisfied and eager for power. She almost laughed at the thought, for that description fit every diplomat in the city.

“It might be interesting,” she said.

“Who knows where we might go? Mayhap America.”

“Never!”

“Such vehemence! You would like that wild world,
Liebchen
.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, we probably will be sent to another capital here in Europe.”

“Unfortunately?”

“I would like to visit America. I met an American once. He was outspoken and quite cocky that his nation whipped King George's troops.”

She laughed. “That was over three decades ago. Are they still talking about it?”

“Glory comes seldom for a backward nation. They are conspicuously absent from the Congress. That is the fate of an insignificant nation clinging to the Atlantic seaboard.”

“They are much larger since they purchased that land from France.”

“Napoleon was an ass to sell so much valuable territory to finance his imperial aspirations.” Suddenly he laughed. “Why are we discussing politics when I could be sampling the wondrous flavor of your lips, my love?”

“Why, indeed?”

As his kisses sparkled across her skin, she pressed closer. His fingers moved along her, inciting the fervor that increased every time he touched her, and she delighted in the passion that soon would overwhelm them.

The carriage rolled to a stop in front of the house. Alexei did not wait for Rusak to jump down to open the door. He swept Michelle out onto the brick walkway and, grasping her hand, hurried with her up the steps. Their laughter trilled through the shadows.

As she climbed the steps to the landing, Michelle hummed the melody of the final waltz they had enjoyed this evening. It had been a wonderful evening with the symphony first, then a gathering where they could be part of the music as they danced.

Alexei laughed, but she paid him no attention. The music had been thrilling, and she wanted to savor it as long as she could.

Pausing by the apartment door, she waited for Alexei. He stopped two steps below her so their faces were level. When she put her arm around him, he grinned with the happiness she knew was on her face.

“So you liked the evening's entertainment?” he asked.

“So far.” When his arm tightened around her waist, she kissed him and smiled. “What do you say we go in and have a cup of Frau Schlissel's hot cocoa before bed?”

“Frau Schlissel is asleep by now.”

Her finger traced the hard line of his jaw as she whispered, “Then I guess we shall have to go directly to bed, won't we?”

“Now you are getting the idea.” He climbed the last steps and opened the door to the luscious aroma of hot chocolate.

Rusak met them with a smile.
Frau Schlissel. Chocolate waiting. Good
.

Alexei draped his cloak over a peg. Taking Michelle's scarlet-lined cape from her shoulders, he hung it next to his. She spun about, humming the melody that would not be banished from her head.

“Pay her no mind, Rusak,” Alexei said.

“Next time you must come with us.” Michelle laughed. “You must hear this Beethoven. He is a genius.” She pulled off her gloves, her left hand still slow. “His music reaches into you and stirs every drop of blood in your veins.”

When Rusak's fingers moved with the speed she could not copy, Alexei ordered, “Slower, man! Slower! Our eyes will cross at this speed.”

Rusak's grating laugh drowned out Michelle's chuckle. She put her arm around Alexei and chided, “If you would attend Herr Professor Waldstein's lessons, you would have learned to understand him.”

“Do you understand him when he talks so fast?”

“No.” She smiled.

“I thought not.” He looked back at Rusak. “Slow down, so Michelle can do the job she was hired to do and translate for me.”

As Michelle interpreted Rusak's signs, she smiled. These two men were so similar: passionate, dedicated, devoted to their allies. She understood how, in the midst of Napoleon's horrible campaign in Russia, when Alexei had come close to losing Rusak to their enemies, they had become friends.

She stroked Alexei's arm as he answered Rusak's questions about their plans for the morrow. From the moment she had seen Alexei standing in Frau Herbart's house, she had been drawn to him. So many times she had questioned that attraction, but she could not deny it.

When she yawned, Alexei laughed. “Why don't you get ready for bed,
Liebchen
? I have a few more things I want to discuss with Rusak. Come back out, and we will have some hot chocolate before we retire.”

“I will need some help to unhook my gown,” she murmured, running her hand up his face.

With a chuckle, he said, “I guess I should volunteer.” He walked with her toward their bedchamber. His fingers caressing her waist suggested the feverish touch he would unleash later.

“Unless you want Rusak to do it for me?”

The intensity in his voice sent a shiver along her back. “No,
Liebchen
,” he whispered as he drew her into his arms. His voice was warm against her skin, and she sighed with eager delight. “Rusak is a good friend, but I do not want any other man touching you. You are my
Liebchen
.”

She brought his mouth to hers. At the brush of his lips, she pressed to him.

He groaned with throaty longing. “Drink the damn chocolate quickly,
Liebchen
. If it would not hurt Rusak's feelings, I—”

“Chocolate first,” she whispered, awed by the desire in his eyes. “Then we shall have the rest of the night for making our dreams come true.”

“You have made mine come true already.” He loosened the back of her gown, kissing her nape. When her breath caught, he murmured, “Hurry, my love. I shall have your cup waiting.”

“With cream?”

He kissed her bare back. She trembled with ecstasy, and he chuckled. “With whatever it takes.”

Michelle smiled as he walked out of the room. He could not hoax her. He must have something important to share with Rusak. Otherwise Alexei would not have left. Her smile broadened. She loved this man who loved his work.

Slipping her dress down her arms, she stepped out of it and tossed it over a chair. Warming weather had brought mud. A dark stain ringed the hem, and she hoped Frau Schlissel could clean it.

As she pulled on her wrapper, Michelle loosened her hair. She shook her head, and the ebony strands floated around her as she walked back to the parlor.

All the lamps but one had been extinguished. The crackle of the fire matched its dancing light climbing to the ceiling on the opposite wall. Sitting next to Alexei on the settee, she accepted the warm mug from Rusak.

“Thank you.”

You welcome. Good party tonight
?

“Very nice.” Then she glanced at Alexei. “We are talking about the gathering tonight.”

“I guessed that. Some of the … what do you call them?”

“Signs.”

“Some of the signs are obvious.” He took a sip from his cup. “Mayhap I shall be able to master a few.”

“Both of us are going to have to study hard to keep up with Herr Professor Waldstein's star pupil.” When she saw Rusak blush, she almost laughed. Then she realized he was not embarrassed by her compliment, but proud of his progress. She must return with him to class if she wanted to understand all he said.

“Do you think you can be ready to leave by Thursday?” Alexei asked as he put his hand over hers. “It is short notice, I realize. I have asked Frau Schlissel to stay on during our
vacation
.”

“Thursday should be no problem.”

“Good. Rusak, have the carriage checked over. I do not want to lose a wheel in one of the mountain passes. I—”

The door crashed open. A flood tide of men cascaded into the room. Rusak jumped to his feet and knocked one man back into the others.

Alexei shouted, “Run, Michelle!”

She leapt up from the settee.

He grabbed her right hand and pushed her toward the arch. “Go! Get help!” he ordered.

She whirled. Help? What was happening? She turned to run, but a jungle of hands and arms and strange faces tried to entangle her. She screamed as an arm encircled her waist. Another order was shouted, but not by Alexei. A hand clamped over her mouth, and her head was jerked back painfully against a man's chest. She clawed at the fingers, then stamped on her captor's feet. He laughed, not letting her escape. When she tried to pull away, his hand shifted to cover her nose.

She fought to breathe as dull thuds were followed by something falling to the floor. Blackness surrounded her. The man's hand moved again, and she could breathe. As she gasped, another hand grasped her chin and tilted it back farther. Her gaze met a pair of dark eyes set beneath thick brows in a narrow face. Their evil glint sent fear roiling through her.

In thickly accented German, he ordered, “Don't faint. We are not done with you yet.”

He gave her no chance to answer as he turned away to call something to his men. She paid no attention to his words as she saw Alexei facedown on the floor. She tried to break free, screaming, “No! Don't hurt him!”

When her captor growled in her ear, she froze.

“You are French!” she cried. “What are you doing here?”

“Idiot!” snapped the man who was clearly the leader. “She understands French!” His scowl lessened as he stepped over Alexei's prone body and toward her again. When his gaze moved along her, she struggled against the hands holding her. She wanted to put something between her and this man's icy eyes. “Of course, it is not important what she knows. What is your name?”

“Collette,” she said, hoping he could not guess she was lying.

“Collette? What happened to Michelle D'Orage?”

“She is gone.”

“Where?”

She tried to shrug, but could not move. “The count did not tell me. We do not speak of such things.”

“So you replaced the infamous Michelle D'Orage as this traitor's mistress?”

“Traitor?”

“No questions from you, Collette.”

Trying to peer past him, she wanted to find out if Alexei and Rusak were still alive. He caught her face between his fingers. When she saw blood on his hands, she gasped.

With a broad smile, he mused, “How much might you truly know, Collette? Enough to make it worth my time to drag you across Europe? Or are you simply the latest pretty plaything he has collected?”

“Who are you?” she whispered.

His smile was frigid. “No questions.” He shrugged, but his eyes examined her minutely. “You really have no idea who I am?”