In Bed with the Duke (24 page)

Inside the room was dark, yes, but the moon was out, and years of practice had taught him to see well in the dark.

He searched the desk: the official papers strewn on top, then the contents of the desk drawers.

In the top right-hand drawer, a pistol.

He pulled it out and examined it. Loaded. Yes, if a person lived as Prince Sandre lived, it was a good idea to keep a pistol handy.

In the second drawer, a list caught his eye—names, written neatly, with notations of payment beside them.
The
list of Moricadian citizens used to spy, willingly or unwillingly, for the prince. He read it, committed it to memory, then returned it to its place.

Still searching, he opened the bottom drawer and heard metal rattle. He froze.

He knew that sound.

With the caution of a man handling a venomous snake, he pulled out an iron ring. On it dangled two huge, old black keys.

They were medieval, and should have been rusty with time, yet they were polished and smooth, well used and well cared for.

They were Prince Sandre’s personal keys to the dungeon.

Revulsion gripped the Reaper, and the keys trembled in his hands, clinking like death’s own herald. He wanted to take them, fling them off the terrace so Sandre could never again go down to the dungeon to torment another poor soul.

But that wouldn’t save the prisoners, and the Reaper didn’t dare let Sandre know he’d searched his study.

With steely self-control, he replaced the keys, shut the drawer, and made his way into the depths of the palace to replace his costume with the formal attire of a gentleman attending a ball.

What had started for the Reaper as a coolly plotted attempt to signal the beginning of the end for Prince Sandre and the de Guignards had now become a desperate race to end their regime before Sandre found out the truth about Emma—that she was no meek, gentle, proper companion, but a woman who would fight like a wildcat for the man she loved.

The Reaper was that man. The stakes were too high. He had to win this game, and soon.

 

Emma stood on the perimeter of the ballroom, smiling slightly, nodding as people greeted her, pretending to look for Lord and Lady Fanchere.

Her lover had risked life and limb to find her; it perhaps spoke ill of her that she should be so flattered. But she was. Even more remarkable was that his insistence that he make love to her in such a novel, embarrassing, fabulous way should make her feel mellow and pleasured and more at ease in the palace than she could have ever imagined.

Additionally, she now suspected something that had not occurred to her before.

In real life, the Reaper was a gentleman.

She swept the crowd, looking for him.

It made sense. He could afford a fast horse; that took a good income.

On the other nights he had visited her, he’d ridden to her side, and so he carried with him the odors of saddle and horse. Tonight he’d come into the palace as one of the guests, for he smelled of soap and clean linens.

He could speak, but wouldn’t. Because he had an accent? Was he Moricadian? Or German or French or Italian? Or perhaps his voice was high or low or . . . Was he in this room now? Was he watching her?

She straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, preened for a man who might not be here.

“Miss Chegwidden, I had hoped to speak to you tonight, but you disappeared for so long, I was in despair. Were you lost again?” Durant laughed hoarsely.

She glanced at him, annoyed that he’d broken into her fantasy. “Yes. Yes, I was lost.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to guide you. But somehow you found your way back.”

“I did. Yes.” She wanted him to go away. He was blocking her view of the room.

“Be careful where you wander. Some places in this country are dangerous ones to stumble upon.” He looked different than she remembered ever seeing him. Not more serious. She’d seen him serious. This was more . . . intense.

“I remember.” She looked into his eyes, and for one moment, there was a dizzying sense of connection.

Then—

“Miss Chegwidden. I’ve been looking for you.” Prince Sandre picked up her hand as if he had the right to touch her. “Where have you been?”

“She was lost,” Durant said. “It’s a chronic situation with Miss Chegwidden.”

The prince turned on him with a ferocity that made Emma gasp. “Get away from us.”

Durant shrank back, fear as real and sharp as knives. Turning on his heel, he fled, leaving her alone with the prince.

Any feeling of connection vanished. Her pity welled up, and all she could think was,
Poor man.
She didn’t care what kind of assurances he’d given her. Something horrible had happened in that dungeon, and Prince Sandre had been there to do it.

Prince Sandre swung back on her. “Where were you?”

“As Durant said, I was lost. I turned the wrong way and wandered for a long time.” That was true, as far as it went, but she blushed when she remembered where she had gone and whom she had found.

He scrutinized her face, and guests scattered as he pulled her into an alcove. “For an hour? You were lost for an
hour
?”

“I saw much of the palace. I fear I intruded on your privacy.”

“Where were you?”

She didn’t like his tone. “If I knew, I wouldn’t have been lost!”

His blue eyes went frigid, and he squeezed her fingers hard enough to dig the simple silver ring into her flesh.

She stiffened under the lash of pain, and said rapidly, “I was in a long corridor with rooms opening off it. I saw a terrace, white in the moonlight. I went out in hopes of finding my way down to the kitchens, but no.”

His grip loosened. “You were in my personal area.”

“I thought so. Even in the dark, the rooms were luxurious.”

He mulled over her explanation. “How did you get back?”

“I tried what felt like the wrong way, and here I am.” She wanted to add that she was sorry to be back, but although the fury in his eyes was fading, he still held her hand, and she was afraid.

“Everyone was asking where you were. I was worried.”

Worried that she’d run away and left him looking like a fool. But she nodded. “I was worried, too. I had no idea the palace had so many rooms.”

Lord and Lady Fanchere stepped into the alcove.

“Sandre, this privacy is not proper.” Lady Fanchere’s voice was severe.

“I had to speak to Miss Chegwidden about the proper way to behave when one is invited to a royal ball.” Prince Sandre smiled, but it looked more like a baring of teeth.

Emma wanted to slap him, or contradict him, but her hand hurt. She eased it away from his and glanced down. He’d squeezed hard enough to cut her with her own ring; blood was drying, sticky and brown, between her fingers.

Lady Fanchere noticed, and probably guessed at the cause, for she took Prince Sandre’s arm and turned him toward the ballroom. “I suppose you’ve heard what Aimée’s doing now?”

No!
Emma started to take a step forward, to stop Lady Fanchere.

Lord Fanchere caught Emma’s arm and shook his head.
Too late
, he mouthed.

Prince Sandre sighed in exasperation. “What crack-brained scheme has Aimée come up with now?”

Lord Fanchere offered Emma his arm, and they followed the cousins.

“She’s decided to go abroad.” Lady Fanchere was delighted and obviously expected Prince Sandre to be, too.

His head snapped around. “What?”

Lady Fanchere was oblivious to his displeasure. “She’s going to Italy first for the winter, then moving on to Austria for the summer. It is exactly what she needs, and she’s excited as I’ve seen her for years.”

They strolled through the crowd, and all the while, Emma strained, wanting Lady Fanchere to stop talking.

“How is she managing this?” Prince Sandre asked with elaborate interest.

Lord Fanchere stepped forward. “I’m setting up an account for her to draw on while she’s abroad.”

“Are you?” Prince Sandre flicked him a glance.

“Eleonore asked me to,” Lord Fanchere said.

“Yes. I suppose you must do what Eleonore says.” Prince Sandre chuckled as if it were a joke.

But Lord Fanchere treated the matter seriously. “She asks me for so little, and I would do much more.” Taking his wife’s hand, he kissed it. “Because she has given me so much.”

“There you go, Miss Chegwidden, the secret to getting your own way in a marriage. Ask for little and you’ll get whatever you want,” Prince Sandre said.

She thought,
I do not care what you think.

She said, “I’ll remember, Your Highness.” With the intention of changing the subject, she turned to Lady Fanchere. “I was lost in the palace, and found the terrace. I had no idea the view was so dazzling.”

“The old royal family chose their location well, wouldn’t you say?” Prince Sandre seemed willing to brush aside his interest in Aimée’s plans. “They say the only way this stronghold can be taken is by treachery from the inside.”

“I believe that’s how your family did it, is it not?” Lord Fanchere asked.

Emma looked at him in astonishment. He was so calm. So staid. So quiet. Yet he wasn’t stupid, and to say that to Prince Sandre . . . Was he, too, trying to distract the prince from Aimée’s plans?

“It’s true, Sandre—our ancestors were not admirable people.” Lady Fanchere shook her head sadly.

“I don’t know the story,” Emma said.

“The Count de Guignard was invited by the Moricadian royal family to visit the palace,” Lady Fanchere told her, “and before his arrival, he placed his people in key positions in the serving hall. He brought wines from his lands as a gift, and poured freely, and when the royal guard was insensible, he gave a prearranged signal. His people opened the postern door and let in the soldiers, and they slaughtered every member of the royal guard and all their servants, and violated the women, and dragged the king out and hanged him.”

“Horrible,” Emma whispered.

“The Trojan horse is a time-honored way to win a war.” Prince Sandre was remarkably unconcerned with his ancestors’ villainy.

“They broke all rules of hospitality!” Lady Fanchere retorted.

“Ah, but look what they gave to us, their descendants.” Prince Sandre gestured across the glittering, noisy ballroom. “The palace, the lands . . . the money . . .”

Emma saw her chance. “From the terrace, it’s clear your country has very difficult terrain. No wonder the Reaper has escaped you.” She held her breath for a moment, waiting to see if he would take the bait.

“Not for long.” Prince Sandre looked grimly pleased. “I had to clearly express my wishes to my cousin Jean-Pierre, and he has made the matter a personal concern.”

“Where is Jean- Pierre?” Lady Fanchere glanced around.

“He’s hunting.” A smile slipped across Prince Sandre’s lips, and it terrified Emma.

“For the Reaper?” she asked in an admiring tone.

“Yes. He is my best marksman.”

Emma felt the color drain from her face. “He’s going to shoot him? He’s going to kill him?”

“A good thing,” Lady Fanchere said. “That Reaper scared Aimée to death.”

“That Reaper killed Rickie,” Prince Sandre snapped.

“Perhaps the Reaper killed Rickie; perhaps someone else did. For all that he was our cousin, Rickie was not well liked.” Before Prince Sandre could contradict her, she added, “God rest his soul.”

“Regardless, the Reaper is going to hang,” Prince Sandre said. “For villains like him, I like hanging.”

Desperation made Emma bold. “I thought your cousin was going to
shoot
him.”

“You are a bloodthirsty little thing, aren’t you?” Prince Sandre approved. “No, I want the Reaper alive, and I will make an example of him. We’ll keep him alive until we can string him from the gibbet.” He bowed. “He should suffer for frightening a lady as lovely as you.”

“Yes,” she said, and because he seemed to think that was a tribute, she added, “Thank you.”

“Enough of this serious business. This is a ball. I’ve waited over an hour to dance with you again, Miss Chegwidden.” Prince Sandre offered his arm. “Let us waltz!”

Emma stared at him, repulsed by everything she’d learned of him, struck by the realization that, even for the sake of the Reaper, she couldn’t continue on this course.

“Miss Chegwidden?” He lifted a surprised eyebrow.

Emma couldn’t touch him. He made her flesh creep. She couldn’t
bear
it.

Lady Fanchere put a hand in her back and gave her a push.

A contralto voice, musical and amused, saved Emma from disaster. “Sandre, darling.” Countess Martin stepped into the little circle, edged Emma aside, and caressed his face. “Have you heard the rumor that’s sweeping the ballroom? The Reaper has been seen here!”

“Here?” Sandre jerked his head aside.

“What do you mean, here?” Emma asked.

Countess Martin ignored her as if she didn’t exist. “He’s in the palace, darling Highness. Tonight! While your men are hunting the countryside for him. Now you have to admit,
that’s
amusing!”

J
ean-Pierre sat on his horse, watching the horizon while lightning flickered along the peaks like Zeus’s sharp blessings. The prince had given a ball, but had made it clear Jean-Pierre was not welcome. Not because of his mother, whom Prince Sandre laughingly called a slut with a talented mouth, but because Jean-Pierre hadn’t yet caught the Reaper.

The wind picked up. A cloud obscured the stars as it formed, grumbling in its growing pains. The smell of rain grew fresh in the air.

Confounded thunderstorm. It was coming, and coming fast.

Jean-Pierre was sick and tired of sitting in the old royal graveyard on the road to the palace, getting drenched every night. He intended to attend the next ball.