Surrender (27 page)

She cried out, tears finally falling. Should she resist? But why? She loved him, even if he did not love her back—and her body was screaming for his now. And he meant to leave tomorrow. He meant to end their relationship.

She managed to meet his gaze through her tears. “I do love you—and I am not afraid to say so.”

His arms tightened, immobilizing her with his embrace, as Jack kissed her, deeply, heatedly, wildly.

Evelyn had one coherent thought—this might be the last time they ever made love. And she seized his shoulders and kissed him back.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

E
VELYN
LAY
IN
Jack’s arms, breathless, her heart thundering. Her cheek was on his chest, their legs entwined. She could not believe the explosion of passion they had just shared, not once, but twice.

He clasped her hand tightly, then lifted it and kissed it. She felt him tense with pain as he did so.

Evelyn rose up on an elbow, still beneath the sheets. “Are you all right?” As she spoke, she began to blush. Jack had not made love to her entirely; she had made love to him!

He slowly smiled at her. “I am more than all right, Evelyn.” His eyes gleamed and narrowed. “You are such a quick study.”

She knew her color increased. “I am shameless.” He had just shown her several ways to make love, none of which involved his being elevated above her, as he could hardly maintain such a position. She could barely believe what they had done.

“You are very shameless,” he said with suppressed laughter, kissing her hand again. This time, he grimaced and lay back down carefully.

And now, as her mind cleared, as her heart rate dulled, she began to worry about his injuries. “Oh, dear, we have probably just set your recovery back.”

“You have probably just helped my recovery,” he said. “I do not think I have ever felt better.” But then he began to sit up, with difficulty, his smile vanishing, an expression of determination replacing it.

Evelyn quickly slid her arm around him, now worrying about his decision to leave in the morning. She knew he would suffer terribly if he traveled. He needed bed rest—and they should not have made love. But he had said he wished to make love to her one last time.

She sobered, doused with reality now. Surely, he did not have the discipline to end their affair now. Surely, he cared about her, and their affair was only just beginning. She was convinced that he had some genuine affection for her.

“Do your ribs hurt?” she asked, the thrill of their passion now entirely gone. It was replaced by worry and fear. She did not want him leaving and facing any new danger alone. She did not want to be at Roselynd without him, either—it felt so much safer with him there. And she could hardly contemplate their parting and her taking Aimee to her uncle’s.

Leaning into the pillows, he looked seriously at her. “Yes, they do. And they will bother me for another week or so, but they are bruised, Evelyn, not broken. I cannot regret being with you just now.”

She wanted to touch his face, tenderly, but she refrained. “I have no regrets, either.”

A wicked grin formed on his face. “I imagine you do not.”

Was she blushing another time? She glanced at the door to his bedroom, which was open, and into the sitting room. “I hope everyone is asleep.” Had she been as unrestrained as she was now recalling? Oh, she hoped not!

“You have awoken the entire house, undoubtedly.”

She flinched in alarm, and realized he was teasing her. She softened. “I already confided in Laurent. I told him we became lovers on your island.”

His eyes widened. “I am glad you have a confidant, Evelyn, but are you certain that was wise?”

“He would never gossip about me.”

He studied her for a moment. “I should go. We may have escaped notice for now, but we will not remain undetected if I spend the night with you.”

She bit her lip, almost ready to ask him to stay, anyway. And what about the previous conversation they had had? “I dread going to my uncle’s, and you remain injured and we both know it. You said that you did not think there would be any immediate danger. Why can’t you rest for another few days?”

He eyed her. “Are we going to have the exact same argument of a moment ago? I think not.” He reached for her, but as he did, she saw him deliberately fight the urge to wince. “And you know as well as I do, if I stay here with you, I will not be getting a great deal of rest.”

She pulled away. “So you are leaving in the morning?”

“We will both leave.” He was firm. “I know that you are reluctant to return to your uncle’s because of your aunt. But it is so much safer for you. I cannot leave, not if you remain here.”

She studied him and he stared back. Of course she should not remain at Roselynd alone. She knew she had to tell him about the intruder; she could hardly keep such a secret, and it might even affect him, as a spy. With tension, she turned, slid to the floor, and with her back to him, she quickly shrugged on her nightgown. When she turned, he wore a soft smile. “You are so impossibly alluring,” he said.

She refused to be distracted. “You are right about one thing. I should not be living here at Roselynd with Aimee.”

“Good, then we are agreed.” And as if he knew there was more, his eyes narrowed. “Evelyn?”

She hugged herself. “I haven’t told you everything, Jack.”

His stare hardened. “What does that mean?”

“About two weeks ago, the day Lucas called, we had an intruder break into this house.”

“What?” he exclaimed, his eyes darkening.

“I was preparing for bed when I realized an intruder was in my chamber. He seized me. And he had a knife,” she said.

Jack leaped from the bed, grunting. “You are telling me this now?” He was incredulous.

She flushed, but he pulled a sheet from the bed and wrapped it around his waist. “I could hardly worry you when you arrived at my door bloody and unconscious!”

He loomed over her. “What happened, Evelyn?”

She trembled, as his tone was so dangerous. “He held a knife to my throat and told me that if LeClerc was betrayed, I would pay, and so would Aimee.”

He blanched.

“He then left,” she added, her voice tremulous.

He inhaled harshly. “I cannot believe you are telling me this now! Were you hurt?”

“No. But I was very frightened.”

“And this was two weeks ago? Why the hell didn’t you send word?”

“We were hardly on good terms,” she cried.

“So what?” He suddenly seized her arm and pulled her closer. “Don’t you know I would always come to you when you are in danger or trouble?”

She shook her head. “No. I didn’t know.”

“Then know it now!” He released her and paced angrily. “Forget Faraday Hall. You are going to London. Amelia is about to have a child, so you can stay with Julianne and Paget.”

Evelyn gasped. “I can hardly impose!”

“But I can—and I will. Robert cannot keep you safe, not if something happens to LeClerc. Paget keeps guards. The authorities often watch the house, as well. And because of his past as Pitt’s spy, I can tell Dominic everything. I can, in fact, think of no safer, better place for you.”

“What about Looe Island?” She could not believe she had been so bold, but she realized she wished to stay with him then.

“I am not always there, Evelyn. When can your household be ready to depart?”

Evelyn was amazed by the rapidity of events. “Jack, it would take days to ready my entire household to leave.”

“Be ready tomorrow,” he said. “I am giving you one more day.”

* * *

T
HE
HOUSE
WAS
IN
AN
UPROAR
, with everyone, herself included, packing up their belongings frantically now. It was the following morning, and Evelyn thought they would be ready to depart in the midafternoon. Packing up clothing had been the easiest task, but for an extended stay, there were personal possessions, books and ledgers, which had to be boxed, too. And with prices so dear, she would not leave behind any perishable items, either.

Laurent had gone to town and Trim had lent them his wagon, so they had two vehicles instead of one.

Now Laurent appeared on the threshold of Aimee’s room. “This is madness,” he said, scowling. “But if you must know, the pantries are almost bare, and my wagon does not have any space left in it.”

She smiled, avoiding eye contact. “That is wonderful.”

He folded his arms and stared. “Why are we in such haste? What has happened? Why won’t you look me in the eye?”

She flushed. She could not tell Laurent that Jack was a spy, and that she had been threatened by his French allies. Nor could she declare that Jack’s enemies might simply seek him out at Roselynd, putting her and Aimee in harm’s way. She had deceived Laurent deliberately, telling him that Julianne had invited them to spend the summer with them in London. Laurent had been thrilled—he loved town—but then he had become suspicious. After all, most of the ton left town for their country estates in the summer. “I just think it’s best for Aimee, to live with some luxury. I could not refuse Lady Paget.”

He harrumphed. “You spent the night with him.”

She tensed. Jack had come to her bedchamber again last night, but she had not been surprised—she had been waiting for him. Without saying a word, he had taken her in his arms, and this time, he had not left her until dawn. “Yes, I did.”

“This is about Greystone, I am certain. For some reason, he is sending you to London. As he was badly beaten, can I assume he is afraid of his enemies? But why, why on earth would his enemies be a threat to you?”

She sat down hard on the edge of her bed. “Oh, Laurent. If I could tell you his secrets, I would. Can’t we please leave it at that?”

He sat down beside her. “I have never seen you happier—and I have never seen you as frightened.”

“A widow should not live alone as I am doing, not on this desolate moor, not with a child—not in a time of war.”

He took her hand. “There are so many rumors about him. But I think I know what is happening. He is one of our spies—and the French think to hurt him—or even kill him. And now you are his lover. So you could be in danger, too.” He was pale. “We could all be in danger if he stays here with us.”

Evelyn was relieved that he thought Jack a British agent, but before she could respond and reassure him, there was a firm knocking on the front door. She stood up, wondering who could be calling—perhaps it was Trev.

Jack came striding into the bedroom from his own chamber, where he had been resting. She smiled but he did not smile back, instead hurrying past her to one of her bedchamber windows, as Jolie began barking and the knocking resumed. In that moment, the banging became demanding and urgent. Evelyn knew it was not Trevelyan at her front door.

Her room faced north, and the driveway and the garden in front of the house was below the window. Jack stiffened as he looked outside. “Soldiers,” he said.

Evelyn felt her heart lurch with alarm. She ran to the window and saw five mounted cavalry in red uniforms and black helmets, muskets strapped to their shoulders, swords at their sides. Their bay horses were lathered and blowing. The determined knocking sounded again. Jolie barked more insistently now.

“Is anyone home?” someone shouted. “Open up!”

She looked up at Jack, aghast. He said, “They are here for me.”

He was going to be arrested, she thought in panic. But he laid his hand on her arm, smiled briefly and faced Laurent. “Delay them,” he said. “Give me five minutes, if not ten.”

“Where are you going?” Evelyn cried, but he was already rushing across the room. “How can you possibly hide?”

He did not answer, now in the hall. Evelyn took up her gun, meeting Laurent’s eyes. He said, very low, “He found tunnels, madame, his first day here.”

She was stunned. “He was barely conscious!”

“He knew where to look, and he sent me to find them. One leads to the stables. The rest, I do not know.”

The tunnels had been used for smuggling by the house’s previous owners. And clearly Jack had known where to find them—he had made certain to locate an exit for himself, should the need for a hasty escape ever arise. “You will show me later,” Evelyn managed.

His gaze dark, Laurent nodded. Evelyn hurried out of her bedroom, her pistol in hand, Laurent following.

In the corridor, she glanced back at Jack’s room. It was already empty. He had taken the back stairs.

They ran downstairs, just as the officer opened the front door. “Sir! You have scared me witless,” Evelyn cried.

Standing outside, the door wide-open, he glanced at the gun she held, and at Laurent, and then past her into the entry hall. Evelyn heard footsteps and turned. Adelaide and Bette stood there, Aimee between them. Jolie was on a leash, now wagging her tail.

“Mama?” Aimee cried, frightened.

Evelyn gave the officer a fierce, warning look. She then rushed to her daughter and knelt, somehow smiling. “It is all right, darling, these are British officers—good men, who will protect us from bad people like the French soldiers in Paris.”

Aimee was trembling and near tears. “Tell them to go away!”

“I intend to do just that.” She kissed her cheek. “Adelaide, take her into the kitchens. And take Jolie.” Dismayed, she heard how sharp and nervous she sounded.

Adelaide gave her a worried look, hurrying Aimee and the mastiff puppy off, Bette following. Evelyn waited till they were gone before she turned to face the officer. “You are scaring my daughter, sir.”

“I wonder why.” He bowed formally. He was about her own age, and rather good-looking, with brown hair and green eyes and a wide, flat nose. “Captain Richard Barrow, of the Royal Horse Guards. I presume you are the Countess D’Orsay?”

Had he just challenged her? She was taken aback. “Yes, I am Lady D’Orsay, Captain, and my daughter is frightened because she has not forgotten what it was like, living in Paris under Robespierre. She is afraid of all soldiers, and with good cause.”

His smile was cool. “And I am sorry to have frightened a child, so I must apologize. Have I interrupted, Madam Countess?”

“Of course not,” Evelyn returned.

“I was knocking on your door for a great many moments,” he rejoined, his gaze on hers.

Evelyn gestured around her. “As you can see, I am quite preoccupied today.”

“Yes, you are obviously vacating the premises. May I ask why?”

“We are going to London, sir.” She inhaled. “Not that it is your concern.”

“I will decide that,” he said.

He was most definitely hostile, she thought. “How can I help you, Captain?”

That cool smile reappeared. “I have learned that you are harboring an enemy of the state, madam, a man wanted for treason. Where is Jack Greystone?”