Bride for a Night

“Perhaps, but the situation is…difficult.”

“Oui.” He studied her upturned face with an unnerving intensity. “I understand.”

She licked her dry lips. “Could I have a tray?”

His hesitation was so fleeting, Talia managed to convince herself that she had imagined it.

“Of course.” He brushed his fingers down her cheek before offering a shallow bow. “I will return in a few moments.”

“Thank you.”

Watching as he left the room and closed the door, Talia gingerly rose and crossed the room to listen to his retreating footsteps that echoed down the hall. Only when she was certain he was truly gone did she turn and hurry toward the panel, giving it a light tap to indicate that Jacques was gone.

With a faint whisper the panel slid open, and Gabriel stepped into the room, catching her off guard as he muttered a curse and wrapped her in his arms, his grip so tight that it became a challenge to breathe.

Not that she protested. Pressing her face against the solid wall of his chest, she ran her hands down his back, anxious to assure herself he was unharmed.

“Dear God. I was so worried,” she breathed. “How did you escape?”

His lips brushed her temple before he pulled back, revealing his tense expression.

“That is something we can discuss once we are ou

t of here.”

“Yes.”

He glanced around the elegant room, his lips thinning at the unmistakable sight of Jacques’s clothing hanging in the wardrobe and his boots standing beside the fireplace.

“Is there anything that you need?” he rasped.

She reached up to press her lips to the hard line of his jaw.

“Nothing but you.”

His silver eyes flashed with an emotion that made her heart leap.

“Talia…”

The flicker of the candles was the only warning as the door to the room was abruptly shoved open, and Jacques stepped over the threshold. Talia silently cursed her stupidity as the Frenchman’s gaze fell upon Gabriel with a resignation that proved he had not been deceived by her pretense of hunger for even a moment.

So foolish. She had sensed his wariness, had she not? But she had allowed her eagerness to be rid of his unwelcome presence to dismiss her fears. And in doing so, she had all but invited Gabriel into the waiting trap.

Shutting the door, Jacques pulled a pistol from a pocket of his jacket, pointing it toward Gabriel.

“What a touching reunion.”

GABRIEL’S ARMS instinctively tightened around Talia as the Frenchman moved to the center of the room, resisting the urge to yank her into the tunnel and attempt to escape before the Frenchman could call for his guards. He would not risk Talia being hit by a stray bullet intended for him.

“I truly am growing weary of you, Jacques Gerard.”

“The feeling is quite mutual, Lord Ashcombe.” Jacques gave a small wave of the pistol. “Release Talia and step away from her.”

Talia made a small sound of distress, clinging tightly to his arm.

“No.”

“Talia, do not fear,” he murmured, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek before untangling her fingers from his jacket and pushing her out of the line of fire. “Everything will be fine.”