Bride for a Night

“I would be impressed if I did not know you are a weak-willed worm who was willing to sell your soul to the highest bidder,” Jacques retorted.

Harry stiffened, his eyes dark with guilt. “It is your fault I ever became involved in the nasty business,” he accused. “If you had not offered to pay my debts I should never have been tempted.”

Jacques snorted. “Pathetic.”

Hugo shouldered aside the younger man, regarding Gabriel with impatience.

“Well?”

Gabriel nodded. “There is no longer a need to sneak through the dark when Monsieur Gerard has a fine carriage to return us to the yacht.”

Hugo frowned. “What of the soldiers? They are surrounding the house.”

Gabriel glanced toward his surly captive. “We will use Monsieur Gerard to ensure our safe passage.”

“Are you certain that is wise?” Hugo demanded. “There is no guarantee that an ambitious guard will not be willing to sacrifice his leader for an opportunity to prevent our escape. Napoleon might very well be impressed enough by his initiative to earn a promotion.”

It was a reasonable concern. Even if the guards were unquestionably loyal to Jacques Gerard, there was always the danger that one might inadvertently discharge his weapon at the sight of his leader being kidnapped by the enemy. And once the first shot had been fired, then there would be no derailing the attack.

“You should pay heed to your friend, Ashcombe,” Jacques said, interrupting Gabriel’s inner debate. “My guards will never allow you to escape.”

Gabriel grimaced. There were no safe choices, but one thing was for certain—they could not hide in the house forever. And the longer they waited, the more opportunity for the guards to seek the assistance of the numerous soldiers camped outside the city walls.

“It is a risk, but with a carriage we will be better protected than if we attempt to flee on foot, and certainly we shall be able to travel at a greater speed,” he said.

Talia moved to his side, her face pale but resolute. His tiny warrior.

“There was a carriage waiting at the side of the house when we arrived,” she announced.

It had to be the carriage that Jacques had used to haul them to the townhouse, Gabriel decided.

“Harry, you lead the way.”

“But…” The younger man bit off his protest and glared at Gabriel. “I suppose that you assume I deserve to be shot like a stray dog?”

Gabriel heaved an exasperated sigh. “What I assume is that you know the shortest route out of the cellars and to a side door.”

“Oh.” With an awkward shrug, Harry turned to cross the stone floor, heading past the towering shelves of dusty wine bottles. “This way.”

Gabriel shifted to press the pistol to Jacques’s back even as he glanced at his friend.

“Hugo, if you would escort Mademoiselle Reynard?”

Hugo nodded, reaching to grasp Sophia’s arm. “Of course.”

“Non,” Jacques growled. “She remains here.”

Gabriel shook his head. “I will release her once we have reached the yacht. Until then I intend to keep her close at hand.”

“So much for the famed chivalry of English noblemen.”

“Perhaps I would have more chivalry if you had not kidnapped my wife.”

With a nod toward Talia he watched as she quickly crossed the floor and climbed the narrow flight of stairs closely followed by Hugo and Sophia. Then, giving the Frenchman a shove forward, they made their way out of the cellars and into the kitchens.

Casting a swift glance about the silent room to make certain there were no lurking servants hidden among the worn tables and piles of firewood, Gabriel walked to where his companions were clustered about the entrance to the side alley.

“Stand aside,” he requested in a low voice, pulling open the door and jerking Jacques through the opening and onto the narrow porch. There was a shuffle of movement as several uniformed guards stepped into the light of the flickering torches, their curious expressions hardening to anger as Gabriel lifted the pistol to press it to Jacques’s temple in an unspoken threat. “Tell them to place their weapons on the ground and to step away from the carriage,” he ordered the Frenchman, the edge in his voice warning that he would pull the trigger if necessary.