“I love you too, so there’s nothing to fear,” she murmured. “Because we both know that love conquers all.”
“A poetic sentiment,” said Josette, as she led the way down a shallow set of stairs and turned into a narrow side corridor. “Did you learn that in one of the books you are so fond of reading?”
Anna answered the question with one of her own. “Where are we going? I thought you were eager to escape.”
“While you had your nose buried in some horrid novel, I was spending my leisure time in more practical pursuits, like exploring the castle,” replied her erstwhile maid. “This was dangerous territory in centuries past, so most ancient strongholds were built with a means for the inhabitants to leave if attacked by a more powerful enemy. The hill where we sit has several underground passages cut through it that lead out to a hidden egress. I took the precaution of stationing horses at one of them this morning, in case our improvised plan went awry.”
“Josie,” warned the vicomte.
“I’m revealing no great secret, Pierre. Miss Sloane is clever enough to figure it out for herself, once we enter the tunnel.” Josette finally lowered the pistol just a fraction. “How did you and your Devil discover our plan?”
“I don’t intend to reveal that.”
“I could loosen your tongue quite quickly if I wished to, but it’s not important.”
“I don’t have to ask how you knew about our activities,” said Anna.
“You were careful in talking to your sister, but not careful enough,” replied Josette. “I must say, you intrigue me, mademoiselle. Always reading, always scribbling in one of your little notebooks. Though I must say, I did sneak a peek at them, and they were filled with all sorts of odd observations that made little sense.”
“Like you, I am observant,” answered Anna.
“Unfortunately too observant.” Josette turned down another passageway. The way was getting narrower, the air damper. She halted for a moment, then pushed Anna behind her. “From here on, we must go in single file.”
Verdemont swore as he bumped his head on the rock ceiling. “Stop gabbling, ma petite, and quicken your steps. The sooner we are out of this cursed tunnel the better,” he grumbled.
“What made you betray your heritage…” began Anna, then paused for a moment. “A silly question,” she went on. “I suppose the story about your aristocratic family being executed during the Revolution is all fabricated, and you’re simply radicals who’ve been planted here as spies.”
“No, my background is all true,” said Josette. “As for why…” Another turn, this one leading down. “I should think it would be obvious to a female with brains. The Old Order oppresses those of our sex—we are considered good for being nothing but brood mares or kitchen drudges. The New France allows clever women to use their abilities. My work is not a betrayal but an affirmation. I am helping to create a more perfect world.”
“Through violence and assassination?” murmured Anna. “It does not bother you that so much innocent blood has been spilled?”
“The ends justify the means,” snapped Josette.
She could see that argument was pointless. Zealots were rarely open to reason. The more important question was how to prevent them from escaping to commit more violence in the future.
True, Devlin had warned her not to attempt any heroics, but…
Josette’s small lantern cast a flicker of light over the way ahead, showing another set of steps twisting down through a turn in the rough-hewn rock.
It was, she knew, a risky move to try. She would need perfect timing—and perfect luck. But the idea of making no attempt to prevent the pair from escaping and causing more bloodshed and mayhem for her country was not something she could live with.
Devlin was not the only one with a sense of justice and honor. She steadied her nervousness with a deep breath, glad she had told him that she loved him. Perhaps she had appeared a romantic fool, but his expression as she was pulled away had seemed to say otherwise.
Wrenching her thoughts back to the present, Anna began counting the steps to come. One, two, three…As her foot slid to the top edge of the stairs, she made her move.
Devlin grabbed a dagger from the wall display. He had heard Anna and her captors turn down one of the side passageways, which he knew led into the ancient part of the castle rather than any of the closer exits to the outdoors.
What the maid had in mind was a mystery. But despite her warning, he couldn’t simply sit still and hope for the best. Tightening his grip on the dagger, he moved to the doorway and ventured a look up and down the main corridor. Still no sign that the household was aware that anything was amiss.
Praying his luck would hold, Devlin crept into the shadows and hurried to the turn up ahead. A quick glance showed the way was clear. Josette was setting a fast pace. Clearly she had a plan.
He was just about to set off when the sound of approaching steps made him quickly turn the corner and flatten himself against the dark wainscoting. With luck, whoever was coming would pass without noticing him.
“You are sure the rendezvous was for Davenport’s quarters?” Though the question was uttered in a whisper, McClellan’s voice was unmistakable.
“Yes,” insisted Caro. She sounded a little woozy. “But I’m not sure how long I was asleep.”
“I’m damnably glad to see you.” Devlin stepped out from his hiding place. “How well do you know the castle?” he demanded of the baron.