“Aye, you scum. But
it is the last thing you will ever know.”
He lurched backward, disengaging his sword. He dashed his hand across his brow to keep the sweat from his eyes. He saw that the Englishman was not pressing him, only smiling grimly.
“Come to me,” Adam said. “I do not chase after cowards.”
Gervaise threw caution to the winds. He laughed, engaging Adam’s sword in a loud clash of steel. This time the Englishman did not retreat, and Gervaise felt his strength. He felt a cold, prickling sensation in his chest. Time seemed to stop. He stared in surprise at the crimson stain that widened quickly on his white shirt. He saw his mother’s gentle face contorted in pain when she died. Then he saw nothing.
“Miss Lyndhurst is here, my lord. Vincenzo brought her. She is in the library.”
Adam stared at his valet, then nodded abruptly. “See that we are not disturbed.”
“Aye, my lord.”
Adam strode into the parlor, slamming the door closed behind him. Rayna whirled about to face him, the hood of her cloak falling back.
“So,” he said, his voice sounding quite calm, “despite all that has happened, you come yet again.”
“Not alone, Adam. Vincenzo came with me.”
“Arabella is taken. I personally warned your father to keep you safe, and yet you venture out. I do not suppose you considered the fact that Vincenzo is but one man.”
“I had to see you, Adam. My father would tell me nothing.”
“Your father should have locked you in your room.” He strode toward her, and to his utter surprise, she backed away, fear in her eyes. He stretched his hands toward her. “Forgive me, love. I would never hurt you.”
“I know.” Rayna hurled herself against him. For an instant Adam held his arms against his sides. He felt her tremble, and his hands came up quickly to hold her.
“Forgive me,” he repeated. “It is just that so much has happened, so quickly.”
“Have you discovered anything about Arabella?”
“Yes. I know where she is bound and who is responsible.”
“The Comte de la Valle?”
“He was a foolish man,” Adam said.
“Was?”
Adam closed his eyes for a moment, seeing the astonished look on Gervaise’s face. “Yes, he is dead.”
“You killed him?”
He heard fear and disbelief in her voice. Violence of any kind was unknown to her. “Yes.”
“Good, he deserved it.”
Adam could only stare at her. Then he said, “I must get you back home, Rayna. Arabella has been taken to Oran. I am leaving tomorrow morning on the Malek.”
“But it will be dangerous, will it not?”
“I don’t know. I will come for you when all this is done.”
“Did the comte send her there?”
“No. It was the Contessa di Rolando. I am certain now that my father holds the answer to her motives. You will likely see him when he arrives here. I expect he will follow on a ship after me when he learns what has happened.” He shook his head. “Had I hired the Malek sooner, I would have come upon the contessa. You see, she had hired the ship some days ago, and had sent a message to the captain early this afternoon that she no longer required his ship.” He paused a moment, then added more to himself than to Rayna, “She is clever. Were I she, I would travel overland northward to another port.”