A Daring Passion

“Ah, I see.”

“What?”

“You are attempting to convince me that I should forget what was done to me.”

“Perhaps not forget, but…” She gave a lift of her hands.

His awkward pacing resumed and he shivered beneath his threadbare jacket. “You want me to abandon my plot for revenge so that I will allow you to return to your lover. Well, I am too clever for such tricks. I will not be charmed by a woman, even one so beautiful as you.”

“Certainly I would prefer not to remain your prisoner, but I did not mean to imply that you should forget the past,” she claimed with perfect honesty. “You were grievously treated by Louis Gautier.”

A hint of bafflement touched the thin countenance. He did not trust her, but he possessed a near overwhelming need for someone to commiserate with his plight.

“Which is why I must have my revenge.”

“It does not seem to have brought you much happiness.”

Seurat gave a short, shrill laugh. “You do not care about my happiness.”

“Actually, I do.” With care not to startle the wary man, Raine slowly rose to her feet. She was forced to bite back a groan as her legs tingled in protest. She had been on the sofa for hours and her body had become uncomfortably stiff. Thank goodness she had not given in to her urge to make a mad dash to the door, she acknowledged. She would no doubt have ended up flat on her face. “I believe you have been treated unfairly.”

Seurat gave a slow shake of his head. “Is this a trick?”

“No, as I said, I feel sorry for you, but I do not understand what you think to accomplish by imprisoning Jean-Pierre or kidnapping me. Neither will restore the treasure that was stolen from you, nor give you the luxurious lifestyle that you deserve.”

His features tightened with remembered humiliation. “I have already attempted to gain my rightful reward from Monsieur Gautier. I traveled to his estate in Madeira after I had at last recovered from my injuries and was capable of leaving Egypt. Louis greeted me by slashing my face with a dagger and warning that if I returned he would have me killed. I had no difficulty believing his threat.”

“No, I do not suppose you did.” Raine grimaced, wondering if Louis Gautier possessed any semblance of conscience. He had stolen a prince’s treasure, attem

pted to have a man murdered and had willingly put his entire family in danger rather than confess his sins. “Is that when you started to plot your revenge?”

“Oui.” His thin hand curled into claws. Almost as if he was imagining gouging out the eyes of his enemy. “I intend to make Louis Gautier suffer as I have suffered.”

“That would no doubt offer some satisfaction, but it will not take you from these rooms or provide the sort of comfort you desire.”

“I have told you that Gautier would give me nothing.”

She sucked in a deep breath. The hatred still shimmered in his pale eyes, but beneath the predictable emotion was a haunting, heart-wrenching pain.

Gad, but he was such a pathetic creature. And deep in her soul she knew that he was doomed for some horrible end. Even now Philippe was scouring the streets in search of her. And when he discovered these chambers he would not rest until Seurat had been utterly destroyed.

She felt as if she were watching the unstable man stumble toward a cliff edge, knowing each step was leading toward his death.

But what could be done to avert disaster?

Philippe might not possess his father’s selfish weaknesses, but he most certainly was not a gentleman who willingly turned the other cheek. Especially not when it came to those who threatened his family.

From a young age Philippe had taken on the role of patriarch, and he possessed a grim determination to protect the Gautier clan. No doubt because he feared deep inside that he had somehow failed to protect his mother. It was precisely the sort of illogical reasoning a young boy would harbor.

He would never negotiate a peace with Seurat. Only blood would satisfy his need for punishment.

If there was to be an end to this ridiculous tragedy, it was clearly up to her to provide it.

Raine stilled as she was struck by a sudden, perhaps outrageous, notion.

“There might be a means of offering you the fortune you were denied.” The words tumbled from her lips before she could halt them.

Seurat’s pale eyes narrowed. “What did you say?”