Page 138 of Dukes for Dessert

“Please don’t be cross with us,” Adam pleaded earnestly, swiping his fine hat from his dark head to clutch in front of him. “But Penny and I couldn’t leave her. I kept thinking…what if she were my own mother? I’d do anything to save her from such a monster.”

Veronica had to blink back tears, so touched was she by Adam’s decency. A kind heart was often hard to find. Gentlemen abounded these days, but a truly gentle man?

A rare treasure, indeed.

“Adrienne…” Veronica paused, struggling with the secrets she held. “What if I told you that you might very soon become a widow? Would you still want to go? To give up everything your husband might leave you?”

“My husband has nothing but vices and debtors, my lady,” the woman answered with downcast eyes. “His wealth has become sham. I will be left with less than nothing…but if I stay, I will become nothing.”

“I’m so sorry,” Veronica hugged the fragile woman to her.

“Dear Adam has invited me to live with his family in Boston. They’ve a summer home somewhere called Montauk, right on the sea.” The little spark of hope in Adrienne’s voice ignited something inside of Veronica as well.

Struck with anxiety, she pulled away. “Of course, you can have my seat on the coach to Le Havre, but are only two tickets on the ship. Your cabins—”

“We’ll manage.” Adam said with confidence. “This is a trip I’ve taken often in my life. I can navigate preparations easily.”

Veronica found a new appreciation for the lad. He might look boyish and a bit innocent, even for his age, but he’d the steady gaze of a capable man.

“What about your travel papers?” she remembered with alarm. “I only have two forged copies for Penny and Adam. Should anyone look at the register…they’ll know where to find you. Furthermore, you won’t be able to board the ship without them.”

“I don’t care if I’m found, I won’t return.” Adrienne’s eyes blinked against instant panicked tears. “But…he keeps my papers and all money. Somewhere in his cabin. He wouldn’t tell me where.”

Adam stepped forward. “I will go back and get them.”

“No.” Veronica put a staying hand on his lean chest. “You won’t be allowed near his car, as the porters and ushers don’t know you. But I’ve been Penelope’s companion since London and will gain easy access.” Taking the bag from Adrienne, she pushed it into Adam’s hands and pointed to the coach in which she’d hired three seats to Le Havre. “You two help settle her into the coach and let me search for the papers.”

Whirling on her bootheel, she dashed back for the train, weaving in and out among some rather incensed travelers.

Lifting her skirts to ascend the steep, unsteady steps to the train, she grasped the large hand that reached down to lift her up and came face-to-face—or face to chest, rather—with Sebastian Moncrieff.

“You came back.” His pleased smile broke over her like the rays of spring sunshine dawning over a late winter’s night. “Couldn’t wait until Le Havre to collect on my promise?”

His what?

A tongue smoothed over his full lip, reminding her what he intended to do.

Oh… No. She couldn’t think of that now. Couldn’t allow the inconsequential parts of her to awaken when she had such an important task in front of her.

Which was?...

Papers! Dear God, how was it a man could be so handsome he made her forget what she was about?

Scowling up at him, she snatched her hand from the warmth of his enveloping grip. “Adrienne Weller took my place in the coach. She’s leaving him.”

His smile became impossibly brighter, revealing both rows of even, white teeth. “Excellent. I applaud her decision. I’ve been thinking, I could take my blade to Weller now, and then maybe you and I should find a bed here in Paris. It’s a city for lovers, after all.”

Veronica blinked up at him in disbelief for a split second before shoving her shock aside. “I hardly have time for this—please move.” She made to shoulder past him, unsuccessfully.

“What’s happened?” he asked, sobering only slightly.

“Adrienne needs her travel papers and I have to retrieve them before the train takes off again.”

Sebastian checked a fine watch hanging from his silk vest. “We hardly have time.”

“That is precisely what I just said!”

“So it is. What can I do to assist?”

---