Page 45 of A Lady's Past
Silent and keeping a few feet between them, she followed him into the hallway.
The Everton servants were abuzz with excitement, and rushed this way and that. Several Everton ladies stood in the foyer chatting excitedly.
Wanting her close, Jacques threaded his fingers through hers and led her through a door. It entered on an extremely small and heavily furnished parlor. Scandals be damned, he closed the door. “I have to leave you for a while.”
“Of course.” She crossed her arms over her chest and leveled her gaze on him.
“I hope you understand that your safety is very important to me. I would not rush off at this time if it wasn’t important.” He wished he’d kept hold of her hand so he could drag her into his arms, but her current stance didn’t bode well for a warm hug or more before he left.
“I appreciate your consideration. If anything had happened to Lady Chervil, I could not have lived with it.” Sincere but still distant, she stood as far away as the small parlor would allow.
“You are angry with me?” He closed the distance between them physically, if not otherwise.
Dropping her hands to her sides, she backed up to the wall. “You saved my life, why on earth would I be angry? You have been very kind to me, Mr. Laurent. I will always appreciate what you have done.”
So many emotions coursed through Jacques, he didn’t know what to say. Her formality was the most hurtful. “I was Jacques to you not long ago. Would you care to tell me what has changed?”
She’d managed to make her body as flat against the wall as her curves would allow. “Nothing has changed. We should never have become so familiar. I blame it on the danger. Now the danger seems to have passed, and I’ll be carted away to the north. You are safe and will go on with your life. Everything is as it should be.”
Nothing was as it should be. If it were, Diana would fling herself into his arms rather than making such an effort to keep him from touching her. He stepped back, frustrated. He needed her to be the warm, loving woman he’d come to adore, but she had changed over the last few hours, and it was his fault. Victor Caron should never have been allowed to get his hands on her even for a moment, let alone for a day. Jacques would make this right if it took a lifetime. “I have to go after Caron.”
“Yes, I know. He is a French spy and enemy of England. You and your friend will find him. I’m sure the English will appreciate your effort.”
The knock on the door forced Jacques to step even farther away.
Preston stuck his head in. “We have to go.”
Jacques wanted to tell her so much, but she had closed herself off from all emotion. He needed time to find the woman inside, but time was the one thing he didn’t have. “I will contact you as soon as we find Caron and bring him to justice.”
Crossing her arms pushed her breasts up in the evening gown she still wore from the night before. “Thank you. That will be a great relief.”
He’d loved seeing her in that gown, but now he cursed himself for not demanding she be allowed to change and rest. He couldn’t take her in his arms or kiss her. Denied even the slightest warmth, he was at a loss. He bowed. “Good day.”
“Goodbye. Please be careful.” She cleared her throat and left the parlor.
Preston raised an eyebrow. “Is everything all right?”
“No, but we have no time to fix it, so we had better go.”
* * *
They had been to every pub between Cheapside and the high road. If Victor was going to get out of town, he would need help and he would have to find it in a less-than-reputable place.
Sick of the stench of stale beer and sweat, Jacques didn’t think he could stand going into yet another of these establishments. This was for Diana, he told himself as he held his breath and entered the Bull and Maid.
It seemed as though the same people were at every bar telling the same lies to each other.
Preston went to the owner and leaned over the swill-stained bar. “We’re looking for a friend who’s gotten into some trouble. His name is Victor and he has a French accent.”
The barman laughed. “What kind of fix has Caron gotten himself into? I just saw him a few hours ago. Now that you mention it, he did look a bit out of sorts.”
“I’m afraid it’s about a young lady. We were hoping to find him before her husband does. If you take my meaning?” Preston gave a wicked grin.
“Oh, that one always has a story about some little nugget he’s soiled.” The barman slapped his hand on the wood, making the splattered beer splash. “He should be safe, though. Said he was leaving town and took a ride with William Farmer.”
“That’s grand news. Do you know where they were heading?”
Two seats over, a man yelled a profanity at another. The evening had brought out the masses for their indulgence. Another man called back with an equally vicious curse. Fists started flying, pulling the barman away to break up the fight.
