Page 68 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
“We know the gentleman,” Kane told her. “He was happy to have found her, I am certain. He would not hurt her.”
Gus regarded Kane with hope in her eyes.
The woman and her daughter nodded, accepting his explanation.
Kane hastened to depart and took Gus’s hand to lead her to the door.
With much affection and brief goodbyes, Kane and Gus bade the lady and her daughteradieu.Kane helped Gus mount, then climbed into his own saddle.
“Kane!” Gus held up a hand to stop him when they were out of sight of the cottage. “Who doweknow who ishappyto have found Amber?”
He could not help smiling, but under the circumstances had a feeling Gus was about to tear into him. “I’m certain you remember an English gentleman who arrived about the time I did in Paris? My friend Lord Ramsey.”
“Ramsey, Ramsey.” She mulled the name. “I see. And justwhyis Ramsey happy to have found her?”
“It is a longer story than can be told on the road, my dear.”
“Do not give me ‘my dear,’” she blurted, then shut her eyes and put up a hand. “Tell me, Kane. Why and how this Ramsey?”
He sidled his horse close to hers. “He is here in France to assist me.”
She smothered a laugh. “He negotiates to buy products to send to Britain, does he?”
“No.”
“Hmmm. I did not think so. He instead tracks ladies who are missing from court?”
“He does. He heard a rumor that Amber had come here to Varennes. I sent him onward to learn what he could. Clearly he found her and they got on well together. I am very pleased. You should be too. They were in company together, and he persuaded her to allow him to guard her, even at night. She is safe with Ram. And Ram will protect her with his life. And now, my darling, we will go back to our tiny accommodations, where I do hope the innkeeper has given us the larger room he promised, and—”
“And you will tell me why Ramsey reports to you.”
“I head a group of British who are here to assist in projects for the Crown.”
She gave him a sarcastic look. “But you are in charge of commercial purchases.”
“I am.”
“Along with other responsibilities.” She did not ask. She stated.
“Yes.”
“I see. And they include finding Amber?”
“They do.” He did not wish to admit the next, but she was canny and would go on.
She frowned. “Was I your target?”
“You were. To lead me to her or for me to help you find her.”
Her expression grew soft and sad. “Am I a fool here to think that—”
“I care for you, Augustine. I care very much about you. I said weeks ago what I showed you of my regard was no pretense. I meant it then. I mean it even more so now.”
“I’ve not met any man I could trust.” Her admission was sharp as a serrated knife to his heart. It tore him to shreds.
“But I am not any of them. I am who I say I am. What I say I am.”
She stared at him, examining every feature of his face. “And you will tell me how this came about. All of it.”
