Page 78 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
She looked away.
“Gus, you and I have much to do. We must return to Paris. I know not where to find Ramsey, so he will look for me at home. I must return. You will come with me because, first of all, you go nowhere without me, and secondly, we are having an affair.”
“It is over.”
His brows knitted. Thunder rolled, and she thought it intriguing that even the weather conspired with him in his anger. “We are just beginning.”
“No. I want no more to do with you.”
“You do, my darling. And God knows, I am willing to give more.”
She made to leave.
But he pulled her back and rolled over her. His weight was a blessing and a curse. “We return to Paris. And the day after we arrive, you and I will marry.”
“I’m marrying no one.”Caring for no one.
“I have a house, four men who guard it, countless others who are my guards and agents. All will die to protect me and mine. You will be mine legally and in sight of God. Then Vaillancourt cannot touch you. You and I will marry four days hence. Do not argue. You are mine.” He kissed her quickly and with determination. “And I am yours.”
“Whether I want you or not.”
“You want me.” He smiled and cocked an assured brow. “I vow to make you want me more.”
“It’s dangerous to delude yourself.”
“It’s more dangerous to ignore the truth.”
Chapter Twenty
In the publicroom of theauberge, Gus ordered a tray of bread and eggs from Olivier the waiter to take to Kane. It was early, and many villagers came in for a coffee. They huddled together, drinking and giving Gus the evil eye.
Olivier brought her a steaming mug of coffee as she sat on a stool at the bar. She inquired what the others discussed.
“A man was knifed behind the church yesterday.”
“That’s terrible.” Her pulse jumped. But she had to commiserate, didn’t she? “How did it happen?”
“No one knows.” The boy shrugged, unconcerned.
“Do they know who did it?”
“No.”
“Is he alive? This man?”
“Died this morning, so says theboulanger, Monsieur Carville.”
“A pity,” she offered as Olivier returned to his work, unconcerned with a mysterious death in his midst.
*
She hurried upstairswith her tray and coffees. Laying out their breakfast, she tried to ignore Kane’s state of undress. A maid had arrived earlier, bringing fresh water to wash with, and Gushad quickly availed herself of the pleasures before she went downstairs.
“Smells wonderful,” he said as he closed the door behind her, then toweled off the excess soap from his jaw. Shaven and bright-eyed, he looked recovered from his ordeal. But he was also naked to the waist, and the sight of his rippling good health was what Gus wished to keep out of her sight. That was exceedingly difficult. The room may have been the largest in theauberge, but it was still too small to keep such a secret.
She looked away. “Our man with the long nose died this morning.”
Kane hung the wet towel over the linen rack and sighed. “So we have some time. A week or ten days at least before anyone from Vaillancourt’s staff can come to investigate, then return to Paris with news.”
