Page 91 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
Ram nodded. “And Amber is determined he will not stop her.”
“And you agreed?” Kane asked.
“Only if I were her companion. Yes, we live together. We have developed a trusting relationship.” Ram glanced at Gus. “I hope I do not offend you when I admit that your friend and I are intimate?”
Gus smacked her lips. “No. Amber would not do anything unless she believed it to be right. Will she remain incognito? Indefinitely?”
“She says she will. I encourage it. Three of the deputy police chief’s men found us at various points along the roads. They are ruthless creatures. I do not want Amber in public. They would take advantage at their chief’s command. I think him capable of anything.” He looked at Kane. “I will keep her by my side for as long as is necessary. No one will hurt her.”
Gus let out a shaking breath. “So I conclude, then, that I will not see her.”
“I came alone. I will go out with her on her journeys, and I will not come here again. She tells me she will be too busy. She congratulates you on your marriage and hopes you are very happy.” He glanced at Kane. “I bring you my own fond regards for a happy life together.”
Kane noted the hint of sorrow in his friend’s soft blue eyes. What that denoted, he could not define, because Kane had never seen such tenderness in his friend’s countenance.
Kane had to share with him what he knew. He took his wife’s hand in his. “Ramsey, we fear Vaillancourt’s orders to do anything to find you both and take Amber from you.”
“That is not news. Amber has told me the same for weeks.”
Gus whispered, “He wants her to reveal her network. Perhaps he wants more than that.”
“He does,” Ram replied. “But he will have her over my dead body.”
Gus stared at Ramsey, absorbing the full meaning of that statement.
A knock at the door came, and Kane called to Corsini to enter. The man had a tray.
“Would you like any refreshment?” Kane offered.
“None for me, thank you,” Ram replied.
Corsini took his cue and drifted away, closing the door behind him.
Ram got to his feet. “And so, if you will forgive me the brevity of my visit, I return home to Amber.”
“You will let us know how and where you are, I hope?” Gus pressed him.
“I would like to say yes, my lady, but I cannot. To come here taunts the devil. It took me hours to change course and defy anyone who might have discovered me. I shall return now by different routes.” He took Gus’s offered hand and bent to kiss it. “No news will be good news.”
Kane said, “I will walk to the orangery with you. Pardon me, my darling. I will have a few words with Ramsey.”
*
“Listen to me,please, Ram,” Kane said when they stood amid the fragrant orange trees in the warm room at the back of the house. “I have men here to help you. If you need assistance, I can send them to you now. Also, if you need money, I have that too. Scarlett was more than generous. So whatever you may want—”
“I have men enough, Whit. Money is a challenge. If you can deposit an amount with mymajordomin my house off Rue d’Orleans, that would help.”
“I gather you are not pleased to return to Paris.”
“God help me, no. But Amber would not listen to reason. She is beside herself and thinks that Bonaparte makes way for himself to destroy the consulate. Dirk Fournier thinks the same.”
Kane was shocked. “You’ve seen Dirk?”
“No. Not since he and I parted weeks ago in Verdun. But while Amber and I were in Verdun, we learned that the citadel there receives a huge supply of muskets as well as new cannon. Rumors there are bad that Bonaparte wants the territory along the border with German Baden. Napoleon offers land and money to the margrave. That man wants to be a grand duke.”
“Dirk’s grandmother’s territory.”
“Exactly. When I left Dirk in Verdun in late May, he was in a hurry to get to Karlsruhe. Unless you have heard from him, I assume he is still there.”
