Page 95 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
Calling him a little toad brought forth red splotches on his cheeks. “You dare—”
“I have been in many situations, sir, where I dare.Oui.”
“I know what you did to my man in Varennes.”
She glared at him. “You dream, sir.” And then, picking up her skirts to visibly and sharply flick them away from the slightest touch to his trousers, she left him where he stood.
The gasps that rose from the French were a pleasure to Gus’s ears.
Castleton watched, open-mouthed.
Two steps off the dance floor and Gus had the arm of her husband.
They gave their excuses, their thanks to their host, a gentle bow to Madame Bonaparte, and left the ball.
*
Kane could nottake Gus away quickly enough. They took the stairs down to the main entrance, where Castleton’smajordomawaited.
“Our carriage,monsieur.” He handed the man his card with his grooms’ names. The servants would fetch them both from the kitchens, where all the guests’ grooms waited for their masters and mistresses to leave for home.
Themajordomsummoned a footman standing behind him and handed him the card.
Kane seethed, his arms around his wife’s waist. Vaillancourt had more gall than ten men. But then, hadn’t Kane seen the worst of what the man could do?
Vaillancourt had tortured his friend Brussard. From one of the men who had observed thegendarmesthat horrid day on the Malmaison road, Kane knew it had been Vaillancourt who did the deed personally. Ripping a man to shreds took more than nerve. It required grit mixed with an insane measure of cruelty. Vaillancourt had learned the art of it—and the taste for it—under Robespierre. That man was gone, but his cruelty lingered on.
Gus curled against Kane as they stood in the foyer waiting for their carriage. “We will be criticized for leaving before Josephine.”
“We can send our apologies tomorrow.”
Gus kissed his jaw. “We will be forgiven. He was at fault.”
Whoever saw their affection be damned. Kane brought her nearer. Her vibrant warmth was reassurance that the man had not hurt her. “I saw his rudeness, and I was not the only one. But never fear—he will pay for this tonight.”
She tipped up her face. “What is it? I hear danger in your voice.”
“You do. Perceptive, my darling. But never fear, I have this in hand.”
“How?”
Kane glanced about the foyer. Grand as it was, alcoves abounded, niches in the walls, a butler’s coat closet with door was within two paces.
“Not here.” He sensed prying eyes and ears.
The footman reappeared and spoke into the ear of Castleton’smajordom.
The man took four steps toward Kane. “Monsieur le Comte, your men are on their way to bring your coach around.”
Kane offered his regards.
Gus peered out the tall, dark window into the night. She shivered against him. “It’s raining harder.”
“The storm is a deluge. But we need the rain for the crops.”
Long minutes passed, and Kane frowned at his servants’ tardiness.
“Don’t be upset,” Gus told him with sweet tolerance for the delay. “It’s difficult to park all these carriages nearby. And we have all these people here.”
