Page 98 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
Kane smacked his lips. “That you have a curious relationship with a certain gentleman in your household.”
“Merde. Is that all you can think of?”
“That you persuade men in the first consul’s household to join you and a favorite of yours is a subject many will enjoy hearing and reading.”
“I am pure. You have no proof.”
Kane shook his head. “What proof did the authors oflibelleshave against the Bourbons? What proof was necessary for the fiddlers to chant about Madame Pompadour or Marie Antoinette?”
Vaillancourt crossed one leg over another. “Just as those misfits were sent tola Forceand the Bastille, I will catch them.”
“Perhaps. But not soon enough to douse the displeasure of the first consul and his dear wife.”
“I have my ways.”
“You’ll hire more like these poor souls?” Kane swept out a hand toward the six thugs. “Bonaparte has learned the lessons that fired the revolutionaries who took control of Paris in the early nineties. The first consul won’t allow his family to wed certain unmentionables. Soon it will be all in his regime. Come now, Vaillancourt—you know as well as I that Bonaparte is as dedicated to public morality as a poor English vicar. He has no tolerance for—shall we call it—divergent behavior?”
“You will not win.”
“I only need to plant a seed, Rene.” Kane inhaled. “Now, on to this business here. As for these six little bunnies, they failed. Not their fault. Really, it isn’t. I merely anticipated your actions. I had more men than they. Plus, mine are trained. These are street dregs. Nonetheless, they should not go in want for your failures. You must honor your commitments to them. How much did you promise them for their work this night?”
One of the men huddled on the floor muttered beneath his gag.
Vaillancourt glowered at him.
“How much? Onesou? Two?” Kane offered. “I will see you pay them now. Pull your bell for yourmajordom.”
“You are mad.”
“Very.”
Vaillancourt stood and went to his pull, called his man, then resumed his chair.
“Good. Now, as we await him, let me tell you what will happen tomorrow. You will go to Fouché, express your regret for your poor actions at Castleton’s ball. Your superior is such agood family man. He detests those who disparage women. You will, if Fouché requires it, go to the first consul and apologize. The first consul will have in his morning correspondence a few littlelibellesfrom the streets. No excuse for the scarcity. You see, there are so many of them, one cannot possibly gather all. And to your superior Fouché, you will promise more courteous behavior to all ladies in your midst in future.”
Vaillancourt bared his long teeth.
“News of your attack on the British second envoy and his wife, the niece of beloved Countess Nugent, will spread. Of course, the story includes your failure, and our defeat and capture of your men.”
“I will retaliate.”
“You can try,monsieur. La Francewill not approve.” The use of the affectionate term for the old Bourbon kings spiked Vaillancourt’s spine. Bonaparte had not yet used the phrase for himself, but Parisians began to credit him with it. The move to greatness by him and the public’s need for a leader whom they could venerate called forth the honored term to the lips of the citizens of France.
The doors swung open and Vaillancourt’s butler, backed by one of Kane’s watchdogs, appeared.
“How much will you pay them,monsieur?” Kane asked. “Do have your man fetch your strongbox.”
Fifteen minutes later, Kane and Gus departed the townhouse. Four of Kane’s men came with them. Four remained until the six they had subdued were rewarded for their service and sent, minus ties and gags, to the street.
*
Outside Vaillancourt’s house,Gus accepted Kane’s hand up into their rented carriage. She watched as he conferred in low tones with one of his men, then climbed in to sit beside her.
In the confines, she sank into his embrace. “I will sleep for a year. You should come with me.”
“After we arrive home, I have a few things to do, and then I will follow you.”
“First thing, though, we must find our coachman.”
