Page 16 of Lord Ramsey's Red-Headed Ruin
“We can stroll around town after we dine and hopefully find one. Tomorrow morning, we will go early to have you fitted, and as we go, we will examine the layout of the town. We’ll go to the city hall and stroll along the river.”
“The armory should be easy to find.”
“I remember where it is. I just don’t want to appear too eager to examine it. We must tell any and all that we have stopped here to visit my family.”
“When do you want to go see them?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. Then we tell them that we are on our way to Sedan to visit a friend of mine.”
She set her new little reticule on the bed and opened the straps. “A geologist like you?” Ram had told her that was to be his unique reason to travel around the countryside.
He set down his own small travel case and put a hand to his chin. “I think so.”
She laughed. “You do lie so well.”
He gave a small bow. “Thank you.”
“Now explain to me what reason you have to visit this mysterious friend of yours?”
“Ah,Madame le Vicomtesse, I am a noted expert on French chalk and rock, and I write a treatise on the natural geographical formations used by one of Louis XIV’s military generals to build fortifications.”
“Vauban.” She nodded. The famous engineer had built defensive rings around France on mountaintops and along coasts. He had even dug forts into rock to store supplies. “Of course.”
“You know of him?” Ram paused, surprised.
She winked at him. “Every woman does, don’t they?”
Hands on his hips, he threw back his head and chuckled. “Just those who have lived under their aunt’s house in the tunnels of Compiègne.”
“Exactly.” She resumed unpacking her reticule. “You are so fortunate that you have such a knowledgeable assistant.”
His laughter gone, he looked at her with respect—and an enthusiasm tinged with sweet desire. “I could not do it without you.”
*
Just after noonthe second day Amber and Ram were in Charleville, they had walked from town up to the residence of his distant cousin. The old white stucco chateau they approached was a sedate beauty.
Ram expressed his concern that his cousin might not be alive. If he were, he might not be keen about meeting him or welcoming him to his home. “My cousin Georges was a member of the firstEstates General. He remained for two years until radicals took over and the Terror began. I heard that then Georges left Paris for home and remained here, running his shops and writing his travel books. While many from the National Assembly were hunted down and thrown in prison, he escaped notice. I do hope he lives here in peace.”
Amber took Ram’s hand and squeezed it in sympathy. It was the first time in their relationship she had sought to comfort him. His hesitant nod showed his surprise, but his arresting blue eyes showed his gratitude. “As do I,” she said.
Ram turned and lifted the knocker.
It took only minutes for hope’s transformation to joy.
At once upon gazing at Ram standing in his foyer, Ram’s relative beamed and opened his arms. “Monsieur le Vicomte.” He patted Ram’s cheek.
“S’il vous plaît, Georges—to you I always was Godfrey. Let it be so once more.”
“Naturellement, mon ami. Allow me to introduce to you my children. Since last we met here, I have had two girls and a son. They will be delighted to meet you. Sadly, my wife, Corrine,died last winter. She would have loved to have met you. But we gladly welcome you to us!” He motioned to his children to come forward from their observation spot at the end of the hall. “Come meet your cousin,mes chers enfants.”
She and Ram greeted the man’s offspring with the same enthusiasm he and his children showed to them. Adele was the oldest girl, shy and polite. Edouard was Georges’s son, pensive and quiet. Sophie was the buoyant one, resembling her father in his joyful character.
The Boyers took the two travelers to their bosoms with ease and laughter.
“A success,” Amber said to Ram, waggling her brows at him as they sank into their comfortable bed that night.
They had eagerly accepted Georges Boyer’s invitation to spend a few days.
