Page 73 of Lord Ramsey's Red-Headed Ruin
Amber stiffened. She had not expected this. “You are heavy with child, and I see the stress has affected your mind, too.”
Gus frowned. “Don’t be flippant with me, my friend! To the matter. Come away.”
“You know my answer.”
“Why? What can you do now?”
“Continue.”
“You will be arrested. Vaillancourt will not allow your operation to continue if France and Britain are at war. Be sensible.”
“He does not know.”Nor do you. Thank heavens.
Gus scoffed. “And I am ignorant? A troll beneath a bridge? Are you? What iswrongwith you? Come away.”
“Aunt Cecily does not go.”
“Aunt Cecilynevergoes!” Gus spat. “Not underanythreat. Why willyounot go?”
“I do better work here.”
“Unto your death.”
Amber nodded. “So be it.”
They stared at each other.
Gus struggled to her feet.
Amber swallowed back her regret, but did not rush to help her friend rise.
Gus took one last look at her. “You have a chance of love and laughter. A long and happy life.”
Amber fought tears.I see Ram now when I can, and I must be content with that.“I do.”
“You will not take it?”
“No.”
“Oh, Amber. You did once. You loved Maurice and valued every day with him. Ramsey loves you, and I know you love him.”
Gus was correct. But loving Ram did not protect him or anyone else Amber loved.I know what I am about.“I must do this alone. I must.”
“You think you are invincible,” Gus accused her.
“Like you?” Amber taunted her. “Did you not once tell me that? You were an island. A creature alone. No, Gus, I am not a creature alone. But I do what I can. Go. Leave me in peace.”
Gus stood for a long minute, incredulous. Then, with her hands fisted, she gave a cry and fled the room and Amber’s house.
Blinded with regret, Amber fumbled with the arm of her chair and sat down with a cry. Gus, gone, was one more tie to her past broken. Tomorrow morning she would move to Rene Vaillancourt’s house in rue Saint-Martin. By that act, she would show the town she was now his creature. Not Aunt Cecily’s niece. Not Maurice’s widow. Not Society’s leader. Nor the one who’d fled Paris. Or the one who’d had a scandalous affair with the British envoy Lord Ramsey.
But now Rene Vaillancourt’s mistress.
She put a hand to her mouth, sick unto death at the prospect.
*
The rain washideous the next day. Amber’s move to Vaillancourt’s house went well. Yet she was pleased that the rain had posed a problem. She could avoid too much time with Vaillancourt by proclaiming that she needed to sort her clothes and effects after such a deluge.
