Page 74 of Lord Appleby's Gorgeous Imposter
Tate settled her cloak about her shoulders and smiled with consolation. “You have your reticule and cloak. Might you have on your person your passport papers?”
“I do. In my shift.”
“Keep them there.” He checked that his men surrounded the carriage, then turned back to her. “We go to Meaux. East out of Paris along the Marne. The roads west to Rouen and the Atlantic coast are flooded with refugees.”
At sight of his frown, Viv thought of another route. “Why can we not go north? Through Picardy to Ostend and then sail home?”
“There are too many forts along that northern border. Those roads, too, are filled with those escaping.” He shook his head. “An order has gone out to arrest all British remaining in France.”
Viv stared at him. “I saw a man in the street near Vaillancourt’s. He was attacked by gendarmes.”
“It becomes ugly.”
She clutched his hand. “You have your own papers?”
He gave her a slow, triumphant smile. “I have my British passport sewn into my coat. French papers for all to see in my valise.”
“You pass as French today?” She knew his language skills were so good they made him sound like a native.
“You and I are Monsieur and Madame Alain DeLaCourt.”
She had to smile. “Handsome creatures.”
“Very. Now come here.” He gathered her closer and pushed hair from her cheek. “Do you have your pistol?”
“The one Fortin bought for me? I do.” She thought a moment. “And you?”
“I do. May it please God we have no use for them.”
She settled into the security of his embrace and let his silent presence soothe her.
*
They sped alongthe Seine to a stable where they alighted from Tate’s hired fiacre to change for another. But the stable master had no available carriage to rent to them. “I’ve a phaeton,” he told Tate. “Old but sturdy. How long will you be out?”
Tate frowned. “I need to go to Meaux,” he said in his best French. “My father is dying.”
The fellow shrugged. “Ah, well, monsieur, you need to go to the auberge down the lane and buy passage in the next coach to that town.”
“I cannot wait for a coach’s departure.”
“It will depart soon. In an hour. You will be in Meaux by dusk.”
“Good. The name of the auberge?”
“The Fifth Cheese.”
“I see. After the local delicacy?”
The man swept out a hand. “But of course.”
*
They made itto Meaux on the River Marne just as the sun set, about half past nine o’clock. Exhausted from the tension of their escape and from her confrontation with Vaillancourt, Viv welcomed the warmth of the cozy little quarters above the main gathering room. More than that, when Tate helped her out of her clothes and she his, she fell into the security of his embrace and the blessed silence of the night.
When she awakened the next morning, she opened her eyes to see him greeting her. Last night, they’d had no energy for more than comforting kisses. “We leave soon. I have bought two horses from the auberge. It is the only way we can go quickly. We must ride horseback.”
“I will go with you in any way, at any time.” She reached up to kiss him lavishly. “Anywhere.”
