Page 40 of Lord Carlisle's Enticing Lure
“He was recaptured and also taken to La Force. He argued publicly against the emperor. Fouché’s deputy, René Vaillancourt—the same man who took my sister—arrested him more than a year ago.”
“And you?” Clive stared at her intensely.
“He wanted me as well. I escaped him with the help of a few friends.”
“I assume Vaillancourt has posted a ransom for your capture.” Clive scowled, angry, bitter.
She met his gaze with fear eating her heart. “Five thousand Napoleons.”
“Dear God.” Terese sagged in horror.
“You must not go about alone.” Clive leaned over and seized her hand. His affection stirred her memories of his tenderness last night.
“I know. I am skilled at escape, subterfuge. I move about.”
“We can help you,” Terese said with conviction.
“I do not wish to endanger your lives.” Giselle’s gaze swept fromTerese, to Clive, and down to Bella. Clive and Terese gaped.
She had told them too much. They were appalled, and she had been silly to endanger them with her presence. Mad to fall in love with this charming gentleman. She had to go. Had to leave…leavehim!
“I will help you.” This from Clive had Giselle shaking her head.
“No! I would not see you hurt. None of you. I venture out carefully. I see no one today who would hurt me.”
He moved closer on the blanket toward her. “I will be sore of heart if you do not permit me the honor of helping you.”
She could not allow it. He would ruin her plans, perceive too much, and most likely misinterpret her work. She must not fail. Amber knew of the dangers she faced. So too did Gus. Their husbands as well. She had guards following her, hired by them. She knew them by sight. Clive would spot them and might perceive, if he did not already, who and what they were. “I have a plan. I will proceed with it, sir.”
“Clive. My name is Clive, and you, my dear Giselle, must listen to me.” He grabbed her hand.
“No, no! Do not do this. Do not box me in.”
“Giselle—” Terese pleaded.
“Giselle,” Clive persisted, “I’ll take no refusals. I’ve heard reports of Vaillancourt. He is cunning. His men are notoriously ruthless. You cannot hold them off by sheer will alone.”
Giselle shook him off and pushed to her feet. She would not be controlled. Not by Clive, the dashing, dear man who graced her bed last night. She endangered his life now. Oh, what a fool she had been. “Please. Heed me. I am determined and dedicated. I have my own means to deter Vaillancourt and all the French.”
Then she marched away.
Clive followed. Coming right beside her, he caught her arm.
She shook him off.
“You do this, whatever it is, to get your brother free?”
“No.” She grumbled to herself that he was most likely dead. No one lived long in La Force. “Go back to the picnic, Clive.”
“Tell me what you do to get him free!”
“No.”
“I can help you, darling. Let me.”
“I will not endanger you. It was wrong to have become so intimate.”
“Never, sweetheart.” His words were so sincere, she paused to stare at him and dash a tear from her cheek. “I am yours now. And you are mine.”
