“You’ll be caught and shot.”
“Unlikely.”Grinning, he kissed her gloved hand and gazed up at her, a twinkle crossing his hazel eyes.
Heat flushed her.“What are you doing here?”
“Why, isn’t it obvious?I’m rescuing you!”
She wanted to laugh, to cry, to scream in terror, to shout for joy.This man, this wonderful, crazy, brave man had come for her.Not only had merely come, but the two of them were dancing in the French governor’s ballroom, the envy of all there!
He nodded toward Damien, who had slunk onto a seat and was holding his head in his hands.“What happened to him?”
Gabrielle smiled.“Let us just say I gave him a bit of his own medicine.”
“That’s my girl,” Cadan replied, and the endearing term warmed every inch of her.He smelled of salt and spice, the familiar scent bringing every cell in her body to life.
“Matthew?”she asked the next time they drew close.
“Safe and well, Lady Fox.”
They parted then came back together.“I could kiss you, you know.”
His eyes glistened behind his mask, and a sensuous curve raised his lips.“I’ll take that kiss when we are back on theResolute.”
A blush rose on her cheeks, and she hoped it wasn’t visible.He spun her around.His hand pressed protectively on her back.’Twas like a dream.The music, the candlelight, the people in their finery, and all eyes on her and Cadan as they glided over the dance floor.She wanted to remember every moment, every sound.The curve of his handsome lips, the way he looked at her with such….love.Love?From this man who had kidnapped her, used her son as bait?Yet here he was, risking everything for her.
When had she begun to feel these strange sensations, for her heart nearly burst.She’d never felt such excitement, such passion, never even knew she could feel this way.
The music halted and the dancers parted.
A hefty man with a long gray mustache headed their way, two French soldiers following behind.
The spell broke.Gabrielle’s fear returned.“How are we to escape?”
Cadan scratched his chin.“Hmm.I had not actually planned that far in advance.”
Chapter 27
Cadan glanced at Governor Nicolas de Gabaret heading their way and quickly grabbed Gabrielle’s arm, hurrying her into the middle of the throng of dancers leaving the floor.She trembled beneath his grip.How could he reassure her of their safety if he wasn’t sure of it himself?Aye, he had a plan, but a madcap one.One that both Pell and Moses, upon hearing it, had declared him out of his wits.Neither advised him to proceed, but there was no other alternative.He would not,could notleave Lady Fox and Omphile in Damien’s evil clutches.If he were a praying man, he’d appeal to the Almighty, but he’d leave that up to Pell for now.
Hunching over, he nudged aside the mass of humanity, finally emerging near the side door where the servants came and went.
“Arrêtez-les!” the governor shouted behind him just as they slipped through the door and fled down a flight of stairs to what surely was the larder, kitchen, storerooms and servants’ quarters.On the way, they knocked over several liveried men, sending their trays clanking to the steps and flinging food and curses everywhere.
“Apologies!”Cadan shouted as they continued downward into a galley filled with long tables laden with all manner of food and drink.
Cooks, slaves, and servants alike stared at the couple as they sped past, Gabrielle clutching her skirts and Cadan gripping the hilt of his rapier.
French curses and bootsteps thundered down the steps behind them.
“In here!”Cadan shouldered a thick oak door, crashing it open, and tugged Gabrielle inside, down a long hallway, up another flight of stairs and into a parlor.Tapestries and paintings lined the wainscoted wall, while polished walnut furniture perched atop Turkish rugs.
“Where are we go—?”Gabrielle started to ask.
Shouts echoed through the hall behind them.“Follow them!”
Cadan ducked through another door, past the servants’ quarters, down another hall, and slid into a small room filled with brooms, mops, buckets, and rags.He shut the door and swung about, groping for the candle he’d left.Then striking flint to steel, he lit it and proceeded to toss rags from a shelf onto the floor.Reaching behind, he prayed the sack was still there.
It was.Thank God.
