Cade sighed, his expression deeply sad. “I can’t imagine a happy outcome if we put our own desires ahead of the well-being of our family.”
She’d always seen Cade as strong, utterly in control, and utterly reliable. Those same traits could cause him to walk away from the Tremaynes to avoid hurting others. The thought struck ice into her heart. She couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing him again. It didn’t matter whether her love for him was romantic passion or a deep, deep friendship. Either way, he was vital to her.
The night before, she’d felt as if Cade had opened a door in her spirit that had revealed a bright, rich future on the other side. Now he was closing that door. But if he was willing to withdraw from the family he loved, to spare everyone pain, she must show equal strength to make sure he wouldn’t have to do that.
Summoning calm, she said, “You’re right that we must step back for now—this is all too new. But I’m not sure that damage is inevitable. We must move ahead in a very carefully considered way until the situation becomes clearer. But please don’t leave without telling me!Please.”
He hesitated before saying, “I promise I won’t just disappear without letting you know, but I lack your optimism. I think the most likely result will be that I continue working for the Home Office but move farther away from Tremayne House and largely disappear from general family activities. And perhaps now that you’ve awakened the part of yourself you’d suppressed, you will find a man you can love who isn’t your brother.”
She made a face. Cade was rarely foolish, but he was certainly a fool to suggest that she could just turn around and find another man worth marrying.
More tactfully she said, “Foretelling ability is very rare even among the gifted, Cade. But I believe that the future holds many possibilities, not all of them dire.”
He smiled wistfully. “I’ve always liked your optimism, Tam. I wish I shared it.”
CHAPTER27
The rest of the day was quiet as Cade and Tamsyn removed all traces of their stay from the cottage. He kept a wary eye on her, but she had stepped back into treating him as a brother, showing no signs of anger or frustration. She just looked thoughtful, which could mean anything. He tried to get a sense of her emotions, but she was very good at withdrawing into herself so that he couldn’t read her.
After they finished up their food supplies with a last lunch, Tam said, “Because we’re going to slip away in the night, should we muddy up Zeus’s fine white coat so he won’t be as easy to see?”
Cade considered. “Maybe some splotches so his outline won’t be as clear. I’ll take care of that.”
“I’m sorry we must leave Zeus behind, but I’m sure Madame LeBlanc will see that he’s well cared for.” Tamsyn was folding the bedding, but she paused. “Will we get back to England safely? There is a war going on and I have a feeling our return won’t go smoothly. What do you think? You’ve always been good at sensing danger.”
Apart from a general sense that they’d make it to England, he hadn’t thought much about their escape because most of his mind was engaged in thinking about Tamsyn. Damned careless of him not to be paying more attention when they were in enemy territory!
He stilled his mind, then reached out with all his senses. “There will be danger on our escape,” he said slowly. “Something wholly unexpected, and perhaps disturbing, but I do feel we’ll make it across the channel. Very frustrating not to sense it more clearly!”
Tam shrugged. “The limits of our gifts are maddening. But whatever happens, presumably we’ll be able to deal with it or we wouldn’t make it home.”
She was right, but still he worried. He didn’t like the unexpected.
The hours passed slowly, and fog settled in as dusk approached. That would help them to travel unseen.
They both had their carry bags slung across their bodies and were dressed for riding. In her boy’s clothing and with her hair braided and pinned up, Tam looked like a well-bred schoolboy. They spoke little as they waited, but Cade wanted to memorize every detail of the cottage where, for a few brief hours, he’d been happier than he had ever thought possible.
It was almost dark when a light knock on the door was followed by the entry of two people. The single lamp that lit the cottage was sufficient to reveal the upright figure of Madame LeBlanc. A step behind her was a slim young man. He was dark-haired, of medium height, and had a small-boned build similar to that of his grandmother.
Tamsyn rose from her chair to greet them. “I assume that all the arrangements are in place, Madame.” She turned to the young man and offered her hand. “It’s good to meet you, Andre Jameson.”
He made a courtly bow over her hand, and when he spoke, his English had a slight Scottish accent. “The pleasure is mine, Lady Tamsyn. Grandmère assured me that you’ll get me safely to England and guide me when I reach there. I am most grateful.”
Andre’s eyes were dark and intelligent, and he had an aura of quiet power. Wondering what the young man’s gifts were, Cade stepped forward and offered his own hand. “We’ll certainly do our best. Both Tam and I think we’ll make it safely across the channel, though not without some trouble.”
Madame LeBlanc sighed. “Isn’t there always trouble? But I have faith in your abilities. It’s time we left. We have some distance to cover to our destination and your smugglers need to catch the tide.”
Cade waited until the others had left the cottage before turning out the lamp. Then he stepped outside to where three horses were waiting. A moment later, Tam joined the group, leading Zeus. Cade’s carefully applied muddy smears made the gelding less eye-catching.
After they were all mounted, Madame LeBlanc led their small group down to the sandy beach and turned left, heading south away from Calais. Cade took the rear position, all his senses alert for possible danger. The fog distorted sound. Visibility was limited, but the light-colored sand made it easy to follow the edge of the beach. Though the ride was easy, Cade’s sense that they were approaching danger became stronger.
After they’d ridden for an hour or so, Madame LeBlanc halted her horse and waited for the others to join her. “We’re almost there,” she said in a low voice. “Captain Jones, the owner of the boat, is English and he’s a good, reliable man. I’ve already paid him for the journey, but he won’t mind if you give him a bonus when you’re safely on the other side.”
“Understood,” Tamsyn said with a smile in her voice.
Something pinged in Cade’s mind. He caught his breath and opened his senses as far as he could. “Men are waiting between here and the boat,” he said softly. “An ambush.”
He could feel his companions tense. “Can we go around?” Tam asked, her voice a mere breath.
