They’d trudged halfway down the hall when a door behind them opened and footsteps thudded down the corridor.
He spun and saw a young lad—probably not more than ten years old—running toward them. He stopped at the door they’d just passed and paused to turn a wide grin on them. “Papa’s back. He and Monsieur Duluth found the two men who went out after Brielle. They’re all safe.”
The lad opened the door and darted into the apartment before Evan or Leonard could respond.
Leonard glanced at him. “Mind if we stop in and see them a minute? Duluth is my sister’s husband. I’d like to make sure they’re all right.”
Evan nodded. “Of course.” The man wasn’t exactly asking his permission, but it was still nice he offered the consideration.
They stepped through the doorway the lad had just entered,and Evan glanced around a large room much like the Durands’, though the fireplace was set on the opposite wall. These people must have cut chimneys up through the stone, so two dwellings shared the same chimney. A great deal of work had been put into this unique village.
A half-dozen people were clustered around the fire here, too, and Leonard knelt beside one of them. He gave the man a good-natured clap on his back as he murmured words in French, but Evan wasn’t close enough to make out what was said.
After a few minutes, Leonard glanced back, as if he’d just realized he had a prisoner he was supposed to be watching. He motioned for Evan to sit. “Make yourself comfortable.”
A spot against the wall seemed the best place to stay out of the way. Evan settled there as more people entered through the rear door from the hall—an older man and woman, and two young boys, who looked as though they might be grandchildren.
The volume of noise in the room rose as the adults greeted each other and the boys moved to play with the first lad Evan had seen. It was fun to watch them interact, women doting on the four men who’d just returned and the men plying them with questions.
More people entered the room, until the atmosphere was as festive and the crowd as thick as the feast had been. He kept himself tucked against the wall and seemed to be almost invisible to the others who milled about. At least they no longer seemed as curious about his presence as they’d been during the feast.
Several conversations were happening near enough that Evan couldn’t avoid overhearing. By the fire, Leonard waspulling the entire tale of their journey from his brother-in-law, and behind them stood two matrons who were rehashing Brielle’s adventure, which they’d heard from Jeanette.
Another conversation drifted to him, but at first, he couldn’t find the source. A deep male voice, one that rang with familiarity but raised his hackles. A heartbeat passed before he saw the man and recognition dawned.
Gerald.
He stood near a bedcurtain tied back against the wall. Part of the drape was pulled just enough to conceal whoever Gerald was speaking to.
The hidden man’s voice drifted to Evan, and he strained to make out the French words. The partition muffled the sounds, but Brielle’s name came through clearly. He worked to keep his interest from showing in his expression in case Gerald looked over and spotted him.
Gerald’s face was twisted in an angry mask, clear enough to see even in the dim light. “It’s a shame she survived, the little vixen. When I sent the half-wit out, I figured I’d finally taken care of her for good this time. She thinks she’s so powerful, just because her papa’s the chief. She’s not half the warrior I am.”
Gerald crossed his arms as the other man spoke again. Evan didn’t breathe or move as he strained to catch the words, but the sound was too low and muffled to understand. Did Gerald have something to do with Marcellus going out in the blizzard?
Whatever the unseen man said only heightened Gerald’s ire. Deep lines creased the man’s forehead and his eyes narrowed. “Someone should have put an arrow through his chest the moment he stepped through the gate. Don’t know whywe’ve had to use our good hunters to watch over him. The men who’ve been sent out to hunt since he arrived are little more than boys. If I were in charge, I’d have taken care of him at the beginning. Matter of fact, this madness has gone on long enough. Think I’ll do the job now.”
A tingle of apprehension slipped down Evan’s spine. Was Gerald speaking of him? He was the one they were using good huntsmen to watch over. He agreed with the man that the use was wasteful, but their way to remedy the situation was as far apart as could be. Did Gerald plan to kill him?
The other man was speaking, and the nameDurandwas the only word Evan could decipher.
The lines across Gerald’s brow smoothed and the corners of his mouth curved up. “It’s about time someone put her in her place. The wildcat she is, she would probably be a pleasure.” His eyes hardened, losing all twinkle. “I know watching her suffer would make me happy. She’s given me enough misery, becoming so high and mighty. It’s high time the tables were turned.”
Evan dared a quick breath as fire raged through his veins. He couldn’t risk moving even his chest in case the motion caught Gerald’s attention. Was the man serious, or was this merely bluster?
If only Evan could see who the cad was talking to. The fellow behind the curtain said something else, and Evan imprinted the cadence and tone in his mind.
Gerald narrowed his eyes again as silence settled between them for a couple heartbeats. “Tonight. I’ll put an end to that Englishman while the guard is sleeping. Then when he wakes up and the ruckus starts, I’ll grab the wench and have some fun.”
The other man spoke, his voice quicker than before, sounding worried. As well he should be, for what Gerald spoke of should be a hanging offense. He might lose his life over such an act, especially with the chief of the council being Brielle’s father. And if he’d sent Marcellus out in a blizzard specifically to endanger her ...
Even if Gerald were punished, what he was speaking of doing to Brielle could never be undone. The scars he would leave on her heart and body were too awful to imagine.
Evan fought with everything in him to keep himself immobile. Gerald was crafty enough to deny saying such treasonous words or to claim that Evan had misunderstood. Then the accusation would make him even more eager to take revenge on Evan and Brielle both.
He had to be wise about this. Had to find a way to stop the man for good. He couldn’t risk Brielle’s safety on the chance that the fiend was merely boasting.
When Gerald spoke again, Evan pulled his focus back to decipher the words. “Think I’m ready to leave this place anyway. I’ve never been appreciated here. Chrissy was the only one, and she’s gone. You want to come along? We could bring the wildcat with us and take turns with her. I bet she’ll tame down pretty quickly.”
