A new fury roared through him. Take Brielle away? Not for anything in the world. The man would have to kill Evan and every other fellow in this place before he could take her. And Brielle certainly had her own ways to refuse.
Several people crossed the line of vision between him and Gerald.
“I guess we better get back.”
Leonard’s voice nearly made Evan jump, as close as theman stood. Evan had been so caught up in Gerald’s conversation, he’d not seen Leonard come near.
Evan nodded and pushed up to his feet, sneaking a glance in Gerald’s direction as he did. Two men had approached and were speaking to him. Distracting him, hopefully. Evan pulled his focus away, so if the man saw him, maybe he wouldn’t realize Evan had been close enough to overhear.
The hallway was quiet as they made their way toward his cell at the end. A good thing, for his mind was turning. Should he tell Leonard what he’d heard? The man didn’t seem to have enough clout or authority to have Gerald locked up. Leonard would likely have to call someone else. Brielle was his next in command, and it made sense to start with the higher up.
But did he dare tell Brielle what he’d heard? She would be livid and would probably take action herself. And even as capable as she was, he couldn’t stand the thought of putting that weight on her shoulders alone. Everyone needed someone to guard their back. He’d committed to be that for Brielle, but in this situation his hands were tied. Almost literally.
So, he needed to confide in someone who could do the job for him.
Her father.
26
The knot in Evan’s middle balled tighter as he mulled through what he had to do. Chief Durand was the only person he could think of with enough authority to have Gerald stopped forever. But what would stopping the blackguard consist of? A hanging?
Part of him felt like that was nothing less than the man deserved if he really did plan to carry out his foul plans. The council would have some debate, and Brielle had earned a great deal of respect in the eyes of these people.Earned, not inherited, as Gerald had implied. He’d seen the way she protected and provided for even the least of these, often enduring hardship herself, as she’d done in her search for Marcellus. That was more than he’d seen Gerald do for another.
On the other hand, Gerald had shown himself to be a lecherous snake. One who had to be stopped once and for all. Inside his holding room, Evan dropped down to sit on his fur as Leonard took his spot against the wall.
Grit scraped against his eyelids from lack of sleep, but he had far too much to do to waste time with the luxury of rest. How could he speak with Brielle’s father? He’d only seen the man a couple of times—right after his fisticuffswith Gerald, and again at the feast. That meant the fellow probably wouldn’t just happen to stop by. Evan would have to ask for an audience.
He slid a glance at Leonard, who’d taken up the arrow he’d been whittling. If Gerald stuck to the timing he’d said, Evan only had today to stop him.
Should he ask Leonard to send for him? Or wait until Audrey came and ask her? He trusted her almost as much as he did Brielle, more than any of these other guards.
But Audrey was probably busy tending those who’d returned from the storm. She hadn’t brought their morning meal, but she likely wouldn’t be able to come until at least midday. Even then, she might send it with someone else. He’d have to make his request through Leonard.
He straightened and turned to face the guard. The man looked up, his brows rising in question.
Evan tried to force the emotion from his voice. “I need to speak with Chief Durand. How can I get an audience with him?”
The man’s brows dipped and the confusion on his face seemed to hold a hint of suspicion. “He is busy. If you have something to ask, it’s better we take it to Brielle.”
Evan’s stomach turned at the thought. He should have expected the man to want to bring in Brielle. But he couldn’t speak to her of this, not yet. Everything in him said her father was the one to bring it to first.
He did his best to school his expression. “Brielle’s still recovering, and, in truth, what I have to tell concerns her father most anyway.” Let the man make of that what he would. Maybe his assumptions would induce him to find their chief posthaste.
Leonard studied him, his hands no longer working the arrow. Evan kept his expression blank. For long moments they sat like that.
Did Leonard think he would get in trouble for going straight to the chief? Perhaps. Evan wasn’t sure how strict their hierarchy was, but it seemed securely structured. Or maybe Leonard thought he’d be in trouble for stopping by his sister’s home instead of coming directly back to this room.
At last, the man tightened his jaw and pushed to his feet. “Can I trust you to stay here while I walk down the hall and send for him?” His tone had lost the congeniality from moments earlier, but at least he was getting Brielle’s father.
Evan nodded. “I won’t move.”
Leonard left the door ajar, probably so he could hear if Evan shifted around, and his footsteps faded partway down the hall. He called someone, and a young voice answered. After a quick conversation in Italian, Leonard’s footsteps sounded, coming back toward the room.
He stepped inside and closed the door, barely sparing Evan a glance. “Jean-Jacques has gone to look for the chief. If he’s not too busy, I’m sure he’ll be along shortly.”
“Thank you.”
The man only grunted a response as he moved back to his wall. He didn’t sit, just leaned against it with his arms crossed. Probably wanted to be ready when his chief arrived.
