And though her mind understood why he hadn’t brought the news to her—she’d been sleeping, after all—she couldn’t help but be hurt.
28
Brielle strained to refocus on the important details as she stood before her father and the council. They had to make a plan, but to do that, she must know all the people involved. “Any thoughts on who the other man is?”
“Evan said Gerald spoke French, but the second man was standing behind the bedcurtain and his voice was too muffled to understand. That makes me wonder if it might have been Hugo Lemaire.”
The lad’s face sprang to mind, and she could hear his lazy drawl in her ear. She didn’t think of Hugo as a man yet. He fell into the group of boys who had just reached the age of majority. His father had been killed in the same attack that took her mother, and his mama had kept to herself through the years. She performed her duties around the village just like the other matrons, but Brielle hadn’t had much interaction with her son. He did mumble when he spoke, and from her limited experience with the boy, his approach to life was as lazy as his manner of speech. He tended to take the easiest route to do the least required of him.
Perhaps Gerald had fed the lad his poisonous opinions,and the young man had grabbed onto the attention. Without a strong male presence in his life to teach him the right ways, he might be easily swayed.
She gave a slow nod. “He is a possibility. We would need to question him, but it seems wise to take him and Gerald into custody at the same time.” She scanned through the timeline of Gerald’s plan once more. His words might only be boasts if he was speaking to Hugo, but if he chose to go through with his plans, he might easily decide to shift timelines. Whether he took action or not, he had to be stopped before his poison leaked further.
She focused her attention on her father and Erik. “I agree we should act before tonight. And neither man must know we’re taking the other into custody. Which means we should either take them both at the same time, or one while the other is occupied.”
Relief slipped through her father’s gaze, and behind him, Erik nodded. She scanned the rest of the group as her mind whirled with possible plans to take the men captive. They needed to have everything lined up perfectly for any of them to succeed.
And they had almost no time to make it happen.
Evan couldn’t stop pacing.
Thankfully, Leonard didn’t comment on the fact that he’d left his fur pallet. The man just leaned against the wall. Watching. His expression looked half amused, half concerned.
But he wasn’t the one worrying Evan. What would the council say about him? Would they act quickly to stop Gerald?
Unless they didn’t believe him.
His gut churned as he sent up another petition in a long line of prayers.Give them wisdom, Lord. Give me wisdom. Help us take the right actions.
The bar on the door clanged, and he spun to see who was entering. He’d not even heard footsteps in the hall.
Brielle stepped inside, and from the stern expression on her face, she must know something.
Her gaze met his, then she swung her focus to Leonard. “I must speak with you both.”
She pulled her hand from her side, and he nearly gasped at the sight of his musket, shot bag, and knives. She set them on the floor by the door, then motioned him and Leonard near as she closed the door behind her.
Apprehension swelled his chest, tightening his breathing. Her father must have told her some of what they’d said. Only the part that concerned Gerald? Or also of his intention to speak to Brielle? Probably about his mission, too.
A pain speared his midsection. He’d wanted to tell her those details himself. In truth, he’d wanted her to be the first to know everything—except maybe Gerald’s plan. But it looked like the entire situation was out of his hands now.
I give it to you, Lord.As much as he hated this helpless feeling, God could guide the situation so much better than he could.
In a few short minutes, Brielle shared with Leonard the details of what Evan had overheard. Then she proceeded to tell them both of a plan that sounded riskier than he would have liked. In fact, Brielle seemed to be taking on the greatest risk herself. But she was including Evan as one of the helpers. And for that, a surge of anticipation washed through him.
“You can take your weapons.” She motioned toward his gun and knives as she met his gaze. “My father spoke to the council on your behalf, and they moved the vote up to today.” Something flickered in her eyes, but it passed so quickly he couldn’t decipher it. “They’ve voted to release you from guard but ask you not to leave Laurent yet.”
He straightened. They’d moved up the vote? Maybe this had been a natural result of determining whether he was trustworthy enough for his report about Gerald to be believed. And the vote may have been necessary to free him to help capture Gerald, too.
A wash of relief swept through him.Thank you, Lord. He’d not even known to worry while the vote was taking place. God had gone before and prepared the way for his freedom.Guide us now in this mission, Father.
Leonard’s voice drew him from his prayer. “So, you want me and Wesley to be waiting in the assembly room? Who will you send to summon Hugo?” He didn’t seem surprised by Evan’s freedom, just focused on the job before them. Good man.
Brielle nodded as she turned to Leonard. “Andre can deliver the summons to him. People are accustomed to him taking messages for my father. He can say that all the men of age and hunting ability are being asked to come. That might even make him eager to be numbered among the men. Evan and I will station ourselves in the shadows of the cave to make sure he doesn’t bolt before you and Wesley can tie him.”
Evan nodded agreement for his part of the plan. He didn’t even know what this young ruffian looked like, but he’d learn quickly enough. It felt good to be numbered among Laurent’s protectors.
Within minutes, Leonard was off to gather his weapons and the man who would serve with him. Brielle motioned for Evan to follow her down the corridor. He grabbed his things by the door, then followed her out. They moved softly until they entered the chamber belonging to Brielle’s family.
