“I will go and meet them,” Michael said.
“If he doesn’t have Abby or Daniel, he could take you. I cannot allow that to happen; we must stay together. We know Daniel will allow nothing to happen to her.”
“The note states he already has something you hold dear,” Zach said.
“It could be a trap. I will take no risks,” Gabe said.
“My lord, a caller has arrived,” Fairfax said from the doorway.
“At this hour?”
“His name is Geraint.”
“He never meets anywhere but the location,” Michael said, looking worried.
“Bring him here, Fairfax,” Gabe said rising.
“His news must be important,” Nathan said.
Geraint appeared in the doorway minutes later, his face grave.
“Forgive me for calling on you at such an hour, my lord, and at your residence.” Geraint bowed.
“Please take a seat.”
He did, then spoke.
“I received word last night that Ombrage is able to move freely between France and England because he has created a believable facade,” Geraint said. “The informant I spoke with is close to him, closer than any we’ve spoken to before. But he failed to kill you when he had the chance, Lord Raine, and that incensed Ombrage, so he shot him. It was only a flesh wound, and the informant escaped. He then found his way to me. He is now seeking revenge.”
“In what form?” Zach asked.
“He is telling me everything he knows in exchange for us helping him disappear. His fear of Ombrage is great.”
“What did he tell you?” Nathan asked.
“That Ombrage has been working as an assistant to a portrait artist. He is motivated by greed as well as power. He steals from the wealthy and infiltrates households where he can search through papers of a sensitive nature that will give him knowledge of our king and country.”
“Allard,” Gabe whispered.
“Who?” Zach asked.
“Diard has an assistant. Innocuous sort, blends into the background,” Michael added.
“You’ve met this man?” Geraint asked
Gabe nodded. “Several times. He rarely speaks. I can see how he has been so successful now. If he is Ombrage.”And Dimity is in the duchess’s household. Surely he was not a threat to her? No one knew he cared for her, after all?
Had he been in the same room with the man he’d thought he’d killed? A man who had ruthlessly murdered and tortured people all in the name of destroying the English monarchy. It seemed almost unbelievable.
“I received word from Ombrage today,” Gabe said. He then handed Geraint the note.
“This has given you the means to find him, Lord Raine,” he said after reading it. “There is not a moment to lose. His thirst for vengeance against you will be his weakness,” Geraint rose. “I will pass word to the others of what has transpired. Bring him to me alive, I wish to question him.”
“My brother’s life is in danger,” Zach snapped. “If we need to kill Ombrage to ensure he is safe we will do so.”
“It’s all right, Zach,” Gabe said softly.
“Your loyalty to your brother is commendable, but there is no life more important than our King’s,” Geraint said calm in the face of Zach’s anger.
