Grimaldi’s arched brow smacked of skepticism. “Don’t you?”
She glanced away. “I’ve been stuck with him on a ship for days. He had me acting as his cabin boy. Not a cook’s assistant. I—”
“We saw you kiss him in London.”
Danielle snapped her mouth shut.Maudit. She contemplated that for a moment.Maudit. Maudit. Had that kiss revealed so much? But wait.… “Which time?” she blurted before cursing herself for her stupidity.
Grimaldi’s brow remained arched. “I rest my case.”
Danielle glared at the general. “What were you planning to do once I’d seen him on the ship if I wanted to leave?”
“We ensured you were underway before you were taken to see him.”
“How in the devil’s name did you manage—?”
“Suffice it to say we had full confidence that you weren’t foolish enough to jump overboard.”
She sucked in air through her nostrils, still itching to slap the general. “You could at least have warned me.”
“We’d just learned that night that Cavendish was on our side. He was leaving to come after Baptiste, too.”
“You could have at least—”
Grimaldi held up a hand. “Do you want to continue arguing with me or make a plan to save him?”
Danielle let out her breath. The general was right. They were wasting time. “Have any ideas?”
Grimaldi cracked a rare smile. “Of course I do.”
“I should have known.” She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her boot against the wooden floor. “What’s the plan?”
The door opened behind her and in walked none other than Lord Rafe Cavendish.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
“Cavendish,” Grimaldi said. “Are you ready to make them see a ghost?”
“Why didn’t you tell me Rafe was here?” Danielle asked after she sufficiently recovered from her shock.
“You know I never show all my cards at once.” Grimaldi’s reply was a bit too smug for Danielle’s taste.
“That’s an understatement,” she murmured.
“Mademoiselle LaCrosse, a pleasure to see you again.” Rafe bowed to her.
“It’s just Cross out here, my lord,” she replied, returning his smile.
“Likewise, it’s just Rafe for me out here.”
“Very well.” She’d never been so happy to see someone. She had no idea what Grimaldi had planned, but Rafe Cavendish helping could only be a good thing. Her mind spun with possibilities. “Is your lady wife here, too?”
“No. Daphne was still tending to the ball when I left. She decided to forgo this particular adventure.”
“Probably best,” Danielle agreed.
Grimaldi rubbed his chin. “Especially given that I’m going to have to beat the hell out of you to make you look like Cade no doubt does.”
Danielle winced. They all knew the unpleasant task was necessary. Danny and Sean had told them Cade had been beaten bloody by his captors even before he’d been hauled away. There was little chance he wouldn’t have been beaten more since. If they needed to convince Baptiste that Cade was Rafe or vice versa, they would have to look alike in every way.
