“Shemaynot be at home. It depends entirely upon whether she’s left yet. And I told you because I didn’t want to see you waste your time, or a trip.”
“And…?”
“And nothing. I owe Cass a debt.”
“I won’t bother to ask whatthatmeans.”
“Probably for the best,” Daphne replied.
Julian stood in front of his sister, towering over her. He had to get whatever information he could out of her, anything that might help him to find Cassie. “You said you helped her plan her escape. Am I to assume she’s run away?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes.”
He scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “I don’t have time for this. Tell me where she is.”
Daphne eyed him carefully. “Why do you want to know? The last I’d heard, you were angry with her. She said you refused her friendship in the park. What’s changed?”
Cursing under his breath, Julian pulled Cassandra’s letter from his pocket and waved it in the air. “If you must know, this is what’s changed. Cass wrote me a letter months ago telling me she loves me.”
Daphne’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, my,” she breathed. “I’d always suspected but that is… unexpected.”
Julian shook the letter. “Now will you tell me where she is?”
Daphne stood, crossed her arms over her chest again, and paced across the carpet, obviously deep in thought. “Hmm. I have always wanted to see the two of you together but I promised Cass I’d keep her secret.”
“Damn it, Daphne. I must see her. I must speak with her. Immediately.”
Daphne turned quickly to face him. “If I tell you, you must agree to two conditions.”
He blew out a deep breath. “Name them.”
“First, you must agree not to hurt her again. I won’t send you after her knowing you will upset her. She’s been through enough.”
“I won’t hurt her. I promise,” he ground out. “What’s the second condition?”
“I want a favor.”
He blinked at her. “What favor?”
“Ah, ah, ah. That is the complicated bit. I do not yet know what favor I want. Specifically, I want you tooweme a favor. One day, when I do something I ought not, you are going to be completely on my side, no questions asked. Agreed?”
“Not a chance. Name something else.”
Daphne delicately raised her chin in the air. “No. That’s what I want. Those are my conditions. They are not up for negotiation.”
Julian growled. “There are times when I swear I could throttle you, Daphne.”
Daphne shrugged. “If you throttle me, I won’t be able to tell you where Cass is. But there is absolutely no way I intend to tell you where she is until you agree to my terms.”
Julian glared at her. One thing was obvious. His sister knew how to drive a hard bargain. He’d pit her against the bloody French any day. She should be in Paris negotiating the treaty. “God help me,” he murmured, swearing savagely under his breath.
“Is that a yes?” She blinked at him innocently.
“Yes,” he ground out. And then, “Why do I have the distinct impression that I’m going to sorely regret this one day?”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Julian pounded on the door to the Monroes’ town house. The wood bounced. The portal sounded as if it might come down. When Shakespierre, the butler, appeared, Julian brushed past the much shorter man. Daphne had told him all about Cass’s plans to leave for the convent. The Sisters of Perpetual Hope made their home far to the north just below the Scottish border. If she’d already left, he’d be forced to chase after her. But there was still the chance that he might be able to catch her before she left. He was counting on it.
