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“You want to take him home for trial.”

“No, I want to clear Ben’s name. A confession from Dixon will do that, and repaying the money will put an end to it.”

Despite what he said, Angelique knew what he was giving up—for her. Her heart swelled. “Trust me,” she whispered again.

After a moment he nodded. “I do.” Then he released her. “I have to see Prince. I’ll be back before dark.”

She nodded, and he left. Angelique felt weak and shaky; unsurprising, after she had just faced down Nate and Ian both and persuaded them to help stage her death. Perhaps she’d gone too far…

But she knew she was right to fear Stafford. Harry had once compared him to a spider, sitting in the center of his web waiting to see what got caught. She had seen how Stafford dealt with those who threatened him, and she knew how widely his web spread. It would take Nate’s and Ian’s help, as well as some luck, to make her escape.

And to do it, they must be prepared for everything; there was no time to lose. She hurried up to her room, threw open the wardrobe doors, and began digging through her clothing.

“Lisette,” she called. “Lisette!”

The maid came running. “Oui, Madame?”

Angelique pulled a dress from the wardrobe. It was light blue, a soft comfortable dress that was a little worn and loose. She wore it about the house mostly. “You must alter this tonight, from the inside only.” She turned it inside out, running her fingers along the bodice seams. “And you must go to the butcher in Whitechapel.”

“The butcher?” Lisette blinked in astonishment.

“Yes. We require blood.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

She rose at dawn. Nate stirred and rolled over as she slipped out of bed, but she tucked the blankets around him and left. He’d made love to her last night, not with the driving hunger of before but more leisurely, his hands lingering on her as if he meant to spend the entire night memorizing her body and letting her memorize his. Angelique had luxuriated in every moment. In many ways he was her first true lover—the one man she had loved, fully and completely. If something went wrong today, this might be the last night they had, and she didn’t want it to end.

But the sun would not be held back. When the first rays of light penetrated the windows, she was awake, clinging to the warm happiness that suffused her in bed with Nate relaxed and easy against her. No matter how she wanted to delay, the day was upon her. Her time to be easy and relaxed and happy was over. Today she must be at her best, sharp and clear and on guard at all times, and lying in bed wouldn’t accomplish that. Success today would mean many more nights in bed with Nate. Failure…was unacceptable.

She performed her full range of exercises, working her muscles until they burned. When Nate finally appeared in the doorway between their bedrooms, she was keenly awake and alert, her skin taut and warm with exertion.

“You should have stayed in bed longer,” he said, his voice scratchy with sleep.

She stretched her arms above her head, feeling sleek and strong. “I needed to be awake.”

“You should have woken me.” He came across the room and hefted her iron bar. “Your weapon?”

“For training only.” She laughed as he swung it through the air. “It is heavy for me.”

“Oh, it’s heavy for me, too,” he assured her, still wielding it with an ease that belied his words. “I just can’t admit weakness in front of a woman. See, my arm trembles from the strain already.” He raised the bar as if it were a fencing foil, pointed at her. “Do you yield?”

She folded her arms and cocked an eyebrow. “To a man who cannot lift a mere bar?”

He grinned, then flicked the bar around, hooking it behind her back and drawing her to him until she had to tip back her head to look into his face. “It’s not that heavy,” he whispered, and kissed her.

Angelique wound her arms around his neck and pressed against him. The iron bar clanked loudly as it hit the floor, and his arms were around her. “Are you nervous?” he whispered, feathering kisses along her cheek.

“No more than usual.”

He gave a rueful huff of laughter. “I forget this is normal for you.”

She shrugged. “Today will not be. But this preparation is normal.”

“Perhaps it’s a good thing.” Nate squeezed her closer. “I’m anxious enough for two people.”

His heartbeat was strong and steady beneath her cheek. No tremor shook his body, not even his hands. Angelique smiled. “I do not believe it.”

“I am,” he said. “And fearful that I’ve led you into something dangerous.”