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“I wish you better than making do,” she said, and went up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Bonne chance, Ian.”

He gave her a lopsided smile, then stepped back as footsteps came crunching close again.

“Are you ready?” Nate asked.

Angelique nodded, holding out her hand. He had put her trunk in one end of the skiff, forcing her to sit directly in front of him. When he shoved away from the shore and stepped into the boat, aided by a strong push from Ian, she had to grab the sides to keep her seat. Nate sat down, his knees almost touching hers, and set the oars in the oarlocks. He had taken off his cap, and now took off the coat as well, revealing a white shirt rolled up to the elbows.

“I wondered how we would find you,” she said as he dipped the oars into the water and slowly they drifted away from the shore. Ian had gone to help Prince with the last trunk, and Lisette was muttering at both of them in angry French. Even just a few yards from shore, their figures were indistinct. Angelique kept her eyes on Ian, raising her hand in one last farewell when she thought he glanced her way. It was too dark and foggy to see if he made any reply, and she turned her gaze back to Nate, blinking away the moisture behind her eyelids.

Nate grinned. “I’ve been sitting on this shore every night for the last week. You would have been hard-pressed to avoid me.”

She arched her eyebrow. “I am surprised you waited.”

“Are you?” He leaned closer, his eyes keen on hers. “Are you really?”

Angelique had to retreat; no more games, she had promised him. “No.”

Nate smiled his reckless pirate’s smile. “I would have waited another week, then come after you.”

“Would you?” He dug the oars into the water and the boat lurched forward. Angelique had to hold the side of the boat to keep from falling. “Where would you have searched?”

“Everywhere.” Back on the shore, Lisette gave a loud squawk as Prince stepped into the other boat. The trunks were settled between them, a looming bulk in the center of the boat. Ian was nothing but a dark shadow now. He said something to Prince in unmistakable Scots brogue, and the Black man’s low laugh drifted across the inky water, followed by Lisette’s scolding tones.

Angelique turned back to the man in front of her. “If I had not wanted you to find me⁠—”

“It would have made no difference.”

She watched him a moment. The wind ruffled his unbound hair as he rowed, and the lantern cast a golden glow over his face and bare forearms as it swayed from side to side. “You would have dragged me away against my wishes?”

“Never,” he said indignantly. “I would have dragged you away to persuade you of your true desires and feelings.”

“And you know them better than I do?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Again his teeth shone in the darkness. “Once we reach the ship, I’ll be glad to show you just what you desire.”

She was counting on that, but gave him a severe look anyway, then turned to look over the water. The light of lanterns on the ships they passed sparkled on the rippling surface, then vanished in the fog. There was an eerie sort of peace out on the water, where sound and light just seemed to melt away. Angelique had the sense that they could simply vanish into the fog and no one would ever know where they had gone. But as long as she was with Nate, the prospect didn’t bother her.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Boston.”

She waited, but he just grinned. “And then?” she prompted with a laugh. “Will we explore the frontier and see the native peoples? You have piqued my interest, with your tales of adventure and knives from the ferocious Wyandot.”

Slowly Nate shook his head. “You’ve quenched my thirst for adventure, my dear. Seeing you lying limp and soaked in blood on Stafford’s floor⁠—”

“Pig’s blood,” she murmured.

“Blood,” he repeated. “Oceans of blood. And then I had to walk away and trust that Scottish scoundrel to get you out of there before anyone realized it wasn’t your own blood.”

“There was no other way,” she began, but he put up his hand.

“You were right, and it worked, and I am grateful, but Holy God in heaven, it took years off my life, waiting through that day for your note to arrive that you were well, and all had gone according to plan.”

“It was the only way,” she said again.

“And thank the good Lord above that it’s over and done.” He pulled hard on the oars again, sending the little boat scudding across the water.

“It has not been a pleasant ordeal for me, either.” She hesitated, steadying her voice. “I am sorry for what Mélanie will suffer.”