“What is it you would like to talk about? How long is it to our destination? The weather? Or perhaps your wife’s family?”
“You seem to have expected that I would do so. So out with it. How did you know to expect me?” Lenister demanded without any trace of emotion.
“My father requested that I escort you,” Andre replied. “You will find that you have married into a rather close family. We take…how should I say this…special interest in each other’s activities. You, for instance. I find it quite interesting that you married my cousin so readily.”
Lenister almost laughed. “It is not you who is seeking answers at the moment. I will repeat it once more. How did you know to expect me?”
“I do not understand, Lord Lenister. I assume you had letters from my cousin to my father. Would you not? How else would he have known?”
“How else.” Lenister repeated. “Except , Citizen D’Arcy, I did not give them to your father. I have given them to no one.” He patted his coat pocket. "Odd, don't you think?"
"I did as my father requested, Lord Lenister. Nothing more. Was he wrong? Did you not marry Eloise?"
Lenister uttered harshly and moved closer to Andre's side. "I do not have time to play games. Tell me quickly. Do you know my mission? If you do, then you will understand, I will not fail. I will do whatever I have to to succeed. I will not let anyone or anything get in my way. Do you understand? Now tell me again how you knew. If not, I will make certain..."
Andre drew back. "Are you going to threaten me also? You will find I'm not as your wife, my lord. Empty threats will not work on me. I care not for many."
"Threatened you as I did my wife... " Lenister's words faded. He stared at the man in disbelief. "There is only one way you would have known that. Eloise. Did she write to you....?” Then Lenister saw it in Andre’s eyes. “Oh, my God! Eloise is here! My wife is within France!"
* * * *
Eloise was in a foul mood after losing time trapped at the safe house. The weather had not cooperated in the least. Rain poured from the sky for the last two hours and showed no signs of lessening. She hadn’t come prepared for this delay. Not to mention that night would soon be upon her.
She was wet and cold, shivering from being drenched when she had been caught in the downpour. She had dressed in only a light, serviceable gown and a cloak. She brought no change of clothes, thinking she would have made it to her next stop outside Paris. The network had several safe houses. This cottage served only as a brief layover to refresh horses and if necessary, a night’s stay.
Eloise glanced around the small room. It gave none of the comfort that she had been allotted across the Channel. The house smelled musty, as if it had gone unaired for ages. A bare room for most accounts with only a couple of wooden chairs, a wobbly table, and a fireplace. Up in the loft gave a semblance of the only bed with a small lumpy mattress on the floor, but it was clean.
She had sent her escort, one of Andre’s men, ahead to ensure that all was set. Although she did not relish the thought of being alone, she hadn’t been to Paris in weeks and had no desire to walk into it blind. She waited only for word on her husband’s arrival and the route he was taking into Paris. She hoped Andre was convincing in his mission. She couldn’t afford to run into her husband. Andre should have sent word by now, but he, too, would have had to deal with the formidable weather.
With the dreary weather clouding the skies, darkness would descend earlier than usual. Sighing heavily, she walked to the fireplace. She hadn’t wanted to start a fire, but the reality was she would not be leaving until the morning. It would be foolish at this point. She needed to dry her clothes and it would give her time to contemplate her plan. She had a decision to make.
Eloise hated this quiet. It served only to remind her how frighteningly alone she was.
“You seem to have expected that I would do so. So out with it. How did you know to expect me?” Lenister demanded without any trace of emotion.
“My father requested that I escort you,” Andre replied. “You will find that you have married into a rather close family. We take…how should I say this…special interest in each other’s activities. You, for instance. I find it quite interesting that you married my cousin so readily.”
Lenister almost laughed. “It is not you who is seeking answers at the moment. I will repeat it once more. How did you know to expect me?”
“I do not understand, Lord Lenister. I assume you had letters from my cousin to my father. Would you not? How else would he have known?”
“How else.” Lenister repeated. “Except , Citizen D’Arcy, I did not give them to your father. I have given them to no one.” He patted his coat pocket. "Odd, don't you think?"
"I did as my father requested, Lord Lenister. Nothing more. Was he wrong? Did you not marry Eloise?"
Lenister uttered harshly and moved closer to Andre's side. "I do not have time to play games. Tell me quickly. Do you know my mission? If you do, then you will understand, I will not fail. I will do whatever I have to to succeed. I will not let anyone or anything get in my way. Do you understand? Now tell me again how you knew. If not, I will make certain..."
Andre drew back. "Are you going to threaten me also? You will find I'm not as your wife, my lord. Empty threats will not work on me. I care not for many."
"Threatened you as I did my wife... " Lenister's words faded. He stared at the man in disbelief. "There is only one way you would have known that. Eloise. Did she write to you....?” Then Lenister saw it in Andre’s eyes. “Oh, my God! Eloise is here! My wife is within France!"
* * * *
Eloise was in a foul mood after losing time trapped at the safe house. The weather had not cooperated in the least. Rain poured from the sky for the last two hours and showed no signs of lessening. She hadn’t come prepared for this delay. Not to mention that night would soon be upon her.
She was wet and cold, shivering from being drenched when she had been caught in the downpour. She had dressed in only a light, serviceable gown and a cloak. She brought no change of clothes, thinking she would have made it to her next stop outside Paris. The network had several safe houses. This cottage served only as a brief layover to refresh horses and if necessary, a night’s stay.
Eloise glanced around the small room. It gave none of the comfort that she had been allotted across the Channel. The house smelled musty, as if it had gone unaired for ages. A bare room for most accounts with only a couple of wooden chairs, a wobbly table, and a fireplace. Up in the loft gave a semblance of the only bed with a small lumpy mattress on the floor, but it was clean.
She had sent her escort, one of Andre’s men, ahead to ensure that all was set. Although she did not relish the thought of being alone, she hadn’t been to Paris in weeks and had no desire to walk into it blind. She waited only for word on her husband’s arrival and the route he was taking into Paris. She hoped Andre was convincing in his mission. She couldn’t afford to run into her husband. Andre should have sent word by now, but he, too, would have had to deal with the formidable weather.
With the dreary weather clouding the skies, darkness would descend earlier than usual. Sighing heavily, she walked to the fireplace. She hadn’t wanted to start a fire, but the reality was she would not be leaving until the morning. It would be foolish at this point. She needed to dry her clothes and it would give her time to contemplate her plan. She had a decision to make.
Eloise hated this quiet. It served only to remind her how frighteningly alone she was.
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