Surrender to a Stranger by Karyn Monk Page A

sensed that he was fighting to control whatever he was about to say to her. Then, as if by an act of will, his expression softened to one of amusement and his whole body seemed to relax.
    “Then with your permission, Mademoiselle,” he drawled out as he swept into a low, mocking bow, “I will leave you to continue the task I was hired to perform.” He started toward the door.
    “Wait a minute,” she ordered.
    He hesitated, but did not turn to her.
    “You have not yet told me if you are going to help me kill Nicolas,” she reminded him.
    Slowly he turned to look at her. “No,” he replied in a low voice. “I am not.”
    “Naturally you would be paid for your services,” she quickly assured him. She realized she probably should have discussed the issue of his fee before asking if he would accept the job.
    He looked at her with amusement. “So you wish to employ me now, do you, Mademoiselle? How very interesting.” He paused, as if he was considering this turn of events. “And what, may I ask, do you propose to pay me with?” His tone was infuriatingly mocking.
    She thought for a moment. She had absolutely nothing. All of her father’s assets had been confiscated. She had been careful enough to hide what remained of the family’s jewels and silver in the château, knowing full well that if the National Guard ever did decide to pay her and Antoine a visit, they would help themselves to whatever they wanted. The jewels were well hidden, but to make a trip out to the château to recover them was impossible. There would undoubtedly be guards there waiting to arrest her the moment she set foot on the grounds.
    “Well?” he prodded.
    “I have nothing to pay you with at the moment,” admitted Jacqueline, “but when we get to England I can draw on the fund I set up with Sir Edward to pay for the care of my sisters. Providing your fee is not unreasonable, I should be able to pay you on our arrival.”
    His expression shifted from amusement to disbelief. “Come now, Mademoiselle, surely you can do better than that. Do you actually think that I will risk my life to murder a man I have absolutely nothing against, on the understanding that should I survive the incident, and not be captured, and somehow make it safely back to England with you in tow, that then I will accept payment based on what is left in a children’s fund you have established with Sir Edward?” Much to her irritation, he actually began to laugh.
    “Well, why not?” she demanded heatedly. “My word is good. If I say you will be paid, you will be paid.”
    “Oh certainly,” he agreed as he attempted a serious look. “Providing we both survive and make it back to England.” He shook his head. “I am afraid, Mademoiselle, that in my line of business I find it necessary to demand payment in advance.”
    Jacqueline looked at him with disgust. “That is most unreasonable of you. What if you do not succeed in your mission?”
    He shrugged his shoulders. “Then I am dead.” Once again he turned toward the door. “I will be back in about an hour. Make sure you are ready to leave.”
    She straightened her spine. “I am not going with you,” she told him firmly.
    He turned around and looked at her incredulously. “I beg your pardon?”
    She folded her arms across her chest and stared at him, enjoying the cool sense of purpose that was fast growing within her. “I said I am not going with you,” she repeated. “I have no desire to abandon my country and flee to England. Not until I have avenged the deaths of my father and brother. Nicolas Bourdon was responsible for their arrests, and I am going to make him pay with his life.”
    He appeared unimpressed by her bravado. “Mademoiselle, you cannot possibly succeed,” he told her flatly. “Already we have stayed here too long for it to be safe, and by yourself you have absolutely nowhere you can go.” Evidently thinking the matter settled, he moved once again toward the door.
    His casual