that, do you honestly think she’d admit to it?” Christopher asked.
“Aye, I do. She’d tell me anything, of that you can depend. She’d have nothing to be ashamed of, it wasn’t she who did that to herself…the men who did it are the only ones to blame, and blame them I would.”
Christopher sighed heavily. “Aye, you’re right. I shall have the truth out of her, even if I have to pester her about it.”
“You’ll do no such thing. Leave her be. For the love of God, man, she’s been through an ordeal. A trial by fire that we can’t even think to imagine. You shan’t make her feel wretched, do you hear me?”
“Aye. Although, if she warmed Boney’s bed, she wasn’t there against her will. He might be a cretin but I hear he has a way with the ladies. They rather throw themselves at him, he doesn’t have to force them.” Glancing toward the window, he loudly cleared his throat.
For the first time he realized that Jason and Isabella resembled each other, and it was bloody disconcerting.
“No matter if you do trust her, don’t let her hear anything she shouldn’t,” Christopher said softly. ”You don’t know how they might have twisted her mind. She might just take something that is said in passing and use it against us, Jason.”
“Whatever you say, but I think it’s all utter tosh. She’s loyal to Great Britain. She’s loyal to her family.”
“You can’t be sure of that she might take something back to her Master, the man can be damnably charming I hear.”
“Master? Have you lost sense of your wits, Christopher? She wouldn’t put her lot in with Boney. She is loyal to the country of her family.”
“She has family in France, as well.”
“A bastard of an uncle she loathes. She wouldn’t take his side for anything. She is my angel, Christopher.”
He wanted to tell Jason that Isabella was his angel too, and had turned to say something of the like when he saw that Jason had drifted off. The sleeping tincture had taken hold.
He sighed heavily. He had to have Isabella, and he would take any steps to make that happen.
He stared through the window at the carriage that was parked a few feet away from Theo’s house. There was nothing for him now, and he wanted to be with Isabella.
He marched through the house, stopping only when Theo called to him.
“Theo, I rather in a rush. What do you want?”
“I thought this would interest you.”
Christopher’s eyes went to the package that Theo held. It looked as if it had taken a dunking in the drink.
“I take it the men found that washed up on the beach?”
“Aye, and they brought it to me when they should have brought it to you.”
“Give it here.” Theo handed him the package and he ripped into it. It was still fairly sopping and when he produced the contents he sighed. “It’s a diary, and of course, there is no way to read the contents now.”
“Well, that is a shame,” Theo remarked. “Still, I doubt there was anything in it that we could have used. I’m certain it was just some ladies diary filled with nonsense.”
“You’re probably right.” Well, now he didn’t have to bother himself with anything else at Wisteria House so he could rush to Isabella’s side. He was about to do that when another of his men came barreling into the house, and called out for him.
“No rest for the weary, eh?” Theo quipped.
He sighed. He’d never get back to Isabella at this rate.
****
Isabella studied the inside of the carriage, and pushed her straggly wet hair out of her face. She clutched Christopher’s heavy greatcoat around her trembling body, and began to think of a way out of her current predicament. If she could just reach Jason, she could tell him that she was going to try and make a run for London, even though she knew the odds were against her. London was a busy city, and she could easily lose herself in it. She knew how to hide, as she had become an expert in it during the years spent with Pierre. Dragging in
“Aye, I do. She’d tell me anything, of that you can depend. She’d have nothing to be ashamed of, it wasn’t she who did that to herself…the men who did it are the only ones to blame, and blame them I would.”
Christopher sighed heavily. “Aye, you’re right. I shall have the truth out of her, even if I have to pester her about it.”
“You’ll do no such thing. Leave her be. For the love of God, man, she’s been through an ordeal. A trial by fire that we can’t even think to imagine. You shan’t make her feel wretched, do you hear me?”
“Aye. Although, if she warmed Boney’s bed, she wasn’t there against her will. He might be a cretin but I hear he has a way with the ladies. They rather throw themselves at him, he doesn’t have to force them.” Glancing toward the window, he loudly cleared his throat.
For the first time he realized that Jason and Isabella resembled each other, and it was bloody disconcerting.
“No matter if you do trust her, don’t let her hear anything she shouldn’t,” Christopher said softly. ”You don’t know how they might have twisted her mind. She might just take something that is said in passing and use it against us, Jason.”
“Whatever you say, but I think it’s all utter tosh. She’s loyal to Great Britain. She’s loyal to her family.”
“You can’t be sure of that she might take something back to her Master, the man can be damnably charming I hear.”
“Master? Have you lost sense of your wits, Christopher? She wouldn’t put her lot in with Boney. She is loyal to the country of her family.”
“She has family in France, as well.”
“A bastard of an uncle she loathes. She wouldn’t take his side for anything. She is my angel, Christopher.”
He wanted to tell Jason that Isabella was his angel too, and had turned to say something of the like when he saw that Jason had drifted off. The sleeping tincture had taken hold.
He sighed heavily. He had to have Isabella, and he would take any steps to make that happen.
He stared through the window at the carriage that was parked a few feet away from Theo’s house. There was nothing for him now, and he wanted to be with Isabella.
He marched through the house, stopping only when Theo called to him.
“Theo, I rather in a rush. What do you want?”
“I thought this would interest you.”
Christopher’s eyes went to the package that Theo held. It looked as if it had taken a dunking in the drink.
“I take it the men found that washed up on the beach?”
“Aye, and they brought it to me when they should have brought it to you.”
“Give it here.” Theo handed him the package and he ripped into it. It was still fairly sopping and when he produced the contents he sighed. “It’s a diary, and of course, there is no way to read the contents now.”
“Well, that is a shame,” Theo remarked. “Still, I doubt there was anything in it that we could have used. I’m certain it was just some ladies diary filled with nonsense.”
“You’re probably right.” Well, now he didn’t have to bother himself with anything else at Wisteria House so he could rush to Isabella’s side. He was about to do that when another of his men came barreling into the house, and called out for him.
“No rest for the weary, eh?” Theo quipped.
He sighed. He’d never get back to Isabella at this rate.
****
Isabella studied the inside of the carriage, and pushed her straggly wet hair out of her face. She clutched Christopher’s heavy greatcoat around her trembling body, and began to think of a way out of her current predicament. If she could just reach Jason, she could tell him that she was going to try and make a run for London, even though she knew the odds were against her. London was a busy city, and she could easily lose herself in it. She knew how to hide, as she had become an expert in it during the years spent with Pierre. Dragging in
Similar Books
