Page 124 of A Castaway in Cornwall
He ate another biscuit and drained the tea, then said, “I also hoped to see my old friend Philippe d’Auvergne. With his connections, he could arrange a new passport for me and enough money to start a new life. I am owed some reward forthe hardships I’ve suffered while his informant—inconvenience, imprisonment, shipwreck...”
Mrs. Tobin, likely spotting a strange man with her young guest, flew outside like a protective mother hen, apron stained and meat mallet in hand. Aunt Susan stepped out behind her.
“Who is this, Laura?” the nurse asked.
“Monsieur LaRoche. He was shipwrecked with Alexander.”
Would they remember what Laura had told them about the man?
The women stilled. “And what brings you to Jersey,monsieur?” Aunt Susan asked.
“Came to see my old friends, including Philippe d’Auvergne. You know him?”
“Everyone on Jersey knows him. He has recently been promoted again. Vice admiral of the white. He divides his time between here, London, and the sea.”
“How nice for him,” LaRoche said dryly. “Perhaps that explains why I was told he was busy when I went to see him. Too important now for those who risked their lives for him. At least his aide told me where I might find Miss Callaway.”
Her aunt must have mentioned her when she wrote to invite d’Auvergne to call. If only she had not...
At that moment, Alexander strolled through the gate. He drew up short, and his face stiffened. “François.”
Laura’s stomach dropped.Dear God, help us.
François remained slouched in the chair near Laura. “Bonjour, old friend.”
Alexander’s nostrils flared. “We are friends no longer.”
“Is that any way to greet me? The man with a pistol pointed at the woman you love?”
Laura sucked in a breath and glanced over. LaRoche held a gun at his waist.
Alex stopped where he was. “Leave her alone. She has done nothing.”
“You call rescuing you, nothing? Hiding you, helping you escape, nothing?”
“Nothing to you.”
“There you are wrong. For I want to see you destroyed.”
“Why?”
“You know why, and her name was Enora.”
Alexander spoke in a surprisingly calm voice. “I truly believed you were not coming back.”
“You believed what you wished to believe. First you break Léonie’s heart, then mine.”
“Léonie? What has she to do with this?”
“She expected you to marry her. We all did. But instead you stole my Enora.” He gave a dismissive wave with his free hand. “No matter. I stole her back.”
A muscle in Alexander’s jaw pulsed, yet he held himself in check. “Then you have had your revenge.”
“And that is not all I did to you,” François went on. “Shall I tell you more before I shoot you?”
Heart beating hard, Laura noticed Alexander’s eyes dart from side to side. Searching for a way to evade LaRoche’s gun, she guessed.
“Yes, tell me,” Alex urged, drawing him out. Stalling. “I know you felt betrayed when we married, but it wasyouEnora loved. You who fathered her child. Why do you still wish to destroy me?”
