Page 106 of The Truth Serum
Vidone saw Nate as he guided the boat to the rail. They exchanged a couple quick hand signals, and Nate relayed the information to Benedict and Major Vance. The two Frenchmen sat at the back of the boat and would be easily caught when they disembarked.
It worked like a charm.
Major Vance caught the smaller one with a single kidney punch as Benedict crowded the area to box the Frenchman in.Nate used his height to wrap an arm around the other man’s neck. From a distance it could look like a friendly hug.
It wasn’t.
And after a very annoying struggle, the bastard went slack and the purse that was meant to pay for the rifles landed square in Benedict’s hand.
“Well done,” Benedict said as they headed for his carriage.
“It’s only step one,” Major Vance said in an undertone, as he effortlessly propelled his culprit forward.
Nate didn’t say anything. He already knew that capturing these guys was only the beginning. Next, he had to impersonate them in order to catch the men selling the rifles. That would be the hard part.
What he should have realized, of course, was that strong-arming a conscious man into a carriage was much easier than lifting an unconscious one. And damn it, his man was bloody heavy.
“I’ll help in a moment,” said the major. “Then I suppose we’ll both have to turn ourselves into Frogs.”
Because there were two men here. Which meant Nate couldn’t hide in the background. He would have to impersonate one of the French buyers along with the major. And didn’t that just make his insides twitch? His face was well known, even under make-up and a French cap.
But there was no help for it now. And all the reason in the world to get it done tonight. He would not risk Becca again.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The baron wasin a jovial mood. Rebecca could tell he was working to appear somber. He needed to come across as contrite as he made his way back into society. And since Fletcher insisted Rebecca publicly apologize to the baron for dosing him—an irony if there ever was one—the man had reason to expect full exoneration.
So he was grinning as he bowed over her hand that evening. She’d already marked the dances she would give him. The first dance and the last two waltzes. His smile was triumphant as he took out a pencil and made to scrawl his name on a third waltz, but she abruptly pulled her hand back.
“Baron, what a pleasure to see you this evening. I do want to apologize again for what happened the other night. I had no idea my cough medicine would affect you so dramatically. I should never have given it to you.”
“Don’t fret, my dear,” he said as he made to retrieve her dance card. “One doesn’t expect women to understand the intricacies of medicines.”
She kept her arm back as she continued, her voice tart despite her intention to remain cordial. “I understand them very well,” she said, but then honesty forced her to confess the truth. “But I’m afraid I was not experienced with this particular one. And I didn’t expect you to—”
“Never mind, my dear. Look! I see your brother over near the lemonade.”
Fletcher was nearer to the bottles of spirits, but it wasn’t polite to mention that. “Do go see him, Baron. I’m afraid I’ve promised to stay with Miss Petrelli for a while. Did you hear the news that I am to be one of her bridesmaids?”
“Yes, yes! Wonderful! But I’m sure she can spare you for a few minutes. I want to show you off. Nothing compares to having a beautiful woman on one’s arm.”
“But—”
“I insist.”
Well, he clearly already considered them married. The high-handed way he ordered her around set her teeth on edge. But tonight she had to keep him dangling beside her, so she cast Kynthea an apologetic look.
Thankfully, Kynthea understood. She glanced significantly at the duke who stood nearby. He was surrounded by people who wanted to talk with him, but Rebecca was confident that he would come to her aid, should she need it.
“We’ll just take a turn around the ballroom,” Rebecca said. “Then I’ll be right back.”
“Oh, I should love some lemonade as well,” Kynthea said with a smile.
“Excellent,” the baron cried as he offered his arm to the future duchess.
Rebecca hated giving him so much consequence. His social standing rose every second he had her and a future duchess beside him. But it was a small price to pay to keep Nate safe.
As expected, the man took his time wandering across the room. He clearly wanted to maximize this return to society, so he greeted everyone there, making sure to crow about having two such highly prized woman with him.
