Page 51 of The Deception (Baron 3)

“Dare I ask you for an explanation? No, I don’t think so, there’s so little time. I don’t want the dear duke to become suspicious. You’re here in London. I did not give you permission to leave Chesleigh. Tell me why you disobeyed me. It had better satisfy me, Evangeline, or I will see that little Edmund is planted in a grave with his toy gun placed on his chest.” He laughed at the hatred in her eyes. He snapped his fingers. “The boy will die just that easily. Don’t ever think of betraying me.”

Her voice trembled, she was so enraged, so very afraid. “Listen to me, you bastard. You had Mrs. Needle strangled. That poor old woman never did anything to anyone. Don’t you see? I’m responsible for her death because I just happened to mention her to you that first night. Damn you, you killed her!”

“You’re the one responsible, my dear. If you hadn’t said anything, why, the old hag would still be brewing her noxious potions, but you did say something. I acted. I always act when it is necessary. I will act just as swiftly if you even dream of betraying me. Why did you come to London?”

“I came to London because I couldn’t bear to stay at Chesleigh.”

John Edmund slowly pulled a snuffbox from his waistcoat pocket and, with an expert flick of his thumb and forefinger, snapped up the lacquer lid. With exquisite precision he pinched a small quantity of the scented snuff and inhaled it. He sneezed delicately, then slowly replaced the lid.

“Such a tender conscience you have, Evangeline. It pleases me. Now I won’t have to worry quite so much about you spilling all your secrets to the duke, hoping he can save you, save your father. He can’t, no one can. Never forget Edmund, Evangeline. Now, I will let you remain here.”

“I cannot bear it,” she said, trembling, so afraid, so miserable that she wanted to cry and scream both at the same time. “Please, no more. I’ve done enough. Let me go.”

“Shut up, Evangeline. We’re alone, but there are bound to be servants near who could overhear. I want no questions. Now, if you will calm yourself, I will tell you that I shan’t punish you for disobeying me.” He paused a moment, his eyes upon his snuffbox. “As it happens, there is a small service you can perform for me while you’re here in London.”

“I can’t,” she whispered. “I can’t. Please, no. Don’t you understand? How can I continue doing all this in the name of protecting my father and Edmund, when you are killing innocent

people?”

“You are becoming dramatic and hysterical. Calm yourself. Listen to me, now. As you have probably heard from Lord Pettigrew and others, Napoleon will arrive in Paris any day now. All will be resolved soon, very soon. Then you will be free, I promise you.”

She hadn’t heard a thing. Napoleon was free? Oh, God, it couldn’t be true.

“Just how would things be resolved? That monster is free again to butcher and maim and steal?”

Sir John shrugged negligently, but there was mad excitement in his eyes. He said, “We shall see, shall we not? Napoleon will win this time. The allies will be crushed. It will be done. Then we will see.”

“Do you swear that my father will be freed? Do you swear that Edmund will be safe? Do you swear that you will have no more innocent people killed?” He lied quickly and cleanly and she knew he lied, but she felt as if a coffin lid were closing inexorably over her. She felt utterly helpless. She watched as Sir John threw his head back and laughed heartily. “You’re such a child. Yes, my dear, I swear it all to you as the Lynx, and he, believe me, is a very trustworthy fellow.”

She said, her voice as lifeless as she felt, “What is it you wish me to do?”

John Edgerton smiled gently, patted her arm, and told her. “No,” he said finally, “don’t say anything. You will figure out how to accomplish what I ask. Now,” he added, “now.” He grabbed her upper arms and jerked her against him. “You’re cold. Why didn’t you say anything? Let me warm you. Yes, let me.” He kissed her cold mouth, pressing hard, his tongue probing against her. He said over and over against her mouth, “I’ve wanted you for so very long. Let me have you now, Evangeline. Yes, give yourself to me, and I’ll free your father myself. Come to me, tonight. Yes, tonight, come to me. I want to bed you, I must—”

She brought up her knee and struck him hard in his groin. He gasped, dropped his hands from her arms, and stared at her. “You will regret that. You will indeed.”

“You filthy bastard.” She jumped away from him. “I will do as you ask, but you will never touch me again.”

She was through the doors to the library in an instant, so cold she wondered why she didn’t crack into a thousand pieces. She couldn’t bear it. She ran upstairs to the beautiful Rose Room and locked the door. She wrapped herself in all the blankets she could find. She sat there, staring at nothing at all for a very long time.

“The war ministry? Why the devil do you wish to visit the ministry?”

Evangeline merely smiled and shrugged. “I thought it would be interesting. It is the heart of the English government. Napoleon is free, he’s nearly in Paris, I hear. Yes, I want to visit the ministry, feel the excitement, the anticipation.” “This is the strangest thing I’ve ever heard you say.” “Is it? Well, there’s no reason for you to accompany me. I can take a hackney. It’s no trouble.”

He looked as if he wanted to smack her. “When do you want to go on this exciting outing?”

“This afternoon. You don’t have to worry that they won’t allow you to enter, your grace. I asked Lord Pettigrew last night and he said he would be pleased to see me. Ah, and you as well.”

“Drew is excessively polite, damn his eyes. The last thing he really wants is to have a lady poking about.

I had intended to drive you to Richmond. I doubt you could ever find your way to the center of the maze, but I was willing to let you try.”

Evangeline rose from the breakfast table and looked down at him. “If you’re going to be in such a foul temper, I would prefer a footman’s company.” She tossed her napkin onto her plate.

He roared out of his chair. “You will hold your damned tongue, my girl. You must know that as your host, as the man who protects you, I have no choice at all. Of course I will accompany you. Now where are you off to? We’re talking.”

“I’m off to see Edmund. I have nothing more to say to you, your grace.”

He toyed with his napkin for a moment. “I have already been to see him. Ellen was stuffing him full of toast. Bunyon was lecturing him on how a young gentleman behaved when he went to Astley’s, and my mother was offering to let him shoot her with his gun. When he saw me, another slave for him, he offered to let me teach him how to play chess.”

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