Page 14 of To Ruin a Gentleman (The Scarlet Chronicle 1)

Not helpful thoughts, Daventry,he reminded himself.

“It will be light in an hour or so.” She glanced at the dove-gray sky. “Do we still try for Versailles?”

Hugh took his time before answering. Now that the sun was rising, he was reminded that he was supposed to have departed for Calais in the morning. Had his man escaped the château? Daventry had no way of knowing. He might still start for Calais, but how could he go back to England and leave her in France unprotected?

Of course, if she refused to go, there was little he could do to force her. As he was not a relative and she was more or less an independent woman, he had no authority over her actions.

“I would rather we start for Calais,” he said carefully. “I can secure us both passage on a packet to Dover.”

Her brows lowered. “You want me to leave France? Run away as though I am the one who has committed a crime?”

“It’s not safe—”

“My friends may be dead. I owe it to them to stay and make certain those who killed them and burned my home are punished.”

He shook his head. “You really are blind, aren’t you? Don’t you see what is happening? This is just the beginning. The lower classes have been oppressed for years. They will rise up and take their revenge by the only means available to them—blood.”

“The king—”

Hugh jumped to his feet. “By your own admission, the king is weak and indecisive. It may be too late for him already. It may be too late for all of you. After all, the Third Estate vastly outnumbers both the clergy and the nobility. Look at what happened in America.” He pointed in the direction he assumed was west. “Revolution is in the air, and once it takes hold, you and your precious friends will be wiped away.”

She rose to her feet. “That may well be. And if the peasants do revolt, I can hardly blame them. I’ve seen some of the abuses and hardships the poorest of this country have suffered, but not every member of the nobility has treated his or her tenants and servants abominably. Some of us have advocated for reform. Some of us are kind and compassionate.”

“And you will die alongside the cruel and unfeeling.”

Her shoulders straightened. “Then so be it. I won’t leave my friends when they need me the most. If you are for Calais, then go. I will travel to Versailles alone.”

She lifted her skirts and marched away. Hugh watched her go, then turned and started toward what he assumed was Calais. If she wanted to die, let her die. But he had responsibilities and duties in England, and he had done what he’d promised her sister. He had tried to persuade her. There was nothing in France to keep him.

Five

Angelette was so angrythat she’d walked for several minutes before she realized she had no idea whether she was turned in the direction of the palace or not. She had to stop and think this through, but it was difficult at the moment when she was boiling with rage inside at Daventry. She should never have kissed the simpering coward. A few shots had been fired and he fled before ever returning fire. She would not run, could not run. She might be half English, but France was her adopted country. She must warn the king and her friends and relatives. She must see them safe.

She looked about her, but nothing in the woods surrounding them looked familiar. A similar perusal of the sky also provided no clues. She might as well be walking in circles. She had to find the road and follow it to the Palace of Versailles. That was the only way. The sun would be up in an hour or so, and she could see which way was east from the direction it rose. The palace was north of her château, and the woods Daventry had led her to were south. It stood to reason if she walked north, she would eventually find herself either at the palace or on the road to the palace. After a quick calculation, she turned herself north and began to walk.

But now that the sky was lightening she did not have to concentrate so completely on where she stepped. She could see the roots and low-hanging limbs to avoid. She had far too much time to think about Daventry.

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