Page 94 of Traitor in Her Arms (The Scarlet Chronicle 2)

“How? How does any of this relate to me? To Paris?”

He raked a hand through hair damp from the rain. What he wouldn’t give for a warm bath and a hot meal of good British fare. He would be happy never to see France again. After this confession, he imagined Gabrielle would be happy never to see him again.

“My treachery was discovered, of course,” he said, staring into the alley. The rain fell harder now and a little river of mud ran through the center. “And by the worst sort of woman, a woman who used the knowledge to her own advantage. Somehow she acquired documents that proved who I really was—the son not of the Earl of Sedgwick but of John Barnes. She threatened to expose me unless I paid her. The problem was—“

“The earl’s estate was all but bankrupt,” Gabrielle interrupted.

He inclined his head. “I have been working for years to restore the estate to what it once was, and though I have had some success, I don’t have the kind of funds Madame Fouchet sought. Once again, I turned to a life of crime.”

“Yes, it all makes sense now. That is why you were at the Beaumonts’ ball. That is why you wanted Cleopatra’s necklace.”

He stared at the flowing mud, not wanting to meet her gaze. “Yes, but though she told me the necklace was the last item I would have to steal, she lied. She always lied. But this time she didn’t want an artifact or a jewel or a painting. She wanted the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel.”

He heard her sharp intake of breath. Never had he felt more shame than at that moment. He hadn’t seen himself as a traitor before. He’d told himself he was doing what he must to survive, but now he knew that had been a lie. He was a traitor to his country, to himself, and to Gabrielle.

“That is why you seduced me.”

“No!” He turned sharply, cornering her. “Never. I had no idea you were involved with the Pimpernel. When I realized it, I did all I could to stay away from you and to distance myself from you.”

Her eyes burned with bright blue hatred. “You didn’t do enough.”

“I didn’t, no. I couldn’t leave you to fend for yourself, and yes, I admit, I thought you might lead me to the Pimpernel. Would I have betrayed him? I don’t know.”

She let out a disgusted huff, but when she would have turned away from him, he grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to face him. “I never meant to betray you. You must believe that. I never wanted any harm to come to you.”

“Yes, I’m sure that is why you signed my arrest warrant.”

The hatred in her eyes slayed him. He would have given anything to wipe it away, to wipe all of his past sins away and come to her an innocent, honorable man. The difficulty being that if he had never sinned, never impersonated the earl, he would never have met her.

“I didn’t sign it.” He released her. “Madame Fouchet’s assistant followed me here. Or perhaps she was here already.” He ran a hand over his burning eyes. “She followed me and issued the warrant to punish me for not acting quickly enough. Not wheedling the name of the Pimpernel from you.”

“You want his name?” She moved closer, and he could feel the heat of her and the rage. “Here is the irony, Ramsey—if that is even your name. I don’t know the Pimpernel’s identity. I never did.”

He’d already come to that conclusion on his own, and yet he hadn’t abandoned her. At some point, protecting her had become more important than protecting himself.

“Just answer one more question.”

He raised his gaze to hers.

“Was it always an act? Years ago, at the Exeter garden party, when you kissed me in the greenhouse. Was that part of your grand performance too,LordSedgwick?”

So long ago. He felt as though he had been another person in another lifetime. How could he answer? Playing the part of the Earl of Sedgwick had become so much a part of him he forgot where Ramsey Barnes ended and Sedgwick began. “Kissing you has never been an act, Gabrielle. My feelings for you have always been genuine.”

“Why didn’t you ask for my hand?” Her voice sounded close to breaking. “Surely you knew I would have chosen you over George.”

“I did not ask you because I knew you would have said yes. I couldn’t marry you, Gabrielle. I would have dragged you into my lie as well.” He gave her a rueful smile. “Even a thief has some honor, some scruples, few as they might be.”

She began to speak but closed her mouth at the sound of footsteps approaching. Ramsey pushed her back into the shadows and peeked around the corner of the alcove. Alex and Hastings ran through the rain, heading toward them.

“Let’s go!” she called, barely slowing. “The guard won’t be fooled for long.”

Ramsey grabbed Gabrielle’s hand, holding fast when she would have pulled away. She might hate him, but until she was safe on English soil, he would not let her out of his sight.

They ran through the rain, Ramsey keeping Gabrielle close. Her skin was wet and cold as the rainwater chilled skin heated from exertion. Despite being damp and cold, he was thankful for the shower. The streets of Paris had all but emptied and they ran unmolested all the way to the Seine. There, tethered to a small quay, was a fishing boat with a single fisherman huddled under a coat to keep dry. He looked up when the small party came into view, his face a mass of wrinkles and grooves.

“Took you long enough,” he said in French.

“We are here now,” Alex answered. “I have your cargo.” She gestured to Ramsey and Gabrielle, who stood panting and looking very much like a bedraggled kitten.

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