Page 125 of Seduced

He let go of her wrist. “Get dressed, Tony. I’m taking you back to London.”

She fled to the adjoining chamber. It was all over. She had had a narrow escape. She was the luckiest girl alive. The angels must be looking after her. Tony threw herself upon the bed. The floodgates opened and she began to sob. “S-sod the bloody angels!”

Chapter 39

When she left her chamber she was wearing a tasteful cream linen walking dress with matching kid shoes. Her dark hair was twisted into a classical knot that lay simply on the nape of her elegant neck. From head to toe she looked every inch the well-bred Lady Antonia Lamb.

Adam Savage was waiting for her at the top of the magnificently curved staircase. His dark clothes were impeccably cut, his linen snowy. His bow was both polite and formal. They descended together and entered the immense kitchen.

“Women should be seeing and not hearing,” John Bull admonished Kirinda.

“Women should be seen and not heard,” Savage corrected him quietly.

“See? Excellency agrees with me,” John Bull said smugly.

Antonia swept him with a look of outrage that changed to contempt as it also swept over Savage. “Then Excellency is a bloody baboon!”

Suddenly she became aware of voices coming from the dining room. The conversation was in French. She doubted it was the servants.

“John Bull, please see that Her Ladyship’s traveling bags are brought down.” He turned to Antonia, gesturing for her to lead the way to the dining salon.

Three satin-clad gentlemen got to their feet the moment she entered.

Savage’s voice was smooth as silk as he said, “Allow me to introduce our guests, dearest. This is the Comte de Barras … his lovely wife … his daughters.”

The French aristocrat kissed Antonia’s hand. “Madame Sauvage, I am honored.” His accent was heavy. Clearly he spoke little English. Antonia tried not to stare, but the women dripped Valenciennes lace; all wore ridiculously high, powdered wigs.

Adam Savage introduced her to the other two men. “The Duc de Maine. The Marquis de Saint-Simon.”

Antonia wondered if she should curtsy.

“Enchantè,”the Due murmured.

“Beautè du diable,”the Marquis said, touching his fingers to his lips.

Adam Savage took a key from his vest pocket. “My sweet, unlock the temple for these two gentlemen. The things stored there belong to them. As soon as the de Barras’ finish their breakfast, I shall see them safely back aboard the ship.”

Antonia was disconcerted. What in the world was going on? The iron key in her hand was warm from being close to Savage’s body. Did he expect her to turn over the guns to these Frenchmen? She wanted to fling the key in his face, but the people in the room had such elegant manners, she felt compelled to act like a lady. Politely, as if she were in a trance, she walked from the salon. The Frenchmen followed.

Outside on the drive stood a dozen wagons. The Frenchmen spoke to a couple of the drivers, so obviously the wagons were theirs.My God, the arsenal stored in the Greek temple must be formidable.

Antonia took a deep breath, inserted the key into the lock, then let the heavy door swing open. “Oooh.” The word came out on a sigh of appreciation as her eyes beheld the beauty piled before her. Exquisite Louis XIV furniture, gold-decorated Marot pieces, cabriole cabinets, and pier tables stood next to objets d’art, paintings, gilt mirrors, carpets, and other priceless furnishings. It was like Aladdin’s Cave.

Cases of Sevres china and fine crystal sat beside a gleaming mountain of heavy silver epergnes, trays, tea services, silver plate, and the best Georgian dishes in ornate sterling. Why had that devil-eyed Savage let her think the temple held guns?

She sketched a curtsy to monsieur le Due, then marched back to the house. Thankfully John Bull was still presiding over the kitchen.

“Who are these people?” she demanded. “Where did the priceless stuff in the temple come from?”

“Ah, you are living under a stone. You did not know French aristocrats are being herded into prison like rats? These are the lucky ones. Others are being murdered in their beds by mobbers.” He inclined his head in the direction of the dining room. “Excellency brought that family across last night. He has been making three runs each week. They are bringing all their worldly goods before the mobbers smash or set fire to everything.”

It dawned on Tony that the Due and the Marquis had been brought over earlier and had come to collect the treasures Savage had stored for them.

“France is a most unhealthful place to be these days. These mobbers roam the streets screaming for ‘equality’ for everyone, but that can never be because everyone is not equal.” He shook his head. “We Englishmen will never understand the French.”

Savage’s broad shoulders filled the door frame. “Come, Lady Lamb, we are ready to sail.”

Her cheeks flushed. Why had she assumed the very worst of him? She was thoroughly annoyed. Why did she suspect he was amused?

---