Beyond a Doubt(34)

“Jean is worried, but having you leave Caen will help nothing. You must stay within the city. If Lucille followed you, then she surely has a message for you. Take this time to find her and collect the message.”

“But—“

A slip of paper passed from her hand into his. “This will help.”

Set to unfurl the pages, Gustav paused when Olga’s hand stayed him. “Not here.”

With a nod he left his sister. In a clipped pace he headed for his home. His secret identity was a saving grace, as it would continue to be. He shed his hat, cloak, and pointed shoes just before he entered the poorer part of the city, and gave them to a homeless man along the way. The recipient expressed his gratitude with a large toothless grin.

Gustav moved slowly and deliberately. Danger lurked around every corner. The profession in which he worked was fraught with peril and disaster.

How could he have been so stupid as to speak to Charles openly? Clearly in this setting, Charles was the one in charge, unlike in London.

Thinking on Charles brought Gustav around to more questions. How had Charles known about Lucille Lombard? How had he tracked her to them?

****

The stifled scream caused her throat to ache. Had Bryce not pulled her out onto the balcony only moments before, then she would have been in the Bastille by now. The realization made her sick to her stomach. Bile threatened to rise but she held it at bay by sheer force of will.

Bryce urged her forward. Each step led her further away from everything she’d ever known. This was the day she’d always dreaded. The day she’d feared would come. They knew her identity. The secure life she’d once held was no more.

“Come, Lucy, we must hurry.”

“But—“

“Please, we must reach safety, then we will discuss the message and other matters upon yer mind.”

Although Bryce misunderstood, she readily agreed. Her legs trembling with exertion, she followed along with blind faith. The darkness caused her to stumble on more than one occasion. Each time Bryce slowed and reached out for her, pulling her closer to his person.

They reached a stable some distance away from the Broussard’s grand home, and Lucy was confused. “Where are we?”

“We need Emissary.”

“What? Why was she not at the Broussard stables?”

Distracted by saddling the horse, Bryce took more than a few minutes to answer. When he did, it wasn’t very satisfying. “Monsieur Broussard suggested it.”

There was no time to ask further questions as Bryce threw her upon the horse and quickly mounted up as well. Emissary galloped out of the town. They rode until darkness coated everything. The tree limbs cast eerie shadows in the moonlight. Unable to find stable footing, the horse slowed.

Bryce guided Emissary toward a nearby copse of trees, using the natural shelter to hide. He dismounted, but Lucy stayed put. All she’d been able to do since leaving the city was breathe. Anything else required too much effort.

“Lucy?”

With a slight turn she looked at his face. Concern etched his brow. He sighed. “Lucy, let me help you.”

Bryce lifted her off the horse. Together they stood beneath the tree branches. Around them owls hooted, animals scurried, and crickets chirped out a tune in hope of finding a mate. Time stood still as Bryce’s head dipped forward and breathed a kiss upon her lips. Her arms snaked around his neck, and she pulled back from the kiss and buried her head upon his chest as the tears came.

Bryce’s hold tightened; his soothing hand massaged her lower back. Sobs racked her body as words fell from her lips. “Can you ever forgive me?”

The feel of his chin moving upon her head indicated his acceptance.

“I’m not deserving of someone such as you. I should never have left you in London. You could have helped me and then I wouldn’t be in the mess I’m in now.”

“Shh, that is all over, lass.”

She broke away and began to pace. “How? How is it over? You didn’t know you were near the Admiral the whole time, did you? Jean Broussard is his best friend! If I would have told you everything in the beginning, then none of this would be happening now. I would be at home. The Admiral would be safe. But no, I had to go do it all alone. Now everyone knows who I am. Charles is after me. The Admiral still doesn’t realize the danger he is in. And now we are on the run!”

“Well, when ye put it like that, maybe we should give up.”

“Are you crazy? We can’t give up! We are too close. All we have to do is get back to Caen and find Jean or the Admiral. They are high-profile people. It shouldn’t be too hard to locate them. The problem is just getting close enough.”

“So we should keep going, then?”

“Of course, until our dying breath. But first thing we must do is find shelter. Then food. Tomorrow we will think of a plan for delivering the message.”

All the while she spoke, Bryce had gathered wood. Within minutes he lit a fire. Logs placed around the firepit served as seating. Lucy sat first, then noticed the grin that graced Bryce’s lips.

She felt irritation swell. “How can you be happy at a time like this?”

When he didn’t answer, a sense of realization set in. “You tricked me!” She lifted her brow and pointed her finger at his chest. “You made me think you believed there was no hope so I would try to fix the situation, and I fell right into the trap!” Anger and indignation rose within her breast as she watched Bryce wring his hands. It was right to keep him in suspense, but only for a time. “Thank you.”

A sudden burst of air escaped his lungs.

“Thank you for giving me a new focus. With as much as I’ve been through, you would think I would never lose hope. By now I should know beyond a doubt that God won’t give me more than I can handle. Never promised it would be easy, of course, just that He would give me the strength to make it through. Thanks for helping me remember that.”





Chapter Fifty-One




Lucy talked a few more minutes. Every word made Bryce more proud. This was the woman he loved. Maybe he should tell her again. Alone in the woods where no one could interrupt. Besides, silence in the area of love only caused issues.

“Lucy—“

“Bryce—“

They said each other's names at the same time. A gentleman by nature, Bryce allowed Lucy to speak first.

“I was going to say, we should probably get some rest. Morning will come early. Once the sun rises, we will have to make plans for what to do. What were you going to say?”

Bryce hesitated. After a moment he said, “I was goin’ to say the same.”

Lucy stood. “Do you mind?”

With direction, he loosened her gown. She wiggled out of the corset. Then she removed the heavy frame from beneath the skirt, and set it upright on the ground.

While Lucy walked away for a bit of privacy, Bryce took a cover from Emissary’s back and draped it across the farthingale. A giggle from behind caused him to jump.

Lucy stood covering her open mouth.

With his hand outstretched toward the standing structure, Bryce said, “Yer shelter awaits.”

“Bryce, I cannot sleep in that thing.”

“Why not?”

“Why, smoke would gather and drive me out.”

“Hmm, a perplexing problem, to be sure. Perhaps if we added a door?” He rolled up the fabric in one section and created a wide opening.

“Nay, it still won’t do.”

“What’s wrong now?”

“Well, the fabric is too close to the fire. What if a spark flies upon the wind and ignites the material? Then I’ll go up in flames.”

“Hmm, another problem.” He lifted the entire framework and placed it at a distance away from the flames. “Now?”

“Now I fear I will freeze.”

Bryce realized she played a game. One he enjoyed immensely. Light banter with Lucy was better than all day on a Scottish hillside surrounded by bleating lambs.

“Then, me lady, what do ye suggest we do?”

She tapped her chin in thought, and answered, “Would it not be better to sleep as we did before? Like on our journey from the Highlands?”

“Ye mean side-by-side, where ye use my chest for a cushion and my body heat for warmth?”

“Aye.” The firelight caused her blush to burn more brightly.

“As ye wish.” He struggled to contain his delight.

At once he moved to fulfill Lucy’s desire. He removed the covering from the skirt frame, and laid it on the ground close to the glowing embers. Task complete, Bryce stretched out, opened his arms wide and waited for Lucy to lie down beside him. He pulled a cover over them as she snuggled her back against his chest and used her bent arm as a headrest.

The velvet of her gown rubbed at his arms, reminding him of her soft, smooth skin underneath the gown. He placed his finger in her hair, and smoothed it behind her ear in a repetitive motion. A sigh of contentment escaped her lips. Unwilling to remain silent, Bryce asked, “Why were ye in the Highlands, lass?”