Beyond a Doubt(36)
“You know, I never guessed it was he who took Spalding to the alley and disposed of him.” She sighed. “Tomorrow is our last chance. I don’t believe we can reach the Admiral before he is set to speak, but I do believe maybe we can stop the attempt.”
Lucy turned to walk away, but Bryce stopped her. “Ye think ye are goin’ to walk into an assassination attempt?”
“Aye, I do.”
“Nay, ye are not.”
“But—“
“Ye will direct me. I will stop the attempt. I will never allow ye into harm’s way.”
Lucy was warmed by Bryce’s declaration. Unable to control herself, she leaned in to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. On tiptoe she angled until their lips met. Initially the kiss was to be nothing more than a light brush, but when their flesh touched Lucy realized she wanted more.
Closer and closer her body pressed to his. The kiss deepened. Bryce’s hand was now in her hair, pulling her in deeper and deeper. As their mouths melded as one, Lucy’s heart threatened to burst. Her breath came in rasping gasps. When Lucy thought she could stand the torment no longer, Bryce pulled away.
She lifted her chin. Bryce’s eyes were brighter than usual. “Lucy, I need to tell ye something.”
“Aye?”
“I, well, I—“
“Humph,” came a disgruntled voice from behind. Lucy and Bryce both turned in time to see Grace’s frown.
Lucy removed herself from Bryce’s grasp. His arms dropped to his sides, a dejected look resting on his face.
“Bryce, you wished to tell me something.”
He shook his head as he walked out the door.
Lucy stared at his retreating form. The maid’s grunt of dissatisfaction interrupted her thoughts.
“Grace, what are you doing in here?”
“I just came to tell Monsieur his room is ready, I didn’t realize he’d be mauling you.”
“Grace, please, it was naught more than an innocent kiss.”
“I don’t know who you are trying to fool. That was much more than an innocent kiss. I dare say the man is looking forward to bedding you.”
“Grace! You should know—“
“Oui, I do. I know you are not the kind, but the question is, does he?”
As the maid moved about the room, Lucy looked out the window. In front of the house, Bryce paced back and forth. His arms rose and fell, his hands fluttered through the air, his lips moved soundlessly. He resembled a madman.
Surely Bryce had known her long enough to have realized her character? He knew she wasn’t one to give of her charms freely, right?
Of course he did. After all, he was the one who’d broken off the kiss.
Those thoughts plagued her as she worried over what to do, not only about Bryce but also about the attempt on the Admiral’s life.
****
“This is ridiculous. I should just blurt out how I feel. Why did I let the maid stop me?” He ran an agitated hand through his hair. What was wrong with him? Perhaps he should go back to nodding and shrugging. What was the point? The lass was determined to get herself killed; then he wouldn’t have to worry either way.
Why were women so infuriating? Arbella, Duncan’s wife, had been a nightmare to guard. Lyall had been crazy. Lucy was not far behind.
The daft woman was impossible to contain and determined to harm herself. She was also beautiful, sweet, courageous, and self-sacrificing. He couldn’t help but love her.
He found a bench outside that seemed the perfect place to sit and contemplate his life. To start with, tomorrow he would stop a murder. Had he really offered to do such a thing? He dropped his head into his hands. Prayer after prayer rolled from his lips. When he finished, a feeling of peace settled over him.
“Bryce?” came a timid voice.
“Aye?”
“Are you going to come back inside?”
He nodded.
“I’m sorry about earlier.”
“Aye, so am I.”
A frown dotted her brow but she didn’t ask for an explanation. Instead she said, “We need to discuss our plan. And it is not safe to be outside.”
He placed his hand upon her arm and directed her inside. His touch was light, but still he could feel her warm heat through the fabric. Once inside she moved away from him and pointed toward the hallway.
“Your room is ready.”
“Nay, yer room is ready.”
“But Bryce, the couch in the parlor is too small for you. If you stay here, you won’t sleep a wink. Please take my bed.”
“Nay, ye will take yer own bed. I’ll find a way to be comfortable.”
“But—“
He spoke firmly, “Lucy, go to yer room.”
Bryce heaved a sigh of relief as Lucy disappeared. His change in tone had sent her away without even a question. This pleased Bryce immensely. Once he was sure Lucy wasn’t coming back, he walked to the parlor. Indeed the couch in the room was short. Without even trying it out, he grabbed a cushion and placed it on the floor.
Instead of lying down, he sat with his back to the couch and stared into the fire. They had neglected to discuss the plans for tomorrow. What was there to say? They would simply catch the Admiral before he stood upon the platform and tell him that making the announcement would put him in danger.
After they averted the threat, and had Charles arrested, Bryce would take Lucy home to Cameron lands.
Bryce stretched upon the floor. Worry set aside, he relied on God to ensure everything worked out
Nothing would get in their way; he was sure of it. With the help of God, the plan would be foolproof.
Chapter Fifty-Three
The plan was not foolproof. Everything was going wrong.
“Bryce, this won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Because you don’t know the city. Because you aren’t known or trusted. Because they know who I am, not you.”
“All I need to do is give them the fan.”
“No, that is not all. Besides, you will never get that close to the Admiral.”
“But Monsieur Broussard knows me.”
Lucy gnawed her lip. All morning she’d given excuse after excuse as to why she should be the one to deliver the message. Every argument she’d given, Bryce had refuted. They’d been at it for hours.
“Bryce, our time is running out.”
“Aye, ye are correct. This must mean we are going together.”
“Bryce, I—“
“Ye don’t want my help, I know. Ye want me to return to my sheep and leave ye to sacrifice yerself for mankind. But fact is, I am here and I care too much for ye to let ye go alone. So grab yer fan and let’s be on our way.”
Finally, Lucy had no argument left. Together they hailed a hackney. They appeared as any other French couple out on a ride. Lucy smiled lovingly and Bryce patted her arm affectionately. They stared into one another’s eyes, lost in each other’s company.
When the carriage came to a sudden halt, both acted irritated at the interruption to their moment of love.
“I’m sorry but I can’t go any further. The road ahead is congested.”
Bryce paid the man and they left the hackney, moving on to fulfill their destiny. Once upon the cobbled streets, they followed the crowd toward a grassy area with a large platform in the middle.
Tension gripped Lucy, and Bryce pulled her closer to his side. He whispered to her, “I’m here with ye. We will do this together.”
His words caused her to relax, but with each step she reverted back. Fear and worry had her leaning more and more upon him. Lucy started to panic as they closed in on the platform.
“We’ll never reach him in time. Look at all these people!”
“Follow me.”
They moved around the edge of the crowd. A group of people climbed onto the platform.
Jean Broussard walked close by the Admiral’s side. He shook hands, kissed babies, and hugged young women. With Admiral Coligny’s first step onto the platform, the crowd roared. He stopped and raised his hands to garner silence.
Bryce and Lucy pushed harder. Elbows hit their ribs. Heels kicked their shins. People complained as they wedged themselves through the crowd.
Finally they reached the edge. Pressed hard on all sides, they looked around for an opening. Neither Jean nor the Admiral were close enough to talk to them. The Admiral made his way to a wooden stand in the middle of the platform. Everyone except the Admiral smiled.
As Bryce studied the crowd, a man caught his eye. Some familiarity caused Bryce to study him further.
Then he saw it. The man lifted his arm and a knife glinted in the sunlight. One flick of Charles Dubois’ wrist and the Admiral would be no more.
Without thought Bryce leapt with one bound onto the stage. The Admiral was underneath him on the ground as the knife sailed over their heads and embedded itself in a tree.