When Strangers Marry (Vallerands #1)(97)

“What purpose do you have for defending him?” Dubois demanded, his face reddening.

Renée discarded her aggressive posture. “I am not defending him,” she said, her voice noticeably softer. “It is just that I desire the real murderer of my brother to be punished. Won’t you try to find Bernard? There is your justice, if you are able to pry the truth out of him.”

“Perhaps we will,” Severin said harshly, and raised his voice for all to hear. “Where is Bernard?”

No one answered. Lysette thought quickly, wondering what was best for Max’s sake. If there were only her own desires to consider, she would encourage them to find Bernard and do as they pleased with him, as long as she never had to see his loathsome face again. But Bernard was Max’s brother, and it was Max’s right to decide how to handle him.

“Bernard is at home,” Lysette said coolly. “He accompanied his mother to church today.”

Justin and Philippe glanced at her discreetly, knowing that she was lying. “She is right,” Justin said. “You’d better go now, if you hope to find him.”

Lysette continued to stare at Severin Dubois. “Monsieur, I will keep the letter, if you please. It is the only thing that will prevent Captain Gervais from arresting my husband.”

“First I must know,” Severin replied, “what you intend to tell Gervais about what happened today.”

In other words, she could have the letter if she gave her word she would not tell Gervais or his lieutenants how the Sagesses had brutally beaten her husband. Lysette swallowed back her impotent fury, thinking that the authorities would do nothing in any case. But her hatred of Dubois and the Sagesses would last the rest of her life, and she promised herself that eventually they would be paid in full for their actions. She did not have to look at Justin to know that he was thinking the same. “We’ll keep our silence in exchange for the letter,” she said. “Now I must take my husband home quickly, or you may yet have succeeded in killing him.”

“Of course,” Severin said, his brusqueness concealing his discomfort. He was not a softhearted man, nor was he capable of real contrition. But something about the way Vallerand’s young wife stared at him elicited an unwanted feeling of shame.

“She is quite young to have such a sharp tongue,” Dubois muttered to Renée sotto voce, turning away and gesturing the Sagesse brothers to the mired carriage. “I see why they call her la mariée du diable.”

“She is a strong girl,” Renée replied, a shadow of melancholy crossing her face. “I wish she had been Etienne’s— she might have been able to change him.”

The Sagesses and their brother-in-law rode away toward the road leading to the Vallerand plantation. Renée’s carriage moved along the side of the field and came to a stop nearby, and she opened the doors herself, giving rapid orders to the coachman.

Philippe came to crouch by Lysette. “I don’t understand,” he said. “You know that Bernard is at La Sirène. Why did you tell them he was at home?”

“To allow us time,” Lysette replied, using her cloak to shield Max’s face from the rain.

“Time for what?” Philippe asked.

“To warn Bernard before they find him.”

“No,” Philippe said in outrage. “Why should Bernard be warned? Why shouldn’t we allow the Sagesses to have him?”

“Because your father would not want that. Now let us move him to the carriage.”

Despite the twins’ lankiness, they were strong boys, and they managed to carry their father’s unconsious form to the carriage. He did not make a sound, and Lysette wondered with growing dread how badly he was hurt.

After Max was safely inside, Justin took Lysette’s arm and drew her a short distance away. His face was lined with exhaustion, but his expression was hard and sober. “I’ll go to Bernard,” he said quietly. “What should I say to him?”

“Tell him…” Lysette paused. “Tell him that the Sagesses are looking for him. For tonight, at least, I believe he can safely hide in the new warehouse Max built on the riverfront.” She frowned. “How will you reach town?”

Justin nodded back in the direction of the black stallion, which had bolted only a short distance away and was grazing warily underneath a tree. “I’ll take Father’s horse.”

“You can’t,” Lysette protested, knowing how volatile the stallion was.

“I can,” Justin said flatly.

Lysette knew that he would not make the claim unless he was certain. She would not give her consent, however, until one point was made. “I am placing my trust in you,” she said. “That you will do as you say, and not allow your own temper to best you. Give the message to Bernard and leave. No accusations, no arguments. I am trusting you not to lift your hand against him, Justin. Will that be too difficult for you?”

His blue eyes did not move from hers. “No.” He took her slender hand, lifted it to his lips, and pressed the back of it against his cheek. “Take care of him,” he said huskily, and walked her back to the carriage.

———

La Sirène was filled with all the noise, music, and good-natured brawling of any slightly disreputable drinking establishment on the waterfront. On any other occasion, Justin would have relished the opportunity to visit the place. It was the kind of tavern he liked, making no pretense at sophistication, yet discriminating enough that the vulgar, blustering Kaintocks from upriver were not allowed.