When Strangers Marry (Vallerands #1)(99)

“Oui, madame.”

“I am leaving for a little while,” Lysette said, striding to the chair where her muddy cloak had been draped. “Yes, I know it’s late— I’ll take Justin with me.”

———

The outlines of boxes, furniture, and bales of cotton were briefly illuminated by moonlight as one of the warehouse doors swung open. A woman’s voice cut through the stifling air.

“Bernard? Are you here?”

The silence was broken by a shuffling and scraping in the corner. “Lysette?” Bernard’s voice was laced with wary surprise. A match was struck.

Standing with Justin by her side, Lysette watched as her brother-in-law lit an oil lamp. “Be careful with that,” she said tersely. “After what I’ve been through today, I have no wish to deal with a warehouse fire.”

“After what you’ve been through,” Bernard said, sounding shaken. “My God, I’ve been hiding here for hours, actually in fear for my life.”

“You should be,” Lysette assured him.

Bernard glared at the two of them. “What are you doing here? What happened to Max?”

“He has been badly injured,” Lysette replied, “but the doctor says he will recover.”

“No thanks to you,” Justin could not resist adding, and Lysette elbowed him to keep him quiet.

She met Bernard’s hate-filled gaze without blinking. “Your life is in danger, Bernard. The Sagesses want to kill you, and if they don’t find you first, you’ll be arrested by Captain Gervais and his men. Etienne Sagesse left behind a letter that explained everything he knew about Corinne’s murder. I’m certain you won’t be surprised to learn that you are implicated.”

“You red-haired bitch—” Bernard began, starting for her. Justin stepped forward immediately, pulling out his colchemarde with a bloodthirsty flourish. Confronted with the gleaming weapon, Bernard retreated and glared at Lysette. “What do you want from me?”

“Just the truth,” Lysette replied. “Max will never come to terms with any of this unless you confirm what the letter says. Answer my questions, and I will help you to escape with your life.”

“What do you want me to say?” he asked, quivering with fury, white with guilt.

“Why did you have the affair with Corinne?”

Bernard’s gaze fastened to hers. It seemed he took great care to avoid the sight of Justin’s pale face. “It just happened. I had no control over it. No harm was done, as Corinne had already cuckolded Max with Sagesse. And then I realized Corinne was half mad. She wanted to run away with me, leave everything…. I told her I couldn’t, but she persisted. And one day she drove me into a rage. Before I knew it, my hands were around her neck. Max was better off without her— she made his life hell—”

“Please,” Lysette interrupted acidly, “don’t try to claim you were doing Max a service. He was unfairly branded a murderer, and he suffered for years. You let him take the blame for what you did.”

Beads of sweat trickled down Bernard’s face. “You must help me. No matter what I’ve done, you know that Max wouldn’t want me to be killed.”

“There’s a ship that leaves for Liverpool at dawn,” Lysette replied. “The Nighthawk. I spoke to Captain Tierney not an hour ago. He will allow you aboard, no questions asked.” Untying a small pouch from her waist, she tossed it to him. Bernard caught it automatically in one fist. “There is enough money to help you establish a new life somewhere else. Don’t ever return, Bernard.” She turned to Justin, who still held the colchemarde, his hand shaking visibly. His blue eyes glittered with tears. He blinked in an effort not to let them fall. “Come, Justin,” she murmured. “Take me home.”

They left the warehouse, neither of them looking back.

———

In spite of the clamoring of Aaron Burr’s associates, Max was not arrested. Etienne’s letter, combined with a discreet nudging from Governor Claiborne and a most unexpected silence from the editor of the Orleans Gazette, convinced the Municipal Council and the gens d’armes that the absent Bernard Vallerand had indeed been guilty of the crime.

Perhaps those influential men in conspiracy with Aaron Burr could have pressed the issue further, but they were occupied with more demanding matters. By that summer of 1806, Burr had gathered men and supplies at a small island on the Ohio River in preparation for his conquest of Mexico and the West. However, the rumors that had dogged Burr ever since his trip to New Orleans proved his undoing.

Abandoning what he saw as a sinking ship, General Wilkinson changed sides and added his warnings to those President Jefferson had already received. The president eventually issued a proclamation calling for Burr’s arrest, at the same time that one of Burr’s coded letters to Wilkinson was published in a prominent newspaper.

When Irénée was told about what Bernard had done, she was as grief-stricken as if he had died. It was difficult for a mother to accept that her child could be capable of such evil, and the shock of the news seemed to age her immeasurably. However, she possessed a core of inner strength that sustained her, and she informed the household with dignity that Bernard’s name was never to be mentioned in her presence again.

Max recovered from his injuries with remarkable speed, soon regaining his former vigor. Although the truth about Bernard had dealt him a severe blow, it had also relieved him to finally know what had happened to Corinne. With his name cleared and his reputation restored, Max was finally at ease with himself and the world. And Lysette kept him far too busy to dwell on his dark past, engaging him with her warmth and love until he could find no room in his heart for anything but happiness.