Bride for a Night(64)

At her words both Gabriel and Sophia skirted past her. Talia turned to watch Gabriel fully yank open the door, while Sophia gazed down at the large soldier who lay crumpled on the ground.

“Sacré bleu,” she muttered. “Is he dead?”

Talia stiffened in outrage. “Certainly not. He will soon awaken.” She grimaced as she considered what awaited him. “Although I fear he might have a dreadfully thick head. I do hope his wife knows to brew him a tincture of lavender.”

“Christ.” Gabriel glanced back at Talia with an expression of disbelief. “I am not certain I could have floored the brute. How the hell did you do it?”

She reached into the folds of the dress that was wrapped around her belongings and pulled out the small, smoothly carved wooden cudgel.

“I am not proud of myself, but I pretended that I had something in my slipper and when he bent down to assist me I hit him with this.”

“What is it?” Sophia demanded.

“When I was younger I spent time with my father upon the docks. I was befriended by a Portuguese sailor who carved this for me and taught me the best means of striking a man.” Talia smiled at the memory of Santos, who’d been endlessly patient with a lonely girl in desperate need of affection. “My father always insisted that I carry it with me for protection.”

Gabriel studied the tiny weapon with an unreadable expression. “You had that hidden on your person at our wedding?”

“It was in my reticule.” She frowned at the strange question. “Why?”

He grimaced. “Good God.”

Without warning Sophia’s throaty chuckle filled the air. “Do you know, my lady, I was quite prepared to detest you, but I discover myself as helplessly enchanted as everyone else.” She turned her head to toss Gabriel a mocking glance. “I trust you to take her far away from France and do not allow her to return.”

“I—”

Talia’s angry retort was interrupted as Gabriel moved to take her arm.

“Can you distract the guards?” he asked of Sophia.

The older woman smiled. “Actually, I think I can do better than that.” She tugged the torch from the wall bracket and stepped through the door. “This way.”

With little choice, Talia allowed Gabriel to tug her from the room and down the low passageway.

No one spoke as they turned off the main pathway into a narrow tunnel that was filled with cobwebs and goodness knew what nasty creatures. Talia instinctively pressed closer to Gabriel, for the moment more afraid of the small furry rats scurrying around her feet than the one walking at her side.

After what seemed to be an eternity, Sophia led them out of the tunnel into an abandoned garden that was situated behind the kitchens. Pausing long enough to make certain there were no guards near, Sophia led them through the overgrown pathway, pushing open an ivy-covered gate and scurrying toward the nearby woods.

Shifting the bundle in her arms, Talia lifted her skirts to keep pace as they wove their way through the thick trees, only coming to a halt when they were well out of sight of the palace.

Sophia turned, shoving the torch into Gabriel’s hand. “I will leave you here.”

“You will say nothing of our conversation to anyone,” Gabriel commanded, sharing a glance with the older woman that spoke of mutual understanding and hidden meanings.

“I have no more desire than you to share our secrets.” With a glance toward the stewing Talia, Sophia leaned forward to place a lingering kiss on Gabriel’s cheek. “Bon voyage, my lord.”