Bride for a Night(43)
Jacques shook his head ruefully. “So forgiving.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “You are avoiding my question.”
“His lordship is comfortably settled in the cellars.” Jacques looked as if he had just bitten into a lemon. “For now at least.”
“What do you intend to do with him?”
With a restless motion Jacques moved toward the mantel to arrange the delicate porcelain figurines.
“I will admit I am greatly tempted to tie him to the nearest tree and use him as target practice for my soldiers.”
“Dear God…no.”
He turned back to meet her horrified gaze. “Fortunately for your husband, I am not a self-indulgent aristocrat who thinks of nothing beyond his own pleasure.”
“What do you mean?”
Jacques shrugged. “The Earl of Ashcombe is an arrogant cretin, but I do not doubt his mother will be willing to offer a tidy sum of money for his return. I intend to send a demand for his ransom tonight.”
Talia bit her lower lip, torn between relief that Gabriel was to be spared and dismay at the thought of his mother being subjected to the terrifying ordeal of knowing her son was being held captive by French spies.
“You cannot be so cruel.”
“It is what must be done.” Jacques did not even bother to appear apologetic. “I have hungry mouths to feed and dangerously empty coffers.”
“Tell me how much you will request for Gabriel’s release and I will ensure that it is delivered to you,” she countered. “There is no need to bully an old woman.”
His brows snapped together. “Have you forgotten that old woman has publicly shunned you since your marriage?”
Talia flinched. Of course she had not forgotten. Nor was she naïve enough to imagine that the dowager countess would ever consider her as anything other than an embarrassment that should be hidden from society.
But, while the Ashcombes might not consider her worthy, Talia was now a member of the family, and she would do whatever was necessary to protect them.#p#分页标题#e#
“What does it matter so long as you have the money to feed your children?”
“You…” Jacques gave a shake of his head, regarding her with an odd expression. “What?”
“I have forgotten there are still truly good people in this world.” He stepped forward, gently brushing her heavy curls from her cheek. “You terrify me.”
She shifted with unease beneath the intensity of his stare.
“Now you are taunting me.”
“Non.” His fingers brushed down the line of her jaw. “You are one of those women who tempt a man to reform his sinful ways. Dangerous.”
Talia frowned at the absurdity of his claim.
She had been at the mercy of men since the day she’d been born. Her father. Harry. Gabriel. And now even Jacques. All of them had forced their will upon her.
“Very charming, but if I have discovered nothing else it is that no man is willing to reform his sinful ways for a mere woman. Or at least, not for me.” She scowled as Jacques’s laughter rang through the room. “What is so amusing?”
His eyes shimmered with a rueful humor. “I have devoted my entire life to gaining freedom for the French people, even when it meant returning to England and deceiving those neighbors who trusted me. And yet I have risked everything to bring you with me rather than disposing of you as I should have.”
“You could never kill an innocent,” she protested.
“I have done far worse, ma petite.” A wistful smile curved his lips. “But when you look at me with those beautifully trusting eyes, I long to be the man that you see.”
“Jacques.”
“And what you have done to me pales in comparison to the destruction that you have wrought in your poor husband,” he continued.
“That is not amusing.”
Jacques clicked his tongue. “Surely you must be aware that before your marriage the Earl of Ashcombe was notorious for being an arrogant, overly proud gentleman who remained aloof from all but a few privileged friends?”
“I suppose he was considered aloof,” she grudgingly conceded.
“He was a coldhearted bastard,” Jacques corrected in dry tones, “but within a few weeks you have reduced him to a possessive barbarian who recklessly charged into danger the moment he realized that you were missing.”
“That is…” She sucked in a deep breath. “You are being absurd.”
“The poor man is currently roaring like a demented madman in my cellars.” His smile held an edge of satisfaction. He was evidently pleased by the thought of Gabriel suffering. “What further proof do you desire?”