Christian Seaton_ Duke of Danger(64)

She eyed him contemptuously. ‘And yet I am the one standing here with a pistol aimed at your treacherous heart.’

‘Oh, I did not for a moment mean that you would not kill me, my dear—’ Maystone spoke calmly of his own imminent murder in cold blood ‘—only that by doing so you stand a chance of losing the one thing that matters to you. Am I right?’

Christian was now standing close enough that he could see Helene Rousseau’s eyes narrow in warning. ‘Perhaps it would be best if we were all to retire to my carriage,’ he suggested mildly, his pistol remaining unwavering on the Frenchwoman as he turned to look at the boy lingering in the shadows. ‘You and I will talk again, young Davy,’ he added.

‘She made me do it!’ He stepped forward in alarm. ‘I only went to the tavern for a drink or two that last night ashore in Paris, and—and— She plied me with free liquor and threatened to ’ave someone ’arm me mam if I didn’t do as she asked!’

‘Which was?’

‘To leave word for her at Portsmouth as to where you and the young lady ’ad gone—er—Your Grace. To follow you and then wait for her arrival. I couldn’t let nuffink ’appen to me mam, Your Grace,’ he added desperately. ‘She’s all me brothers and sisters ’ave while I’m away at sea. I mean, I like the young lady well enough, but—’

‘You are excused, Davy,’ Christian interrupted wearily, having no wish to hear how much Davy ‘liked’ Lisette. He was also well aware of the methods of persuasion of which Helene Rousseau was capable. ‘But a lesson has been well learned, I hope?’

‘Your Grace?’ Davy wrinkled his grubby brow in concentration.

Christian grimaced his exasperation. ‘In future, stay away from French taverns and free liquor.’

‘Oh.’ The grubby brow cleared. ‘I will, Your Grace. Thank you, Your Grace.’ He touched a greasy forelock.

‘Just go, Davy.’ Christian sighed, waiting until the young lad had scuttled away into the darkness before turning back to the woman who had put the fear of God into the boy. ‘I trust he, and his family, need not live in fear of any retribution from you?’

Helene Rousseau gave a dismissive snort. ‘He was merely a means to an end and is of as much importance to me as the flea on a dog!’

Christian nodded his satisfaction with her answer. ‘Then if we might all adjourn to my carriage...?’

Lisette had to admit to being baffled by all that had happened these past few hours—these past few minutes especially.

Helene in London.

The fact that she and Lord Maystone obviously knew each other.

That Helene stated she now wished to kill him.

It seemed to Lisette that everything that had happened these past few months—the kidnapping of Lord Maystone’s grandson, Helene’s anger at Lisette’s...friendship with Christian—a friendship Lisette had almost certainly put in jeopardy with her reckless behaviour—her own abduction earlier today—had all been leading to this face-to-face meeting between Helene Rousseau and Lord Maystone.

Because of some past wrong Helene believed he had done to her.

The shooting of Helene’s brother André, perhaps?

Not personally, of course; Lisette had learned from one of the other serving girls at the tavern that her uncle André had been gunned down outside the tavern in a street brawl. But perhaps a brawl that had been arranged by Lord Maystone?

That did not make any sense when André Rousseau had met his end only months ago, and Helene’s grudge against Lord Maystone appeared to be one of long standing.

And if it was of such long standing, why had Helene not sought vengeance before now?

What had happened in Helene’s life in the past few months to bring about this sudden need for vengeance—?

Lisette stilled, eyes widening as she turned to look at the woman who had come to the Duprées’ farm and claimed to be her mother less than three months ago.

The advent into Helene’s life of Lisette, her illegitimate daughter, was what had changed for Helene Rousseau in these past months.

She was the reason Helene was here seeking vengeance against Lord Maystone.

If that was true, then Lisette could think of only one reason for it being so.

‘If you will excuse my sudden movement, Helene?’ Lord Maystone remarked conversationally as he stepped forward. ‘But I do believe our daughter is about to faint.’ He gathered Lisette into his arms as she began to sink gracefully to the ground.





Chapter Fourteen

‘You should have told me you were with child.’

‘You had made it clear to me that you were returning to England to your wife and family!’