Henri’s eyes darted between them. “You’re extorting more than one person?”
Jean-François ignored the question, which was answer enough. “We have the upper hand in all of this, Marguerite. We need only tug the right strings, and they will all remember what is on the line.”
“Your family is in danger,” Henri said. “It seems to me it isyourstrings being tugged, not the other way around.”
“I will not be intimidated. Not by any of them and not by you.” What in heaven’s name had he entangled himself in? How deep was he in this foolhardy scheme that he could not imagine stepping away from it, even to secure the safety of himself and his children?
Henri could not remain in Paris with this threat hanging over their heads, but Céleste knew he would never leave so long as she was still there.
“You can remain in Paris as long as you wish,” Céleste said to her oldest brother. “But please allow me to go to Fleur-de-la-Forêt.”
“You don’t go anywhere without my authorization.” He took a menacing step closer to her. “You will stay where I tell you to stay, and you will do what I tell you to do.”
“Unless someone who wants revenge succeeds in abducting her?” Lucas reentered the conversation. “Apparently I need to remind you yet again of what very nearly happened tonight.”
“I will not be intimidated by any of you.” Jean-François stormed toward the parlor door.
When Marguerite didn’t immediately follow, he looked back at her. He held her eyes for a long, drawn-out moment and something passed between them. Marguerite hurried after him without a word.
“I cannot stay in Paris,” Céleste said once they were both gone. “He has made it dangerous here, and I don’t think he would do anything to help me should the worst happen.”
“I suspect you’re correct,” Lucas said.
Céleste rubbed her face. “What are we going to do, Henri?”
“Firstly, you are going to sit down. This has been a trying day, and as those at the ball reminded our brother and sister-in-law, you have not been well.”
She was feeling exceptionally weary and allowed herself to be guided to a chair.
Voices sounded in the corridor outside the parlor, which Céleste recognized as Julia’s and Nicolette’s.
“I knew the three of them would make short work of their task,” Henri said.
Three of them.Aldric, then, had arrived as well. Céleste pushed aside the feeling of relief that accompanied that realization. He broke her heart. More than once, for heaven’s sake. She needed to pull herself together.
“What task were they assigned?” she asked.
“They’ve gathered all of our belongings at the rented lodgings and have brought everything here,” Henri said. “None of us intends to leave this house until you are able to do so.”
A moment later, the remaining three members of their group entered the room.
“We explained everything to Aldric,” Nicolette said to Henri as she crossed to him.
To Aldric, Henri said, “Jean-François has returned from the ball. He will not be persuaded to leave Paris. And he insists Céleste won’t be permitted to leave either. And though he was confronted about Adèle’s safety, he couldn’t be bothered to even give an answer one way or the other where his daughter is concerned.”
Aldric’s gaze shifted to Céleste. He studied her, but in a way that made her feel protected rather than scrutinized.
Some of the worry she had been keeping at bay began creeping up. “I don’t know what to do,” she whispered.
He crossed to her and sat on the chair beside hers. “You have been very careful not to ruffle your oldest brother’s feathers. To escape the danger he has created, you may have to pluck that bird entirely.”
She lowered her voice. “He will beggar Henri if I do. He won’t merely reduce his income back to what it was before the house party; he will cut Henri off entirely. He has made that horribly clear.”
Henri likely would have responded to that if Aldric hadn’t first. “Do you think for a moment any of the Gents would allow him or Nicolette to descend into poverty? We are a resourceful and creative bunch, but we are also fierce. None of us would leave any of the others to suffer.”
“Being dependent on charityisa form of suffering, Aldric.”
“I don’t believe I said anything about charity.” His back was clearly up, but so was hers. She had been fighting for Henri for two years. She had sacrificed her freedom for her brother’s sake, and Aldric acted as though it were nothing, that she would have simply tossed Henri’s welfare to the wind and let him live as a permanent guest of his wealthier friends.
