Being unsure as to whether he could trust Armand at this point, Gus decided it was better to keep any contingency plans a secret. “Alright. I shall take the yacht up to Binic. We should talk about Evangeline when I get back.”
“Agreed. She needs to be somewhere safe. And the best place would be with you, in England…as your wife.”
Chapter Nine
The bruises and bags under Gus’s eyes were nothing like those of Armand, but they were enough to let anyone who looked closely know that he had not had much sleep.
The Frenchman’s first request was an easy enough task. TheNight Windheaded back out into the English Channel the following morning, bound for Binic. A short sail to collect the crates of brandy and then return to the château.
It was Armand’s second that had kept Gus awake and staring out into the night. At one point, he had got out of bed, dressed, and made his way down to the sea chapel. He wasn’t a religious man by nature, but the peace and solitude of the cool, limestone cave brought his worried mind some respite. His thoughts the whole time had been of Evangeline.
Marriage hadn’t been in his plans, at least not yet. He was still struggling with his own feelings toward Evangeline, of what they might mean.
The kiss at the beach had been an impulsive act on his part. One minute he was trying to think of how he could offer her support, the next he was hauling her into his arms.
I am attracted to her, but marriage has to be based on more than mere lust.
Standing on the deck of theNight Windwatching as the coastline of Brittany drifted by on the portside, he went back to pondering what he was to do.
He and Evangeline had shared a kiss, but was that enough? Marriage wasn’t just a passing fancy; it was a lifelong commitment. Asking her to suddenly uproot her life and move to England couldn’t just be based on the first blush of a romance.
She would not take kindly to being forced into marriage. Especially not to someone like me. A smuggler. A rogue. An Englishman.
Evangeline was a willful, strong-minded woman. Not one taken to accepting direction or instruction easily.
She would not be tamed.
Nor should she. This is a woman, not a wild thing to tie up and break. Her fiery nature is part of who she is. If you try to change her, you will only crush her soul.
Evangeline La Roche would need to be treated with careful respect. Her intelligence not only acknowledged but accepted. Marriage would have to be a true partnership.
“She will fight tooth and nail to stay here in France. To remain by her uncle’s side,” he muttered.
Evangeline could wield a rifle better than most men. Another good reason for Armand to want her far away. She wouldn’t hold back if it came to a gunfight.
Whichever way things went with the Lamballe gang, he was going to have to tread carefully when it came to Evangeline.
I need to get her away from the château and somewhere safe. Distance will help with perspective.
“She has to have other options if things go awry.”
They both did.
He was still musing over the problem of what to do about Evangeline and her uncle when theNight Winddocked in the small fishing village of Binic. Gus and his friends had used it as a secret base during the war, so he knew the place well. The rogues of the road still maintained a safe house in Rue Martin.
This morning’s destination was a tall, narrow warehouse situated at the far end of the waterfront. The nondescript gray stone building was well out of the way. The plain, faded sign which readPoissonnierbelied the real use of the premises, as a front for Armand’s smuggling operations. Gus suspected the place hadn’t operated as a fishmonger for many years.
While the crew busied themselves with collecting crates and carrying them the short distance back to theNight Wind, Gus approached Armand’s Binic connection.
The man clearly hadn’t been expecting a boatload of Englishmen to arrive and take the brandy. He was almost as evasive as his employer. “The bottles should have been moved by cart. The sea might be too rough for them,” he said.
Gus frowned. He had been transporting crates of brandy bottles on board his ship for as long as he could remember. He couldn’t recall a single bottle ever having been spoiled. “My men are quite experienced at handling this sort of cargo. Armand trusts me,” he replied.
He shouldn’t be having to explain himself, but the man’s demeanor had Gus worried. He led him away from where theNight Windcrew were working.
“My friend. You appear worried. Please, share your concerns,” he said.
The store man met his gaze. It was clear he was studying Gus, deciding whether he was someone trustworthy. “Have you checked any of the bottles? I mean closely,” he asked.
