I will die trying.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
They continued on the road, neither saying more than the odd word or two. Gus racked his brains, trying to conceive a way they could successfully make it safely to Binic. By the time another three hours had elapsed, he still didn’t have a solid plan.
Every option Gus came up with and painstakingly deliberated was eventually cast aside due to one reason. There was every chance that Marec would have also thought of it. Their enemy was a formidable adversary.
We just have to keep heading toward the coast and hope that something or someone comes to our aid. Being ahead of them is our only advantage.
“Do you think your mother will like me, or will she consider me strange?”
Gus stirred from his musings and stared in surprise at Evangeline. She was riding alongside him on Gobain. And if her tightly knitted brow was any indication, she was genuinely concerned about the reception she would receive from the Jones family.
Where did that come from?
“My mother will welcome you with open arms. Why shouldn’t she?” he replied.
“Well, for a start, I am not English. I am also a Catholic. And the moment she starts asking about my life here in France, she is going to quickly realize that I am no gently bred young miss.”
Evangeline had clearly put some thought into her question. Had examined all the pros and cons of the situation. And if he was reading her mood right, she had probably come to the conclusion that Mrs. Jones would be horrified at her son’s choice of wife.
With a tug of his horse’s reins, Gus brought his mount to a halt. Evangeline did the same. He turned in the saddle and faced her. “I am one of seven children. Every single one of whom has made plenty of mistakes in their lives. Not that I am saying you are any sort of slip up. What I am saying is that to my knowledge, my mother has dealt with her children’s life decisions in a calm and rational manner.”
She frowned at his words. He clearly hadn’t sold her on the devil-may-care attitude that his mother had adopted over the years. She was the wife of a naval officer; it was expected that she would deal with problems in a pragmatic way.
“Mama will love you. Any woman who takes on the role of trying to tame her wayward son will be top of her Christmas-gift list. You can count on that.”
There were plenty of young ladies in London who had at one time or another thought themselves up to the task. However, once they got to know Gus beyond a quick hello, they had all abandoned their marriage campaigns. He may or may not have exaggerated some of his less pleasant habits in order to scare them off.
“What about money? And we will need somewhere to live. Have you considered that? And. And.” She threw her hands up in the air.
Damn. She has got herself into a bit of a state over worrying about our future.
Gus did a quick check over his shoulder. There were no other travelers on the road. He nodded in the direction of a cluster of trees. From the lay of the land, it was obvious that a river ran parallel to the road. After long hours of travel, the horses could do with a drink. “Come on. Let’s ride over there and let the horses take a rest. It’s far enough from the road that we will be able to see anyone approaching.”
She followed him to the water. “From memory, I think this is a small branch of the river Cré, which means we are still north of Lamballe. But at least we are getting closer to the sea.”
Gus dismounted then waited for Evangeline to do the same. With a resigned huff, she finally threw her leg over the side of her saddle and slid to the ground.
Her landing was steady. There was no obvious sign of discomfort from her ankle.
Good. That means it is just a slight twinge, not a sprain.
While the horses wandered over to the stream and helped themselves, Gus turned his attention to Evangeline. “What is the real problem here? If it is money, I have plenty. I can sell the boat to buy a house or at least rent one if you wish. I can give up the smuggling. My father has been badgering me to go and work for the British admiralty ever since the war ended.”
With Europe once more at peace, trade was high on the list of endeavors for the government. A man who knew the tides, winds, and English Channel, as well as Gus, was an asset to be utilized.
“But you are a smuggler at heart,” she replied.
“That cannot last. I was also once a spy and an operative for His Majesty the King. Those assignments eventually came to an end. This business is getting more dangerous with every passing year. And then there are men like Vincent ready to do whatever they have to in order to push people like you and Armand out.”
She screwed up her face. “It’s not all his fault. We did provoke him.”
There had been a small question in the back of Gus’s mind as to why the Lamballe gang were so set against the La Roche family. Why had they attacked them? What might Armand have done to cause such enmity?
When Evangeline wouldn’t meet his gaze, Gus took a deep breath and did his best to settle his temper.
Or was it, Evangeline?
