Gus would never fully recover from the injury he had sustained at their hands. The fact that Vincent was dead, didn’t wipe the slate clean.
Claude offered his pistol to Evangeline. She hesitated. This weapon had likely been used against her in the battle at the jetty. It was probably the same gun which had almost killed the man she loved.
With a tired sigh, Claude uncocked his pistol then tossed it on the ground. “My men need a home and a fresh start. They came back from years of war to nothing. For my injuries I received a letter of discharge and twenty francs.”
Gus slowly nodded. “The English soldiers got pretty much the same treatment. Many are leaving for the colonies; the rest have to fend for themselves. So much for our grateful nations. The ordinary man pays the price for the machinations of kings and emperors.”
These men had much in common. They had gone to war against one another, but with peace, they now faced the question of how they should move on with their lives. And rebuild.
It was over; Evangeline swayed unsteadily on her feet as the realization hit her. Relief now battled with the unexpected offer to remain in France. Only a minute ago, she had thought herself about to die. Now she was faced with a monumental decision.
Perhaps we could make this work. But what about Gus?
“Claude, could you please give my husband and me just a moment to talk?”
She wanted nothing more than to go home and pick up the pieces of her old life. But it was no longer just her that she had to consider. Gus was the other half of her whole.
Gus held out his hand. “Let’s walk.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Agun being shoved in his face and the thought of his imminent death was something Gus Jones had come somewhat to terms with over the past few days. What he hadn’t remotely considered was the prospect of Vincent’s men turning on their leader and killing him.
As he and Evangeline walked away from the gathering, Gus glanced over his shoulder. Vincent Marec still lay where he had fallen.
This is real.
They had put a good fifty yards between them and everyone else on the dockside when Evangeline slipped her hand from his and came to a sudden halt. Alone, she walked to the water’s edge.
“Gus, I am sorely tempted by Claude’s offer. It would mean the world to me to be able to stay here. To raise our children in France.”
She spun on her heel and faced him.
“Which is why you should be the one to make the decision. I cannot think clearly enough. My heart is demanding to rule my head.”
“If I said we should get on the boat and leave, would you, do it?” he replied.
Evangeline drew in a shaky breath and nodded. The tears which shone in her eyes sent daggers straight to his heart.
“Yes. I love you, Gus Jones. I would go anywhere as long as we are together. This is the land of my birth, but my home is with you.”
Tears pricked at his own eyes. Her words humbled him. It would break her heart to leave France, but for him, she would.
“And what if we stayed? If you took full charge of negotiating the cargos, while I continued to shift them across the Channel. Claude could focus on rebuilding the château as well as converting parts of the estate into small plots of housing for his men.”
It wouldn’t be easy. They would have to learn to work together for trust to be gained. But everyone stood to benefit if they could make it a success.
“I can write to Louis and offer to buy Château-de-La-Roche from him.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Do you have access to that sort of money? Louis will still want a fair price, ruined house or not.”
The contents of his flee box would be more than sufficient to pay out Evangeline’s cousin. “Smuggling is a lucrative endeavor if one doesn’t waste the profits. Where do you think the money for theNight Windcame from? So, in answer to your question, yes we will have money to become full owners.”
He held out his arms to her, and Evangeline stepped into his embrace. A tender, loving kiss her reward.
“You would give up England for me?” she asked.
Gus grinned. “Yes, but the truth is my sacrifice would not be that big. I will still have to travel back and forth at times. You could even come with me.”
