Damnation!Fate had it out for him. Doing the only thing he could under the circumstance, he bowed. “Until morning.”
Eugénie cast him a forlorn look. He took her hand and kissed it. “Dream of me.”
She raised his fingers to her lips. “I shall.”
His aunt’s expression hadn’t changed from polite indulgence.Drat. Somehow Aunt Sidonie had found them out. How much longer was he going to have to wait for Eugénie?
Chapter 22
Once more in his chamber, Nathan pulled a chair to the door, sitting heavily. If he heard footsteps coming his way, he’d bolt into the bed. The sounds of two pairs of booted feet pounded up the stairs. The main door opened, and Vincent greeted the new arrivals. He played a dangerous game keeping Conrad in the main salon for the visitors to see.
“Good afternoon, messieurs.” Vincent’s voice was a mix of haughtiness and welcome. “How may I assist you?”
“We are searching for a runaway slave.” There was a pause. “He is hard to miss.”
“Yes,” said a second man. “We believe he was aided by a mulatta.”
“I have not seen such a person. In fact, I have not left my house to-day, and the only gentleman I have seen is my old friend, Baron von Miskolc.”
“May we speak with him?”
“You can, of course, try, but he speaks nothing but Hungarian. The only French he has been able to learn are curses.” Silence reigned for a few moments, and finally one of the men said, “If he is very large, we would like to see him.”
“Naturellement, but understand he is old and has been quite ill. His greatest wish was to visit our islands, but he fell sick a few days after he arrived. I have arranged passage for him back to Europe this afternoon. Please do not indicate by your expressions how poorly he looks.”
Conrad erupted in gibberish. If the stakes hadn’t been so high, Nathan might have laughed. As it was, he held his breath. If they passed this test, the rest would be easy. A few moments later, someone grunted as though he’d been hit.
“Excuse us, monsieur,” one of the men said. “We will bother you no longer.”
“I understand. Quite appalling, is it not?”
The upper door closed. Shortly afterwards the bottom door slammed shut as well. Nathan let out the breath he’d been holding.
He moved the chair back just before Vincent entered. “You heard?”
“Yes, what made them leave in such a hurry?”
Vincent’s lips twitched. “Conrad hit one of the men in the stomach with his cane, and really the maquillage is such that he appears quite gruesome.”
“Let’s get the others out and ready.”
Miss Marshall was fitted with a stylish wig in light brown, and gown to match, and the others in the street clothing of servants to a wealthy aristocrat.
“Nathan,” Vincent said, “you will escort Miss Marshall along the promenade while Monsieur le Baron and his servants board the ship. Take the stairs on the north side. A dory will await you.”
Nathan clasped his friend’s hand. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’re doing.”
“We are not done yet.” Vincent grinned. “I shall accompany you on the voyage. I have a great desire to see your lovely wife and daughter again.”
Nathan shook his head. “Eugénie?”
“Alas, no, my friend,” Vincent said in a tragic tone as he placed his hand over his heart. “Jeanne has captured my heart. Eugénie is too savvy for an old man like me. She would try to change me.”
Vincent was right. Eugénie was a force to be dealt with. Nathan hoped her uncle had not got to her yet. Instead of giving himself over to circumstances he had as yet no control over, he gave his friend a look of mock sternness. “Be careful you don’t make my youngest promises you can’t keep.”
“Ah,bah,” Vincent scoffed. “I will be dead before she comes out.”
“Not unless you plan on dying in the next twelve years,” Nathan retorted.
