“I do. Continuer!”
“We were successful. But in my last assignment, madame, I was successful but I was discovered.”
“Doesheknow?”
“He does. He is here to help me get my brother.”
“Why?”
“He loves me.”
“Obviously. But what else? I see it, machérie.Confess it all.”
“I was discovered and had to flee to England. But I fled not solely because I wished to be away from my accuser, but because…” Inès could not say it.
The countess waited.
“Luc is held ransom to my actions. I was sent to England to assassinate William Pitt.”
The lady blanched. “The prime minister?”
“Oui, madame.”
“Did you—?”
“No. No, I did not. He truly did die of natural causes. I did not touch him.”
“So…the threat upon you remains, eh?”
Inès nodded. “It does. And on Luc, if he is still alive. That is why I must get him out.”
“And the one who demanded you kill that noble gentleman?”
“Vaillancourt.”
The lady stared at her for a long minute. Suddenly, she drained her glass, then poured more for both of them. “Finish your wine, my sweet girl. You and I must go meet a friend of mine.”
“Now?”
“Drink up. Then we go. Monsieur,” she said, smiling as she let her gaze drift toward Evan, “should follow at a distance. Is he good at this chicanery?”
“Oui, madame. Better than I.”
The two of them stood. Evan did not lift his head. Inès followed the lady to the door.
The countess began to don one of her gloves. “You will meet me at the Montmartre abattoir in one hour.”
Inès hated that place with a horror. The odor made her gag. The cries of the animals about to be slaughtered brought tears to her eyes. The slip and slide of all the blood and guts coating the cobbles made her unsure of her steps—and today, she did not wish to be sick or unsure of anything.
“I know it is not pretty there, but come to the pens where the butchers clean the carcasses. I will introduce you to your new colleague, eh?”
“I am most grateful.”
“If all goes well, send me a rose.”
“I will.” Inès accepted the affection of two kisses, one on each cheek.
The lady turned away, tugged on her second glove, then spun back to Inès. “You will do me one favor.”
