She tried to smile. “And would you mind if I wentto the guillotine? I hope you would. It would be very sad to have no one mourn me.”
“I’d mind,” he said slowly. “I’d mind so much that I’d probably be forced to find a way to destroy both that damn guillotine and the nation who ordered it used on you.”
Her eyes widened and she felt a sudden breathlessness. “How…extravagant. Youwouldmourn me.”
“Good God, did I not say—” He broke off and turned his head away so that she couldn’t see his face. “However, François would be most upset if I also brought down his precious Rights of Man which would probably follow. So let’s avoid it by all means. Go back to Vasaro.”
She shook her head. “Even if I’d go, Catherine would not. She’s going to join François at the Temple.”
“No!” Jean Marc whirled back to face her. “Why?”
“She loves him,” she said simply. “It’s her place to be with him now.”
“Not at the Temple. If she won’t go back to Vasaro, let her stay here where I can try to protect—”
“She’s not a child any longer, Jean Marc. You can’t protect her. We must both do what we have to do.”
“The devil I can’t,” Jean Marc said harshly. “I should order Léon to bind and gag both of you and force you to go back to Vasaro.”
“We’d only come back.” She smiled. “I know you care about Catherine but she’s no longer your concern. She’s François’s wife now.” She turned and moved toward the door. “I’ll leave you to dress. Shall I send water up with Léon?” She frowned. “It’s not his duty and he’ll be quite upset. Really, Jean Marc, it’s not sensible to have only Robert and Marie in the household. Why did you send the rest of the servants away?”
“I thought it best. I’ve had a number of visitors of late that I wanted no gossip about.”
“Who?” She gazed at him curiously before pain suddenly tore through her. “A…woman? I suppose I should have expected it. You’ve always had many mistresses and I’ve been gone—”
“Seven weeks and three days,” Jean Marc said softly.“I’m not sure how many hours, but I’m certain I would have been able to tell you if you hadn’t exploded into my chamber and roused me from a sound sleep.”
“Truly?” The breathlessness came again and with it the faintest stirring of hope. “Bankers are always good at numbers, aren’t they?”
“If they wish to make a success of their profession.” He shook his head. “No other women, Juliette. I found myself quite uninterested in replacing you in my bed. Another victory for you.”
“Then where were you last night?”
“At one of those tiresomely clandestine meetings necessary for dire plots and conspiracies. Tell me, is there some rule that they always have to take place in the middle of the night?”
“Plots?”
He smiled slowly. “I’d hoped to have your Louis Charles safely out of the Temple before you returned but, as usual, you’ve done the unpredictable.”
“Louis Charles.” She gazed at him in amazement. “You’re helping us?”
“My dear Juliette, I do not help. If I become involved, I must seize control of a project.”
“Why?”
“Because I have a certain amount of self-love, I suppose.”
“No, I mean why are you doing this?”
“Do you expect me to say I’m doing it for the memory of the queen or the good of the country?” He shook his head. “I’m no idealist.”
“Helping Louis Charles to escape could destroy you.”
“Not if it’s done correctly.”
“But why take the risk?”
“A whim.”
