She shook her head. “Tell me, Jean Marc.”
He was silent a moment. “Because I don’t like the idea of a child being made the pawn of nations merely because of his birth.” He gazed intently at her. “And because I never again want to see you hurt and brokenthe way you were the day Marie Antoinette was guillotined.”
Hope spiraled into joy. “I wasn’t broken.”
His lips twitched. “No, not broken but certainly radically bent.” He made a gesture as if to sweep her from the room. “Now, go order my bath. I shall feel better able to cope with you and Catherine once I have the sleep washed out of my eyes.”
Jean Marc descended the stairs an hour later to find Juliette coming in the front door.
“It’s too late,” Juliette said cheerfully. “Catherine’s gone. I just sent her to the Temple in my carriage. You must go there if you wish to argue with her, but that would be very foolish.”
Jean Marc didn’t seem overly upset at the news. “What a clever move on your part,” he said calmly. “Then I’ll argue with you instead. Come join me for breakfast.”
“I’ve eaten already.” She followed him into the breakfast chamber. “It’s after noon. You should be having dinner instead of breakfast.”
“That’s not what we’re supposed to be arguing about. Let’s consider what good your presence can do here in Paris.”
“I can paint the fans. I can act as courier.”
“We’ve formed another network. You don’t know these people and they don’t know you.”
“That was intelligent. François said he suspected the Comte de Provence had an agent in the royalist group at the Café du Chat.” She frowned. “But you must not let the count know you’re aware of his agent or he’ll take other steps to block your attempts.”
“François hasn’t cut his ties with the group and goes to the Café du Chat frequently.” Jean Marc sat down at the table and put his napkin on his lap. “I know you’ll find it incredible but we did think of that possibility even without you.”
“No one knows?”
“Nana Sarpelier.” Jean Marc buttered a croissant. “I trust that meets with your approval?”
“Oh, yes.” Juliette’s brow knit in thought. “When do you plan on freeing Louis Charles?”
“As soon as possible. But we have to have help from inside the Temple. François has been trying to influence the couple who care for the boy.”
“The Simons. The queen said she thought he was only stupid, not cruel. Do you think there’s a possibility they might help?”
He shrugged. “Bribery wouldn’t be a factor. François says they’re fiercely loyal to the republic but seem fond of the boy.” Jean Marc took a bite of croissant and chewed it thoughtfully before he added, “There are a number of problems as I see it. First, getting the boy out of the prison. Second, out of Paris and past the barriers. Then, where does he go from there? Perhaps to Vasaro for an interim period, but he won’t be safe there for long. If we take the boy to his relatives in Austria, he’ll probably have a fatal accident before he’s free a year. If he goes to another monarchy, they’ll use him as a pawn.”
“No!” Juliette sat down across from him. “Both the king and queen told Louis Charles before they died that he mustn’t strive to get the throne back.”
“As I said, there are problems.” Jean Marc finished his croissant and reached for his cup of chocolate. “We haven’t formulated a firm plan to resolve any of them, but I’ve been working on a way to get the boy out of Paris that has a certain flamboyant appeal you might appreciate. That’s where I was last night.”
“Indeed?” she asked, intrigued. “How are you going to do it?”
“I think I’ll wait until Monsieur Radon’s finished before I divulge this particular plan.” He finished his chocolate, set down his cup, and patted his mouth with his napkin. “But you can see we’re working diligently on the little king’s behalf. Why don’t you go back to Vasaro and let us get on with it?”
She shook her head.
“I didn’t believe you’d agree.” Jean Marc stood up.“I suppose I must make the best of the situation. Come along.”
“Where?”
“Seven weeks, three days,andsix hours,” he said softly. “It came to me while I was in the bath. It’s been a long time, Juliette.”
Too long. She could feel her heart start to pound just looking at him, at the high sheen of his dark hair, at the slightly wicked curve to his lips as he smiled at her. “Yes.”
“Let’s see, I’ve argued with you to no avail. You’ve robbed me of Catherine to try to persuade to reason. I see no way to impose my will upon you except the one you accept most readily.” He held out his hand to her. “Come to bed,ma petite.”
Her heart was now beating so hard she could feel its thunder in every part of her body. He had said he missed her and what she saw in his eyes must be affection at the very least. She smiled brilliantly as she placed her hand in his and said meekly, “As you wish, Jean Marc.”
