“Nor shall you ever,” she said with sudden fierceness. “I think I’d be very angry if you decided to play that stupid game with another woman.”
He kissed her gently. “You’ve forgotten. The game is over and you’ve won it.”
“No.” She met his gaze directly. “If there ever was a game,we’vewon it.”
He smiled and the last shadow vanished from his expression. “I would never dare to disagree with you in your present uncivilized mood. Very well, we’ve won it,ma petite.”
TWENTY-FIVE
January 19, 1794
6:34A.M.
The morning dawned cold, bright, and clear. Juliette slipped out of bed and padded barefoot across the bedchamber to throw open the casement window. Her face was alight with eagerness as she called back over her shoulder. “There’s a strong west wind, Jean Marc. That’s a good sign, isn’t it?”
“It’s a sign you’ll catch a chill if you don’t come back to bed.”
“It’s blowing toward Charleston.” Juliette stood there another moment, looking down into the garden and then beyond the wall to the steep slate rooftops of Paris. “It’s blowing toward America.”
“Come to bed,ma petite.”
Juliette reluctantly closed the window, turned, and walked across the room toward him. “I still think it’s a good sign.”
7:30A.M.
“I’m frightened,” Catherine whispered as she drew closer to François. The fire had gone out in the porcelain stove and the room looked cold and dreary in the pale morning light. “I didn’t think I’d be afraid, but I am. So many things could go wrong.”
“Nothing’s going to go wrong,” François said as he tucked the covers around her. “We’ve planned everything down to the last detail. The boy will be freed.”
“You and Juliette made plans before and the queen still died.”
“We were betrayed. It will be different this time.”
“I hope so.” She closed her eyes and moved still nearer into the security of his arms. “I pray it will.”
8:37A.M.
Dupree shivered as he pushed the coverlet aside and swung his feet to the floor. As always, he was bathed in sweat from the fever that attacked him every night. He knew he was growing weaker with every passing day.
He wondered if he was slowly dying.
No, he couldn’t die. Death would mean he could never be near his mother again. He had only to get through today and all would be well. He had realized he hadn’t the strength for extensive or elaborate schemes and had planned everything to explode in one splendid burst of violence and consummate vengeance. Mother would be pleased with him, the Comte de Provence would be pleased with him.
And Juliette de Clement, and Jean Marc Andreas, and the queen’s whelp would be vanquished…forever.
11:15A.M.
“Jean Marc is being very generous,” Nana said. “The money will help us free many prisoners. I somehow didn’t expect him to remain involved after the boy was freed.”
“Jean Marc seldom does what one expects him to do, and he’s not nearly as hard as people think.” Juliette rummaged through the basket of fans she’d set on the table. “I’ve brought you a gift.” She handed Nana the white lace fan on which she’d painted the Pegasus. Her eyes twinkled as she unfurled it with a flourish. “I thought it only proper you should have the best fan I’ve ever made, since it was you who taught me the art.”
“It’s lovely.” Nana took the fan and wafted it gently back and forth before her face. “But it’s much too fine for me. I certainly can’t use it here at the Café du Chat.”
“A gift doesn’t always have to be used, but only brought out now and then as a remembrance. I thoroughly approve of gifts.” Juliette reached across the table to clasp Nana’s hand affectionately. “And I just wanted to give you something as a farewell present. You’ve been a good friend to me during this last year.” Her face became shadowed. “It hasn’t been a happy time for either of us, has it? The queen…” She smiled with an effort “Jean Marc and I are leaving France tonight I hope we won’t be gone forever, but who knows what life will bring?”
Nana looked down at Juliette’s hand gripping her own. “Yes, it’s best that you leave Paris.” She squeezed Juliette’s hand and quickly released it. “And I thank you for the fan. You’d better go now. We all have things to do today.”
Nana actually looked shaken, Juliette thought with sudden anxiety. How strange, when she was usually fully in control of herself and any situation. “You are quite right, I must return to the Place Royale.” She pushed her chair back and stood up. “You’re a brave woman, Nana, and I admire you very much.Au revoir.”She started to turn away.
