He would never see her again.
“And you conspired to free Louis Charles Capet and lay the blame at my door?”
“Free? No, I killed him.”
“Lies. We know you smuggled him from the city and even now he’s on his way to Le Havre.” Robespierre pulled out a familiar-looking paper. “Do you deny you gave this writ to Citizeness Simon with my name forged upon it giving custody of the boy to you?”
“I killed him. He’s in the laundry wagon in the alley behind your lodgings.”
“I was told by your whore how you smuggled theboy out of the Temple but no body was found in the wagon.” Robespierre’s hand tightened on the writ. “Where is the boy?”
“Dead.”
“You’re thinking to destroy me by linking me with the monarchists who want to free the boy, but you’ll not succeed.” Robespierre’s voice rose shrilly. “Do you hear me? You won’t succeed. I’ll send you to the guillotine tonight.” He pointed to a horse-drawn tumbril rumbling out of the fog. “That cart will take you to the guillotine. Why do you not speak? Do you think I lack the power to deny you a trial before the tribunal?”
Why was Robespierre shouting? Didn’t he know that none of it mattered any longer? “No, I know you have the power.”
“I’ll cut off your head and have you tossed in a common grave with the other traitors who seek to destroy me.”
“Citizen Robespierre, may I go back in the house?” Anne Dupree asked politely. “It’s quite cold tonight and none of this concerns me. I’m only Raoul’s mother. I’ve scarcely seen him for years until he came to me tonight begging me to hide him. Naturally, I was about to refuse when your soldier—”
“You’re his mother?” Robespierre interrupted, his gaze shifting to her face. “Yes, Dupree’s whore mentioned your name as well. I find it strange that he’d run to you after this treason if you had no part in it.”
“I told you, he wished me to hide him. In spite of his faults, I’ve always been a loving mother.”
Death.
“Is that right, Dupree?”
A common grave.
She nervously cleared her throat. “Tell him the truth, Raoul.”
Together.
She was frightened. He must save her. It was his duty to serve her, to save her.
Then it came to him, the solution bursting upon him with an effulgence that filled the entire world.
His mother took a step closer to him. “Why don’t you speak? Tell Citizen Robespierre I’m innocent.”
Why hadn’t he understood before? Dupree wondered. She had told him over and over through the years. She had knelt at his feet and told him what she wanted, what they both wanted.
And now, at last, he could give it to her.
“I can’t tell him that, Mother. It’s not true.”
Her eyes bulged. “Raoul!”
He turned to Robespierre. “Of course my mother knew. She guides me in everything I do.”
“Raoul!”
Dupree turned to his mother and smiled lovingly. “It’s going to be fine, Mother. Don’t be afraid. Don’t you see? Remember what you begged of me?” His voice suddenly became high and simpering. “‘Promise me we’ll always be together, Raoul.’ That’s what you’ve always asked of me. Now it can be true. Now we’ll be together. Always.”
He could vaguely hear her screaming as the soldiers led them away toward the tumbril that had drawn up behind Robespierre’s carriage. Poor Mother. She didn’t understand yet, but she would afterward.
A smile still on his lips, he stepped into the tumbril and waited for them to bring his mother to join him.
