“They raped old women and children.”
“What about you? Are you well?”
“How could I be well after seeing—”
“Merde!Juliette, did they hurt you?”
“Catherine was raped by two men and she’s—”
“You told me about Catherine. I asked about you.” He grabbed her shoulders and made her look into his eyes.“Tell me, were you raped?”
“No.”
His breath escaped in an explosive rush and his grip on her shoulders loosened. “One blessing. I have enough guilt to bear without adding your assault to it.”
“More than enough guilt. Why didn’t you come?”
“I had urgent business in Toulon. When the Reverend Mother’s message reached me, I stopped at Vasaroand sent Philippe to fetch you and Catherine from the abbey. He should have been here days ago.”
“Perhaps he had ‘business’ too and didn’t think Catherine’s welfare important enough to waste his time.”
“I don’t know why he isn’t here.” Jean Marc’s lips tightened grimly. “But I intend to find out.”
“It’s too late. Two days too late.” Juliette could feel her eyes filling with tears and determinedly blinked them back. “Theyhurther, Jean Marc.”
“I know they did.” Jean Marc looked intently at her. “There’s no use saying I’ll regret what’s happened for the rest of my life. All I can do is try to heal the harm that’s been done. You’re sure nothing happened to you?”
“Nothing important.” She frowned. “Oh, I forgot. I had to kill a man.”
The faintest smile broke the somberness of Jean Marc’s expression. “You don’t consider killing a man of importance?”
“He was acanaille. He was raping Catherine.”
Jean Marc’s smile vanished. “Acanaille, indeed. I regret you deprived me of the pleasure.”
“There was another man. If you can find out who he is, you can kill him.”
He bowed. “Such generosity, Juliette. Now, tell me how you escaped being butchered at the abbey.”
She briefly related the events and roles of François Etchelet and Danton in their flight.
“François Etchelet,” he murmured thoughtfully. “I owe him a debt.”
“I assure you his rescue was most reluctant.”
“Reluctant or not, he saved you.”
“True.” She threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. “We must talk. Come down to the scullery and I’ll find you something to eat.”
“I’m going to be allowed to break my fast? I thought my laggardliness had put me beyond redemption in your eyes.”
Profound weariness and sadness lay beneath the mockery in Jean Marc’s voice and, for the first time, Juliette noticed the deep shadows beneath his eyes, thelayer of dust mantling his elegant dark blue cloak. She suddenly felt a rush of protectiveness that banished both anger and resentment. “You care for Catherine. I know you would not hurt her deliberately. You were merely stupid, I suppose.”
A faint smile indented his lips. “I’d forgotten that sharp tongue of yours. I remembered only…” He fell silent for a moment, looking at her. “How kind of you to acquit me of malice, if not witlessness.”
“Youshouldhave come for her. What business could be so important that you—”
“The assembly’s confiscated eight of my ships for their navy in the past year,” Jean Marc interrupted. “I was hoping to salvage some of my cargoes stored in the warehouses at Toulon before those greedy bastards managed to steal those too.” He shook his head wearily. “It seemed very important at the time.”
