“Indeed? And where will she be spending the night?”
“I’m taking her to an inn next door to the café owned by Georges Jacques’s father-in-law.”
Jean Marc stiffened. “You made no mention of this before.”
François glanced at the driver to make sure he was out of hearing range. “We’ve made arrangements forDupree’s men who’ll be guarding the barrier tomorrow evening to be brought to the common room of the inn tonight. I want them to see Catherine with me.”
“Is that necessary?”
“Everyone must be made to believe the marriage is a real one.” François’s face was expressionless. “And a bridegroom doesn’t spend his wedding night alone.”
“You could come to my house.”
“No.” François turned away and propelled Catherine toward Danton’s carriage a few yards behind Jean Marc’s. “It will be better my way. I’ll return Catherine to you in the morning.”
“As long as your way is best for Catherine.” Menace layered the softness of Jean Marc’s tone.
François glanced back at Jean Marc and smiled mockingly as he lifted Catherine into Danton’s carriage. “Doesn’t a husband always know what’s best for his wife?”
“We shall see.” Jean Marc watched him climb into the coach, his brow furrowed in thought. François’s move had disconcerted him and he didn’t like to be caught off guard. Yet there was logic in Etchelet’s plan, and there was no doubt the women’s departure from Paris would be made safer if the groundwork was carefully prepared with the guards at the barriers.
Danton paused before joining François and Catherine in the carriage to gaze at Jean Marc in amusement. “You appear disturbed, Citizen. Were you not aware of the character of my friend François? He delights in doing the unexpected. At times it’s a great trial to me.” He climbed into the carriage and the coachman slammed the door shut.
In another moment Danton’s carriage was rumbling over the cobblestones.
Jean Marc stood looking after it, still frowning ruefully. He had an idea this particular action of Etchelet’s was going to prove a trial to him as well.
Because it was Jean Marc who was going to have to tell Juliette that Catherine was not to spend her wedding night safely under the Andreas roof.
“Go after her,” Juliette ordered, glaring at Jean Marc. “I can’t believe you’d be so stupid as to let him—” She stopped and drew a deep breath. “I promised her she’d be safe from harm.”
“I believe she is safe from harm.”
“If you won’t go after her, I’ll do it myself.”
“I think not,” Jean Marc said quietly. “Not unless you want to endanger both Catherine and yourself by your foolishness.”
“She’ll be frightened. What if he—”
“Demands a bridegroom’s rights?” Jean Marc finished. “I don’t think he will. It would be the act of a barbarian to enjoy taking a woman who is no more alive than a statue.”
“Perhaps he is a barbarian. You don’t know what he is. He’s a stranger to you.”
“That sounds familiar. May I remind you that Etchelet was your choice?”
“Because I thought we could control him.”
“Etchelet’s obviously not a man who can be controlled.”
“Then why are you just standing there? Go get Catherine and bring her back.”
“They’re wed. I have no rights and Etchelet does.”
“Rights? What if he rapes her?”
Jean Marc said calmly, “Then I’ll kill him. Very slowly.”
“What good will that do Catherine? You must—”
