Page 42 of When the Duke Met His Match

“Yes, that is correct.”

Theophilus’ heart quickened at the reference to criminals, and dread moved down his throat.

The first officer sighed. “We received information that two fugitives of the crown were headed this way. Perhaps they have stopped here. It is also possible they have stayed somewhere nearby, and we are spreading the word.”

“Fugitives?” the owner questioned, surprised by the implication. “Surely there are no fugitives here. I haven’t seen the likes of criminals in my establishment.”

“Certainly, sir. But should you hear anything about Odette Toussaint and Theophilus Clough, you must report what you know to us immediately. They are wanted for treason.”

His stomach dropped at once, and his pulse pounded within his ears. They’d found them. Despite all their efforts, they were skirting the line between freedom and capture.

“How awful.”

“Awful indeed. There is a handsome reward for anyone with valuable information,” one officer said, seemingly aware of how tempting that kind of offer could be. “Don’t hesitate to spread the word.”

“I will be sure to. You have my word.”

A bounty on their heads changed everything. That was grounds for anyone to hunt them down like foxes and deliver them to the authorities.

Having heard enough, Theophilus tore himself from the threshold and hurried back to the front of the inn before either of the officers spotted him. He climbed the stairs, out of breath from the damning news, and bolted back to the room.

Someone looking to make easy coin would be searching for them alongside the officers. It only took money to influence anyone to side with the law.

Quickly shutting the door behind him, he stopped to catch his breath before hurrying to the bed and putting a hand against Odette’s shoulder. “Odette, you must wake up immediately.”

She murmured her displeasure at being woken up, squeezing her eyes shut in confusion. She rubbed at them before her groggy voice spoke through the coverlet, dampened by sleep. “What is it?”

Panic gripped Theophilus as he looked down at the woman he vowed to protect with his own life, afraid that his plan was about to tear at the seams.

“They have found us. We need to leave now.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

ODETTE

Odette’s heart was in her throat all the while she paced the room by herself, waiting for Theophilus to return. He left in a hurry to gather information about ships setting off for France, and she could only hope he would return with good news concerning the one they were meant to board.

Panic clawed at her skin, burning under the pressure. Theophilus had told her what he had heard, and the looming bounty had her heart pounding hard enough to shorten her breath.

It’s all my fault, she thought to herself with another pass of the room with her hands pressed into her scalp.

She was the reason they landed themselves in such a compromising position without any true solution at the end of it all. Having to outrun the English army was difficult enough to manage, but with a bounty over their heads, they couldn’t trust a soul.

They couldn’t open themselves up to outsiders as they had with Mr. Saw, even if that had saved their skin. His kindness and understanding went a long way, but it might not end the same way with the next person.

They needed to keep their true identities sealed away and hope that nobody recognized them.

Noticing the dull ache in her feet from pacing, Odette sat on the side of the bed with her face in her hands and blew out a distraught breath.

How could she be so foolish to think they were invincible? There was no way they could get away with this and not face any consequences.

She jumped in her place the moment the door opened, but a slight glimmer of relief moved across her face the moment she found Theophilus closing it behind him. She swallowed the dryness in her throat and waited for the good news she hoped for.

He sighed and leaned against the door, his face visibly exhausted from all the running and planning. He cleared his throat. “Our ship will be leaving first thing in the morning. Until then, we will stay low and keep to ourselves. When the inn gets quiet, we can sneak out.”

Odette couldn’t form the words that felt like nothing more than small sewing pins in her throat. She wanted to have the strength to speak, but it was all too much.

Her silence seemed to bother him as he examined her, brows brought together in question. His voice was calm yet worried. “What’s the matter?”