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At first, he paid little attention to the private coach that was progressing slowly down the street, the roadway already filling with the usual early-morning assortment of farmers, maids, vendors, clerks and townspeople going about their business. Until, its driver apparently distracted by an altercation between two tradesmen whose carts had collided, the vehicle began heading almost directly at them.
Will had been about to shout a warning to the driver, when the coach inexplicably began to pick up speed. Preoccupied with controlling their now shying, stamping mounts, he was trying to shift both sets of reins into one hand and pull Elodie back out of harm’s way with the other as the coach swayed by them, dangerously close.
Suddenly, the door opened, a man leaned out and grabbed Elodie by the arms. Before Will could finish transferring the reins, the assailant dragged Elodie into the vehicle. Will caught one last glimpse of her struggling figure before the door slammed shut and the driver sprang the horses, scattering people, poultry and produce in its wake.
An hour later, the bruiser who’d muscled Elodie into the closed carriage and bound and gagged her, dragged her from the coach and up the back stairs of an inn. After shoving her into a room, he closed the door behind her. Her anxious ears were relieved to hear no key turn in the lock before his footsteps retreated.
Since the henchman who’d grabbed her had said nothing the entire journey, she still had no idea who had abducted her or why.
Furiously she worked at the bonds, desperate to escape before anyone else arrived to manhandle her. After a few moments, she succeeded in freeing her hands. She’d just ripped off the gag when, her eyes finally adjusting to the dimness of the shuttered room, she realised she was not alone.
Her skin prickled and the sour taste of fear filled her mouth as she recognised the shadowed figure seated at the table of what appeared to be a private parlour. ‘St Arnaud!’ she gasped.
‘Indeed,’ he said, giving her a nod. ‘You appear to be as delighted to see me as I was to discover you’d apparently come back from the dead. I must admit, I was quite distressed when Prince Talleyrand informed me you’d been sighted in Paris. He advised me to take better care of you this time.’
Fury and loathing coursed through her, swamping the fear. ‘You took care of me before. You took my son!’
He shook his head. ‘Very maladroit of you to be manoeuvred into it. A bit of money, some promises of advancement dangled before you, and it was done. So distastefully predictable. Ah, well, your foolishness has made my dear sister very happy.’
Never in her life had Elodie truly wished to harm someone, but at that moment, she would have bartered her soul for a weapon. She wanted to pummel St Arnaud, carve the sardonic smile off his face, make him scream with pain. Not for the beatings he’d inflicted on her in Vienna, but for the blow to the heart from which she’d never recover.
‘Bastard,’ she spat out, her eyes scanning the room for anything she might use against him.
‘Not me, my dear! That epithet belongs to the hovel-born Englishman who’s been attempting to assist you. And don’t bother to agitate yourself searching; I’m not foolish enough to leave lying about anything you might use to defend yourself. Now, how shall we dispose of you this time? Something quick and merciful?’
‘You mean to do it yourself? You haven’t the stomach.’
His gaze hardened. ‘You think not?’
‘You let others do the difficult work before. What happened to the poor wretch who pulled the trigger on Lord Wellington?’
St Arnaud lifted an elegant brow. ‘He was hanged, I suppose. Only what he deserved for being sloppy and inaccurate. Anyway, he was just a means to an end.’
‘Like me.’
‘Like you. Although unlike Franz, whom the Austrian authorities took care of long ago, you’re much more trouble, turning up again after all this time.’
‘Then let me relieve you of her,’ said a voice from the doorway.
‘Will!’ Elodie cried, her fear and anger swamped in a surge of surprise, relief and gladness.
St Arnaud’s eyes widened with alarm for an instant before he smoothed his features back to a sardonic calm. ‘Ah, the bastard appears.’
‘Surely you were expecting me. A horse can easily keep pace with a carriage and, with the driver on the box and only one flunky within, there was no one to prevent my following. It’s about time you had to deal with someone more up to your weight. And after I do, we’ll go.’
‘You think I’ll just let her leave with you?’ St Arnaud laughed. ‘How quaint, that you survived soldiering and a childhood in Seven Dials with such naïve notions intact. I would have thought you’d expect me to go for the kill.’
‘She’s no threat to you.’
‘Is she not? What about the testimony you want her to give in London? Dredging up that old scandal could cause a great deal of unpleasantness, just as I’m re-establishing my career.’
‘Re-establishing?’ Will echoed. ‘There’s a king on France’s throne now. What of your love for Napoleon?’
St Arnaud shrugged. ‘He’ll never escape from that speck of rock in the Atlantic. I don’t deny I regret that France has been saddled with fat old King Louis, but one must adapt to changing circumstances, as Prince Talleyrand always says. I’m a St Arnaud; I belong at the centre of France’s political affairs. Now, monsieur, I don’t know how you convinced Raoul to let you in, but I’ve no quarrel with you. Leave now and I’ll not call the gendarmes and have you thrown in jail.’
‘Magnanimous of you,’ Will said, showing his teeth.
‘Quite. I doubt your uncle would bestir himself on behalf of the bastard branch of family and French prisons are so unpleasant.’
‘At least I earned that title by birth. Being a bastard, though, don’t you think I would have taken care of such small details as a few retainers? As you said, I was breeched in Seven Dials. It’s not wise to leave loose knives lying about that might get thrown at your back.’
Had he really eliminated St Arnaud’s henchmen, or was he bluffing? Elodie wondered, shooting him a glance. He gave her a wink.
After weeks on the road from Vienna, witnessing all his skill and ingenuity, she’d bet on Will against odds much higher than these.
St Arnaud wasn’t sure, either. His arrogant confidence wavering a bit, he stepped towards the door.
Will stationed himself in front of it, his gaze challenging. ‘Let her leave with me now and I might consider letting you live.’ He moved his hand so quickly even Elodie didn’t follow it and extracted a knife from his pocket.
Making no attempt now to disguise his alarm, St Arnaud reached into his own pocket, uttering an oath when he found it empty.
‘Didn’t bring a weapon with you? How careless!’ Will taunted. ‘But then, against a slip of a woman, I suppose you thought your fists would be sufficient.’ His eyes narrowing to slits, his expression so murderous the hair raised on the back of Elodie’s neck just watching him, Will stepped towards St Arnaud.
Swallowing hard, St Arnaud retreated behind the table. ‘Raoul!’ he called. ‘Etienne! Venez immediatement!’
Will laughed and took a step closer. ‘Bellow all you want. Your watchdogs are “taking a nap” and the landlord’s gone deaf. I outbid you, you see.’
Looking around wildly, St Arnaud fixed his gaze on Elodie. ‘Do you really want to go with him? Hanging’s an ugly death. I’m sure we can settle our little misunderstanding after all.’
‘She knows better than to trust a miscreant like you. Elodie, step behind me, please.’ He gave her a quick, pleading glance, as if he weren’t sure she would choose him over St Arnaud.
How could he have any doubt? Swiftly she crossed the room. He gave her arm a reassuring squeeze as she passed him, then tucked her behind him. ‘His men are tied up, unconscious,’ he murmured in an undertone. ‘Our horses are at the back. As soon as I deal with this abomination, we’ll go.’
Twirling the knife between his fingers, Will looked back at St Arnaud and sighed. ‘This is awkward, isn’t it? Whatever am I to do with you now? Should I upset my uncle by committing murder? Ah, well, he’s upset with me most of the time anyway.’ He stepped purposefully closer to St Arnaud.
As he advanced, St Arnaud put his hands out in front of him. ‘I’ll pay whatever you want! Talleyrand told me the earl never settled on you the sum he promised. I can have a handsome amount transferred to any bank you like.’
‘Can you?’ Will halted, as if he were considering the offer. Before St Arnaud, looking relieved, could say another word, Will extracted a pistol from his pocket. ‘Perhaps I should make it look like you shot yourself instead? Crazed by worry that the old scandal might compromise your new position? I’m sure Elodie could write quite a convincing suicide note.’
‘No, please!’ St Arnaud wailed. ‘Monsieur, reconsider! What benefit to you if I die? Let me live and I can—’
‘Silence, vermin,’ Will spat out. ‘I’ve never met a man more deserving of murder, but I’d not soil my blade. However, I might just work the itchiness out of my fists by beating you into the carpet … like you beat her in Vienna.’
