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Reluctantly rising from the bed where Raine sprawled in naked splendor, he forced himself to ignore the urge to wake her with a kiss. He was
already hard and aching. One touch and he would forget the determination to continue his hunt of Seurat.
In Raine’s arms he could forget his brother’s desperate plight, his need to be done with this business and return to the duties of his estate and even the demands of the king.
Which only made it more imperative that he be done with this unpleasant task so that he could sweep Raine off to Madeira. Once there he intended to sate himself until he could at last rid himself of this obsession. Only then would he be capable of returning his attention to the endless responsibilities that awaited him.
Within the hour he was bathed and dressed. Pausing beside the bed, he leaned down to regard Raine with a faint smile. She looked so tiny upon the large bed, so fragile. With care not to wake her, Philippe reached down to touch the tiny locket that lay against her breast. The gold was tarnished, but it glowed with a surprising warmth against her ivory skin. As if his mother approved.
Giving a shake of his head at his odd fancy, Philippe turned and left the room. He truly was out of his wits, he conceded as he headed through the cottage. But on this morning he could not seem to make himself care.
He entered the kitchen to discover Carlos finishing his breakfast. The younger man glanced up at his entrance, his brows slowly lifting.
“Good morning, Philippe, you are appearing particularly pleased with yourself,” he murmured. “Has there been word of Seurat?”
Philippe did not attempt to wipe the smile from his lips. It would be an impossible task when his body still ached with sweet release and the taste of Raine was still on his tongue.
With a shrug he reached for a fresh croissant and devoured it in a few bites. “Not as yet, but I intend to change that today.”
Carlos rose to his feet. “You are going to Paris?”
“I am leaving now.” He moved to pull on his greatcoat, pausing as he sent his companion a searching gaze. “You will remain here to keep a guard on Raine?”
There was an unexpected pause before Carlos gave a nod of his head. “If that is your wish.”
Philippe halted, a frown tugging at his brows. “You had other plans for the day?”
“Nothing that cannot be altered. When do you expect to return?”
Philippe’s frown deepened. There was a stiffness to Carlos that he found odd. As if the younger man were attempting to hide something from him.
“It is difficult to say. I may remain for dinner with Frankford. I would like to have word of what is happening in the world. Soon enough I shall be able to return my attention to my neglected business, I do not wish to be entirely ignorant.” He grimaced, disliking the notion of being absent from the cottage for the entire evening. “And there is the possibility that he might have some news of Jean-Pierre. Gossip travels swiftly, even across the channel.”
Carlos placed his hand on his shoulder and gave a light squeeze. “The king will do nothing irrevocable without contacting you first. He owes you too much.”
“The king is a selfish child who is often at the mercy of his own whims. If he should take it into his mind that Jean-Pierre is a threat to his throne he will have him executed before calmer minds can prevail.”
His dark eyes narrowed with a grim determination. “We shall have Seurat captured before the king can indulge in one of his fits of madness.”
“I pray you are right.” Philippe smiled wryly and glanced toward the door. “Take care of Raine.”
Carlos dropped his hand from his shoulder and heaved a faint sigh. “It is a heavy burden you place on my shoulders, amigo.”
Philippe stilled, once again sensing that his companion was troubled. “Carlos? What is it?”
Stepping back Carlos smiled with a wry amusement. “Be on your way, Philippe. Raine is safe in my hands.”
DARKNESS HAD DESCENDED before Raine heard the sound of Carlos entering through the back door. At last. She had been pacing the floor for hours, terrified that he would not return in time.
Shuddering with relief, she forced herself to await him in the drawing room. The lower floor would be filled with servants bustling about to prepare dinner. What she had to say to Carlos needed absolute privacy.
Another ten minutes passed before she heard his approaching footsteps and he finally entered the room. His dark hair was rumpled and his cheeks reddened by the cold wind, but that did nothing to soften the raw power he brought with him.
With a small sound of relief she flew across the room to grasp his arm in a tight grip.
“Oh, thank God, I did not think you would ever return.”
His gaze ran a restless path over her upturned face before he grimaced and pulled his arm from her grip. “I have only been gone a few hours, anjo. It was not a simple matter to discover someone willing to offer a suitable sum for your jewels.”
