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“Yes, my lady,” Ffoulkes agreed.
Hope leapt in her heart. She had promised not to help Ramsey. That didn’t mean the Scarlet Pimpernel couldn’t help him.
“You will have to pass on my regrets, Sir Andrew,” Ramsey said. “I have another engagement.”
“What?” Gabrielle recoiled as though stung. “What do you mean?”
Ramsey gave her a placid stare. “Exactly what I said. I have another engagement.”
“But this could mean your salvation. The”—she lowered her voice—“Scarlet Pimpernel could save you.”
“If I allowed that, I’d be an even less honorable man than I already am. I did my best to betray him. I don’t deserve his aid nor do I want it. I may be watched, and if I go with you, I may be followed. I won’t put you or the friend we speak of in danger.”
“But Ramsey—“
He removed her hand from his arm. “I’ll see you again as soon as I can,” he said, kissing her hand and placing it on Ffoulkes’s arm. “Take care of her, will you?”
Ffoulkes nodded.
Ramsey strode away and didn’t look back.
Once in Sir Andrew’s carriage, Gabrielle allowed herself to close her eyes. It helped keep the tears at bay.
“He made the right decision,” Sir Andrew said quietly.
Gabrielle blew out a breath. “That doesn’t make it any easier. I don’t want to watch him die.”
“Nor I, but sometimes death is not the worst punishment.”
She shook her head, the lump in her throat making speech impossible. The coach rattled through the streets, taking her God knew where, and she didn’t care. All she could think of was Ramsey. Where was he? Where had he gone?Wouldshe ever see him again?
Suddenly the coach pulled to a stop.
“Are we there?” she asked. The interior of the coach had been dim as the curtains were closed, but they must have been under a bridge or passageway, as it had grown even darker.
“I’m not certain.” Sir Andrew opened the door. “Allow me to speak to the coachman.”
A late autumn breeze whipped in behind him, extinguishing the lamps. Gabrielle pushed back into the squabs and buried her head in her hands. When the carriage door opened again, she swiped at her eyes and forced herself to take a deep breath before saying, “What did the coachman say?”
“You will have to ask Sir Andrew, as I’m not privy to that conversation.”
Her head snapped up, but in the darkness she could see nothing but an amorphous shape in the seat across from her.
“It’s you,” she whispered.
“Are you so surprised? Did you not think I would welcome you back personally?” She sensed the Pimpernel’s movement, and a rap sounded on the roof of the coach. As it began to move, she caught a glint of silver. It must have been the end of a walking stick he held.
“I hadn’t thought of it. I suppose I am simply grateful to be home.”
“Well you should be,” came the low voice from the shadows. “You had a narrow escape.”
Of course he knew all about it. Gabrielle didn’t know why she should be surprised. “Miss Martin risked her life for me.”
“That comes as no surprise. She has more courage in her little finger than most men have in their whole bodies. But she is not the only one who saved you.”
“Ra—Lord Sedgwick risked his life as well.”
“Interesting, considering he was sent to discover my identity.”
