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“You’d better eat something,” Ffoulkes told him. “You and Dewhurst are going to La Force tonight.”
Tristan looked at Alex, and she gave him an apologetic look. “I didn’t know until I returned home this morning.”
“I had planned to send Alex and Dewhurst,” Ffoulkes told them, “but after your fiasco last night, I thought better of it. Alex has the disguises ready. You can dress and have your makeup done after you finish eating.”
“Makeup?”
“I’ll use theatrical makeup to keep anyone from recognizing you. And if the absence of the locksmith is questioned later, the guards won’t be able to accurately describe you.”
“Why me?” Tristan asked. “Why not you?” he asked Ffoulkes. “Or him?” He nodded at Montagne.
“Because you’re the man I want to do it.”
Tristan folded his arms and sat back. “This is a test.”
Alex expected Ffoulkes to deny it, but he merely shrugged. “You could call it that. If you plan to betray us, I’d rather you do it now than once we’re with you and inside the Temple.”
“I’ll be with him tonight,” Dewhurst said indignantly.
“I already freed the abbé for you. What more proof do you need?”
“I need the locksmith.”
“And if I refuse?”
Under the table Alex clenched her hands. “Tristan—”
He held up a hand. “If I refuse?”
“Then we make your life unpleasant,” Ffoulkes said.
“How? If you turn over the documents I gave you, Robespierre will have me arrested. Then I can’t help you free Citoyen Capet.”
“So I don’t give him anything on you.”
Ffoulkes’s blue eyes and Tristan’s brown ones locked. Alex stood. “I think this is unnecessary. I’ll go with Dewhurst.”
“Chevalier will go,” Ffoulkes said, still watching Tristan. “Because if he doesn’t, his brother’s commander on the front will receive some very disturbing news.”
Tristan rose. “You bastard. He has done nothing!”
“That’s not what the documents we created say.”
Alex darted a glance at Honoria, who lowered her head, cheeks pink.
“Oh, my God,” Alex whispered. It wasn’t the first time they’d used tactics like this to reach their objectives. It was simply the first time she felt the twinge of guilt at their impact. While she believed Tristan could be trusted, she understood why Ffoulkes still had doubts. Moreover, she understood that sometimes people were willing to suffer for their crimes but less likely to allow loved ones to suffer. Ffoulkes was taking no chances.
He couldn’t. Saving the king was the most important thing any of them would ever do.
“I hope you all burn in hell,” Tristan said striding across the room and slamming the attic door closed on his way out.
“Brilliant!” Dewhurst put his hands behind his head. “I think that went well.”
“Shut up, Dewhurst,” the others said in unison.
