Dark Rider

Fourteen

"I don't like using Josette this way," Lani said, seated in her usual chair in the library "It could be dangerous for her."

"Do we have a choice?" Cassie asked. She didn't like it either, but there seemed no alternative. "If she turns around and immediately goes back to England, it should lessen the risk."

Lani nodded slowly. "That's true. And the journey is only a scant twenty miles or so. My people go much vaster distances in their voyager canoes." She paused. "Have you a plan for finding Charles? Perhaps he hasn't even arrived in Paris yet. I told you of the message Jared received from his man, Guillaume, saying that he had not been seen there." She shrugged. "I suppose it's possible that Jared received another message to the contrary. He was suspiciously careless of that first message. I think he meant for me to find it."

But her father probably had not arrived, or Jared would have departed immediately for the Continent, Cassie thought. "I hope he hasn't arrived there. When he does, he'll go directly to Jacques-Louis David for information about Raoul Cambre."

"And you think this is a dangerous move?"

She shivered. "I met Cambre only once, but I didn't like him."

"A child has no great judgment."

"But excellent instincts. I don't want Papa near him."

"And we go to this David and ask him to put us in touch with Charles when he contacts him?"

Cassie nodded. "We can find lodgings at a small pension near David's residence until he arrives."

"We are foreigners. There will be questions."

Cassie chuckled. "I may feel as if I'm a foreigner, but I was born in France, remember. I believe I'll have no trouble being accepted. We will say you're…" She thought about it; Lani's golden skin was both exotic and distinctive. "Egyptian. The widow of one of Napoleon's officers. He met you when he was campaigning and brought you back to Paris."

Lani said dryly, "You've been spending entirely too much time with Josette. You're getting overly proficient at falsehoods."

"Of course, it would be better if David could give us Cambre's whereabouts in case Papa finds out in some other fashion." She shrugged. "We will have to see when we arrive what is best."

Lani looked down into the fire. "And when do we leave on this journey?"

"Tonight, after everyone has gone to bed. Josette says we can slip out to the stable and through the back pasture door. It's only a mile walk to the path leading down to the shore where her boat is docked. She'll distract the guard at the stable and then join us there."

"You're leaving Kapu and Morgana here with Jared. You realize he's going to be very angry. What if he refuses to return them to you when all this is over?"

"He won't do that."

"You seem very sure."

"He keeps his promises." She wearily shook her head. "And even if he didn't, I couldn't do anything else. It's time we left Morland."

Lani was silent a moment and then nodded. "I think you're right. We've been here too long. One tends to become… confused."

There was an undercurrent in Lani's tone that made Cassie's eyes widen with surprise. Had she been subjected to the same temptation Cassie had known? It seemed impossible. Lani was always steady, completely loyal, never deterring from her purpose. "Lani?"

Lani looked at her and smiled. "But we will no longer be confused once we find Charles. All will be clear and the same as it was before. Won't it, Kanoa?"

It would never be the same for Cassie, but perhaps it would grow less painful. She nodded jerkily and rose to her feet. "We should each take only one valise. Pack no more than three gowns and your riding habit. Josette will take them to the stable and hide them under the hay in an empty stall. Oh, and wear a warm shawl under your cloak. Josette says it becomes very chill on the water at this time of year."

Lani made a face. "Josette appears to be completely in command of this journey."

Cassie nodded. "And she's enjoying every minute of it." She moved toward the door. "I'll see you at supper. Try to rest this afternoon. Josette's sailboat is very small, and there aren't any cabins. It won't be a comfortable journey."

Lani opened her book again. "Then you should take your own advice."

"I have to exercise Kapu. After I'm gone, he'll get little- I forgot, Josette can ride him. She did very well the other day."

"But you want to ride him anyway." Lani nodded. "Go on, good-byes are more important than rest."

Cassie closed the door and moved quickly down the hall.

This ride would not really be a good-bye to Kapu, but it would be farewell to Morland. She might have to return briefly to retrieve Kapu and Morgana, but she would never live within these walls again, never ride with Jared along the cliff path, never watch the humorous byplay between Jared and Bradford at the supper-

"Cassie!"

Jared. Her pace quickened as she heard his steps behind her.

His hand fell on her shoulder, and he spun her around to face him. "Don't run away from me, dammit."

"I'm not running away."

"The devil you aren't. You've been avoiding me all day."

"I don't have time to talk to you right now. I have to go ride Kapu."

"I'll go with you."

"No!" She moistened her lips. "Not today."

He drew an exasperated breath. "I'm trying to be patient, but this can't go on. Will I see you at supper?"

"Yes, yes, of course." One last meal together. Another good-bye.

"You promise?"

She nodded. "But I have to go now."

"Cassie…" His hands opened and closed on her shoulders. "I feel… Did I hurt you in some way?"

She kept her eyes fastened on his cravat. "No."

"I never meant to hurt you. I'd never… Dammit, look at me."

If she looked at him, he might realize the truth. She was so filled with love and sorrow, she felt as if they must be written on her face. She swallowed. "We'll talk about this another time."

"Tonight?"

She shook her head.

"Tomorrow? We'll settle this tomorrow?"

She would be gone tomorrow. She would be in France on her way to Paris, far away from him. "Yes, it will all be settled tomorrow."

He released her, and she fled across the courtyard toward the stable.

Josette landed the sailboat a scant two miles from a small French fishing village just before dawn the next day. "Am I not superb?" she asked triumphantly. "I told you I could do it." She grabbed one of the valises, jumped out of the boat, and waded the few feet to shore. "Now all you have to do is go to the village and ask the way to Paris."

"Is that all we have to do?" Lani chuckled as she grabbed the other valise and jumped out of the boat. "I think there are a few minor obstacles to overcome."

"Well, maybe," Josette conceded. "But I got you here."

"Yes, you did." Cassie followed Lani to shore. "And we thank you very much."

"It was nothing." Josette waved an airy hand. "For a marvelous sailor and navigator."

"And good fortune had nothing to do with it?" Lani asked.

"Absolutely not." She reached into the pocket of her jacket. "I took these francs from Jared's desk drawer. He always keeps French currency on hand for his trips abroad." She pushed the bills into Cassie's hand. "You may need them until you can find a safe way to exchange your English pounds."

"You stole them?"

"Borrowed," she corrected. "You need them more than he does." She rummaged in another pocket and brought out something that glimmered in the light. "The ruby necklace Jared gave me for my last birthday. If you need to, sell it. Otherwise send it back to me."

Cassie felt tears rise to her eyes. "Josette, I can't take-"

"Hush." She stuffed the necklace into the pocket of Cassie's cloak and delved again into her seemingly bottomless pockets. "One more thing. It was in the desk in the library, too."

She handed Lani a small dagger with a bejeweled hilt sheathed in engraved Moroccan leather. "You should have some means of protection since I'm not going with you." She held up her hand as Cassie started to speak. "I don't have time to argue." She gave Cassie a hug. "Go with God." She turned and embraced Lani. "I'll miss you."

Before they could speak, Josette was wading back toward the sailboat. She gave it a push into deeper water, then scrambled over the side. She called, "And you'll miss me. I should really go with you. You see how well everything goes when I'm in charge."

"We'll suffer through without you," Lani called. "Difficult though it may be. And Jared would be most upset if we took you along."

Josette nodded glumly. "He's not going to be pleased now." She looked at the lightening sky. "He should be reading my note soon."

"Note?" Cassie said. "You left a note?"

"Of course. I love Jared. I wouldn't worry him longer than necessary. I left a note on Kapu's stall door that told him where I'd gone and that I'd be returning by nightfall."

"You shouldn't have done that," Cassie said.

"Why not? Now that he knows I'm coming back, he'll wait until I get to Morland to question me about where you're going. That will give you time to make your way to Paris." Josette grinned. ''Isn't that clever?"

She could find no fault with Josette's reasoning. "I guess it can do no harm."

Josette was busily turning the small sailboat. "You'd better change your gowns in that thatch of trees. The hems are wet and might attract attention. Be sure you think of a good story about your presence here. I really should have done it myself while we were sailing. And I think you should-" She was still giving orders when the wind took the sails and the boat skittered beyond earshot.

Josette sighed and lifted her hand in farewell before turning her full attention to the sail.

Cassie waved and kept on waving until Josette's small, valiant figure was lost in the half darkness. It had been a long journey, and Josette had borne the brunt of it. Now she must make the same journey alone. "Will she be all right?" she murmured.

"Of course she will. She'll be out of sight before it's fully light, and it's a calm sea." Lani gently took Cassie's arm. "Come along, we must obey Mademoiselle General and change our gowns."

"They're gone." Jared crushed the note in his hand. "Christ, I may strangle Josette."

Bradford took the crumpled note from him and spread it out with shaking hands. "When do we leave?"

"Send a message to have them ready the Josephine." He stared blindly at Kapu. "We'll leave as soon as we talk to Josette."

"If the little devil comes back," Bradford said. "She may decide to go with them."

"She'll come back. She promised. Besides, Cassie wouldn't let her endanger herself any more than necessary." But there would be danger for Cassie and Lani. Two women alone in an enemy land with no papers or friends. Panic tore through Jared as he realized they might already be facing danger while he stood here helpless. How would he even find them when he reached France?

Josette. She might know something, and, by God, he would force her to tell him.

But she could not possibly be here before nightfall, perhaps later if the winds weren't with her. So he would be forced to wait, going mad with worry.

He had to keep busy. He whirled and headed for the stable door. "I'm going to order our luggage readied and tell Mrs. Blakely to pack clothing for Cassie and Lani. They can't have taken very much on the sailboat."

As he crossed the courtyard, he was barely aware of Bradford beside him.

It was only a little after eight in the morning, but the sun was shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky.

Let there be good winds. Jesus, let them all be safe.

"You knew this was bound to come," Bradford said quietly.

"Not like this." He knew now he had deliberately kept himself from thinking about the reason Cassie was here. The time at Morland was a time apart. He had not wanted to remember Deville, because then he would have to remember Cassie would never belong to him.

But she did belong to him.

"They're intelligent women," Bradford said. "They'll be careful."

"Is that supposed to comfort me?" he asked savagely.

"No, it's supposed to comfort me. I really don't give a damn about your feelings at the moment."

Jared glanced at Bradford's face and for the first time realized it was both pale and drawn. Any other time he would have had a twinge of compassion, but not now. "Because you think this is my fault?"

"No, you could no more stop yourself from going after Deville than they could stop trying to save him." He smiled crookedly. "Destiny, my lad."

Destiny. Jared didn't argue with him as he had the last time. For the first time in his life he felt as if he had no control, that he was being sucked helplessly into a giant whirlpool of circumstance.

"I beg pardon, Your Grace." Mrs. Blakely met them as they came in the front door. "But a messenger came a few minutes ago and brought this." She proffered an envelope. "He said I should give it to you at once."

"Thank you, Mrs. Blakely." He took the envelope and waved her away. "I have a few tasks for you to perform. Please come to the library in a quarter of an hour."

"Certainly, Your Grace."

He broke the seal, ripped open the envelope, and scanned the letter. He felt the blood drain from his face as he finished it. Then he read it again.

"What is it?" Bradford's alarmed gaze was fastened on his face. "For God's sake, who is it from?"

"Guillaume."

Jared was standing on the dock when Josette sailed into the small harbor just after darkness had fallen.

Her expression was wary and became even more so when she saw his face illuminated by the lantern in his hand. "I had to do it. They needed me," she called. She jumped out of the sailboat and secured it before turning to face him. "So you needn't shout at me."

"I'm not going to shout at you."

"You're not?" She said uncertainly, "That's very understanding of you. I didn't think you'd-"

"Where are they?"

"France."

Jared drew a long breath. "Josette, I'm trying to be patient with you. Where in France?"

"You know I can't tell you that. They trusted me. It wouldn't be honorable."

"Would it be honorable to let them have their throats cut and be thrown into the Seine?"

Her eyes widened. "What!"

"Would it?"

"No, of course not, but they won't-" She frowned. "Are you trying to trick me?"

"I'm trying to tell you that you may have taken them to a place that will only bring them death."

"I knew there was danger, but Cassie has to find her father." She added with a touch of defiance, "Before you do."

"Charles Deville is dead."

She stared at him in shock. "You can't know that's true."

"I received a message from Guillaume, my contact in Paris, this morning." His lips curled bitterly. "It was my morning to receive unpleasant correspondence."

"It shouldn't have been unpleasant for you. You wanted him dead."

"I didn't want him murdered by Raoul Cambre. I wanted him to lead me to Cambre."

"And did he do it? How else would this Guillaume know that Cambre had killed Deville?"

"By following Cambre himself. Guillaume was watching an artist, Jacques-Louis David, who went scurrying to a Raoul Bonille after being visited by a man Guillaume suspected was Deville. Bonille met with Deville one evening at a cafe near the Seine. It was Deville's last meeting on earth."

Josette shivered. "You're sure?"

"Guillaume is sure."

"And this David had something to do with it?"

"Directly or indirectly. He did know Raoul Bonille. And Guillaume is almost certain that Bonille is Cambre." His gaze narrowed on her face. "You're very interested in David."

Josette turned to face him. "You're telling me the truth? You're not trying to trick me into betraying Cassie and Lani?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"No." She moistened her lips. "But this is different. I know you've always hated Deville."

"Do you want to see Guillaume's note?"

She met his gaze, then slowly shook her head. "But I had to be certain."

"They mentioned this David?"

She nodded. "They talked about him on the boat. Cassie said that her father would go to him first. She planned on contacting him as soon as she reached Paris."

"Christ."

"You think he'll tell Cambre?"

"There's not much doubt." His lips tightened. "And Cambre doesn't want to be found. He's already killed one man to prevent it."

"But Cassie doesn't want to find anyone but her father." Then Josette nodded as she thought it through. "But one will lead to the other."

"As day follows night. Do you know where they're planning on staying?"

"They had no idea. A pension near David's residence…"

He turned and strode down the dock.

Josette trotted beside him. "Where are you going?"

"Where do you think I'm going? Paris. Bradford is waiting for me on the ship now."

"I want to go with you."

"You'll stay here."

"You're blaming me for their being in danger. Well, maybe I am to blame, but all this hatred seemed wrong. I didn't know this would happen-"

"I know you didn't." He wearily looked at her. "I don't blame you. Maybe Bradford is right and it's just fate." His jaw clenched. "But I won't have you running about Paris in danger, too. You'll stay here and take care of Kapu and Morgana. Cassie wouldn't thank you for leaving her horses to the stable boys, would she?"

"No, I guess not." A frown wrinkled her forehead. "But I don't like being left behind. I'll be frightened for you."

"Good-then maybe you won't act so hastily again."

"You're not being kind."

"I don't feel kind." His stride lengthened as they approached the stable. "If I wasn't more frightened than you ever dreamed of being, I'd have tanned your hide until you couldn't sit down for a month."

"You're frightened?" She gave up trying to match his stride and called after him, "I've never known you to be frightened of anything, Jared."

"Then enjoy the experience. I certainly don't." He disappeared into the stable.

"I'm sorry, mademoiselle." David gave Cassie an entirely winning smile. "I regret I've not had the opportunity of renewing my acquaintance with your father. It's not surprising, since we did not know each other well."

"But you did know Raoul Cambre very well," Lani said. "And we have reason to believe Charles will want to find Monsieur Cambre."

"Impossible." David sighed. "Alas, Raoul and I drifted apart after your father left for Tahiti. Raoul was always a solitary man."

"Then you have no idea where he is?" Cassie asked.

"Not the slightest." His gaze shifted quickly to Lani, and he changed the subject. "You're quite lovely. Did Charles ever paint you?"

"No, Charles was interested only in painting landscapes."

"A great mistake. I've done one landscape in my entire career. An artist has a duty to himself and history to mirror life. I have all the great men of France begging me to paint them."

"How fortunate for you," Lani said without expression.

"Not fortune, genius." He added quickly, "Or so I'm told. Even Napoleon praises my-"

"If my father has not contacted you yet, he will do so soon," Cassie interrupted. "You'll advise us when that happens."

"Please," Lani interjected, changing the demand to a plea. "It's very important, monsieur."

"He will not come to me," he said peevishly. "I told you he would not. I'm a very busy man. Why must you all bother-" He broke off and forced a smile. "You must understand my impatience if you reside with my friend Charles. Artists pay heed to the demands of the soul, not of the world."

"Except when Napoleon beckons you back to the world," Cassie said dryly. She rose to her feet and moved toward the door. "We'll be waiting for word from you."

Lani followed Cassie to the door. "Thank you for your time, monsieur."

"It's very valuable time," he said pointedly. "I have no desire to waste it."

Lani gave him another dazzling smile. "We'll try not to trouble you."

He grunted and had turned away before she shut the door.

"I think from now on I'll do the talking," Lani told Cassie. "You were less than courteous."

"He was lying." Cassie strode toward the hired carriage. "I know it."

"You wouldn't have to be a seer," Lani said. "He does not lie well."

"I think Papa was here."

Lani nodded as she seated herself in the carriage. "Which means that David was lying either at Charles's request… or that of someone else."

Cassie absently motioned for the driver to go. "You mean Raoul Cambre."

"Possibly."

Fear iced through Cassie. "Dear God, I hope not." She stuck her head out the window and called to the coachman, "Pull around the corner and stop."

"What are you doing?" Lani asked.

"David may go to Papa to warn him we're inquiring after him." She didn't want to voice the other alternative. "We'll wait here and see if he does."

"And then follow him?"

Cassie hopped out of the carriage. "I'll go to the café across the street from David's residence and watch the front door. You stay here in the carriage. When he comes out, I'll join you."

She didn't wait for an answer but moved quickly toward the corner.

"I'd forgotten what abominable taste Guillaume has in drinking establishments," Bradford said, looking around the crowded waterfront tavern. "There's so much smoke one can't even see the ceiling."

"Or the man at the next table," Jared said. "Which is the point when you don't want your presence noted." His gaze searched the room. "Where the devil is he? His note said he'd be here every evening until I contacted him."

"Then he'll be here. Guillaume may be a trifle crude, but he's very reliable."

"Crude? You call me crude?" Jared turned to see Guillaume a few feet away. The potbellied Frenchman belched with deliberate loudness. "I'm not crude- I'm merely too honest to comply with your fancy English manners."

"Where have you been?" Jared asked impatiently.

Guillaume glowered at Bradford. "Finding out information from my crude associates."

"What information?"

Guillaume waited, staring hard at Bradford.

"My abject apologies," Bradford said with a sigh.

Guillaume shrugged. "It's only what one would expect of the English."

"One also expects them to pay through the nose for information," Jared said. "What news of Cambre?"

"He had another visit from David today. According to my man, Valbain, he appeared very annoyed."

"David was his only visitor?"

Guillaume nodded. "And he stayed only a few minutes before returning to his home. Then Cambre left and visited a small pension on the rue de Lyon."

"Why?"

"He inquired after a Mademoiselle Deville."

Jared went tense. "And?"

"She was not there, so he left."

Jared's breath expelled explosively. "Thank God."

Guillaume chuckled. "But he could have retraced his steps two blocks and found her. Valbain said two ladies followed Cambre from his home to the pension. They waited until he left before dismissing their carriage and going to their chambers."

"Christ," Bradford said.

"You know these ladies?" Guillaume asked.

"We know them," Jared said. "Did Cambre return to the pension later?"

"Not before I came to meet you." He glanced resentfully at Bradford and belched again. "Of course, I stopped to have a bit of bread and cheese first. I knew you wouldn't want me to starve for want of a paltry meal."

Jared barely heard anything but the first sentence. "How long ago?"

"Two hours, perhaps."

He pushed back his chair. "Take me there."

"Now?" Guillaume shrugged. "I thought you'd want to go to Cambre. I think there's little doubt the man is your old enemy. He matches your description, and the friendship with David is-"

"Later." He had to make sure Cassie and Lani were out of danger before he moved on Cambre. During the entire journey from Morland he had been imagining Cassie hurt, even dead, and he would not take any chances.

Guillaume gave him a curious look. "After all these years of searching for him? I'd not believe- Oh, well, it's not my business." He pushed back his chair and stood up. "Come along. The pension's only a ten-minute carriage ride from here."

Cassie was a mere ten minutes away, and Guillaume had kept them waiting for two hours? Rage suddenly flared through Jared, and he was tempted to bang the Frenchman's head against the wall.

"He didn't know they were of any importance," Bradford said in a low voice. "Don't waste time on him, Jared."

Important? In the whole world Cassie was of the utmost importance to him, and Guillaume had left her unprotected with Cambre hovering over her like a vulture.

And she was still unprotected. His anger was submerged in panic. Bradford was right, there was no time to waste.

He picked up his hat and gloves from the table and strode after Guillaume.

"I don't want to just sit here and wait." Cassie prowled back and forth across the tiny chamber. "Let's go back to Cambre's house and talk to him."

"It's safer to have him come to us."

"Papa could be in that house."

"Do you think Cambre offered him his hospitality?" Lani shook her head. "Not if he's as evil as you believe."

"Perhaps Papa is a prisoner."

"Or perhaps he was too clever to let Cambre fool him." She paused. "Charles isn't stupid. We're not even certain that he went to Cambre's house."

"Why are you arguing with me?" Cassie's hands clenched into fists. "Anything could happen. Jared must be in Paris by now. If Cambre doesn't find Papa, Jared will."

"I'm not arguing with you. I'm trying to make you see reason."

"We should have met Cambre as he was coming out of the pension. I should never have let you stop me.

"And what would you have done? It would have been foolish to confront him with no plan. We didn't even have a weapon. Evidently he's concerned with our presence here, or he wouldn't have set out immediately for our pension. When he returns, we'll question him in safety here and see if we can learn anything." She was sitting in the window seat and wearily leaned her head back against the sill. "Now, will you stop pacing? You're making my head ache."

"I'm sorry." She stopped in the middle of the room. "It's just-we're so close- I'm afraid for Papa."

"We can do nothing if we don't ensure our own safety."

Cassie knew she was right, but it didn't still the anxiety pounding through her. Ever since they had arrived in Paris, she had felt a constant sense of panic, as if they were living under a threatening cloud that was turning the world darker with every passing second.

She crossed the room and dropped down onto the floor before Lani. "What if we don't find Papa before Jared does?" she whispered. "I couldn't bear it, Lani."

Lani's gaze searched Cassie's face. "Oh, no."

Lani knew, Cassie realized. She wanted to deny it, to tell Lani she was concerned only about Papa. She couldn't do it. "What I feel for Jared will make no difference. If I was going to let it matter, do you think I would have come?"

"Poor Kanoa." She gently cradled Cassie's cheek in her palm. "It's a cruel path you've chosen."

"I didn't choose it. I didn't want it to happen." She closed her eyes. "It's not fair that I love them both. God shouldn't have let this happen to me. What will I do if I can't keep Jared from killing Papa?"

"You will survive it."

Cassie's eyes opened and she blinked to hold back the tears. "You don't hate me?"

"For something you cannot help?" She shook her head. "How could you think I would hate you?"

"Because sometimes I hate myself." She sat back on her heels and smiled shakily. "But I'm glad you don't. I think it would break my heart."

Lani's expression was troubled. "If Cambre doesn't come to us tonight, we'll go to him in the morning."

Cassie nodded jerkily and rose to her feet. "Whatever you think best. I don't want to-"

A sharp knock sounded on the door.

Relief surged through Cassie. Cambre. At last the waiting was over and she could do something.

She moved quickly across the room and threw open the door.

"I'd like to throttle you," Jared said grimly.

She stared at him in astonishment. "How did-"

"You couldn't wait, could you?" He threw open the door and pushed past her into the room.

"Wait for what? For you to find him before I did?"

Bradford followed Jared and closed the door. "We understand, but your haste was ill-advised and unkind." His gaze went to Lani and he added reprovingly, "You frightened me."

To Cassie's astonishment color flushed Lani's cheeks. "I've given you no right to be concerned."

He smiled. "Ah, but I took that right long ago."

"Are you mad?" Jared's eyes blazed down at Cassie. "Why did you follow David to Cambre?"

"How did you- Cambre was being watched?"

"Guillaume's man, Valbain." He grasped her shoulders. "You're to stay away from Cambre, do you hear me?"

"I hear you." She shook her head to clear it. "That doesn't mean I'll obey." Valbain might have told him where to find her, but how had he known she had followed the artist? "How did you know we'd gone to see David?"

"Josette."

She stared at him in disbelief. "That's not true. She wouldn't betray us."

"She would to save your life."

She shook her head. "I don't believe you. Nothing would make her-"

"She knew it didn't matter any longer." His expression changed, and his grasp on her shoulders gentled. "She knew there wasn't anything you wanted here."

"What are you talking about? My father is here."

"Not anymore." His grasp opened and closed on her shoulders. "Dammit, I'm the last person on earth who should tell you this."

She went still. "Tell me what?"

"He's dead." When she still stared at him uncomprehendingly, he said jerkily, "Your father is dead, Cassie."

Pain and horror stormed through her. Her eyes closed and she swayed. "You killed him?" she whispered.

"No!" He crushed her to him, his hand cradling the back of her head. "Cambre killed him."

The pain was too great even to feel relief. "How do you know?"

"I received a letter from Guillaume before I left Morland. Cambre met with your father over a week ago at a café near the Seine. They stayed at the café for over two hours talking. At first they seemed on cordial terms. When they left the café, Valbain followed them. It was very late, and they took a deserted street that bordered the Seine…" He stopped. "You don't want to hear the rest."

"Yes, I do." She should step away from him, she thought dimly, but his arms seemed to hold the only comfort in the world. "I want to hear everything."

"They turned a corner, and Valbain lost sight of them for a few moments. When he rounded the corner, he saw Cambre rolling your father's body into the river."

She shuddered; she had passed that river a dozen times since reaching Paris. "Was he… found?"

"Not yet." He paused. "Guillaume says that's not unusual."

Papa lost… only that cold gray river for a grave. "And you didn't get to do it yourself," she said dully. "It must have been a great disappointment."

"Cassie…" His voice was hoarse with pain.

"You sound upset. I don't know why. This is what you wanted, isn't it?" She finally found the strength to push him away. "He's dead."

"What do you want me to say?" His expression was tormented. "God, I don't want to hurt you anymore."

"He's dead, that's what you wanted."

"Stop saying that."

"Why should I stop telling the truth?" The wild words were tumbling out, the tears running down her cheeks. "That's what this is all about. Death." Terrible word, horrible word. She said it again, "Death."

He took a step toward her.

"Don't touch me. How do I know Cambre even killed him? Maybe you did it."

He turned pale. "Do you want to see Guillaume's letter?"

"A letter that you could have written yourself. You said you wanted me in your bed again. If you killed my father, you knew that would never happen."

"I didn't kill him." He added harshly, "I can't deny that was my intention when I first met you. I won't even deny that I might still have killed him if I'd found him before Cambre did. I've hated him for a long time, and I don't know what I would have done." He enunciated every word with desperate distinctness. "But I did not kill him, Cassie."

She wanted to believe him, she realized with disgust. He had hated her father, and yet she still loved Jared and wanted to trust in him. It sickened her that even after Papa's death she continued to betray him.

"Go away." She ran past Bradford to where Lani sat in the window seat.

Lani's eyes were glittering with tears, and she held out her arms to Cassie. Cassie went into them, giving comfort for comfort. Lani had loved her father. Lani understood the pain.

She heard Bradford's soft voice above her. "He's telling the truth, Cassie."

But Bradford loved Jared and therefore could not be trusted either.

"We'll come back in the morning," Jared said. "I hope by then you'll have had time to realize I wouldn't lie to you." He paused. "Don't worry about your safety. Guillaume will be on guard outside the pension tonight in case Cambre returns. He's a short man, with a potbelly. If anyone of any other description approaches you, run to Guillaume."

When Cassie didn't reply, Jared muttered something beneath his breath before calling, "Come on, Bradford."

"Wait," Lani said. "Where are you going?"

Jared didn't answer immediately. "Guillaume will provide us beds in his pension."

"But you won't use them. You're going to kill Cambre," Lani said. "Not tonight. No more death tonight. We have enough to bear."

Jared remained silent.

"Do you hear me? No more horror. No more violence. Let us have this night to mourn."

"Very well," Jared finally agreed. "But I make no promises after tonight."

"If this beast killed Charles, I'll not ask you to hold your hand. Now, leave us."

"Lani, I'll stay if you need me," Bradford said.

"We don't need you," Lani said coldly. "You do not mourn."

Bradford sighed, and then Cassie heard his heavy footsteps cross the room. The door closed behind the two men.

"Lani…" Cassie whispered.

"Shh… I know." Lani's arms tightened around her. "First we will weep for our loss, and then we will remember Charles."

"Remember?" How could she think of anyone else at this moment?

"No, that's not what I meant. We will talk of times we loved him the most." Lani kissed her forehead. "It will help us heal."

"I don't-I can't talk right now."

"Yes, you can. I'll start and you'll follow." Her tears were falling now and her voice trembled. "But not now. I cannot speak now."

It was not until several hours later that the tears ceased and Lani's words began to flow. "Did you know I met Charles on the beach the day after my father and mother died?"

"No." Cassie had never questioned the circumstances of Lani's arrival in her life. First she had been too filled with resentment, and later it was as if Lani had always been there. "Your parents died together?"

"They were killed in the great storm when a tree branch fell on our dwelling. We were very loving together, and I was filled with sorrow, as we are now." She gazed unseeingly out of the window. "Charles had heard of their deaths, and he came to me. He didn't know me or my parents, but he could see I was mourning. He stayed with me all day and spoke gently and held my hand in comfort. Clara always said he wanted only my body, but that was not true. Later passion came to him, but that day he wanted to give kindness. He came every day for the next month and gradually I healed. I've always been grateful to him for giving me those days." She smiled reminiscently. "So I decided to give him something in return. He was shocked and filled with shame when I seduced him. He kept mumbling about my being a mere child. He was the child. He needed care and loving." She ended simply, "He needed me."

"Yes, he did… always."

"He was kind to you also," Lani prompted.

Cassie no longer needed encouragement; she suddenly realized she did want to talk about Papa. Yet there was no single incident, as Lani had related. Just bits and pieces of care and kindness, the little presents he had given her, the many times he had hidden her from Clara's wrath. "He gave me Kapu. Do you remember that night, Lani? They were going to kill him, but I would never have let it happen. I was planning on stealing him and running away. Papa tried to comfort me, but I couldn't stop crying. He was very upset when he left the cottage." She paused, thinking of his return. "But when he came back, he had Kapu. He had given the king four of his favorite paintings and paid six of Kamehameha's warriors to rope and lead Kapu up the hills and put him in the stable." It was all coming back to her now. "And there was the morning Mama died. You weren't there then, but I think you would have liked Mama. She was always gentle and sweet, and she loved Papa more than anything. Papa cried when she died, but he came to me later and held me and told me she was with the angels. I believed him because she was like an angel herself…"

The reminiscences flowed in an endless stream for both of them as the hours passed. When there finally seemed no more to say, they undressed and lay down in the big four-poster bed, exhausted.

"Do you feel better?" Lani asked after a long silence.

Cassie felt weary, drained, but perhaps that was the beginning of healing. "Yes."

"You were very cruel to Jared tonight."

"I don't want to talk about Jared."

"Do you truly doubt him?"

She had to doubt him. She wanted too desperately to believe him. Now that the first tearing pain had lessened, she could remind herself that Jared didn't lie, but what if this was the exception? "There's no proof he didn't kill my father."

"There's no proof he did. Perhaps tomorrow we will know more." Lani closed her eyes, and her words were beginning to slur. "It's all very strange… It's not fair to judge without…"

Lani was asleep.

Cassie stared into the darkness. She had thought she was exhausted enough to sleep, but she was still wide-awake.

There's no proof.

No proof Jared was not a murderer, no proof Cambre had done the deed, not even proof of her father's death. A man died and was thrown into the river like a piece of garbage, and vanished as if he had never lived. The thought brought the tears stinging again, and she willed them back. The time for weeping was past. Tears would not bring her father to life or avenge his death.

Vengeance.

The thought came out of nowhere, and yet it brought no surprise. Her father had been murdered, his life carelessly tossed away. She felt a sudden flare of rage, and for the first time, she fully understood Jared's quest for retribution. A wave of unbearable pain washed over her, mixing with the anger, as she wondered if that very quest had taken her father's life.

But there was no proof. Jared could have been telling the truth. It could have been Cambre.

But if Jared killed Cambre, she would never know.

She stiffened as she realized there was no doubt Jared would kill Raoul Cambre tomorrow. He had searched and found and would now execute. She would be forced to sit here and wait as he destroyed both Cambre and any hope she had of knowing what had occurred that night by the Seine.

She could not allow him to do it. She had to talk to Cambre first. She had to confront him, accuse him and watch his response. Perhaps then she would be certain of his guilt.

If he was guilty, such a meeting would be very dangerous.

Why was she hesitating? The risk was minimal compared to the prospect of living her life forever unsure if Jared had killed her father.

She glanced at Lani before carefully edging across the bed and from beneath the covers.

Lani did not stir.

Silently, Cassie dressed in her riding trousers, shirt, and jacket, but Lani was in such a deep sleep, she doubted if she would have heard her anyway. She started toward the window, then stopped and retraced her steps to the portmanteau.

The dagger Josette had given them.

Cassie slowly drew the dagger from the sheath. The blade gleamed cold as death in the moonlight.

Cassie stood looking at it in dread and fascination for a moment before returning it to its sheath and thrusting it into the waistband of her trousers. She moved toward the casement window overlooking the alley. Their lack of money had dictated they take this undesirable pension on the second floor overlooking the alley, where the garbage was thrown and the slop jars emptied. The location might now serve her well.

Guillaume would be watching the street entrance of the pension. No one would likely be astir in that stinking hole below.

She stepped onto the windowsill, then lowered herself to the sloping slate-tile roof overhanging the alley. Her boots scraped on the slate, and she froze, her gaze flying to the window above her.

Had the sound woke Lani?

She breathed a sigh of relief when no face appeared at the window.

Slowly, carefully, she turned on her stomach and crawled backward down the roof, clinging with fingers and toes to the tiles. It took her nearly a quarter of an hour to reach the edge.

She paused to get her breath before looking down at the alley.

It was fully ten feet to the ground.

And the alley was not deserted as she had thought.

The ground seemed to be heaving with movement. Bright-red eyes gleaming in the darkness.

Rats.

She shuddered as she watched the dozens of rodents scurrying below her. Would they attack her as they ravaged the garbage on the ground?

Well, she could not stay here all night. She braced herself, then, clinging to the roofs edge, slowly lowered her body until she hung full length.

Fear iced through her as she heard increased commotion below.

She dropped to the ground.

Her knees buckled, and she fell.

Mud. Filth. A rat ran over her hand as she frantically tried to lever herself to her feet. They were all around her!

She ran blindly toward the end of the alley.

Scurrying tiny feet ran over her boots, glittering eyes glared at her. The dark corridor seemed miles long, the journey as far as their trip across the Channel. Her heart pounded painfully as she slid, half fell, and then righted herself.

Suddenly there were cobblestones instead of filth and mud beneath her feet. Thank God. She had reached the side street.

She stopped beneath a lamppost, her chest rising and falling with her labored breathing. Dear heaven, that alley had stunk, and now she was nearly as odorous. She had a sudden memory of her island, where everything was washed clean by wind and sea, where people did not live on top of each other. How could her father have ever stood living with this filth?

But her father was not living at all now.

She smothered the dart of pain the remembrance brought. She was wasting precious time; in a few hours it would be dawn. Cambre's residence was across the city, and she must get there before Jared stirred.