"No, I came with Lani."
"Then would you care to tell me how you knew?"
She bit her lower lip. What could she say? Could she tell him of those nights on the Josephine! Could she tell him lust had become love for his enemy? "I can't let you kill him."
He studied her expression. "Ah, so that's the way of it. Fate does paint strange patterns for us poor mortals. Cambre may be more fortunate than he believes. If Danemount has an equal affection for you, he may have bait for the trap."
Panic soared through her. "He won't follow me. He doesn't know I'm here. Besides, he cares nothing for me."
"Impossible." He smiled gently. "You're a rare and lovely woman, Cassie. A man would be a fool not to love you, and Danemount isn't a fool."
"Papa, don't try to use me," she whispered. "I couldn't stand it."
"But you said you could never hate me, Cassie." He opened the door. "Ah, here's your tub and water." He stepped aside to allow the column of servants to enter. "Do hurry, dear. Raoul's an impatient man."
A thunderous knock snatched Jared from sleep.
"Let me in, Your Grace."
Guillaume, Jared identified drowsily. What the devil was he-
Guillaume had been guarding Cassie's pension! He leaped from the bed and jerked the door open. "What is it? What hap-"
"We have a problem." Lani pushed past Guillaume and entered the room. "Where is Bradford?"
"In the next room." His gaze searched beyond her. "You're alone. Where is she?"
Guillaume said quickly, "I'm sorry to bring her here, Your Grace. I was standing across the street watching the pension, and she marched up to me and demanded to see you."
He motioned impatiently, his gaze fastened on Lani. "Is Cassie back at the pension?"
"No."
"Where is she?"
"I swear she didn't go past me." Guillaume scowled. "Who would think a lady would go jumping from windows and trekking in garbage? It's not my fault. You told me to protect her from Cambre, and that's what I did."
Jared muttered a curse and swung back to Lani. "What the devil is he mumbling about?"
"Perhaps the lady could wait outside while you dress, Your Grace," Guillaume mumbled uncomfortably.
"I've seen naked men before," Lani said curtly. "But put your clothes on, we may have little time. I have a carriage waiting outside. I don't know how long she's been gone."
"Go wake Bradford, Guillaume. Tell him to dress." Jared snatched up his shirt and thrust his arms into it. "Where did she go?"
"Where do you think she went?" Lani sat down at a small table. "I blame myself. I should have known this would happen when she had time to think."
"Cambre," Jared said. Christ, she had gone to Cambre. "He'll kill her."
"She has a dagger."
He pulled on his boots with shaking hands. "Why didn't she wait? Why didn't she let me do it? She knew I planned on killing him."
"You think she wished to murder Cambre before you had the opportunity." She shook her head. "Cassie is capable of vengeance, but not assassination." Her hands clenched on the arms of the chair. "Hurry."
"I'm moving as fast as I can." He jerked on his coat. "Then why did she go to him?"
"Guilt. She hopes to absolve herself."
"You're talking nonsense." He opened his portmanteau and pulled out his pistol. "She did nothing."
"She thinks she did." Her gaze met his across the room. "She believes she loves the man who may have killed her father."
He froze. "What?"
"And she's hoping Cambre will convince her you didn't kill Charles." She smiled grimly. "But he may murder her before she has the opportunity to question him."
"What is it, Jared?" Bradford said as he strode into the room followed by Guillaume. He was fully dressed but his hair was still tousled. "Lani?"
"Cambre. I'll tell you on the way." He started for the door. "Lani, stay here with Guillaume."
"I will not." She rose to her feet. "She's my friend and sister. I may be of help."
"And you may be a hindrance if we have to worry about your safety as well." He turned to Guillaume. "She stays here. I won't forgive you if she slips through your hands too."
She whirled on Bradford. "I wish to go."
He shook his head.
Her eyes blazed at him. "I'll not forgive you for this."
"Then so be it," he said sadly. "I won't risk losing you."
"You've never had me. If you do this, you never will. Let me go with you. You need me."
An expression of agony crossed his features. "Do you think I don't know what a risk I'm running? If I give in to you now, there's a chance I could slide into Deville's place in your life. I could let you take care of me and make my decisions. I could lean on your strength and bask in your affection." He drew a deep breath. "But I'm not Deville, Lani. I need to know that you're alive and well somewhere in this world even if it's not by my side."
He followed Jared from the room. Neither man spoke until they reached the hired carriage waiting outside.
"Do we have a plan?" Bradford asked. "Or is that too much to ask?"
"We're going to get her back."
"Masterly plan. How?"
God, he didn't know. He only knew she mustn't die.
"We're in enemy territory. We can't draw attention to ourselves," Bradford said. "On the other hand, it's clear Cambre doesn't want to attract any surveillance, either. Then, too, we're assuming Cassie needs rescuing, which may not be true. She's an extraordinary woman."
"How calmly you're taking all this."
"One of has to think." He opened the door of the carriage. "I'm not sure you're capable."
Jared tried to subdue his own panic and begin to reason. "We'll look the situation over, and then we'll-"
"Monsieur le Duc?"
Jared stiffened with shock as he whirled to face the man coming out of the shadows.
"How charming you look." Raoul smiled at her from the head of the table as her father seated her. "The lady who wore that gown last wasn't nearly as lovely."
"I'm not at all charming." Cassie indifferently glanced down at the sea-green gown one of the servants had brought her with the tub. "Why didn't your guest take the gown with her?"
"She displeased me. When she left, I allowed her nothing but the clothes on her back." He gestured to the silver plate overflowing with a selection of fruit. "I hope you don't mind serving yourself. I instructed the servants to go to their quarters and stay there."
"Why?" her father asked, startled.
Cambre ignored the question and continued addressing Cassie. "I was certain the gown would be useful someday. One never knows when one is going to be visited by another lady who will prove more accommodating." He smiled. "Tell me, did His Grace find you accommodating?"
"Raoul!" Her father frowned. "This is my daughter."
"A daughter can be a whore."
The bald crudity of the words caused Cassie to stiffen. Cambre was still smiling, but his eyes were cold and watchful. The cat-and-mouse game was ended. He was on the attack, and Cassie found it a relief.
"I'm not a whore." She met his gaze. "And I don't think His Grace would say I was accommodating."
"But he did tell you-"
"That my father was dead," she finished. "Yes."
"And he sent you to exact vengeance?"
"I don't go where he sends me. I came because I wished to do so."
"Perhaps you believed you were doing as you wished, but a clever man can pull the strings with such subtlety that the puppet isn't even aware of the tug."
"As you do?"
He nodded. "I'm a true master of the art." He popped a slice of orange into his mouth. "Well, were you going to stab me with that pretty dagger?"
"Possibly."
He chuckled and turned to her father. "She has courage." His smile faded. "But I think you have one more reason to dispose of our old enemy. It's clear he's dishonored this sweet jeune fille."
"It's not clear to me," her father said.