The Escape (7 page)

André took a step back and shook his head. Gabrielle’s hand floated in midair for a heartbeat before she dropped it to her side. Pleating the sheet, she wondered what he thought. Once that knowledge would have been easier to discern than her own thoughts.

Now, she wasn’t sure.

“What chance did he give you when he dragged you from here two years ago?” Eric argued. He still held her hand, but his control teetered.

“He took you from the safety of our arms to see you imprisoned and bartered with like some common whore.” André’s words drifted harshly between them.

“He thinks me a common whore because of this club.” Gabrielle snapped back. She’d had quite enough of others telling her what she could and couldn’t do, who she could see and who she could not.

Annoyed with their lack of understanding, she turned from them and slipped her chemise over her head. Flimsy as the cover may have been, Gabrielle felt stronger with it. She needed more than a single night to erase the years of distance between the three of them, no matter how she may have wished to do so with a single kiss.

Taking a deep breath, Gabrielle added, “He never embraced this…place and all it offered.”

“No,” André added. He took an aborted step forward but must have sensed Gabrielle needed space, for he stopped. His gaze looked from Eric to her, and she saw him visibly struggling with her choice.

“He never embraced it for
you
,” André continued. “I still believe his leaving the Club wasn’t because he suddenly found the pious morals of the clergy, but to cover up an impending dismissal.”

He stopped, as if unwilling to say more. Then he nodded, and for a heartbeat Gabrielle didn’t know if it was to reveal more about Theodore, or to sequester her in their rooms. As foolish as that sounded, given what happened two years ago, she wouldn’t have been surprised if they had locked her in here.

But then she noticed the resigned look on André’s face, how he squared his shoulders as if to brace himself for a rather unpleasant duty.

“However,” André grudgingly said, “if you’re determined to warn him then write your note and
we
shall see it delivered.”

“Thank you,” Gabrielle murmured. Unbearably touched, she caressed touched André’s face. “But I ask to see the general’s daughter’s before I go. A brief visit, nothing more.”

“Gabrielle.” Eric slipped his arm around her waist from behind. He held her tight to him, and she could feel his cock press against her backside. A shudder of need rocked her, moisture pooling between her thighs. He knew what he did to her; he had to, but didn’t push her.

“You don’t owe them,” Eric continued, though he now stroked the underside of her breasts. “You give them more credit than they deserve.”

“Eric.” She turned in his arms, blood heated as André bracketed her. Gabrielle swallowed but refused to give in to temptation. This wasn’t the time.

“When you met them they were protective. They want me as part of their family, and have never once expressed anything but welcome and kindness to me directly.” She smiled up at him, reached behind her to touch André as well. “They kept you at a distance because they were jealous for their father.”

“Leave them a note as well,” André offered. He kissed the side of her throat, hands settling on her hips. “Why must you see them?”

“Because I want them to know, truly know,” Gabrielle insisted, “how grateful I’ve been for them.”

She wanted to say more, confess to André and Eric how the Fortier sisters had helped her survive. True, she should leave with a note, without a word to them, but couldn’t. She owed more to them than her own brother, and Gabrielle would not leave Paris until she settled things between her and the sisters.

“Alright,” Eric agreed. “Yes, alright. But I’ll be directly outside.”

Chapter Seven

Mouth dry, Gabrielle swallowed as she stood before the door. It wasn’t grand or ornate, but the entire street was well situated and maintained. She’d been here before, more times than she could count, and had never felt such dread.

Not even that first time, after Theodore had told her what he’d done, all but instructing her to visit the Fortier’s and befriend them.

With a slight toss of her head, Gabrielle took a deep breath, savored the rich aromas of the Parisian street, and let the knocker fall against the door. She refused to cower to Theodore no matter how her brother treated her, and wouldn’t let fear over discovery paralyze her now.

The door almost instantly opened, the genial butler offering a half-bow when he recognized her. Ushering her into the front parlor, he promised to fetch Margaux and Antoinette as well as a pot of tea.

Stomach rebelling at the thought of any refreshment, Gabrielle forced herself to remain calm on the settee. Her hands twisted together in her skirts, a gown she’d left at the Club two years ago. It hurt to breathe, but she had to do this.

It didn’t matter what arguments her lovers offered, it didn’t matter how accurate those arguments might be, Gabrielle needed to see the Fortier sisters one last time.

As she waited, bare moments only, it surprised her how much she’d miss them. For a brief moment she contemplated offering to bring them to England, but knew that was foolish. They’d never go, and to offer would put her in more danger than this visit already did.

She heard them in the foyer and resisted looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows in search of Eric. André had stayed in the Club to finalize their escape, gathering clothing, making sure all their valuables were well hidden in her cloak and the hems of her gowns. He’d said something about searching out le Comte de Courville, but Gabrielle hadn’t asked why.

Their footsteps sounded rushed on the foyer floor and it was then Gabrielle realized she should have planned this better. It had been over an entire day since she’d snuck out of Theodore’s townhouse and spent the night in the park awaiting Eric. Of course Theodore had confronted Annette and Margaux as to her whereabouts.

“What’s happened, Gabrielle?” Margaux asked, breath short as she raced into the parlor.

Annette, right beside her sister, looked as worried as the elder Fortier woman. “We’ve been mad with concern. Where had you disappeared to?”

She’d prepared for those questions, but that didn’t stop the guilt Gabrielle felt. “I see Theodore has already been here to alarm you.”

“He’s beside himself with worry!” Margaux insisted.

Gabrielle didn’t doubt that one bit, but knew Theodore’s worry over her had less to do with her whereabouts than who she may have been with. Had, indeed, been with.

“I couldn’t stay with Theodore a moment longer,” Gabrielle said quietly, so no servant overheard her. However, both women listened intently. “But I had to see the pair of you. My visit must be brief,” she said and wondered if Theodore had any of the Fortier servants on his payroll.

“But you must know how much I care for the both of you.” Gabrielle crossed the few feet between them and took their hands, squeezing tightly in true affection. “And how much I have long appreciated your kindness and welcome.”

“You’re our family now, Gabrielle,” Margaux insisted. “What’s this about?”

“Have you quarreled with Theodore?” Annette demanded, but didn’t release her hand as if she feared doing so would see Gabrielle lost. “If you have, if you feel you can’t stay with him a moment longer, you are always welcomed here.”

“Yes.” Margaux nodded. “We don’t want you wandering the streets.”

“Theodore has lied to me.” Gabrielle’s words were flat and harsh in the bright fall sunlight. “Someone I had long believed dead was not.”

No surprise shone on either sister’s’ face. However, neither looked happy with her revelation, either.

“Is it that merchant we met on the street?” Margaux demanded. “He isn’t good enough for you, Gabrielle. He can’t take care of you as Father will,” she leaned closer, intent on making Gabrielle see reason. “As we will. Theodore must have had his reasons for his lie.”

Annette was nodding in agreement. “You’re safe with us,” she insisted. “Isn’t that worth more than a poor man’s handsome face?”

“Father,” Margaux said in a whisper, looking at Annette who nodded. “Father won’t care if you’re ruined. He wants only you; as do we as part of our family.”

“A single tryst won’t spoil what we have,” Annette agreed as if they’d practiced this conversation.

As much as that thought amused Gabrielle, she shook her head. She couldn’t have this, them believing an afternoon’s delight would ease everything.

“I’ll have the servants make up your room,” Annette added, releasing her hand and stepping back to do just that as if the matter had been settled.

“No,” Gabrielle said quickly. “No, please don’t. I won’t stay. It’s true, I love Eric. And I plan to return to him.”

She embraced Margaux and turned to Annette who hadn’t moved another step though she clearly looked as if she wanted to. Emotion choked her, and she smiled at them, warm and loving.

“But I wanted to say goodbye and tell you that you needn’t feel you have to be alone or lonely.” Gabrielle took both their hands again and made sure she held their attention. “Margaux, your father’s aide, Philippe, watches you with such affection. If you’d merely return his gaze, he’d be yours forever.”

She kissed Annette’s cheek. Behind her Gabrielle could just see out the windows but Eric had hidden himself well and she couldn’t see him.

“Annette, Monsieur de Claude makes it a point to watch you whenever you leave the house.” Gabrielle nodded at the look of utter shock in Annette’s eyes and insisted, “Greet him and let yourself be loved.”

She took a step back, releasing their hands even as they protested her plan. They didn’t, she noticed, protest her observations about the men Gabrielle knew to be clearly smitten with them. Major Phillipe Lemieux had long wanted Margaux so far as Gabrielle could tell and she knew the look of a man in love. And the Fortier’s’ neighbor de Claude did, indeed, gaze at Annette with such longing Gabrielle wondered the air between them didn’t burn with his wanting.

Turning for the door, she didn’t realize Margaux’s and Annette’s protests had abruptly died. Theodore stood in the doorway, looking far more fearsome than she could ever remember him looking.

“I’d like a moment with my sister.” Theodore’s voice cut through the parlor.

“Listen to him,” Margaux whispered as she pulled Annette along. They both looked at her worriedly, but left nonetheless. “Listen to his reason.”

The parlor doors shut behind them though didn’t latch if Gabrielle heard correctly over the roaring in her ears. Her heart raced with a thread of fear but she raised her chin in defiance. She’d see no help from either the sisters or the staff, and didn’t know if Eric could see into the front parlor.

A thousand thoughts raced through her mind: Perhaps for once her brother would listen to reason; perhaps Margaux and Annette would have a change of heart and return; or perhaps Eric could truly see inside the Fortier’s front parlor and wouldn’t allow Theodore to take her back to his townhouse.

However, Gabrielle knew none of those thoughts could be true. She was well and truly trapped.

“What were you thinking?” he demanded in a hard voice. His arms folded over his chest, but he hadn’t moved from the doors. No doubt so she wouldn’t try to escape. “Did you find your way back to the damn Club?”

“They’re alive,” she shot at him. “They’re both alive, you lying bastard!”

Gabrielle wanted to attack him, wanted to hit him, throw things at him, but didn’t want to be within arm’s reach. Well known for his mercurial temper, Gabrielle didn’t want to take the chance he’d physically assault her.

He stalked her, long steps eating the distance between them. His eyes, so like the blue of hers, darkened with mad fury.

“I don’t care,” he snarled. “You’re not to be with them! You’re not to be their whore!” His voice rose unsteadily, hands curling into fists. “I’ll find them and kill them myself if you don’t do as I instruct.”

He lashed out and grabbed her arm, grip bruising as he yanked her against him.

“Your threats are hollow, Theodore,” Gabrielle spat at him. Her arm ached but she barely felt it over her own anger. “You’ll never be able to reach us again. I had a note sent to warn you and that is
all
I owe you!”

He didn’t reply, Gabrielle wondered if he could speak over the wrath consuming him. Theodore wrenched her to the doors and opened them. Margaux and Annette stood in the foyer, looking worried but didn’t try to stop them.

Gabrielle couldn’t feel betrayed by them; they didn’t know the true Theodore, and she didn’t want to involve them in her familial dispute for fear her brother would turn on them. The look of fear in their eyes caught her even as Theodore hauled out the front door.

His carriage awaited them on the street and her heart sank. Gabrielle frantically looked around, but knew none would come to her aid. Across the street, several citizens gathered in a rush of curiosity and concern. One called for the police.

For a wild moment, Gabrielle thought that someone would see her, but it didn’t matter. As her brother, Theodore had every right to treat her as he wished. She looked from the driver to the footman, but neither man so much as twitched in her direction.

“You think I didn’t see that bastard you whore yourself to?” Theodore spat as he opened the carriage door.

Panic froze her, when Theodore tried to shove her into the carriage, but Gabrielle fought him. Eric!

“What did you do?” she screamed at him.

Whirling on him, Gabrielle fought with renewed fury. Clawing, kicking, snarling at him, she attacked. Theodore tried to stop her, to contain her fight, but she refused. He’d done something to Eric, harmed him enough to be confident he wouldn’t interfere.

And with André making their final arrangements at the Club…

Gabrielle stumbled forward. Margaux and Annette grabbed hold of her and for one startled moment she thought the sisters had pulled her from Theodore’s grip. Breathing hard, she focused on her brother, not at all confident that the Fortiers’ presence would stop him from taking her again.