that will not happen. You see, your wife will be leaving with me, or she will die because of you. If you had done nothing to cause her to arrive at my doorstep, none of this would be happening. The evening would have ended very differently.’
Guilt burned throughout Gabriel’s body at the truth that was boldly stated.
‘That was not poison in her glass, but something to make her sleep for hours,’ Janvier continued. ‘It occurred to me during our visit that I could take her to France with me as insurance, shall we say. But alas, you have forced my hand.’ He wiggled the blade by her throat. ‘I will be leaving with your wife now, Winterbourne, and you will remain here for three hours. Should you try and stop me, I will not hesitate to kill her.’
‘I will not allow you to take her. Let her go and we can resolve this like men, not like children who hide behind a woman’s skirt.’
‘Should I release her, you will not let me leave here a free man. I know the penalty for what you are accusing me of and I have no intention to die now.’
Olivia tried to edge her way closer to the table with the large vase, but Janvier jerked her back. ‘Do not move,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘I should hate to mar that pretty neck of yours.’
‘You said you wanted me to go to France with you,’ Olivia whispered. ‘I will go willingly. There is no need for any of this.’
‘Why should I believe you would do so? I thought to take you with me in the event I needed to bargain your life should my actions be discovered. And now it seems I need you more than ever. Make no mistake, I will injure you should you or your husband force my hand. And if you startle me with any sudden movements, there is no telling how much my hand will move.’
She swallowed deeply, causing Gabriel’s hands to sweat as he continued to point his gun at Janvier.
‘You don’t even know Prinny,’ she said. ‘What reason could you possibly have for wanting him dead?’
‘Your beloved friend has been boldly bragging about all the spoils of war he has acquired—items that rightfully belong to France and not Britain—and especially not to that fat, stupid man. He boasts how he defeated France. How he has brought down Napoleon. What is next? Will he decide to take France as well? I spit at his arrogance. We will not be subject to the rule of an idiot, forced to call ourselves British subjects. Surely you can understand how that would not be acceptable to me or any Frenchman.’
Gabriel was trying to calculate the best angle for a shot at Janvier that would pose no danger to Olivia, but he was having no luck. His heart was pounding so hard it must have been visible through his coat. There had to be a way to get Janvier to release her.
‘Of course I understand.’ Olivia’s soothing voice broke the silence.
‘How could I live with myself if I saw my family and friends harmed by British tyranny?’ His gaze remained fixed on Gabriel.
‘So you are doing this for your family and friends back home?’ she asked softly.
‘I would die for those that I hold dear,’ he spat out.
‘Please, do not say such a thing,’ Olivia said gently. ‘Surely there must be a peaceful way to settle this. Prinny is sympathetic to the Bourbons.’
In his peripheral vision Gabriel noticed Olivia slowly and carefully opening the strings of the reticule she held down in front of her. If Janvier caught her movement, he might slit her throat. A cold clamminess crept along Gabriel’s skin. Why couldn’t that woman do as she was told?
‘For how long will his sympathies last? With your Regent eliminated, Britain will focus inward. I do not believe his brothers have the same fascination with France. We will be free of a British threat.’
Olivia took in a shallow breath. ‘I understand you are doing what you must to protect your family. That is to be commended.’
Why did Gabriel feel as if the words she spoke were directed at him? Were these to be her last words to him? He swallowed hard and forced his mind to focus on getting her free from Janvier.
‘That is one of the things I admire about you,’ said the Frenchman. ‘You are an intelligent woman.’
‘I like to believe so.’
Janvier let out a cry of pain.
He dropped his arms from Olivia as the knife fell to the ground. ‘Salope,’ he growled through clenched teeth while grasping his thigh.
‘You said you admired me,’ she sneered back, quickly darting out of his way.
Stunned at his wife’s actions, it took a few seconds for Gabriel to realise he had a clear shot at Janvier. But before he was able to pull the trigger, Olivia grabbed the Sèvres vase and smashed the man over the head with enough force to cause him to collapse to the ground. The pieces of the vase scattered around him.
She surveyed his still form cautiously. ‘You don’t think he is dead, do you? I find I am not bloodthirsty enough to kill him.’
All the bones in Gabriel’s body disintegrated.
She was alive.
She was safe.
And she was staring at him, waiting for an answer.
Stepping closer to the motionless Frenchman, Gabriel could see what she had done to impede him. There, embedded in his thigh, sparkled a brooch encrusted with diamonds. He poked his foot into the man’s side. ‘He is still breathing. Do you need a moment?’ Gabriel certainly felt like he did. ‘Perhaps you should sit down.’
She brushed her shaking hands against her skirt, cleaning off the remnants of the porcelain vase. ‘Do not concern yourself with me. Tell me what we do now.’
We? Gabriel marvelled at her fortitude. He placed his pistol back under his coat. ‘We are not doing anything. You are going to return home and I will see that he is taken into custody.’
‘You would not have been able to subdue him without me.’
That was a bit of an overstatement, but Gabriel thought it best to let her feel as she did. The first time one captured a criminal it was heady stuff.
‘You are not sending me home while you see this through,’ she continued.
She was too stubborn for her own good. Kneeling down before her, Gabriel reached under her skirt and tore a strip off the bottom of her chemise.
She slapped his hand away. ‘Was the destruction of this gown with the wine not sufficient enough that you felt a need to attack the rest of my wardrobe as well?’
Stepping over to Janvier, Gabriel rolled him over with his boot, brought the man’s hands behind his back, and twisted the linen around his hands. ‘It’s prudent to ensure he will not get away should he wake up.’
Olivia crossed her arms. ‘What do we do with him?’
‘Ordinarily I would have Bow Street hold him. But I will not take the chance he has a sympathiser there. I know of a place to take him for now.’
‘Richmond?’
