Page 6 of Sir Durham’s Disarming Asset

“I do not remember. Sadly, I don’t.” She could find fault with herself, of course she could! She had been so diseased that she did not recognize one she had met? She suppressed a shudder and hugged him close. “Tell me again about how we parted from Luc, his sister, and her husband.”

“We parted from the others south of Paris, two days after your escape. It was best to split up. The others could travel more quickly. You were not in good health. I don’t expect you to recall much of anything.”

“But there was Luc. You saved him.”

“Yes, we got him out too.”

“He deserved to be free. He saved me from more abuse by the guards.”

“I know.” Rafe pressed her close and kissed her forehead.

“And so the other man? I have only vague recollections of him. That man was Inès’s husband, yes?”

He nodded. “The Earl of Halsey. A good man.”

“Among other good men,” she said with a soft smile to add to her compliment. She frowned, frustrated at her poor memories of her rescue. “I do want to see Inès. Both of them. I am grateful to them. I have not thought much of them since that first night, and I should have.”

Rafe pushed strands of hair from her brow. “I wish you would not criticize yourself. You have been through a terrible ordeal.”

“Are Inès and Halsey in Brighton, do you think? And Luc?”

“No reliable news about Luc yet.” Rafe had told her that he had heard from a local fisherman in St. Nazaire that a young French man of Luc Bechard’s description had made his way from there to English shores weeks ago. That filled her with happiness. Luc had been so strong, accepting beatings from the guards that were meant for her. If Rafe and his friends had not come that day, Luc might be dead at the hands of those furious, unprincipled men.

“I expect Inès and Halsey are in London.” Rafe shook his head. “But in Brighton, you and I will pause. We will enjoy the sea air that you love so much during a nice, hot summer. We will get you even healthier. We will also prepare you to meet the world.”

“I don’t care for any of that.”

“Not now, perhaps. But you are young, and Society loves a lovely lady who likes to laugh.”

“I don’t feel like laughing.”

“You will, chouchou.”

She purposely pouted. “I want to stay at home and sit in a garden and read good books.” And see if I can reclaim the one I sent to London with my friend.

“What a bore! You will soon want to go to parties and balls.”

“If you come with me, I will.”

“Ah, yes. To be discussed, my dear.”

“Why? Don’t you like Society?” She widened her eyes, toying with him.

“It is useful.”

“How?”

“How useful?” he asked. “Well, when you wish to invest in a new company or buy a new schooner, you need information.”

“I would like to make money.”

“Is that so?” He laughed.

“Someday I will have a company, a business of my own.” Playfully, she narrowed her golden eyes on him. In the confines of the cab, the moonlight shone brightly in her gaze. “Have you earned your fortunes going to parties and balls?”

“Some. Indeed, I have.”

She considered him and twitched her brows. “Something tells me you have done more than that.”