Durant Residence
Paris, Kingdom of France
Someone knocked on the door, silencing those gathered in Thomas Durant’s father’s storefront. David rose, drawing his sword, as Jeremy did the same, taking a hold of Tanya’s collar as she growled.
“Who could that be?” asked David of no one in particular.
“Is that you, Enzo?” called Simone Thibault, struggling to her feet.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Let him in, let him in!”
David glared at her. “Who the hell is that?”
“One of my men. He’s harmless. Let him in before he raises a fuss and draws attention.”
Rage raced through David, but he had no choice, Enzo, whoever he was, pounding on the door again. He opened it, his eyes bulging at the massive wall of muscle filling the doorway.
“Get inside, get inside!” urged Thibault, clearly pleased to see the man. He crouched, entering, as David quickly closed the door, peering out through the cracks in one of the boarded-up windows. “How did you find us?”
“I got the mistress’ message.”
David’s jaw dropped as the room erupted in anger, all of it aimed at Thibault. “What is he talking about?”
Thibault seemed unconcerned with the vitriol aimed her way. “I sent for him this morning.”
“When?”
“When I went to the bathroom.”
David stared at a horrified Jeremy. “I-I’m sorry, she tricked me!”
But there was no time for blame. David stared at Enzo. “Were you followed?”
“Of course not.”
David peered out the window, examining the crowds passing, and spotted a man across the street, lurking in the shadows, staring at their hideout. “You were.” He cursed, throwing up his hands. “Now what are we going to do?”
Jeremy rushed forward, looking out the window himself. “If it’s only him, then he won’t report back until he’s confirmed she’s here.”
David agreed. “Right, but how long will he wait? Eventually, he’s going to report back and at least relay his suspicions.” He jabbed a finger at Thibault. “Thanks to you, we’re no longer safe here, and we have nowhere to go! Why would you do such a thing? Why would you send for him?”
Thibault shrugged. “I’m sick and tired of living like a prisoner and a peasant. I wanted him to fetch some of my things.”
Lady Joanne gasped. “Of all the selfish things! I’m not used to living like this either, but do you see me complaining? One must make due under such circumstances! Sir Marcus and Simon are out there risking their lives for us, and they trusted all of us to do nothing that could put us at risk!”
David took another look, the man still across the street, still staring at the shop. “He’s still there, and he’s definitely watching the place.” He frowned. “We have no choice but to try and eliminate him, but if he gets away, or has an accomplice, or has already sent word back to his master, our time here is finished.”
Joanne rose. “I don’t think we have a choice. We have to go to my husband, and pray he’ll take us in. He knows I’m innocent. I can’t see him saying no.”
Jeremy frowned. “Sir Marcus didn’t want us to do that, but I don’t see that we have a choice either. At least there, we should be able to get word to Sir Marcus for instructions.”
David’s chest was tight, not used to having such decisions thrust upon him, but he had been left in charge, and now he had to manage the situation. He looked around the room, shaking his head. “There are six of us, and we have three horses. We’ll have to double-up.”
“That’ll make for a sight,” muttered Jeremy.
Thomas shook his head. “Not in these parts, but you’re right, once we enter your part of the city, M’Lady, we will stand out.”
Jeremy started gathering their things. “At that point, we can dismount and walk the horses with the ladies.”
David shook his head. “Then it would be open season on us. We must make all haste.” He pointed at Thibault. “This is your doing. Give Master Thomas some money so he can hire us three more horses.”
She glared at him for a moment before finally acquiescing, fishing several coins from her purse and handing them to Thomas.
“Make it quick!” said David, and Thomas bolted toward the front door. David caught him before he could open it. “Go out the back, and bring them there. We don’t want whoever’s watching to see anything in the front.”
Thomas nodded. “Y-yes.” He headed out the back, the door slamming shut a moment later.
Thibault sat in one of the two chairs. “There, problem solved. We’ll have six horses, and we can move swiftly to safety.”
David shook his head. “We’ll be followed, and perhaps intercepted.”
She batted her hand at his statement. “We’ll ride hard and fast.”
David laughed. “Forgive me, but other than myself and David, none of you are experienced enough on a horse to ride in such a way.”
“You’d be surprised.”
“Yes, I would be. We’ve been riding for over a decade in battle, you haven’t. Racing a horse through the streets of a city, with people in the way, is no easy task, especially when one’s attention is divided by the road ahead, and possible pursuers behind.”
Jeremy stared out the window. “We need to deal with our problem first, and before Thomas returns.”
David looked at him. “What do you propose?”
Jeremy sighed. “I can think of only one thing, but if we’re wrong, and this is just some innocent man waiting for someone, it would be murder.”
Joanne stepped forward, wringing her hands. “Is there any way we can be sure?”
David shrugged. “Challenge him?”
Jeremy eyed him. “What do you mean?”
David pointed at his bow on the table. “You get on the roof, and I’ll go outside and ask what his business is. If he has a reasonable answer, I’ll return. If he doesn’t, I’ll signal you.”
Jeremy pursed his lips then nodded. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
“Then let’s make haste, there isn’t a moment to lose.”