Saving The Marquise's Granddaughter by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Author:Carrie Fancett Pagels [Pagels, Carrie Fancett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2016-06-30T23:00:00+00:00

16

Rhine River

“Be good. Wait for Guy.” Suzanne patted Fury’s forelock.

Early summer air wafted cooler near the river. If only rain would quench the fires that the French army planned to inflict upon Johan’s family and their neighbors. If only she were drenched in the cooling waters of God’s forgiveness. Although Guy claimed a junior officer’s ambitions brought on the disaster, Suzanne feared the torching stemmed from her own mistakes.

A beefy bargeman leaned on a pole by the bank, a family with three small children reclined against each other on a cloth on the nearby grass, eating fruit. Memories of eating al fresco in the countryside with her family floated through her mind. Thank God she still had her brother. Part of the rip in her heart had been mended. For now, that would have to be enough.

After paying her passage, she led Fury to a trough by the stable where her brother’s horse was to be left. One more goodbye. She stayed with Fury, currying him and talking to him as though he’d tell Guy everything she’d said.

The stable boy brushed his feet through the sandy soil as he approached her. “They’ll be leaving soon, miss.”

“Merci. Take good care of him.” She pressed a coin into his hand.

After several hours’ wait, the group was prepared to depart. The mother in the small family tried to corral her children, who were running in circles around their father. The handful of other travelers gathered in a queue on the bank.

Suzanne dusted her skirt off and bent over to retrieve her bag as a rider rapidly approached the stable. A tall man, whose sea-blue eyes held no reproach, dismounted. “Just in time. Ja?”

How had Johan known where to find her? She didn’t care. She wanted only to throw herself into his arms and tell him a million times that she loved him. Instead, she gaped at him.

“I’ll be right back.” He ducked into the stables.

Johan returned smiling, took her hand, and brought it to his warm lips. “I’ll watch over you the best I can. Get you safe to where you’re going.”

She snatched her hand away and placed it against her cheek. So he means only to be my protector. He didn’t love her. Johan had never said the words. She sighed. A duty, a responsibility. That’s what I am. Her hand moved to soothe the sudden ache in her stomach.

Johan searched her face. “All will be fine. You’ll see.”

“Oui. But first, we must pay your passage.” She moistened her lips and led him toward the dock. “How did you find me?”

“I encountered three cavalrymen on my way. I prayed for God to help me.” He gave her a cockeyed grin. “Your friend, Rochambeau, he directed me. And I have papers.”

After they paid and boarded, she gazed upriver to what lay ahead. Their destinies would part when they reached the New World.

But Johan would guard her transit.

Would that be enough?

~*~

Amsterdam wasn’t as Suzanne remembered. Her strongest recollection was of her mother’s delight at this port city.

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