Blind Man's Bluff: Black Butterfly by Maria York

Author:Maria York [York, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Quietly, Félicité entered the warm foyer of her townhouse. After removing her rabbit fur coat, she noticed a fire in the study. She immediately opened the door and smiled at Marrok.

“Thank you for waiting up for me,” she said in French.

“Of course,” he said and poured her just a little vanilla cognac. “After a soiree there, I am surprised you are not drunk.”

“Deep in the cups,” Félicité smiled and said softly in English. She lifted her glass of cognac and teased, “Are you trying to finish the job?”

He laughed warmly. “No, no. It is just so nice to sit and talk with you before bed. It will take you some time to finish that little taste, so I can enjoy you in the meantime. Tell me about your day.” And she did.

“So I owe Lord Gillingham a favor, for without this introduction to his cousin, I would not have been a success or have an opportunity to gain access to Almack’s.”

“You do not owe Gillingham anything. If anything, he is repaying us for our services.”

“You for your services,” she corrected.

“Do not underestimate what your role has been, Félicité. What you did helped bring down a powerful man and his complex network of double agents.”

“What I did felt more like protecting you than providing a service to England.”

“In my moment of desperation, I had to very carefully consider whom I could trust to do this. I would have chosen Michel, but he is terrible with ciphers. You, my Félicité, were the only other person I know who would have the courage and intrepidity to do it well. Many of my friends would protect me, but only you would provide the assistance I needed. Not only that, you came and saved my life,” he put his hand to his right side where the bullet had fragmented a rib bone. “Your fingertips have changed my life.” She reached over and he took her hand in his. “I am leaving shortly. Perhaps as early as tomorrow. I must see to an old friend who is being held as an enemy of England, and truly he is. From there, I must return to France to find the men who captured me and killed Michel. They will not stop until they kill us, so I must find them soon.”

“No, no,” Félicité shook her head emphatically. “They are so dangerous. Look what terrible things they have done! You cannot. You cannot!” Suddenly she was on her knees at his feet taking both his hands into hers.

“Shhh. I know it is frightening. For your sake, for Ana’s sake and the children’s, I must go. Baclaire will be with me, and together we are quite a dangerous team ourselves,” he laughed to comfort her.

“May I come? I promise to help.”

“Absolutely not. You are here for a reason. No one need know that your guardian has absconded. Between you and Gillingham, rumors of my presence will continue to circulate. That will help me more than anything, if they have discovered our identities… While I am away, Gillingham will have men who will protect you.

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