The Agent and the Outlaw (Les Dames Dangereuses Book 2) by Lily Riley & Mystic Owl

Author:Lily Riley & Mystic Owl [Riley, Lily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781648981838
Publisher: City Owl Press: Mystic Owl
Published: 2022-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

14

ANTOINE

November 19, 1767

The Wild Rose, Gévaudan

Of course, she was gone. I expected her to be gone. What I didn’t expect, though, was to see her out for a pre-dawn promenade with some unknown gentleman. The absolute nerve of the woman! Mere weeks ago, she was writhing in pleasure in my arms, and here she was having intense flirtations with some male passerby.

Antoine, you utter fool. You know she is not for you. Why do you care? She’s a spy and a liar, and…quite possibly some kind of werewolf.

No. I wouldn’t even think it. Doctor Van Helsing had to be wrong. There would be a logical explanation.

A logical explanation. Like Charlotte insisted when you mentioned the werewolf of Gévaudan.

I didn’t know if I believed it then, and now it seemed I was determined to disbelieve it. Charlotte had simply been angry, and the table had been weak.

From my perch on the rooftop, I couldn’t quite hear what the man in black was saying to Charlotte, but she suddenly stiffened. She looked frightened. Before I could make my way down from the roof, she bolted for the town gate, running faster than I’d ever seen a human run.

I jumped from the roof and ran toward the town gate as well, praying I would be able to reach her before any harm could come to her. Who was that man? What had he said or done that had frightened Charlotte? If he so much as breathed ill upon her, I would hunt him down and eviscerate him.

Not that Charlotte is yours to protect, said the annoying voice in my head. Still, I could be chivalrous, ensure that she was safe before we parted ways.

I dodged townsfolk as I wound through the alleys and streets. The sky was turning a lovely pink hue with the rising sun, which felt like a hopeful respite from the cold, melancholy gray that seemed to hang above Gévaudan.

Finally, I spied Charlotte on the road ahead. She saw me almost immediately—quickly enough for her to shuck her pallor of fear and school her features in an expression of haughty indifference. She slowed her pace and smiled at me when I reached her.

“Antoine! Good morning. It looks like it’s going to be a fine day today, don’t you think?”

Had this been a few weeks ago, I would have thought she was mad. Now, I’d come to recognize her expert deflections.

“Who the hell was that?” I growled.

“Who?”

“That man! The one you were flirting with just outside the gate,” I accused. I was in no mood for her outrageous denials.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she shrugged. “Perhaps you’re overtired, and your eyes are playing tricks on you. I’d recommend a nap and a light meal. I saw a bakery just down the street if you’re feeling peckish. I certainly am! Ooh, do you think they’ll have any meat pies?”

“Charlotte.” I grabbed her arm and stared hard into her eyes.

She stared back at me, the very portrait of innocence. If I didn’t know her better, I’d have thought she was right, and I’d been mistaken.

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