Part 52 (1/2)

”Bon.”He took control of the kiss, plundered her mouth, then tilted her hips and entered her. Drank her gasp as the hot steel of him pressed inexorably in. All the way in.

Then he withdrew, and the dance began.

Helena gave herself up to it, up to him-surrendered completely. Opened her body to him, opened her heart. Offered him her soul.

In the dark coc.o.o.n of the bed, in their mingled breaths, the shattered sobs and low groans, as their heated bodies moved together, as the pace increased and the depth of his pa.s.sion and need broke over her, buffeted her, pleasured her, a deeper understanding dawned.

While surrender was her gift to him, the most coveted element she brought to his bed, possession, in turn, was his gift to her. Yet as she sensed his control slip and his desire break free, take hold, and drive him relentlessly, while she sobbed and held him to her as he plundered her body, she had to wonder who was the possessed, who the posssessor.

Neither, she concluded as the wave broke and took them. Left them gasping. As they drifted, buoyed on fading glory, she recalled what he'd stated long before. They were made for this. For each other-him for her, her for him.

Two halves of the same coin, bonded by a power not even a powerful man could break.

Sebastian slipped from Helena's side two hours later. Shrugging into his robe, belting it, he crossed to the dressing table, picked up Fabien's declaration, read it again. He glanced at Helena; she remained sound asleep. He hesitated, then folded the doc.u.ment. Taking it with him, he quietly left the room.

Regaining his apartments, he summoned Webster, gave orders as he washed, shaved, and dressed. Leaving his valet, Gros, rus.h.i.+ng hither and yon, packing the small bag he'd declared was all he would take, he quit the room and headed for his study.

There he started on the task of setting in place the foundations of his plan.

The first letter he wrote was a personal request to the Bishop of Lincoln, an old friend of his father's. Once he and Helena returned from France with Ariele, he was not of a mind to delay their wedding further. Finis.h.i.+ng his letter, he sanded it, then set it aside, together with Fabien's declaration. Helena had secured that prize-he fully intended to use it.

He rang for a footman, dispatched him to find Webster. With his customary magisterial calm, Webster led the senior staff into the study. They sat. In swift order Sebastian outlined his requirements, then they discussed, suggested, and eventually decided on various ploys to delay both Louis and Villard.

”I would expect the valet to be the comte's creature. Take care that while watching the larger fish you do not let the minnow slip through your net.”

”Indeed not, Your Grace. You may rely on us.”

”I will be. I reiterate-I do not wish you to do anything overt to delay de Se'vres and his man. I wish them to be mystified as to where mademoiselle la comtesse and I might be. If they realize they're being deliberately delayed, they'll guess where we've gone and follow swiftly.” Sebastian paused, then added, ”The longer they remain uncertain, the safer I, your future mistress, her sister, and the gentleman who brought us word last night will be.”

He was rewarded by the sight of a slight curve in Webster's lips, a gleam of triumph in the butler's gray eyes. The man had been quietly prodding him for years-ever since Arthur had married-to do his duty and save them all.

Barely able to contain his pleasure while maintaining his imperturbable mask, Webster bowed deeply. ”Might we extend our congratulations, Your Grace?”

”You may.” After an instant Sebastian added, ”But only to me.”

Delighted, they all did so, then departed. Sebastian returned to his mental list of tasks.

After clearing his desk of all urgent business, he spoke briefly with his steward, then gave orders to have the Thierrys brought to him.

They appeared, confused, a little hopeful. Sebastian considered them as they sat in the chairs before his desk, then he leaned forward and told them all they needed to know-enough for them to realize their situation-that they had unwittingly been accessories to a plot to steal from him. They were as aghast as he'd expected; he cut short their horrified protestations to rea.s.sure them that he recognized their innocence.

He then gave them a choice. England or France.

England with his support; France as accessories in Fabien's soon-to-be failure.

Given that they'd been genuine emigres before Fabien had recruited them, it took them no time at all to opt for England.

He suggested they remain at Somersham until he and Helena returned and they could discuss arrangements for their future. Although at that point in ignorance of his plans, Gaston Thierry, to his credit, suggested that he and Marjorie could act to delay Louis.

Sebastian offered Thierry his hand and sent them to confer with Webster.