Do whatever Danton says. As soon as an opportunity presents itself, we’ll run in there and arrest him.”
Her face was pinched with worry, but she pasted a brave smile on, and Alex impulsively leaned over the desk and squeezed her hands. “It’s all right. We’ll get Luc back unharmed, I swear.”
She nodded.
He stood, and she did the same. “All right, let’s go.”
She disappeared into his bedroom and returned, pulling on a velvet pelisse. Its many buttons fit snugly over her breasts and fastened up her white throat. All completely proper, but just the hint of those feminine curves had Alex thinking dissolute thoughts. He gave himself a mental slap on the head. He needed to concentrate. There would be time enough to do all the things he wanted to do to her after tonight’s trial was done.
He ushered her out and down the stairs. Mickey stood in the yard, feeding a delighted Brutus a strip of Chef Lagrasse’s finest sirloin. The dog bounced around and barked in excitement at the end of his leather leash. When he saw Emmy, he leapt forward, almost pulling Mickey’s arm out of its socket, and reared up on his hind legs to give her an enthusiastic greeting.
Emmy yelped in alarm and stepped back so the enormous animal’s paws fell back to the cobbles.
“Down, Brutus!” she commanded, half-laughing. “Yes, it’s good to see you too, but do stop licking me. It’s disgusting.”
Mickey managed to coax the giant beast to jump into the carriage and secured the leash to one of the sconces. After an investigative sniff of every inch of the carriage, the beast sat down on the threadbare seat, facing forward just like a human passenger, ears pricked and ready to go. Alex was intensely glad they were still using the run-down vehicle he’d purchased in Lincolnshire. It didn’t matter if the monster shredded the seats or drooled on the upholstery.
He’d already packed his trusty Baker rifle in his saddlebag, and he knew Seb had done the same. He’d sent a message over to Benedict’s town house to see if he’d changed his mind about coming to help, but Alex didn’t expect it. Benedict adored adventures like this, but he enjoyed the company of his wife even more. He and Georgie were a rarity amongst the ton—a couple who genuinely liked each other.
Alex hoped he and Emmy would be able to emulate their example. He’d do everything in his power to make sure she’d be happy married to him.
With that thought, he handed her into the carriage and accepted the box of jewels from Mickey. He placed it on her lap, then fished in his jacket pocket and withdrew the Carrington ruby. Her eyes widened in surprise as he opened the tin and added it to the glittering pile.
“Just in case Danton wants to see it,” he explained. “What? Did you think I was going to keep it for myself? Some of us have principles, Miss Danvers,” he couldn’t resist teasing. He closed the carriage door with a snap. “Just remember, when you meet him, keep him talking. That way, he’ll be focused on you.”
She nodded again, and he left her and mounted Bey. The Tricorn’s coachman clambered up in front of her, and Seb mounted his own horse.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter 40.
They travelled west out of London, through the Knightsbridge turnpike and down past Bayswater. Emmy tried to quell the anxious churning of her stomach as she thought of the ordeal ahead.
She was grateful for Brutus’s distracting presence. The dog poked his huge head out of the open carriage window, tongue lolling, delighted by the novelty of travelling in such a way. He barked at every late-night passerby, rider, coach, and animal they passed.
Reaching down, Emmy slid open the catch on the tin box and took one last look at the jewels. Apart from the sapphire Danton had stolen, all the other major gems her father had wanted to recover were here, on her lap.
So near and yet so far.
Tears pricked her eyes. She and her father had taken such pains to amass this collection, but they would never be returned to France. Still, better the British government have them than that murderous, blackmailing swine Danton. The self-absorbed Frenchman was no match for Alex. Harland was a seasoned, wily strategist with years of experience. He would defend her.
Emmy closed the lid with a snap and secured the latch.
Never had she felt so unprepared. If this had been a heist, she and Luc would have done