Page 63 of When the Rogue Returns

Isa froze, and Victor’s heart plummeted into his stomach. Surely he hadn’t heard Jacoba correctly. “Child? What child?” When Isa turned toward him, her face awash in guilt, he growled, “What the devil is she talking about, Isa?”

“Don’t you know?” Jacoba said, glaring at her sister. “When Isa left us in Paris, she was carrying your child in her belly. Lord only knows what she’s done with it.”

Victor gasped.

With a growl, Isa whirled on her sister and stalked over to swing the door open. “Get out, you scheming bitch!” she hissed. “Get out of my house before I strangle you with my bare hands!”

Clearly taken aback by Isa’s vehemence, Jacoba said plaintively, “There’s no reason to get upset. Can’t we all discuss this like civilized people?”

“Out!”Grabbing her sister’s arm, Isa dragged her toward the door. “Get. Out.Now!”

Victor could only gape at them, his mind racing. He had a child? Where? WhathadIsa done with it? And why hadn’t she told him?

Jacoba was protesting so loudly that Betsy came running, and Isa cried, “Get her out of here before I kill her!”

When Betsy tried to take Jacoba by the arm, Jacoba snatched it free and flashed Isa a hurt look. “We’ll speak again when you’re calmer. I know you don’t mean what you’re saying. You wouldn’t abandon your family.”

“Watch me.” Isa took a step toward her.

Jacoba’s eyes went wide. Then she turned and ran for the door.

“And don’t you dare come back here, you... you leech!” Isa shouted, running into the hall after her.

Victor rushed out just in time to see Jacoba leave through the front door, slamming it behind her. Before he could even question Isa, she turned to Betsy and said, “Have Rob saddle my horse.”

When Betsy headed for the door, Victor called out, “Wait just a moment, Betsy!” He turned to Isa. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“To follow her to wherever Gerhart is,” Isa said resolutely.

“Not until you tell me about my child, you’re not,” he ground out.

Panic showed in her face. “We need to know where those two are hiding. Surely you must see that!”

“I do. But someone else can follow her. Indeed, that’s probably best, since she wants to get you alone and may lie in wait for you if you run after her.”

He walked up to Betsy. “Tell your stableboy to go after the woman who just left here and find out where she’s lodging. And tell him to make sure she doesn’t see him doing so.”

Betsy blinked, then glanced beyond him to Isa. “Madam?”

Isa came up to stand beside him. “Do as he says.”

The servant frowned. “But madam, why are you listening to this... this...”

“He’s my husband, Betsy,” Isa said tersely.

Poor Betsy looked as if someone had just slapped her. “Your... yourhusband?”

“Yes,” Isa said. “And the woman who just left here is indeed my sister. I will tell you everything later, but for now, all you need to know is that my sister separated me from my husband years ago. And probably means to do it again, if she can.”

Betsy’s shocked expression gave way to one of anger. “Does she, now?” she snapped. “Well, then, we’ll just see about that! I’ll follow her myself if I have to.”

“No, let Rob do it,” Victor put in. “He’s less likely to be noticed.”

Betsy took his measure in one swift glance. “Very well, sir.” She marched off like Joan of Arc hunting down her first Englishman.

The door shut behind her, and the hall fell eerily silent. Isa faced him then, her cheeks as pale as death, and he all but forgot about Jacoba. He had a child. Achild.

He stared her down. “I take it that your sister told the truth about my... my... Devil take it, I don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl!”