Page 93 of When the Rogue Returns

“How can I make it worse? Now we have a witness we don’t need.”

Lady Zoe was shaking her head. “I won’t tell anyone, I swear. I only wanted to see the great Duke’s Men in action.” Her voice hardened. “I didn’t know you were all conspiring with this... this...”

“Tristan Bonnaud, at your service,” he said with a mock bow. “And I’m only occasionally a thief.”

Her eyes went wide. “You’rethe famous Mr. Bonnaud?”

Tristan broke into a grin. “You’ve heard of me. How flattering.”

She snorted. “You’re ruder than I imagined.” She planted her hands on her hips. “And fatter.”

His grin vanished. “I’m in disguise.” He swept her with a rakish glance. “But I’d be happy to show you my true form later, after this is done and we—”

“Stop flirting, Tristan,” Victor snapped. “We don’t have time for this.” He approached the young woman warily. “Lady Zoe, we’re in the midst of a very secret, very important operation. There was no theft. We’re only making itappearthat there was a theft in order to save my daughter.”

“Your daughter!” She narrowed her gaze on him. “Mrs. Cale said she was at school.”

“She was. Until someone kidnapped her from there. I don’t have time to explain it all right now. Just trust me when I say that his lordship knows all, and he’s part of it.” He bore down on her swiftly. “But it is absolutely essential that you not speak of this to anyone.”

A calculating expression crossed her face. “I see.”

“I mean it. When events unfold, you’ll understand why, but for now, I really need you to stay out of this and keep our secret. Do you think you could do that for me? The lives and futures of my wife and my little girl are at stake.”

She glanced from him to Dom and Tristan. “I suppose I could keep quiet.” Then she lifted her chin. “But I will expect something in exchange.”

That caught Victor by surprise.

“How much do you want for your silence?” Dom asked in a hard voice.

“Not money!” She eyed them all warily. “A favor.”

Victor blinked. “What kind of favor?”

“You’ll know when I come to claim it.”

As Dom muttered an oath under his breath, Tristan snorted. “I still say we should just shoot her and be done—”

“Shut up, Tristan!” Victor and Dom said in unison.

Then Victor thrust his hand out to Lady Zoe. “A favor. It’s a deal. You have my word.”

With a furtive glance at Tristan, she shook his hand.

“We need to go,” Dom told Victor. He glanced at Lady Zoe. “We have to be somewhere shortly, my lady. Can you get back to the house on your own?”

“She got here on her own, didn’t she?” Tristan said dryly.

Lady Zoe shot him a foul glance. “I’ll be fine.” She stalked off in the direction of where her horse was probably wandering, then paused at the edge of the clearing to look back at them. “Don’t forget. The Duke’s Men owe me a favor.”

“Yes, my lady, we know,” Victor said.

As she disappeared into the woods, Dom sighed. “Something tells me that we are going to regret that bargain.”

“I won’t,” Victor said. “I’ll pay it in blood if I have to.” He headed for his horse. “Come on. We don’t have much time before Lochlaw is to meet us near Strathridge Road. And five o’clock will be here sooner than we think.”

22

AT A QUARTERto five, Isa slipped out by the garden door, where Mary Grace was waiting for her with a horse she’d requested for herself from the stables. Everyone had been told that Isa was frantic over her husband’s disappearance in pursuit of the thief, and had gone to her rooms to watch for him out of her window. If anyone tried to see her, Dr. Worth was to hold them at bay by saying she had fallen sick from worry and needed to be left alone, that he was tending her and she needed rest.