“Your family has been embroiled in service to your crown for centuries,” De Roux growled.
Belle’s face slackened in shock at that.But that would mean father had been a spy, as well.“I know nothing of this.”
“I don’t believe you. It was you!” he roared. “Who else could it have been? I’ve run through every possible option, it could only have been you.”
“You believe I was the one that started the rumors? But that’s ridiculous! How could I accuse you of anything if I didn’t know anything?”
“You knew to steal my parchment!”
“I was suspicious that night. And my suspicions proved correct. But I had no ideawhy. I suspected you were not who you claimed to be, but I had no proof. Not till your accent slipped.”
Simon gripped her hand in warning, but she ignored it. This man actually believed her to be a spy. How absolutely absurd. His vendetta, however, made much more sense in light of this recent knowledge.
“I am not a spy.”
He waved her declaration aside. “You are a clever little liar, but I’ve figured you and your brothers out.”
Quinn and Bradford.
Her heart sank.
“My brothers have nothing to do with this.”
Simon gripped her arm tightly, warning her to keep her mouth shut.
De Roux truly wasn’t in his right mind. Any doubt she may have harbored that he acted out of some misplaced sense of revenge over her betrayal vanished. He did not want revenge because she’d stolen his papers. He wanted revenge because he thought she outwitted him at his own game.
“Oh, you would prefer I believe that, wouldn’t you, Lady Belle? Not to worry, they are next on my list.”
Not if I wrap my fingers around your neck first.
“But first, I will have the pleasure of killing you and your lover whileyouknow that your brothers are next. How does that feel?”
Simon squeezed her hand yet again. She spared him a glance and nearly gasped. He was beyond tense. Whether it was in anger or fear, she couldn’t say, but he looked simply murderous. His other hand was fisted at his side and his jaw was clenched so hard that veins popped out of his neck. His shoulders were bunched in suppressed fury and his eyes were narrowed to slits. To put it plainly, he looked like a barely-restrained bear, ready to attack. But with the pistol aimed at her heart, he would not take the chance.
Belle’s worried gaze returned to De Roux.
Hell’s bells.
They needed a miracle.
