The Complete Regency Surrender Collection. Louise Allen

could he explain this to her? He wanted to tell her why he was at Madame LaGrange’s, but he just couldn’t. He swore to himself he would never do something like that again. It was much too risky.

      He would find another way to settle this with her tomorrow. There had to be something he could say. At least he could console himself with not having to worry that Olivia would be in danger this evening. Ignoring the burning sense of guilt, Gabriel sat at his desk to draw a sketch of Janvier and waited for Andrew.

      * * *

      Olivia paced her room after allowing herself a half-hour to silently sob for the last time over Gabriel. How could she have been so stupid as to believe his sweet gestures and placating words? Was he even capable of devoting himself to only one woman? Her mother and sister had been right. Men only saw their wives as a means to an heir. They would never fall in love with them. Why would they, when men in their prominent positions could afford to have any number of women for their choosing?

      He had appeared so sincere that it was easy to convince herself this time things would be different—that she mattered to him more than anyone else in the world, save Nicholas. He must have been very proud of himself that he’d duped her so easily. Obviously he had never worn that lover’s eye and he’d most likely placed it in his desk drawer after he caught her snooping around his study.

      Olivia stormed over to the fireplace, picked up the poker and jabbed one of the unlit logs, wishing it were Gabriel’s head. She wasn’t certain who she was angry with more, herself or him.

      She didn’t even try to hold back a loud groan as she tossed the poker aside. It landed on the carpet with a thud. Vowing to herself that she would conquer her feelings for him, she brushed her wet cheeks and rang for Colette.

      She had put Gabriel behind her once before. She could do it again.

      Her life these past five years had been a good one. If she wasn’t already with child, she would be content with Nicholas. This room was choking her. There were too many memories of their time together here. She glanced at her bed and ran her hands over her face, uncertain how she would sleep in it again. She could no longer reside in the same house with Gabriel.

      Tomorrow she would call on her sister and see if she and Nicholas could stay with Victoria until she decided where they should go. It was too late in the Season to find a house in town. Perhaps she would go off to one of the estates. Time away from Town and any reminders of Gabriel would probably be for the best. If people thought it horrid that she should avoid her commitments to steal away, that was their concern, not hers.

      Just as she began scanning the walls for the artwork she would take with her, she remembered her invitation to Janvier for the theatre and threw her head back. She was swearing off men for the future. None of them was worth her time.

      She knew she needed to let Janvier know that she would not be attending tonight’s performance and give him a token for her box. As much as she had been looking forward to it for weeks, being surrounded by those people while feeling like she was the stupidest woman alive would be more than she could manage. She had intended to invite other friends to join them. At least she only had one person she needed to make an excuse to.

      Walking through the doorway to her adjacent sitting room, she made her way directly to her escritoire prepared to write him a note. She could cry off with a headache or other such ailment. Picking up her pen, she stared at the blank paper. It lay there, mocking her.

      Realising what she really needed was to get out of her house, she returned the paper to the drawer and decided to take the unprecedented step and go to his house instead.

      * * *

      Gabriel sat across from Andrew, resting his elbows on his desk and stabbing his fingers through his hair. His attention should be on the plans they were laying out on how they were going to catch Comte Janvier. And yet, whenever he tried to focus, his thoughts continued to turn to Olivia. Guilt was slashing his gut.

      ‘How can you be certain that a few enquiries about Drury Lane indicates Janvier plans to kill Prinny?’ Andrew asked. ‘Even you have to admit, the pieces of that puzzle do not seem to fit easily together.’

      Gabriel blinked and rubbed his brow, bringing his brother back in focus. ‘I can’t tell you for certain why I think the coincidence is too great. I simply believe it is. I believe he was looking for a fast escape or a place to hide. Why else would he be interested in the floor plan of the theatre?’

      Andrew sat back and cocked his head. ‘Some men might be interested in ideal locations for a tryst. Hart seems to find public venues rather stimulating. You know he is not the only one. Perhaps the Comte has plans to steal away with some fine bit of muslin.’

      The image of Olivia entering Janvier’s coach flashed in his mind before he quickly dismissed it. ‘The man obtained the information from a harlot.’

      Andrew shook his head. ‘And to you that means he cannot want to lift the skirts of another? Men have been known to tup more than one woman in the course of a week.’

      ‘Not all men,’ Gabriel replied more forcefully than necessary. ‘When you find the right woman for you, no other can take her place.’

      Andrew stared at him as if he had spoken in a foreign language. ‘Are we still discussing Comte Janvier? I have the distinct impression we have moved on and are now discussing some other annoying gentleman.’

      Gabriel stood and restlessly walked around the room, trying to pull all of his attention to the business at hand. He was having no luck.

      Andrew turned in his seat and watched him. ‘Would you care to tell me what is wrong? It is simply a guess, mind you, but I think the conversation has turned to you and Olivia.’

      ‘She knows I was with Madame LaGrange this afternoon and says she wants nothing more to do with me ever again.’ The words were bitter on his tongue and Gabriel wished he could have said them without hearing her own voice saying them.

      ‘And you no longer wish to live in estrangement?’

      He looked into the watchful eyes of his brother, the only person he trusted completely. ‘I cannot go back to living the way we had been.’

      There was a hesitation before Andrew spoke. ‘I wish there was some wisdom I could impart to you right now, but I am far out of my element on this one. If you want to know who you should bet on in Friday’s race or which equipage will carry you the fastest I can help you with that. I can even go a round with you when you need to attempt to beat someone to a bloody mess. However, when it comes to this...’ He shook his head in pity.

      Gabriel closed his eyes, to shift his thoughts away from Olivia. ‘I need you to trust my instincts regarding Janvier and not make me doubt the importance of my meeting with Madame LaGrange today. The Comte wants Prinny dead. I am certain of it.’

      ‘Very well, let’s spring a trap for him tonight and then you can find a way to woo Olivia back over breakfast.’

      That was what he needed. His brother’s levity and confidence had him outlining his plan. ‘Everyone is expecting Prinny to attend the theatre this evening. However, we both know he is still confined to Carlton House. I’ll disguise myself as our Prince Regent and go to the theatre in his place. You and some of the others will mingle through the crowds and look for Janvier. Once you find him, observe him closely. The moment there is any indication he intends to cause harm, you need to stop him. And I would appreciate it if you would subdue the man before he manages to fire a shot at me.’

      ‘I took care of the last man who shot you, I will do my best to take care of this one before it comes to that.’

      Their eyes held with the weight of what Andrew had done to protect him.

      ‘Take this sketch I drew of him. Circulate it amongst our agents so they are familiar with his face and send word to me in the royal box when you catch him.’

      Andrew eyed him sideways. ‘You have too much to lose here if something should happen to you. I shall play the part of Prinny and place myself in harm’s