The Complete Regency Surrender Collection. Louise Allen

held the glass out to Janvier. ‘Then why don’t you have a sip?’ He tilted the glass and surveyed the contents. ‘There isn’t much left. It would be a shame to waste it.’

      Olivia let out an exasperated breath. ‘I have no notion of what you think you are trying to prove. Are you attempting to have me question everyone I associate with?’ She took the glass from him and almost had it to her lips when he swatted it out of her hand. It flew across the room, landing with a crash and splattering the remainder of the wine around the fine furnishings and his wife.

      He knew the look on her face. She was incredulous and he had pushed her too far. His gaze dropped to the reticule she was holding and he considered how heavy it might be.

      She glared at him and it looked as if she might be trembling with rage. ‘You have thoroughly and completely ruined this dress.’

      He wanted to laugh at the absurdity of her statement, spoken through clenched teeth, but he needed to concentrate on Janvier. ‘What did you put in it?’

      ‘You believe I wish to kill her? I adore her. Why would I do such a thing?’

      ‘Why indeed? But I did see you place something in her glass from a small vial.’

      ‘I did no such thing.’ But his eyes shifted. It was a gesture his very astute wife did not miss.

      She stepped closer and searched Janvier’s eyes. ‘Did you?’ she asked as if she could not believe her friend could be so evil.

      His gaze darted from her to Gabriel and back again. A cold shiver ran along Gabriel’s spine, raising the hairs on his neck. There was no telling how Janvier would react to being cornered and Olivia was standing too close to him. Her safety was paramount. Gabriel needed to distract him and keep her out of harm’s way.

      ‘Is that what you planned to use tonight to kill the Prince Regent at Drury Lane?’

      He should bang his head into a wall. That was the worst distraction in the history of Britain—no, the world! His concern for Olivia had stopped his brain from thinking clearly. He knew enough not to reveal his hand too early and he had just shown Janvier all of his cards.

      Olivia was about to back away from Janvier when the Frenchman spun her around by the waist and pulled her back against his front. Gabriel reached behind him under his coat and pulled out his double-barrel pistol just as Janvier removed a sharp knife from his sleeve. The silver of the blade at Olivia’s throat flashed in the candlelight.

      They were at an impasse. Olivia remained motionless. The sound of her breathing was as loud in Gabriel’s ears as if her head had been resting on his shoulder. He needed to keep his entire concentration on Janvier to read any signs that would indicate what this man was about to do. He knew he had to block out Olivia entirely, or he risked being caught again by surprise.

      ‘Well, it appears we are both not what the world sees. How is it you are aware of plans against your monarch?’

      ‘I have heard rumblings.’

      ‘I see. And those rumblings brought you to my door? Convenient.’

      ‘Coincidence. My wife is here. I came to bring her home.’

      ‘But that will not happen. You see, your wife will be leaving with me, or she will die because of you. If you had done nothing to cause her to arrive at my doorstep, none of this would be happening. The evening would have ended very differently.’

      Guilt burned throughout Gabriel’s body at the truth that was boldly stated.

      ‘That was not poison in her glass, but something to make her sleep for hours,’ Janvier continued. ‘It occurred to me during our visit that I could take her to France with me as insurance, shall we say. But alas, you have forced my hand.’ He wiggled the blade by her throat. ‘I will be leaving with your wife now, Winterbourne, and you will remain here for three hours. Should you try and stop me, I will not hesitate to kill her.’

      ‘I will not allow you to take her. Let her go and we can resolve this like men, not like children who hide behind a woman’s skirt.’

      ‘Should I release her, you will not let me leave here a free man. I know the penalty for what you are accusing me of and I have no intention to die now.’

      Olivia tried to edge her way closer to the table with the large vase, but Janvier jerked her back. ‘Do not move,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘I should hate to mar that pretty neck of yours.’

      ‘You said you wanted me to go to France with you,’ Olivia whispered. ‘I will go willingly. There is no need for any of this.’

      ‘Why should I believe you would do so? I thought to take you with me in the event I needed to bargain your life should my actions be discovered. And now it seems I need you more than ever. Make no mistake, I will injure you should you or your husband force my hand. And if you startle me with any sudden movements, there is no telling how much my hand will move.’

      She swallowed deeply, causing Gabriel’s hands to sweat as he continued to point his gun at Janvier.

      ‘You don’t even know Prinny,’ she said. ‘What reason could you possibly have for wanting him dead?’

      ‘Your beloved friend has been boldly bragging about all the spoils of war he has acquired—items that rightfully belong to France and not Britain—and especially not to that fat, stupid man. He boasts how he defeated France. How he has brought down Napoleon. What is next? Will he decide to take France as well? I spit at his arrogance. We will not be subject to the rule of an idiot, forced to call ourselves British subjects. Surely you can understand how that would not be acceptable to me or any Frenchman.’

      Gabriel was trying to calculate the best angle for a shot at Janvier that would pose no danger to Olivia, but he was having no luck. His heart was pounding so hard it must have been visible through his coat. There had to be a way to get Janvier to release her.

      ‘Of course I understand.’ Olivia’s soothing voice broke the silence.

      ‘How could I live with myself if I saw my family and friends harmed by British tyranny?’ His gaze remained fixed on Gabriel.

      ‘So you are doing this for your family and friends back home?’ she asked softly.

      ‘I would die for those that I hold dear,’ he spat out.

      ‘Please, do not say such a thing,’ Olivia said gently. ‘Surely there must be a peaceful way to settle this. Prinny is sympathetic to the Bourbons.’

      In his peripheral vision Gabriel noticed Olivia slowly and carefully opening the strings of the reticule she held down in front of her. If Janvier caught her movement, he might slit her throat. A cold clamminess crept along Gabriel’s skin. Why couldn’t that woman do as she was told?

      ‘For how long will his sympathies last? With your Regent eliminated, Britain will focus inward. I do not believe his brothers have the same fascination with France. We will be free of a British threat.’

      Olivia took in a shallow breath. ‘I understand you are doing what you must to protect your family. That is to be commended.’

      Why did Gabriel feel as if the words she spoke were directed at him? Were these to be her last words to him? He swallowed hard and forced his mind to focus on getting her free from Janvier.

      ‘That is one of the things I admire about you,’ said the Frenchman. ‘You are an intelligent woman.’

      ‘I like to believe so.’

      Janvier let out a cry of pain.

      He dropped his arms from Olivia as the knife fell to the ground. ‘Salope,’ he growled through clenched teeth while grasping his thigh.

      ‘You said you admired me,’ she sneered back, quickly darting out of his way.

      Stunned at his wife’s actions, it took a few seconds for Gabriel to realise he had a clear shot at Janvier. But before