Read Online His Silken Seduction by JOANNA MAITLAND - Free Book Online

walls plus two communicating doors. What on earth could be happening? Suzanne flung open her door to the silk store at the same time as Ben opened his own.
    “Quick! Come and see!” He pulled her across to the window, though she noted he did not to allow himself to be seen. There was a great deal of commotion below. The watcher was back, but now he seemed to be issuing orders to a party of soldiers, some carrying flambeaux. They had dragged another silk merchant from his house, just three doors away. The merchant’s wife stood in the street, wringing her hands and begging for mercy for her man. Her pleas made no difference. In a matter of minutes, he was manacled and led away. The watcher, looking very pleased with himself, followed in the wake of the soldiers.
    “Do we dare to hope that the danger is over?” Suzanne asked.
    A strong arm stole round her waist. “I think, my love, that we may indeed dare to hope. For many things.”
    Guillaume was so delighted with the latest developments that he was unusually talkative the following morning when Suzanne sent him upstairs with Ben’s hot water. “That old fool was bound to be arrested. Half of Lyons knew where his sympathies lav.”
    “Really? When we first saw that spy out there, you all thought he was watching this house. All of a sudden, you’re remarkably well informed.”
    The old man grinned. “The way to be well informed, sir, is to frequent certain taverns in this town. Normally I have too many chores to see to in this house, but the mistress said it was vital to the cause. She even gave me silver so that I could buy a drink here and there, where it might help to loosen tongues. It worked, too, though it took hours that I could not really spare.”
    She said we would not be disturbed Ben marvelled at Suzanne’s resourcefulness. A spying mission for Guillaume and a quiet house for Suzanne’s tryst. Extremely neat. His love was worthy of a place in the Aikenhead Honours.
    Ben decided to voice the question that was preying on his mind. “Mademoiselle Suzanne normally brings up our morning coffee long before this. I hope last night’s disturbance has not upset her?”
    Guillaume shook his head. “She’s sitting in her office, as right as nine pence. I have no doubt she’ll be here as soon as she’s read her letter.”
    “What letter?” Ben thundered.
    Guillaume did not know the identity of the sender. All he could say was that the handwriting was not Marguerite’s.
    Ben hastily wiped off the last of the shaving soap. The letter might bring vital intelligence. He must risk going downstairs, even though he might be seen.
    Just as he reached the hallway, Suzanne came flying out into the hall. “Oh, Ben, I have such wonderful news. Marguerite and Jacques are married!” She waved her letter. “I don’t understand it all, but that part is beyond doubt. Jacques has taken Marguerite to his family in England.”
    Ben twitched the letter out of her fingers and began to read. It was from the curé in Normandy, who wrote in a cryptic style much like Marguerite’s. Marguerite had married her betrothed, he said. Did that mean Jack? Ben supposed it must do. There was a paragraph of pious advice to Suzanne about never allowing her heart to rule her head. That was wise, but a little late now.
    The final paragraph was very puzzling. Ben scanned it again. “What on earth does it mean? How can your mama’s assessment of Marguerite’s betrothed have been exactly right? And why should that make him a most suitable husband?”
    “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I don’t understand that, either. Perhaps I should ask Mama? She will have to be told about Marguerite’s marriage, in any case. She will be cross, I dare say, that Jacques did not ask her permission.”
    “From Normandy?”
    “It is the way things have always been done in our family. Mama thinks she is still entitled to the privileges of rank, even though we…” She stopped short and let out a long,