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No, Aug interrupted. What is the rest of the plan?
With your help we ll smuggle the men onto the island and launch a surprise attack. The only difficult
part will be staying hidden until the right time.
Sans-Nez spoke up, his face twisting with an ugly smile. I know the underground tunnels as good as
anyone. Years ago when I sailed with Legare, he had me locked up down there for weeks for taking a
woman André wanted.
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Justin nodded. See if you can remember enough to draw a map for us.
What about Legare? Risk asked. Who s going to take him down?
Justin arched his brows and smiled mockingly. Jack, I m surprised you need to ask. Killing Dominic
Legare will be my personal and very great pleasure.
Chapter 10
The three days that followed Justin s departure may as well have been three months. Celia could do
nothing but think about Justin. She realized that he was as necessary to her as he had claimed she was to
him. He had said she belonged to him& well, she had not admitted it out loud but she knew he was hers
in the same elemental way. Ever since he had been brought to the plantation he had been hers to tend and
take care of, hers to worry over and want.
Theirs was an impossible match. Even so, the separation caused her to ache physically. It wasn t a sharp
pain but a dull emptiness in every part of her. She craved the sight and sound of him, his alert interest in
her, his arrogant demands for her attention. She had not realized how many of her waking hours had
been occupied with him.
Her loneliness was aggravated by the way Max and Lysette relied on each other in times of trouble.
They lavished affection on each other and their children, finding occasions for laughter and affection even
in the midst of all their worry. One morning the couple was absent from the breakfast table, and the entire
household was aware that they had decided to spend the morning alone in their bedroom. When Lysette
emerged later, her face was glowing and there was a soft radiance in her hazel eyes. Celia was glad for
their happiness, but it made her even more aware of her own solitude.
At suppertime on Friday the conversation was stilted and quiet. Lysette occupied herself with Rafe, who
talked to her in happy gurgles. She was trying to start the baby on solid food, but he had more interest in
playing with the mashed banana than eating it. Celia forced herself to chew and swallow, but every bite of
the pompano and mushrooms sautéed in wine and butter seemed to stick in her throat. Although Max
seemed marvelously collected and unconcerned, he checked his watch every fifteen minutes or so,
something he never did with such frequency.
Bien-aimé,what time does the ball begin tomorrow? Lysette asked Max.
It was at that moment that Justin entered the room, stopping just inside the doorway. He sniffed the air
appreciatively. Mmm& I m starved. I hope you ve left enough for me.
Max leaped up from his chair. Were I not so relieved to see you, he said, I would probably be
inflicting significant damage on you, my foolhardy son.
Justin grinned and put a protective hand over his side. You ll have to take your turn, Father.
Max pinned him with a searching gaze. I assume your interests have been secured and there will be no
more unexpected disappearances?
Aye.
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How is the situation?
An unpleasant hardness crossed Justin s face. In the past few weeks Legare has marked Isle au
Corneille as his and appropriated everything in sight. Ships, ammunition, property& No one dares to
cross him.
And neither will you, Max said. Your days as Captain Griffin are over. This little jaunt of yours might
have ruined even the slightest possibility of a pardon from the governor.
Pardon? Justin laughed shortly. If you were the closest friend of President Monroe himself you
couldn t manage that. In any event, I don t need a pardon. Soon I ll be leaving for good.
Max scowled and began to argue, but Lysette interrupted adroitly, hoping to prevent a full-blown
quarrel. Thank God you have arrived in time, Justin.
In time for what?
Max proceeded to explain about the Duquesne ball.
Celia set down her fork, aware that her hand was trembling visibly. She let her gaze travel over Justin
hungrily. He was dirty and unshaven, the beginnings of a sunburn crossing his cheekbones and the bridge
of his nose. His vital presence affected her senses like an invigorating drug. She wanted to throw herself
at him, smooth her hands over his tangled brown-black hair, hug herself to his body. But not once did he
look at her. It was as if she were not there.
& there must be some way to avoid it, Justin was saying to Max, who shook his head.
Rumors will fly if you don t appear.
Justin swore and shook his head. So be it. I ve already thrown in my lot no chance of retreat now. I ll
go to the ball and play the gentleman. And I ll do it so well no one will dare suggest I m not Philippe. He
turned his attention to Lysette. Belle-mére,would you have Noeline send up some supper for me? He
plucked at his sweat-stained shirt ruefully. I believe a bath and a change of clothes are in order.
Yes, of course, Lysette looked at him in concern. How is your leg? You have not injured it again,
have you?
Not at all. Justin smiled slightly. I m fine,Belle-mère.
He left without having acknowledged Celia with so much as a flicker of an eye.
Celia felt as if all the breath had been stolen from her body. There was a sickening sensation inside her.
Why had Justin ignored her? Perhaps that scene before he had left had been a game to him. Perhaps it
had amused him to reduce her to such a state. Confused and miserable, she tried to appear as if nothing
were troubling her. She toyed with the food on her plate and even managed to take a bite now and then.
After downing an extra glass of wine, she lingered with Max and Lysette in the parlor after supper. Sitting
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