LITMIR.BIZ

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not put your life in danger and risk losing you. I would not be able to live with myself if I knew I was responsible for your death.’

      ‘You are not asking me, I am willingly volunteering.’

      Before Gabriel could reply, the sound of a carriage rolling up to the house drifted in through the window and he strained his neck to peer outside. When his crest came into view, the hair on the back of his neck rose.

      She wouldn’t.

      Flying out of his chair, Gabriel raced to the door.

      ‘Where are you off to? Who has arrived?’

      ‘It’s Olivia, I need to stop her from leaving for the theatre.’

      ‘But the performance doesn’t begin for another few hours.’

      ‘It doesn’t matter. Our box is next to Prinny’s. She is not to be anywhere near that building tonight.’

      Just as he entered the hall, a vision of solemn resolve descended the stairs, adjusting her gloves. Her cool expression was focused directly in front of her, even though Gabriel was certain she knew he was standing a few feet from the bottom of the staircase.

      She went to walk past him, and he reached out, holding her forearm. The warmth of her skin, exposed over the top of her glove, burn every cell of his body. Their eyes met before she arched a condescending brow.

      He didn’t release her. ‘Where are you going?’

      ‘I don’t see how that is any concern of yours,’ she replied, calmer than he expected.

      ‘Regardless of what you believe, your welfare does concern me.’

      ‘Then we have very different views on what that means. Release my arm, Gabriel.’

      He tightened his grip. ‘Where are you going, Olivia?’

      ‘Why should it matter? Are you worried I’m heading for an assignation?’

      The thought hadn’t entered his mind—that is, until Olivia had just firmly placed it there. He took a deep breath and tried to force the image from his head. She cocked her head to the side as if waiting for some response. Had she asked him a question? He was so focused on getting control over the mixed emotions running through his body, he had no idea.

      She appeared to continue speaking. ‘Well, regardless, soon you will not have to concern yourself with my comings and goings. Tomorrow I will be leaving here with Nicholas. I find I can no longer abide residing under the same roof as you. Living apart seems a more agreeable option.’

      ‘Olivia, do not be foolish.’

      Apparently by the look on her face that was not the correct response one said in this situation.

      ‘Gabriel, if you do not release my arm right now I will create such a spectacle that the servants and our neighbours will be speaking about it to their grandchildren years from now,’ she said calmly.

      Knowing her to be a woman who did not issue idle threats, he lowered his hand.

      Her gaze was direct and unwavering, and her expression held no emotion. It appeared as if she had long been resigned to the fact that this would have been the outcome of their reconciliation.

      His skin grew cold and clammy. He was losing her and there was nothing he could say to her now that would mend this chasm between them—unless he told her everything.

      If she knew about Madame LaGrange, knew that when he was with her all he was doing was gathering intelligence, she would understand. She would see that he had never betrayed their marriage vows—not five years ago and not now. But to do that he would have to confide in her the identity of someone who worked for him. Memories of sitting in front of the fire confiding in his Uncle Peter came flooding back, making his chest ache. He swore he would never do that again with anyone.

      She turned towards the door.

      ‘Olivia—’

      ‘I cannot do this any more, Gabriel. I have no strength left to listen to your lies.’ She accepted her cloak from a visibly uncomfortable Bennett and turned towards Gabriel with sadness and resignation in her eyes. Shaking her head, she rubbed her lips together. ‘You have not been a part of my life for the last five years. I shall have no problem removing you from my remaining years. And this time, I will do so while residing somewhere else. I will send word to Mr James of which of our houses I have chosen. Of course you are free to see Nicholas whenever you wish, but I will make arrangements not to be home when you do.’

      Without waiting for a reply, she nodded to Bennett and walked out the door.

      Ice spread through his body. She was walking out of his life and his gut was telling him it was for good. He needed to stop her. He needed to somehow fix this. And, he needed to do it now.

      Gabriel took a step towards the door and heard his brother call his name, stopping him in his tracks. Demmit! Duty demanded that he go to the theatre to apprehend the Frenchman. This was what he had vowed to do. He was fighting the need to go after his wife when his father’s words echoed in his mind.

      ‘The responsibility is ours to protect the safety of our sovereign and our family. The personal sacrifices you will be forced to make will be a small price to pay for ensuring we will not endure what our friends in France had to. The lives of those you care for depend upon it.’

      Living his life without Olivia was not a small sacrifice. Didn’t he deserve to be happy, too?

      Andrew approached his side in the empty hall. ‘I can manage this for you, Gabriel. Let me impersonate Prinny. You need to trust that we can fulfil our duty even when you are not here. This operation needs to work without being solely dependent on one individual.’

      Pulling in an unsteady breath, Gabriel noted Andrew’s commanding stance. His younger brother, who he had teased and wrestled with as a boy, had become a formidable ally. Giving up control was not in his nature, yet Gabriel was certain Andrew was prepared to handle such a monumental assignment.

      ‘I assume this means you heard?’

      Andrew nodded. ‘I did not know what to say to you earlier, but I do know now. Listen to your instincts; they will not lie to you. Only you know what the right decision is for you. But regardless of what you decide to do, know that we will do all in our power to stop Janvier.’

       Chapter Nineteen

      As the carriage rolled to a stop outside Janvier’s town house, Olivia needed to make certain she was composed enough to hold a conversation with him without raising her voice—or throwing any objects within her reach.

      Leaving Gabriel had been the hardest thing she had ever done, but she refused to be made a fool of by more of his lies. She might not have any control of his actions, but she could take some satisfaction knowing that she was the one to sever all contact. The anger she was feeling was directed at herself. He’d fooled her once, but this time she was to blame for stupidly trusting him. This time, the fault was all her own.

      She had cried enough over the realisation that the man she loved would never love her in return. She was finally finished crying over what might have been. The course of her future was her own.

      Placing her hand on her stomach, she took a deep breath. The air was heavy with the scent of rain. Looking out the window at the grey clouds rolling in, Olivia was grateful she reached Janvier’s house before the heavens opened up and ruined her slippers. The fury bubbling under her skin was certain to spring forth with the smallest inconvenience. Janvier had played no part in Gabriel’s betrayal. He didn’t deserve to bear even the smallest bit of the wrath she was keeping in check.

      As she walked into his home, the diamond brooch that had been affixed to her cloak fell to the floor. She took a deep breath and counted to ten. The catch had come loose and she threw it in her reticule in annoyance.

      The

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