explanation, but all she was willing to offer. Somehow she had to save John’s career.
“I don’t care what he is known by anywhere else. That is John Phillip Trent.” Nicholas pointed an accusing finger towards the door where John stood. “And I want to know what he was doing in your bedchamber, especially this early in the morning?”
“Because Grandfather thinks we are married.”
Nicholas glared down at her. “Are you married to anyone, Elizabeth?”
“Well, you see…” How could she explain without ruining everything for John?
“No,” John answered as he pulled away from the door and sauntered towards Nicholas. “But, there is a very good explanation.”
Nicholas raised an eyebrow and his arms dropped to his side.
John took a step back. “I need for you to swear secrecy.”
“I am not doing a blasted thing until you explain to me what you are doing in my unmarried cousin’s bedroom.”
Elizabeth grabbed Nick’s arm. She knew that look too well, and if she didn’t stop him, Nick would flatten John’s nose before he had a chance to defend himself. “Nicholas, please. Let us explain, and I beg of you, you must never tell anyone.”
He looked down into her eyes as if weighing his decision. “Very well, but only for you, and I am giving myself the option to change my mind.”
It was as good a promise as she was going to get from him. “You see, I haven’t been married living in the south of France all this time.”
Nicholas grunted. “So I gathered.”
“I was working in Tuileries.”
Nicholas barked out laughter. “You actually expect me to believe that. I’d be more likely to believe that John is this Jean Pierre.”
“It is the truth.” The cold, reasonable voice came from John. “We have both been working for the Home Office.”
Nicholas looked back and forth between them a few times before he sank into a chair. The serious looks on their faces combined with John’s tone must have convinced him.
John offered an abridged version of how they came to be at the castle. “So, do you see why secrecy is of utmost importance?”
Nicholas stood, more relaxed than he had been when he first entered the room.
“Yes, I do. And I will guard your secret. However, you still shared a bed with my cousin.”
John grinned. “I slept on that blasted settee all night.”
Nicholas looked to where John pointed. A pillow and blanket were still there as evidence. He looked back at John. “Then you are assuring me that you have never touched my cousin at any time during all those years at the palace?”
“No. She would not even allow the slightest peck on the cheek.”
Elizabeth smiled at the thick French accent she had come to recognize as Jean Pierre.
“And when you escaped? During those weeks of traveling up the river, and across the channel, just the two of you?”
Elizabeth held her breath. Would John lie to Nicholas?
“Explain touch.”
The tension flew back into Nicholas’s shoulders and his hands fisted. “You bloody bastard. You know exactly what I mean by touch. Did you compromise Elizabeth in any way?”
“If you are asking if I made love to her, then the answer is yes.”
Elizabeth sucked in a breath and reached for Nicholas’s arm, but it was too late. His fist connected with John’s nose, and blood splattered onto his shirt.
“That was not necessary.” Elizabeth put herself between the two men. “I am old enough to take care of myself and make my own decisions. Do not punish John for something I wanted.”
“I refuse to believe he did not seduce you.” He pushed her out of the way and leaned towards John. “You, I will meet tomorrow morning in the south field.”
“No,” Elizabeth cried.
“Really, you wish to challenge me and face me on Christmas morning?”
Thank goodness tomorrow was Christmas. It gave her time to stop this madness.
“The day after.” Nicholas grabbed Elizabeth’s wrist. “You are coming with me.”
She dug in her heels. “I am most certainly not.”
He swung around, shaking his finger at her. “You will not be alone with him again.”
“Danby already thinks he is my husband. How do you suggest I avoid him when Grandfather refused to give him his own chamber last night?”
Nicholas opened his mouth to speak, then closed it.
“Are you going to renege on your promise so quickly?”
“No.” He let go and turned. “I will think of something. Grandfather would have an apoplexy if he ever learned what you have really been doing.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
The door pushed open. “What would give me an apoplexy?”
Elizabeth’s heart ceased for a moment before it began pounding anew in her chest. The last person she needed to see or explain anything to was her grandfather. What was he doing up at this hour and why was he walking past her bedchamber?
“I, um…I have…well, you see…I work in the vineyards with my husband, gathering grapes, stomping them for wine…”
Danby glared at her. “Enough, Elizabeth. Are you sure you haven’t been on the stage all this time and not in Tuileries?”
Her mouth fell over in shock. How did he know?
“And do sit down. Though I am rather impressed how well you are getting around, having been shot not quite two weeks ago.”
Nicholas turned on her. “You were shot?” He glared over at John. “You never mentioned that bit in your story.”
John shrugged. He probably thought it best to keep quiet at the moment. She didn’t blame him.
Danby settled into the chair in front of the fireplace. “Somebody build that up and get the chill out of this room.”
Nicholas moved to do his bidding.
“John, sit.” With his cane, Grandfather pointed to one of the chairs at the table by the window before he turned back to Elizabeth. “From the moment you got the crazy idea into your head to be a spy like your uncle, I have been kept abreast of your activities…and health.”
“How?” John began to ask, but Danby cut him off.
“That is none of your concern. Elizabeth knows well enough, or should have known, that I know everything, and she was a fool to think she could keep the truth from me.”
Her grandfather was correct. It was foolish of her to think she could keep this secret.
“Nobody would ever tell me who Jean Pierre was, though I suspected he was English. I learned enough that such a man worked in the stables before I decided Elizabeth hadn’t made him up, though I highly doubt your family owns a vineyard in the south of France.”
“If you know all of this, Your Grace,” John interrupted, “why did you send for her? Surely you knew the danger.”
“I knew my granddaughter could find a way out of there and back. And it was high time she came home.”
“But why send for me if you knew the truth?”
“Because I wanted to know who you were.” He glared at John.
Nicholas stood. “You made them share a chamber last night knowing they were not married?”
Danby dismissed him. “Why not? They are soon to be married, and we can’t have the entire house wondering why the two are separated.”
“We aren’t going to be married,” Elizabeth insisted. Either her grandfather had gotten a wild idea in his head or he’d forced the compromise to force the marriage.
“Oh, yes, you are.” Danby banged his cane on the floor. “You were compromised by that man long before you got to England, and I demand he do the right thing.” He turned a snide look to Nicholas. “It is much better than an uncivilized dawn appointment.”
“Were you listening at the door?” Nicholas demanded.
“I will not let you force John into marrying me,” Elizabeth said, ignoring Nicholas.
“Yes, I was,” Danby answered and
turned to Elizabeth. “I wasn’t going to until he admitted to thoroughly compromising you.”
“It was my choice, and he should not be forced to marry me.”
“As long as you are my granddaughter, you have no choice.” He banged his cane on the ground once again.
She turned to John and pleaded, “Please, make him see sense. This would never work.”
John stood and took both of her hands in his. “He is right.”
“No, he isn’t.”
“Elizabeth, do be quiet.” John gently ordered her.
Affronted she took a step back. How dare he condescend to her.
John held tight to her hands. “I’ve been contemplating marriage since we were on that first boat. I would have broached it then, but I could tell you were adamant against the idea.”
“I would lose my freedom.”
“Are you so sure?” A half smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.
“Enough!” Danby barked. “Here is what you are going to do. Elizabeth is going to announce that Jean Pierre died over a year ago but she was afraid to tell anyone for fear I would make her come home. She met John in France and begged him to play the part of her husband until after Christmas. John didn’t take into account that he would be known by her cousins, and the truth came out. Nevertheless, he wishes to marry her, which he will do in three weeks after the banns have been read.”
Though she shouldn’t be, Elizabeth was rather impressed how her grandfather had so simply solved all the identity problems. She just needed to make him understand marriage was not under any consideration.
He turned on her before she could protest. “You will marry John whether you like it or not, and I suspect you would like to very much.”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to deny him, but he held up his cane and she sealed her