CHAPTER 15

C HAPTER 15

W hen Cade suffered another excruciatingly painful assault, Tamsyn collapsed onto her bed, giving thanks that she’d been in her room. All her concentration and most of her strength were needed to counter the effects of what Bastien was doing. If Cade wasn’t so strong, he might have been driven mad by what he was suffering.

Tamsyn remembered Merryn’s theory that strongly gifted people might be able to develop new abilities in times of crisis. Even though she was a healer, she’d always worked through physical touch. While healing usually included reducing pain, she’d never done anything like this, neutralizing pain at a distance through mind touch.

Perhaps this was possible because it wasn’t normal physical pain but an assault by a viciously talented man that was inflicted directly to the nerves and mind? Or maybe she was able to mitigate Cade’s pain because he was so dear to her, one of the handful of people she always carried in her heart.

When this was all over, she’d do some research and find out if any other gifted healers had dealt with this sort of situation. But mostly she just wanted it to be over !

She closed her eyes and calmed herself so she could make a mental list of the things she must do the next day. First on the list was buying that promising white riding horse, which meant acting as her imaginary younger brother. She would call herself Thomas since it was similar to her own name.

In the morning she would leave the house wearing her boy’s clothing and boots under a skirt and cloak. She’d find a quiet alley and strip the outer items off, then go to the livery stable to buy Zeus and a saddle and the other gear required. Then she’d ride the few miles to Frethun to call on Madame Agnes LeBlanc, the woman Marie Barriere thought might be able to help her find the caves below Chateau Bastien. Marie had not mentioned the other woman’s name until Madame LeBlanc had agreed to help

Tansyn also needed to find a quiet, isolated cottage where she and Cade could stay safely for a few days while he recovered. Perhaps Madame LeBlanc would help with that?

She smiled humorlessly. Then all she had to do was find where Cade was being held, break into his cell, free him, and lead him to safety, all without being seen by Claude Bastien.

She drew a shaky breath, knowing she mustn’t let the task overwhelm her. One step at a time. If all went miraculously well, she’d be able to rescue Cade within the next two or three days, preferably before Bastien assaulted his mind and body again.

She shuddered at the memory. Her gift was healing, not torture, but she’d be willing to use a more old-fashioned form of punishment on Bastien, the sort inflicted by a very sharp blade.

She sighed. No, she was incapable of deliberately hurting any living being. But if Cade wanted to give Bastien a beating, she wouldn’t try to stop him.

Her bloodthirsty thoughts were interrupted by the deep gong of the dinner bell. Time for a good meal in the company of normal, good people.

* * *

The next day started smoothly. The owner of the livery stable remarked on “Thomas’s” resemblance to his sister, but she’d lowered her voice, and he didn’t notice that his customer was a female. After a test ride on the white gelding, they bargained over the cost. Tamsyn wouldn’t have minded paying the asking price, but doing so would be suspicious.

In fact, she paid a very reasonable sum for her new mount and his tack, which included a spacious set of saddlebags. She filled the bags with their least essential belongings, hoping there would be a safe place to leave them if today’s mission went well.

The three-mile ride along the coast road to Frethun was pleasant and relaxing. Zeus was a strong mount with smooth gaits and it felt good to be doing something.

Marie Barriere’s directions on how to find Madame LeBlanc’s home on the far edge of Frethun were clear and easy to follow. The house was sizable and clearly prosperous. Tamsyn paused on the road before turning into the drive and gazed south along the coastline. She could feel that Cade wasn’t far away. If Madame LeBlanc wasn’t helpful, Tamsyn would start searching on her own and take her chances.

Marie had told Tamsyn to take her mount to the stables in back. When she entered the open doors, she saw a pair of carriage horses and two good riding hacks. A stable hand greeted her, speaking with a strong Cornish accent. “You’re the guest Madame LeBlanc is expecting?”

“Yes, I’m Tam Tremayne,” she said, using a lowered voice and a neutral name.

“Milady is expecting you,” he said, taking Zeus’s reins. “I’ll look after your mount.”

Used to caring for her own horses, she hesitated, but the stable hand looked capable, and Tamsyn was impatient to speak with the woman who might be able to help her find Cade. She thanked him and left the stables to walk around the house.

The polished brass knocker on the front door was in the shape of a sailing ship. She rapped smartly and the door was opened by an elderly butler who escorted her to a well-furnished drawing room with a view of the sea. A small-boned woman with silver-streaked hair and shrewd eyes was writing at the desk, but she looked up at her guest’s entrance.

Tamsyn bowed. “Thank you for seeing me, Madame LeBlanc. Madame Barriere said you might be willing to discuss a certain matter.”

The older woman studied her narrowly. “She did say I’d be receiving an interesting visitor today. No need to bow, young lady, and a curtsy would require a skirt. Have a seat. Would you like a cup of tea?”

So much for passing as male. “Yes, please. Is it the fortune-telling sort of tea?” Tamsyn asked as she settled into one of the brocade-covered chairs.

“No, this is tea that tells no tales. I haven’t Marie’s gift for such things.” The older woman poured two cups of tea and handed one to Tamsyn, gesturing for her to help herself to sugar. “She said that you are a member of the Tribe of Tremayne and are desperate to rescue your brother from Claude Bastien.”

Clearly the two older women were good friends and Marie trusted Madame LeBlanc’s discretion. “Yes, we were caught in Calais as war was declared and the order was issued to detain all British men. My brother and I were helping some English stragglers board the British ambassador’s ship when Cade was attacked and taken away. Of course I had to stay here to free him.”

“Of course.” A faint smile touched Madame LeBlanc’s lips. “So you’re brave, loyal, and reckless. A true Tremayne.”

Curious, Tamsyn asked, “Do you know my parents?”

“Yes, they visited France in better times.” The older woman made a face and stirred a heaping spoonful of sugar into her tea. “Outrageous for the First Consul to detain so many British civilians, but he enjoys being outrageous.”

“Can you help me free my brother from Chateau Bastien, Madame? Cade and I are not here to cause trouble. We just want to go home.”

Madame LeBlanc stared into her teacup, stirring the sugar more than necessary. “You’ve been told how . . . difficult Claude Bastien is?”

Tamsyn’s mouth tightened. “He’s been torturing my brother. He has the most appalling gift for pain.”

“He does.” There was a long moment before Madame LeBlanc met Tamsyn’s gaze and said quietly, “To my regret. He’s my nephew.”

Startled, Tamsyn said, “You’re a Bastien by birth?”

“Yes. I grew up in the chateau and know it well. My older brother Edmond was the previous master of the estate.”

“So Claude is his son.”

“Officially, though I have my doubts about his actual parentage,” the other woman said dryly.

“That’s an . . . intriguing statement,” Tamsyn said cautiously.

“I don’t air my family’s hidden scandals lightly.” Madame LeBlanc sighed. “But it might be useful in this case. My brother was a scholar, more interested in his books than people. He married Melisande for her dowry, I believe. She was beautiful and . . . profligate. She would go down through the caves to meet lovers. She liked rough, common men—smugglers, highwaymen, and the like. She only had the one child, Claude, and she died in childbirth. He is tall and dark and craggy looking, his appearance nothing like anyone else in the family. I’ve always presumed Claude’s father was one of her lovers.”

Startled, Tamsyn said, “Did your brother realize that?”

“I assume so, but he was interested only in his studies of ancient Greek and Roman texts. He had his heir and that sufficed.” She poured more tea into her cup. “He died in a fall down the chateau stairs when Claude was twenty-one.”

Tamsyn caught her breath. “Did you think it wasn’t an accident?”

The older woman shrugged. “I really don’t know. My brother could be very absent-minded. Perhaps he missed a step while thinking about an inscription.”

Perhaps. But Tamsyn sensed that the older woman didn’t believe that. “Madame Barriere said that your nephew works for the government.”

Her hostess nodded. “Yes, the secret police. He likes hunting the enemies of France.”

No wonder he’d been so intent on capturing Cade. “Is it still possible to enter the chateau from the caves below?”

“Yes, though I haven’t traveled that way for many years. There are several caves but only one leads up to the chateau. I can show you that one, and you can decide if it will work for you and your brother.” Madame LeBlanc’s eyes narrowed. “But before I explain how to enter the chateau, I will tell you what I need in return for helping you.”

“I will pay any price as long as I am alive to do so,” Tamsyn said.

“I’m glad you’re not underestimating the risks. If you’re dead, of course that absolves you of the debt,” the other woman said with grim humor.

“Tell me your price.”

“I want you to take my grandson Andre to England and do what is necessary to establish him there,” Madame LeBlanc said in a steely voice.