Elusive by Linda Rae Blair Page A

explained his conversation with his father’s cousin. “It was
nothing of importance, really—some silly rumor she heard. You know
her. She just loves to stir things up.”
    His face had gotten grim, she thought.
There’s more there than he’s telling, but she wouldn’t press him.
He had enough on his shoulders these days. He’d tell her when he
was ready. Why did sons always think they could keep things from
their mothers—or that they should—she wondered?

    **************************

    Chapter 6: Hide and Seek—Tag
    Paris, France - April 1912

    It had been just weeks since he had returned
from his journey. The knowledge Roddy had gained on that trip had
shaken him. She is in danger, his precious Blair. How could he keep
her safe? If they located him, they would locate her as well. He
would have to take her to Scotland soon, and tell her all that he
had tried to keep from her until she was ready. He could wait no
longer. She had been through so much already. Julien’s death had
shaken her, and just as Roddy had been about to tell her the truth.
It pained him to know that he would cause her more upset, but it
was better than having her die.
    No, he would not permit any harm to come to
her. He would tell her tonight and they would leave for Scotland in
the morning. He had to keep her safe. Everything was coming
together and he must not permit anything to go wrong—not after all
these years when they were so close to reaching their goal—his
goal, since she was still unaware of how her life was about to
change.
    He strolled absent-mindedly down the street,
the buildings fronted with the booths of flower, fruit, and
vegetable vendors. Here he knew was where locals—and tourists as
well—could find the best buys.
    He stopped briefly at his favorite flower
vendor’s booth. As he was about to ask young Claude how his day was
going, the shot rang out.
    Claude saw the stunned expression hit Roddy’s
face, and then the old man’s eyes went blank before he just slowly
slid to the street. Claude ran to Roddy as screams went through the
crowd. Passersby spread out and away from the body that now lay in
the street—its life’s blood streaming down the cobblestones. While
the shoppers stared in shocked disbelief, the whistles of the
rushing gendarmes grew nearer.
    ***
    Blair and Esmée sat at a little table on the
shaded patio behind Madame’s shop. The building had originally been
a private residence. That, as had been the case with Mssr. LeGard’s
building, had been over a hundred years ago. Madame had converted
it to a shop shortly after her husband’s death, but had left the
lovely little patio as it had been, adding new plants in pots and
containers of varying colors over the years. They were enjoying a
small but satisfying lunch, giggling like little girls at a shared
memory.
    The sky was a shade of blue that Blair always
imagined was not its color anywhere in the world other than Paris.
The air was scented with early spring flowers. A soft breeze came
through the hedge of blooming shrubbery that provided privacy from
the neighboring buildings. Blair saw Esmée’s eyes widen. She turned
to see what had caused the reaction only to find Madame stepping
outside the shop with a nervous looking young gendarme following
close behind.
    “Blair, my dear,” Madame’s voice trembled
slightly, as she approached Blair who could not fathom why Madame
would look so somber. Her eyes, always bright with her enjoyment of
life, were now dulled with some shock Blair did not understand.
    “Madame, what is wrong?” Blair stood, and
reached for the woman who only led her back to her seat and urged
her down again.
    “Blair, mon chéri,” Madame quietly started
again. “This gentleman has come with shocking and very sad news.
Please sit, my dear. Let him say what he must,” Madame patiently
urged her.
    The painfully young gendarme seemed very
uncomfortable, and Blair could feel every muscle in her body
tighten and tremble.