Ransomed Jewels by Laura Landon Page B

by it. “What if you do not have the necklace?”
    “I will have it.”
    Claire dropped her head deeper into the pillows and closed her eyes. She could never trust him. No matter how much she might want to give the necklace to him, or how desperate he was to take it away from her, she couldn’t consider handing it over. Even if she had it. The major would never give it to Roseneau, and Alex would pay with his life. The British government had the other jewels to bargain with. The necklace was the only leverage she had to free Alex.
    And she didn’t even have that. Yet.
    He walked to the window and braced his hand against the wood frame. “Have you considered, Lady Huntingdon, how you intend to live with yourself knowing you caused the deaths of thousands of innocent young men?”
    Claire bristled. She fought the overwhelming pain slicing through her and the weakness sapping her. “I did not ask to be tossed into this game you and my husband were playing, Major. I was given no choice. Just as I have no choice now . . . but to play it out as I see fit.”
    He turned his head and looked at her over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed, making his threatening frown even more daunting. “I think not,” he said, his voice soft and menacing. “Roseneau is not worth even one man’s life. You are not worth one man’s life.”
    “It must be wonderful to be so self-righteous.”
    “At least I am able to live with myself. Can you?”
    “And if I told you . . . I didn’t . . . have the necklace?”
    “Then I would call you a liar and be right in doing so.”
    She glared at him through vision that was blurred. “What makes you so sure?”
    Claire saw the scowl on his face deepen. Heard the disgust in his voice when he spoke. And his words were as painful as if he were driving a knife through her.
    “Because your husband told me you did. Those were his dying words. He wanted to make sure you were safe. He thought he’d failed you. And he wanted you to know he loved you.” He spun away and slammed his fist against the wall.
    Claire wanted him to stop. She wanted him to take back his words. But he didn’t. Instead, he repeated his damning accusation.
    “ You are the reason he took the necklace. And now he’s dead!”
    “Samuel. That’s enough.”
    The room seemed to close in around her. She was barely aware of Bronnely’s appearance in the doorway or his reproach. Barely aware of the hands touching her, or the water raised to her lips, or the cool cloth pressed to her forehead.
    What the major had said consumed her thoughts. His words tore at her heart. How could she believe him—that her husband had loved her? That he’d stolen the necklace for her? Both were blatant lies.
    Hunt didn’t love her. He never had.

Chapter 6
    “What the hell is going on, Sam?” Bronnely said, bending over Claire’s pale, limp form. “If you want her dead, just take out your gun and put a bullet through her head. It will be more humane.”
    Bronnely held one hand over her brow and pressed the fingers of his other hand against her neck. Sam could see the rapid beating of her pulse at the small indent at the base of her throat. Her face was as white as it had ever been, and she struggled to catch her breath.
    Sam walked over to the dying embers in the fireplace and slammed his fist against the mantel. Guilt ate away at him, gnawing deep inside his chest. He’d gone after her with all the accusatory bitterness he’d lived with since Hunt had been gunned down. And he was no closer to getting the necklace now than he’d been before.
    He leaned down and threw two more logs on the ebbing fire. The room had taken on a chill. Why hadn’t he noticed it before? He turned back to the bed and watched Bronnely toss another cover over Claire’s trembling body. Then the doctor raised her shoulders and pressed a glass to her lips. Sam was glad it was the wine laced with laudanum.
    “Has she taken any of Maude’s broth?”
    “A little. Not