He pointed at a pair of narrow doors opening to a small paved area. Helena leaned back to whisper, "A small parlor."

Sebastian slid his fingers to her hand and gripped, then signaled with his head to Phillipe. Drawing Helena with him, he cut through the intervening garden and slid into the shadows close by the house.

She'd followed without protest, but now she asked, "Why this?"

Sebastian studied the narrow doors. "Watch." He bent his knees, set his shoulder to the place where the two halves came together at the lock, braced his upper arm along the join. Then he gave a sharp shove.

With a click, the lock popped. The doors swung ajar.

Helena stared. "How . . . simple."

Sebastian pushed the door wide, bowed her in, then followed. Phillipe joined them; Sebastian shut the door, then looked around. The room was small, neat, and quietly elegant. He joined Helena by the main door, put a hand on her wrist to stop her from opening it. "How far to your sister's chamber?"

"Not as far as it would have been-the chamber she usually has is in the central wing."

He considered, then looked at Phillipe. "You go first, but go slowly. We'll follow. Stroll along; don't skulk. If any servants should appear, they'll think you've just returned."

Phillipe nodded. Sebastian let Helena open the door. Phillipe led the way as directed; they flitted in his wake like ghosts.

They had to climb the main stairs; Helena breathed easier when they reached the top and entered the long gallery. The moon had at last risen. Silver light poured through the many long windows, mercilously illuminating the long room. She and Sebastian hugged the inner wall as they followed Phillipe, who at Sebastian's wave hurried through the gallery.

They slowed again as they entered the maze of corridors beyond. Helena's tension eased as panic left her and eagerness and antic.i.p.ation took hold. In minutes she would see Ariele again, know she was safe. See that she was.

Sebastian tugged on her hand, then lowered his head to whisper, "Where are Fabien's apartments?"

"That way." She waved back. "At the end of the gallery, he goes the other way."

Ahead, Phillipe stopped before a door. He looked back and waited until they joined him. "Is this it?"

Helena nodded.

Sebastian closed his hand on her arm. "You go in. We'll wait here until you're sure she won't take fright." He tightened his grip briefly, then released her. "Make sure she understands the need for silence."

Helena nodded. She held his gaze, then closed her hand briefly over his. Turning to the door, she eased up the latch and slipped in.

Chapter Thirteen.

HELENAforced herself to pause inside the door until her eyes adjusted. Then she rounded the curtained bed, knowing Ariele would be sleeping facing away from the door. Quietly parting the curtains, she looked in, saw the mound under the covers, saw the sheen of Ariele's honey-brown hair splayed across the pillows, saw the pale sliver of one white cheek.

Smiling, tears threatening, Helena stepped closer.

"Ariele? Ariele-wake up,mon pet.i.t chou ."

Brown lashes flickered, lifted; eyes greener than Helena's peeked out, then Ariele smiled sleepily. Her lids fell again.

Helena reached out and shook her gently.

Ariele's eyes opened fully. She stared at Helena, surprised wonder in her face. Then, with a cry of joy, she threw herself into Helena's arms. "Itis you!Mon Dieu! I thought you were a dream."

"Sssh." Helena hugged her fiercely, closed her eyes for one rapturous moment, and gave thanks. Then she pushed Ariele away, held her at arm's length. "We have to leave.Vite . Phillipe and another-the Englishman I am to marry-are waiting beyond the door. But we must hurry. You must dress-dark clothes."

Ariele had never been slow-witted. She'd scurried from the bed even before Helena had finished speaking. She ran to her armoire, searched, pulled out a brown gown, showed it to Helena.

"Yes-that's perfect."

"Where are we going?" Ariele scrambled into the gown.

"To England. Fabien . . . he is mad."

"Mad?" Ariele c.o.c.ked her head. "Disgustingly arrogant, true, but . . ." She shrugged. "So he does not know we are leaving?"

"No." Helena came to help with her laces. "We must be very quiet. And we can take only a small bag-just your brushes and important things."

"I didn't bring much with me from Cameralle. I'd hoped to go home for Christmas."

Helena tied off the laces, then hugged her. "Ma pet.i.te,we won't see home for some time-"

"Yes, but think of the adventure!"

Rea.s.sured, Helena left Ariele brushing out her long hair while she hunted and found a small bag in the armoire, then piled all the little items from the dressing table into it, then hurried to the prie-dieu to collect prayer book and crucifix.

A tap on the door had them both looking up; Phillipe peered in. He saw Ariele and slipped in, crossed to her. Sebastian followed him into the room. Helena stared at him, drank in his strength, calmed her tense nerves. All would be well.

Sebastian returned Helena's regard, then, satisfied that all was as she'd expected, switched his gaze to Phillipe and the young girl he a.s.sumed was Ariele. Phillipe was whispering earnestly, explaining his part in things. The girl was listening politely.

Ariele was taller than Helena, larger overall, yet not above average. Her hair lay like a curtain of old gold down her back. He could see her profile, as perfect as Helena's. See her hands gesture, swift and delicate, rea.s.suring Phillipe and hushing his apologies.

Then she sensed his presence and turned. Smiled shyly.

He walked forward, held out his hand.

She reacted instinctively and laid her fingers in his. He bowed over them. Ariele shook off her surprise and curtsied prettily.

Sebastian raised her. "I'm honored to meet you, my dear, but I think we should leave further pleasantries until later. We must leave immediately." He looked into eyes that were darker than Helena's, a different shade of green. "If all goes as we plan, we'll have years to get to know each other better."

Ariele tilted her head at that, looked at him almost challengingly. The same fire that burned so brightly in Helena had not missed Ariele.

Sebastian laughed softly; leaning closer, he dropped a light kiss on Ariele's forehead. "Do not fence with me,ma pet.i.te . You are not-yet-in your sister's league."

Ariele made a sound that could only be described as a chortle. She shot a quick glance at Helena, her face alight with innocent query. No mystery why Phillipe had been smitten.

Releasing her hand, Sebastian stepped back. "Come. We dare not dally."

Helena had remained rooted to the spot watching the interplay between her sister and him; now she bustled up, took the brush from Ariele's hand, dropped it in the bag, and cinched the drawstring tight. She looked at him. "We are ready."

He took her hand, kissed her tense fingers. "Good. This is what we'll do."

They left the room, four silent shadows slipping through the slumbering house. As before, Phillipe led the way; Ariele, in her cloak with the hood already up, followed at his heels, much as if he'd been sent to summon her and she was grumpily complying. They walked swiftly but quietly down the corridors. A few yards behind, Helena, also fully cloaked, followed with Sebastian, keeping to the shadows as much as they could.