"I am called Madame Renard."

Jeanne nodded recognition, but remarked, "My mother said you were older."

"I have some skill in changing my appearance," Ca.s.sie explained. "Have we convinced you we are who we say? I don't blame you for being cautious."

Jeanne glanced up at her husband, their gazes meeting. After a moment of silent communication, Pierre said, "You seem genuine. But what do you think you can do to rescue five people from a well-guarded castle? It would take an army to break in!"

"We do have a plan," Grey said. "But we need more information. First, are you sure they're being held there? And if so, are they in the dungeons?"

Jeanne got to her feet, looking strong, hopeful, and quite like her mother. "If we are to discuss such matters, it should be over food. Your dinner waits, Pierre. I have soup, so there will be enough for us all."

Grey's stomach noisily agreed with the suggestion, which broke the tension. Though Ca.s.sie's stomach was more discreet, she was also hungry. Their breakfast that morning at the barn had been bread, cheese, and water.

Jeanne proved herself her mother's daughter by producing thick bean soup, fresh bread, cheese, and a pork pte. Ca.s.sie tried not to gobble greedily.

Even if the Duvals ended up telling their visitors to go away, at least Ca.s.sie and Grey would be well fed when they left.

Chapter 44.

When appet.i.tes had been satisfied, Jeanne pushed her plate away and fixed her gaze on her guests. "You want to free my family. What can we do to help?"

"As I said earlier, we must be sure they are alive and held at Castle Durand," Grey said seriously. "Have you been allowed to visit your parents?"

She shook her head sadly. "I have not seen them, but Pierre has a cousin who works in the castle. She says they are there and she has spoken with them through the windows, which are very narrow and near the ground. She said they are in two cells, my mother and sister together, and right next to them my father, Pere Laurent, and my brother. Not happy, but not unwell, though it is hard on Pere Laurent."

Grey felt almost dizzy with relief at the knowledge that his worst fear, that they were already dead, hadn't happened. "Have they been charged with a crime?"

"My father and I went to speak with the local magistrate about them," Pierre replied. "Pere Laurent had been charged with treason, and the Boyers are being investigated as partners in his crime." The young man snorted with disgust. "It is absurd and the magistrate knows it, but he said that so far, Durand hasn't broken the law."

Again, this was as Ca.s.sie had speculated. Giving thanks that he was partnered with a woman who really understood France, Grey asked, "Did your cousin say how many guards have been brought in to protect the castle?"

"A dozen and a sergeant. They are privately hired guards, but all were soldiers, my cousin thought." Pierre's expression was skeptical. "You think you can challenge and defeat so many? Do you have a squad of English soldiers hidden nearby?"

"No squad, and no straightforward attack." He nodded toward Ca.s.sie. "My lady fox will explain."

"We intend a diversion to draw the attention of the soldiers," Ca.s.sie said. "While they are busy with the diversion, we'll climb the castle wall and go to the dungeon windows. With the right tools, we should be able to open one of the windows and help the prisoners out."

"I will skip most of the questions your statement raises and ask what diversion you have in mind," Pierre said tartly. "It will have to be substantial in order to draw more than a dozen men away long enough to break into the castle dungeons."

"Explosive grenades," Ca.s.sie said calmly.

Pierre and Jeanne gaped at her. His, "Have you grenades with you?" clashed with his wife's, "Aren't they dreadfully dangerous and unpredictable?"

"They are indeed dangerous," Ca.s.sie admitted, "but that's why they're useful. I brought with me enough black powder and fuse to make a couple of dozen grenades about the size of a large apple." She demonstrated with one hand.

Pierre looked dubious. "Will they be strong enough to breach the castle wall?"

"We don't want to take down a wall, just the two gates, and we certainly don't want to hurt any of the castle servants like your cousin," Grey explained. "But if a dozen or so are tossed over the wall at different places, they will create a diversion."

Beginning to look intrigued, Pierre said, "Grenades are gunpowder packed in a metal casing, aren't they? Did you bring the casings?"

Ca.s.sie shook her head. "They would be too heavy, and far too conspicuous. When we were here before with Pere Laurent, your mother gave me apple brandy from a st.u.r.dy little pottery jug. My hope is that you have more such jugs that can be used as casings. Pour in gunpowder, add a fuse, cork the jug, and voil! A diversionary weapon."

By this time, Pierre was staring at Ca.s.sie with open awe. But his brain hadn't stopped working. "Can the two of you throw enough grenades over the wall quickly enough for the effect you want? Much running and throwing will be required if the grenades are to explode about the same time."

The young man had put his finger on one of the plan's weaknesses. Ca.s.sie replied, "I'll aim to make the fuses last about ten minutes. Timing grenades is difficult, though."

"What if a fuse goes out, or the guards see them burning and realize what is happening?"

She shrugged. "That might happen. We must hope that enough grenades will go off about the right time to create the confusion we need."

"You need more grenade throwers." Pierre grinned. "I throw very well."

"No!" Grey exclaimed. "You can't help us."

Pierre flushed. "Because of this?" He held up the stump of his left arm.

"Of course not. That won't interfere with you throwing," Grey said. "But it's vital you not be a.s.sociated with this in any way since you are the first people who will be suspected of helping them escape."

"He is right." Jeanne laid a hand on his right arm. "We must be above suspicion. I have an idea for that. The magistrate is a cousin of my mother's." She grinned. "We are all related hereabouts. He has been advising us about the legal situation. On the night of your plan, we can ask him to meet us at the tavern in St. Just du Sarthe. We will buy him one of Madame Leroux's fine dinners and he can tell us if he has had any luck inquiring of his superiors about the legality of arresting my family."

"That is another question," Pierre said. "Even if you free them, where will they go? They cannot return here as long as Durand is after them."

"I know. We have found a temporary place for them to stay while we decide what is best. After that ..." Grey spread his hands in a very French gesture. "If necessary, I will take them all the way to England. This war will not last forever."

He avoided Ca.s.sie's worried gaze. They had discussed this repeatedly on the journey. Getting the two of them out of France had been a challenge. Seven people would be far more difficult. But he would d.a.m.ned well do his best to ensure that his friends were safe and free.

"I suppose you are right that I shouldn't be part of your raid on the castle," Pierre said with regret. "But I can find other men who will be happy to help you."

Grey caught his breath. "That would be very helpful, if they can be trusted."

"Durand is not well liked," Jeanne said. "There was outrage when his men arrested Pere Laurent and my family."

"There are also many royalists in this area," Pierre added. "We do not discuss such things. And we do not turn each other in to police informers." He held up his stump. "I lost this fighting for France and my family, not Napoleon nor a fat, stupid Bourbon king. Any man I recommend can be trusted. There is a man who works on this farm whom I would trust with my life."

Grey's smile was wry. "I hope I can trust him with mine." And Ca.s.sie's.

Jeanne had slipped out, and now she returned with a squat little jug and four small ceramic sipping cups. She set the jug in front of Ca.s.sie. "My mother is known for her apple brandy. We sell it in the town market. Will it make a good grenade? There are a couple of dozen more jugs in the pantry."

Ca.s.sie hefted the jug to feel the weight and took out the cork to check the thickness of the walls. "These should work. We need to make and test some sample grenades to be sure."

"Then we should empty the jug." Jeanne poured a little into each of the small cups and pa.s.sed them around the table. She raised hers. "Liberty for my family!"

Grey was happy to drink to that. The apple brandy was just as fragrant and fruity as when he'd first sampled it in the icy farm pond.

And it had just as much of a kick.

When Grey and Pierre left the house to bed down the horses and find a good place to test a grenade, Ca.s.sie sat down at the table with Jeanne to make their test weapons. She'd brought several pounds of gunpowder and yards of fuse with her. Jeanne watched warily as Ca.s.sie made a paper funnel to pour the powder into the first jug.

"That isn't going to explode and blow up my kitchen, is it?"

"No, gunpowder is very stable. The grenade won't explode without the lighted fuse." After Ca.s.sie poured in the powder, she cut a length of fuse and slid it through the mouth of the jug, then corked the bottle very tightly. It looked quite innocent when she was done. A small brandy jug with a cord running out of it. "I'll make a couple more with different fuse lengths and amounts of gunpowder."

As she started on the second, Jeanne asked, "How soon will you raid the castle?"

"As soon as possible." Ca.s.sie delicately funneled the gunpowder into a jug. "Preferably within the next two or three nights. The moon is waxing, and each night will be brighter." Frowning, she cut a length of fuse. "Plus, my instincts are saying that the sooner this is done, the better. For all your family's sake, but especially Pere Laurent's."

Jeanne nodded gravely. "He had become stronger while here at the farm, but he is frail. Imagine the horror of being back in the cell where he spent so many years!"

"I'm trying not to think of it." Ca.s.sie bit her lip as she made a third test grenade. This would be a chancy operation, with far too many variables. She hoped Pere Laurent was on good terms with the divine, because they were going to need all the help they could get.

That night they all tromped into the forest to test grenades. Even Jeanne came, not wanting to miss the action. Grey and Pierre had found a test site on a wilderness slope opposite the village and the castle. Even though they were miles away, sound traveled, and they didn't want anyone to be alerted to the use of explosives.

A light rain was falling, which meant the explosions would sound like thunder. As Ca.s.sie picked her way through the woods with a shielded lantern, she gave thanks for such ideal test conditions.

After half an hour of hiking, they reached the site. A pair of rocky outcroppings had a pocket of soil between them where several trees about the height of the castle walls grew. Not only could they practice their throwing, but they could see how much damage the grenades did to the rocks on the other side while taking shelter behind the outcropping on their side.

Ca.s.sie eyed the trees. "Shall we start by tossing stones about the same weight to test our throwing abilities?"

Grey nodded. "Earlier Pierre and I collected some that seem about the right weight. They're piled over there."

He set his lantern on the ledge of rock behind him and hefted a stone. After tossing it up and down a couple of times, he hurled it over the trees. The stone cleared with s.p.a.ce to spare and clattered against rock on the other side.

"Not bad," Pierre said as he chose a stone. After testing the weight, he threw. It cleared the trees by a huge margin. He hadn't been lying about his good throwing arm.

Ca.s.sie was next. Her stone didn't clear the trees by much, but it was an adequate throw. Next came Jeanne. Determination on her face, she wound up, threw-and the rock crashed into the tree's budding branches.

"I think it's good you'll be dining with the magistrate," Grey said with a grin. "Are we ready for live ammunition?"

Ca.s.sie produced three grenades that she'd packed in a canvas carrier bag with towels for padding. "I've put different-length fuses in these. I think they will explode in about five, three, and two minutes, but I'm guessing and want to test my guesses."

She lifted the one with the shortest fuse. "This is another test-less gunpowder. A smaller charge will be useful for blowing in the postern without attracting as much notice as the explosions in front. We'll also need one if we must blast our way into the cells. I don't want to kill the people we're trying to save. Pierre, since you have the best arm, you can throw this one with the shortest fuse after we've tested the other two."

Pierre nodded, pleased. Grey started by lighting the longest fuse with the lantern flame, then tossing the grenade. They joined Jeanne behind the rocky outcropping and covered their ears while Ca.s.sie counted down the time mentally.

KABOOOM!!!!!!!! The ground shook and air and sound battered them even behind their barrier.

After the rattle of falling debris ended, Grey said, "Let's look at the damage."

They found that the grenade had left a small crater, tossing earth and stones away and cracking the stony outcropping. Grey put a warm hand on Ca.s.sie's shoulder. "Is this what you expected?"

"Yes, though the fuse burned faster than I expected. I'll have to cut longer fuses." Ca.s.sie threw the next grenade, which had about the same amount of explosive power. Pierre's low-gunpowder version seemed to have the right power for use on the windows. As they studied the smaller crater it made, Grey said, "We have our a.r.s.enal."

Voice throbbing with excitement, Jeanne said, "Your plan seems more real now. Perhaps my family will be free in a few days!"

Ca.s.sie didn't bother to say that grenades were the easy part.

Chapter 45.

Two days later, all the arrangements had been made and the raid was set for that night. Pierre and Jeanne had already left in a cart to meet the magistrate, and Grey and Ca.s.sie were in their small bedroom preparing the equipment they might need. Ropes; a short, heavy crowbar; weapons. Grey frowned, wishing they were better armed.

He would carry the heavier equipment and most of the grenades in a pack they'd devised to sling over his back, leaving his hands free. He double- and triple-checked the contents, his nerves taut even though he and Ca.s.sie had had endless discussions about the possibilities and refining their list of materials. "Is this kind of tension like going into battle?" he asked. "How long does it take to become used to it?"

Ca.s.sie hadn't yet changed into her black male clothing, but even with drab hair and a plain brown gown, she was lovely. Calm, sure of herself. He missed the red hair.

"We are going into battle, so tension is normal," she replied. "Though you're twitchy now, as soon as the first grenade explodes, your nerves will steady and you'll be fine and dangerous. We've planned as much as we can. Now it's in G.o.d's hands."

"I hope G.o.d wants to save one of His better priests, and us along with him." Grey surveyed his pack. "I wish we had firearms."

"We discussed that," she said patiently. "We couldn't have carried a rifle through France without being noticed, and one rifle wouldn't have been much use against a squad of soldiers. Pistols aren't very accurate, especially at night when we're moving as fast as we can. I have a knife, and I know how to use it."

"Firing a weapon can make the enemy take cover and buy time even if one has only one shot," he pointed out.

"True." She patted her smaller bag, which held the rest of the grenades. "But we do have explosives, if not firearms."

He looked out the window at the darkening sky. "Is it time to go yet?"

She laughed. "Not yet. You're as impatient as a child who has been promised an ice at Gunter's."

"I've never done anything like this." He perched on the small bed opposite Ca.s.sie's. Jeanne and Pierre had made it clear that they didn't mind what sleeping arrangements their guests made, so he and Ca.s.sie were sharing the room that had belonged to the two Boyer daughters. They'd used only one of the narrow beds, which was crowded, but they'd wanted to be as close as possible. A single bed was sufficient for making love.

"One's first experience of war is difficult," she observed. "But everyone has a first time. At least you're no green seventeen-year-old soldier who has never faced the enemy before."

"I'm not so much afraid of being a coward," he said slowly as he puzzled out his concerns. "But the stakes are so high! I'm afraid I'll fail and it will hurt others."

"Life and death are the highest stakes there are," she said calmly. "But we all die eventually. I hope it's not tonight, but would either of us choose not to be here?"

"As I said in England, this is something I must do." He scowled at her. "But you don't have to. You could be safe and learning how to spend money in London. Haven't you ever thought of retiring from this most dangerous game?"

"I have," she said, to his surprise. "When I visited Kirkland to chastise him for letting my cousin know I was alive, he told me it was time to leave spying behind. I've done n.o.ble work and helped my country, but Napoleon's doom is inevitable." She smiled a little. "Though he was very complimentary, he made it clear that my services were no longer needed."

Grey's brows arched with surprise. "Interesting. Even more interesting that you didn't mention this to me earlier."