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“Go back to the Île de la Cité where you belong,” Marcus told Matthew “I’ for you”
He did not like Matthew’s co and whose hard, dangerous eyes said so else
Matthew’s eyes narrowed Marcus felt a sense of satisfaction that his shot had reached its target
“I can take care ofhis attention back to his drink
“That’s e all thought—once,” Matthew said softly He slid a sealed letter across the counter Embedded in the red-and-black marbled as an ancient coin “You can’t say I didn’t try I hope you enjoyed your liberty, equality, and brotherhood, Marcus In the de Cler”
—
MARCUS WAS IN THE BACK roo torn and filthy clothing It was a frigid day in late January, and he had spentfor his life
“Have you forgotten what this means?” Philippe tossed the worn, ancient coin in the air and caught it as it dropped
Marcus shook his head The coin was a summons He knew that Every de Clermont knew that Answer it, or face the consequences Before, Marcus had always obeyed his grandfather’s conored them for months
“We are winning, Grandfather We’ve taken over the old convent,” Marcus replied, hoping a diversionary tactic would work
Philippe was a battle-hardened general, however, and unlikely to be i old religious building in a seedy part of Paris He wrapped one hand around Marcus’s neck, while the other still held the coin
“Where is Marat?” Philippe demanded
“I’m surprised you don’t already know” Even now, Marcus couldn’t resist baiting his grandfather, even though he was stronger, older, quicker, and could flatten him in a moment
“Then he is probably in the first place they will look for hier’s bakery, where you and Veronique have lodgings”
Marcus gulped Philippe was correct, as usual
“I am disappointed in you, Marcus I would have credited you with ination” Philippe turned and stalked out
“Where are you going?” Marcus asked, hurrying after him
Philippe didn’t reply
“I’ll get Marat out of Paris—into the countryside,” Marcus assured his grandfather, struggling to keep up while re within the norer than Marcus’s, however, which made this difficult
Philippe still paid him no notice
The assault of sound that met theh it inter, the streets were filled with vendors and market stalls Gulls cried overhead before they swooped down to search for food People called out to one another, advertising what they had for sale, the latest news and gossip, and the price of their wares
“I swear, Philippe On randfather’s wake
“Your honor is not worth much these days” Philippe whirled around “You will do as I tell you and take Monsieur Marat to London Gallowglass willthere since Christlad to be rid of France”
“London?” Marcus stopped “I can’t go to London I’m an American”
“If a va to places occupied by his foro,” Philippe replied, resuer’s bakery “Monsieur Marat is familiar with the place So is Veronique You may take her with you, if you like”
“Jean-Paul will not want to go,” Marcus said “He has work to do here”
“Monsieur Marat has done enough, I think,” Philippe replied “No ion Those are the rules”
“But not for you, it seerandfather conducted French affairs as though they were an orchestra, and had a spy stationed on every corner in Paris
Philippe didn’t deign to respond Nevertheless, he and Marcus were beginning to attract sidelong glances from the humans who filled the streets and alleys Marcus wanted to believe that it was the presence of an aristocrat in this revolutionary neighborhood that drew the attention, but feared it was because they were both vampires
“The comte de Clermont,” one woman whispered to her friend The comment was carried on the wind, from mouth to ear
“Inside,” Philippe said, pushing Marcus through the door to Monsieur Boulanger’s shop He nodded to the bakers as they passed through, s fro massive loaves into the ovens
“There you are,” Veronique said in greeting, flinging open the door She sounded relieved The draft drew the scent of yeast and sugar up the staircase
Then Veronique saw Philippe
“Merde,” she whispered”
“Indeed, uest”
“Marat’s not—oh, very well” Veronique stood aside to let thelared at Marcus This is your fault, her expression said
Marat, as huddled in a chair by the , leaped to his feet He was not suited to the life of a fugitive, and was nothing but skin and bones Worry and the need to keepfrom bolt-hole to bolt-hole had taken their toll on his health Marcus, who still re over your shoulder and never able to close your eyes for fear of discovery, was overcoht”
“Monsieur Marat I’uard The scholars at the university talk of nothing but how you have taken refuge with the fair Veronique and Le Bébé Aloves on the table The legs were uneven, and the weight of the supple leather was enough to give it a perilous tilt
“You have nothing to fear, Jean-Paul,” Marcus assured his friend “Philippe is here to help”
“I do not want his help,” Marat said, spitting on the floor in a show of bravado
“And yet you will take it anyway,” Philippe said cheerfully “You are going into exile, sir”
“I a here I a,” Marat said with a sneer “Paris needs me”
“Alas, your actions have made it impossible for you to remain in the city, or even France, s of wine in a pitcher and decided against it “To London you will go You will still have to hide, of course, but you will not be killed on sight as you will be if you step outside this door”
“London?” Veronique looked from Marat to Marcus to Philippe and back to Marcus
“At first,” Philippe replied “Marcus will meet his father there Mattheill take Monsieur Marat to the house of Mrs Graham, a friend of Dr Franklin ill be sympathetic to his revolutionary passions”
“It is out of the question,” Veronique replied, her eyes sparking with displeasure “Jean-Paulupon his vision, his sensibility”
“Monsieur Marat may not be able to see very far from a prison cell—which is where he is headed if you persist in this madness,” said Philippe
“This is Lafayette’s doing,” Marat snarled, his mouth contorted “He is a traitor to the people”
A sword appeared at Marat’s throat Philippe was at the other end of it
“Softly, Marat Softly The only things standing between you and utter oblivion are your friendship with Marcus and the marquis’s decision not to pursue you today because of it Lafayette sent the guard scurrying in a different direction, even though he knehere you were and could have set his hounds upon you,” Philippe said