Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
Russ strode back into the house, his steps echoing against the marble floors as his mind churned with restless energy. He hated leaving Hillary and Claire alone with Michael, but he trusted Hillary enough to know she wouldn’t have sent him away unless it was necessary. Still, the thought of Michael’s smug face and his dismissive tone set Russ’s teeth on edge.
He scanned the room, spotting Sophie near the dining hall. Her hands were full, carrying linens, but she paused when she noticed Russ approaching.
“Sophie,” Russ said, his voice urgent enough to have her eyes going wide. “I need you to make up a room for Michael. I’m sure he’ll assume he’s welcome to stay, but he cannot stay in the same room as Claire. That’s not negotiable.”
Sophie’s lips rose into a small, amused smile, which caught Russ off guard. “That won’t be a problem,” she said, her tone reassuring. “There is no way Madame Fournier or Claire’s grandmother would allow such a thing. An unmarried woman sharing a room with a man? Unthinkable under this roof.”
Russ raised an eyebrow, a mixture of relief and disbelief crossing his face. “That’s... archaic,” he muttered. “Controlling, even. But I suppose in this situation, it’s a blessing.”
Sophie nodded. “It’s just the way things are here. They’re very particular about maintaining appearances. Dr. Hale will be placed in the west wing, far from Claire’s quarters.”
“Good,” Russ said, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “But listen, Michael is not to be trusted. He’s dangerous—not in an obvious way, but in a manipulative, calculated way. You need to do whatever you can to keep him insulated from Claire without making it obvious there’s an issue.”
Sophie’s expression sobered, her playful smile fading as she took in Russ’s words. “I understand,” she said firmly. “I’ll ensure that Dr. Hale has everything he needs, but I’ll also make sure Claire has space. The valets assigned to his room will be told that he should not be permitted to stray. We’ll keep a watchful eye.”
Russ gave her a small nod of appreciation. “Thank you. And if anything feels off, anything at all, you come find me or Hillary immediately.”
“I will,” Sophie promised. “Is she alright? What exactly is going on?”
“A game of chess,” Russ replied. “Except we’re blindfolded, one hand tied behind our back and the clock is ticking.”
“Sounds impossible.”
“We’ll find out I guess.”
As Sophie headed off to prepare Michael’s accommodations, Russ lingered near the staircase, his gaze drifting toward the garden doors where Hillary, Claire, and Michael had disappeared. He couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at him.
“Is he who we have to worry about?” Madame Fournier asked, one hand on her drink, the other on her delicate string of pearls.
“Yes.” Russ answered flatly. “He is the danger she’s been trying to avoid.”
“And he burned down my barn?” She raised a sharp brow.
“Most likely. Or he had someone do it.”
“Trying to send a message, I presume?” She smiled boldly. “Well, message received. He’s a coward and fool. I can make short work of him.”
“I don’t doubt that you could,” Russ replied, his eyes casting down. “But Claire is too intertwined with him. Any knee jerk reaction and she’ll be in serious trouble. Give us a chance to insulate and protect her first.”
“Fine.” Madame Fournier nodded. “But once that’s done, he’s mine to handle.” She sipped her drink and gave a little wave to a guest passing by. “Also I do have an update for you on your situation.”
“You’ve heard news?” His heart leaped. Was this over? Had there been arrests?
“Seven people have been arrested. Not the one man they were looking for, but they are hoping these arrests lead them to what they need. In a week you’ll be heading home to give statements and prepare as a witness. Things are moving in the right direction.”
“Anything on Topeka? I know if they haven’t arrested her father yet, they won’t take her back to Texas will they? It won’t be safe.”
“I haven’t heard anything about that specifically. I’ve been out of this game for a long time. They don’t exactly give me a look behind the curtain anymore.”
“What do you mean?” Russ narrowed his eyes at Madame Fournier as she adjusted her string of pearls with an air of practiced elegance. “How involved were you?” he asked cautiously.
Madame Fournier’s lips curved into an enigmatic smile. “Many years ago,” she began, her tone laced with intrigue, “I was very dear friends with the late Gloria Kinross. A remarkable woman, truly. She had a way of making the impossible seem feasible. Back then, she had a friend—a woman in dire need of sanctuary. Gloria reached out to me, and I offered Willowbrooke as a place of refuge. It’s remote, discreet, and perfect for someone needing to disappear.”
Russ leaned against the wall, his interest piqued. “Just the one friend?”
“As Gloria’s network of people needing protection grew, so did her need for safe havens. Willowbrooke became part of that network for over two decades,” Madame Fournier explained, her voice steady. “It wasn’t just a place for hiding—it was a lifeline. I kept it going for as long as I could. But after my husband died...” She trailed off, her gaze softening for a moment before she composed herself. “I had to stop taking people in. I couldn’t manage it alone.”
Russ nodded slowly. “But you let Hillary and me come. What changed?”
She gave a dismissive shrug, though her eyes glimmered with something more. “The people running the Kinross organization today found my information buried deep in one of Gloria’s old files. They reached out, desperate. I thought it was too much. More risk than I should take on at my age. The world is more connected now. It’s easier for the bad people to hunt down the good. But I also knew Claire was being hunted herself. When they told me who you two were, I thought I could make this work.”
Russ frowned, his mind jumping to Claire. “You took a gamble on us.”
“Precisely,” Madame Fournier said. “Claire is young and brilliant, but she’s also in over her head. She needed allies. I don’t know exactly what she’s dealing with but I hoped bringing you and Hillary here might create an opportunity to shift the balance in her favor.”
Russ sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’re trying our best. Hillary’s brilliant, and Claire’s holding up better than I thought she would. But Michael... he’s dangerous. He’s an absolute snake.”
Madame Fournier’s expression darkened, her usual elegance sharpening into something more formidable. “Then I’ll be sure to cut his head off. That’s how you deal with a snake.”
Russ straightened, intrigued by her sudden intensity. “It sounds like maybe you did more with the Kinross organization than opening your home to strangers. Just how involved were you?”
Madame Fournier’s smile returned, but it was colder this time, more calculating. “Let’s just say you’ll get an answer to that question when you see what I do to the doctor.”
Before Russ could respond, Sophie reappeared, her expression calm but her movements brisk. “Dr. Hale’s room is being prepared,” she said. “And I’ve made arrangements to ensure he’s kept separate from Miss Claire. Everything will be handled discreetly.”
Madame Fournier nodded approvingly. “Thank you, Sophie. Make sure the valets know it is on my order that they are to keep him in his wing.”
Sophie dipped her head in acknowledgment before disappearing once more. Russ turned back to Madame Fournier, his admiration for the woman growing by the second. “I look forward to seeing how this all plays out. I’ll let you know when we have what we need.”
“By the time I’m done, Dr. Hale will regret ever stepping foot on my property.”