"I can't do that," he said quietly. "I can't hide any more. Eleven years is long enough to be a coward."
"You aren't a coward. It's not cowardly to try to keep a madman from killing you."
"He's not mad. He merely wants justice done." He looked back at the cottage. "How much does he hate me, Cassandra?"
She shivered as she remembered that last icy glance from Danemount. "You have to leave here."
He grimaced. "That much?"
She took his arm and pulled him through the bushes toward the road. "I think we should leave this island. I've been wanting to go over to Maui for a long while to see if I could find a mare for Kapu, and you must be tired of painting that volcano. You could go first and find a place for us."
"You mean a hiding place."
"Only for a little while. When Danemount leaves, we'll come back here."
"You believe he'll give up? What makes you think he won't follow us?"
She knew as well as her father did that the Englishman would follow. "Then there are other islands."
"Not for me." He stopped when they reached the road and turned to face her. "Have you spent much time with the boy?"
She frowned. "Boy?"
"Danemount." He shrugged. "It was a slip of the tongue. I still remember him as a lad. It's difficult for me to realize he's a man now. But even as a boy he was très formidable. Is he the same?"
She could think of no more accurate description for Jared Danemount. "Yes."
"But just? Would you call him just?"
"Not if he wants to kill you."
"But in matters not connected with me?"
"Yes, I suppose so," she said impatiently. "Why are you asking these questions?"
"Because I have to be certain that you and Lani will be safe when I return to France. A just man wouldn't wreak vengeance on the innocent."
She went still. "France?"
"There's an American ship docked on the other side of the island that's due to sail for Boston at midnight tonight. The king has arranged passage and supplied me with funds to take me on to Paris once we reach Boston. He's also promised to make sure that your needs are taken care of until I return." He added ruefully, "He appears to be glad to be rid of me. My departure will evidently solve certain diplomatic problems for him."
She barely heard anything but the first part of what he had said. "Why are you going to France?"
"Raoul Cambre is there. I have to find him. I have to know-"
"What?"
"If I've been as much a fool as I suspect. I've been doing a good deal of thinking while I've been waiting in the village. I thought Raoul was my friend, but Danemount shouldn't have been able to find me. I covered my tracks in Marseilles very carefully."
"You believe Cambre betrayed you?"
"I don't know. I have to find out. Only Raoul knew I was going to Tahiti." He frowned. "No, that's not true. He might have told Jacques-Louis David."
"Who is that?"
"An artist…" His tone was abstracted. "Yes, he could have told David. They were close friends."
"What difference does it make now? It's all in the past."
"Not to me." He looked back at the cottage. "Not to him."
"Then you should forget about Cambre and worry only about hiding from Danemount."
"I'm weary of hiding." He turned to face her. "And I'm weary of making you hide. You should be back in Paris going to balls, surrounded by young men courting you."
"I'm not hiding. I love it here. I wouldn't know what to do at a ball."
"Exactly." He touched her cheek. "Pauvre petite, I fear I've done you a great disservice. Clara is right, this is no life for you."
Why was he talking about balls when there was so much else at stake? "Go to Maui," she said desperately. "There's no need for you to find this Cambre."
"There's every need. It may save my life. If Cambre did use me for his own ends, I'll have no compunction about surrendering him to Danemount." He added beneath his breath, "Though God knows if one life will be enough for him after what happened at Danjuet."
"What are you talking about? Danjuet?"
He shook his head. "There is no time. I must go. The Captain will sail without me."
"Wait!" She grabbed his arm. "What can you do even if you do find Cambre?"
"I told you, bring him to Danemount."
"Are you mad? He's not going to come meekly to be murdered by the Englishman." She shivered as she remembered Cambre's cold reptilian eyes. "He'll try to hurt you."
"Maybe. Or perhaps he's weary of hiding too." He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "Keep well, Cassandra. Watch over Lani."
"If you're going, I'm going with you."
"To protect me from Raoul?" He shook his head. "Not this time."
"But you'll need me."
"It's too dangerous. Raoul was always clever. I didn't realize how clever. I've no doubt he'll have gained back all his influence under Napoleon's regime."
"All the more reason for me to go." She turned back toward the cottage. "Wait for me here. I'll just go tell Lani that-"
"No, Cassandra." His tone was frighteningly final.
"If you leave me here, I'll just follow you to the ship," she called after him.
"Then I'll tell the Captain you're not to be permitted on board." He started down the road. The smile he gave her over his shoulder lit his face with sweetness. "Don't be so concerned, ma chou. Nothing will happen to me. I'll be back almost before you realize I'm gone."
"Papa!"
He did not look back again.
Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, she watched him walk away from her. Why would he not listen? She had never seen him this resolute. She had always been able to sway him on matters of importance, and yet in this question, which might mean life and death, he stood firm. Should she follow him to the ship? No, it would be a waste of time.
But she could not just let him go alone to face that snake. Her father was a dreamer, and dreamers could be easily fooled. The hunter could well become the hunted.
When he was out of sight, she moved heavily up the path toward the cottage. She could not let him go into danger alone, but she could not see her way clear to stop it. She would have to think about it. In the meantime she must make sure Danemount did not interfere with her father's departure. Cambre was a distant threat; the Englishman was the immediate danger.
Lani was sitting on the veranda and rose to her feet when she saw Cassie. "What's wrong? Why are you here?"
"I met Papa on the path." She glanced worriedly at the Englishmen. Lani had tucked quilts over them and placed pillows beneath their heads. They did not look ill, only peacefully asleep. "Are they all right? The laudanum wasn't-"
"It was not too much," Lani assured her. "Their sleep is very light. I was even worried they would wake before you got back and follow you to the village."
"Really?" She frowned. "We can't let them leave before morning. Papa is sailing for France at midnight tonight."
Lani did not look surprised. "Then you're right- we must make sure he gets away and out of their reach."
Cassie suddenly realized Lani might be hurt that her father had been so near and made no attempt to bid her farewell. "He was in a great hurry. He'll be back as soon as he can. He needs to find a man who can-"
"Hush." Lani smiled. "You don't need to defend Charles to me. I know he would not desert me. He's a good man and he cares for my happiness."
Cassie felt a rush of relief. Of course he would not abandon Lani. She had not realized until this moment how Danemount's words regarding her father's relationship with Lani had disturbed her. She would never have been as tolerant as Lani in the same circumstances. "He made arrangements for us to be cared for by Kamehameha."