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accept his arms around her without emotion … as he must.
    Loosening the cravat at his collar, he watched her eyes widen. She could be spectacular in this role, for one touch had shown him how her composed exterior covered an inner tempest. She must throw aside her virginal ways and pretend to be sophisticated in the ways of diplomacy and of love.
    â€œYou agreed to help me,” he said.
    â€œBut you never said anything of such a licentious situation.”
    â€œLicentious?” He closed the distance between them. When she pressed back against the bed, her dress pulled across her breasts. He thought of those soft curves against him when he had carried her to that bed, and an answering need ached all along him. She was beautiful, vibrant, and possessed a sensuality waiting to be tapped.
    His fingers combed through her hair as he brought her face to his. Her lips parted, but he did not let her voice her protest. He silenced it beneath his mouth as he succumbed to the temptation to sample the flavors waiting there. Then he silenced his own groan of denial when he raised his mouth away after only the briefest touch.
    â€œThat,” he said through gritted teeth, “is the most licentious thing you shall have to endure in my company. I vow that to you.”
    She put her fingers to her lips. Astonishment filled her eyes, but she said nothing. Beneath his fingers, her trembling warned him to cloak his own reaction. He must not yearn to do more with this woman.
    â€œWhat do you say?” he asked when she remained silent. “Are you going to hide in that girls’ school, or will you come with me?”
    â€œI should go back.”
    â€œYes, you should.” He smiled coldly when she stared at him. “But will you? Will you be Fraulein D’Orage, mistress of languages, or will you be Michelle D’Orage, presumed mistress of Alexei Vatutin? Will you hide yourself away, or will you be as brave as Sophie D’Orage, who never backed down from a challenge?”
    â€œSophie D’Orage?” she repeated with a gasp. “You know—You knew Maman ?”
    â€œBriefly. Sadly, too briefly.” He released her and sat on the chair. Folding his hands between his knees, he looked up at her. “She occasionally did work for my government.”
    â€œ Maman ?” Michelle frowned, lowering herself to the bed, but keeping the footboard between them. “You must be mistaken.”
    â€œWhy do you think I came to St. Bernard’s and asked for you? I had hoped Sophie had passed on her skill for subterfuge to her daughter.” He rested his hand on the other side of the footboard and caught her eyes. She wanted to look away, but froze as he asked, “Did you know nothing about the work your mother did? How do you think she managed to pay for you to attend that expensive boarding school?”
    Wanting to tell him he was mistaken, she could not keep from thinking of the box of gold coins. Maman had gotten that money somehow. But as a spy? That seemed impossible. There must be another explanation, but what? “Mayhap we aren’t thinking of the same woman.”
    â€œD’Orage is not a common name, and you look just like her.” Pain flashed through his eyes so fast she was not sure if she had seen it. “Even if your appearance had not been enough to persuade me, that would have.” He pointed to her finger and the ring her mother had left for her. “That was Sophie’s ring.”
    â€œYou’ve seen her wear it?”
    He nodded. “Often, for it was her wedding ring.”
    â€œIt was?”
    â€œYou didn’t know that?”
    â€œNo.” Rubbing her finger along the raised lightning bolt, she glanced up as the sable softness of a shadow moved along her.
    She watched Alexei trace the design as she had. “One evening I was admiring the fine workmanship, and she told me your father had a set of rings made at a jewelry shop in