“She’s beginning to remember.”

An oath, pungent and terrified. “You’re sure?”

“I wouldn’t have contacted you otherwise. I value my life as much as you value yours.” They both knew as long as one remained safe, so did the other. And if one made a mistake …

“How much does she know?”

“Not enough to worry yet. Childhood memories, a few images. Nothing of this.” A crow cawed frantically overhead, making both of them jolt. “But things are coming back. It’s more than just nightmares now. I think if she pushes, really pushes, it’s all going to come back.”

“We’ve always known it would come back. All we need is a bit more time.”

“Time?” The derisive laugh startled a squirrel. “We’ve precious little left. And she tells the American everything. They’re lovers now—and he’s clever. Very clever. I sometimes think he suspects.”

“Don’t be a fool.” But nerves twisted and tightened. How could the American have been anticipated? “If that idiot Henri hadn’t gotten drunk. Merde!” They’d seen their carefully executed plans shattered because of wine and lust. Neither of them regretted having to dig a grave.

“There’s no use going over that now. Unless we can take her again the exchange is impossible. Deboque remains in prison, the money is out of reach and vengeance is lost.”

“So we take her again. Who’d expect a second kidnapping to be attempted so soon?”

“We had her once!” It wasn’t so much temper as fear. Both of them had lived on the edge since Brie had been identified at the hospital.

“And we’ll have her again. Soon. Very soon.”

“What about the American? He’s not as trusting as the princess.”

“Dispensable—as the princess will be if she remembers too much too soon. Watch her closely. You know what to do if it becomes necessary.”

The small silenced gun with its lethal bullets was safely hidden. “If I kill her, her blood’s on your hands, as well.”

Thoughts of murder weren’t troubling. Thoughts of failure, of discovery were. “We both know that. Our luck only has to hold until the night of the ball.”

“The plan’s mad. Taking her there, right from the palace when it’s filled with people.”

“The plan can work. Have you a better one?” There was only silence for a moment, but it wasn’t a comfortable one.

“I wish to God I’d stayed here with her, instead of that fool Henri.”

“Just keep your eyes and ears open. You’ve gained her trust?”

“As much as anyone.”

“Then use it. We’ve less than two weeks.”

Chapter 10

Brie sat with her hands folded in her lap, her back very straight and her eyes level. She waited for her father to speak. Questions, too many of them, had formed in her mind. Answers, too many of them, had yet to be resolved.

Who was she? She’d been told—Her Serene Highness Gabriella de Cordina, daughter, sister. A member of the Bissets, one of the oldest royal families of Europe.

What was she? She’d learned—a responsible woman with an organized mind, a sense of duty and not so quiet wells of passion. But something had happened to take the rest away from her, those vital little details that make a person whole. She was only just beginning to fight for the right to have them back.