Chapters (86)
Dorval hesitated, studying her. ‘You call yourself “Laroche” now. Like you’re some common girl from a back alley. But we know who you are, Camille du Bugue. We know who your family is. Or should I say, was. I saw what happened to your mother and father. I saw their heads roll into that basket like every person before them. Like the heads of your battalion will, if you don’t watch your step.’
Camille lunged forwards, teeth bared as her hand found her pistol. Wrenching it from her belt, she pressed it into Dorval’s stomach.
‘I watched them die too. I’ve seen almost all the people who raised me sent to their deaths in this Revolution. I’ve seen people stabbed, and beheaded, and strangled, or simply crushed to death in a riot because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. You think you can threaten me? Scare me?’
She leaned closer. She could see the broken veins in his nose and the nicotine stains on his teeth. The image of loosing a bullet into his gut flooded through her, the impact, the wet splatter of intestines, the heady tang of blood.
He tried to back away, but she jammed the gun harder under his ribs, savouring the shock in his eyes.
‘There’s nothing left in me to scare.’
She stepped back, lifting her gun clear. Dorval’s grin widened. She felt the weight of his full attention on her and she hated it.
The duc clicked his fingers at Dorval and he picked up the lamp.
‘See that the job is completed. I will send my people to check on you.’
He nodded towards Dorval, who gave her a short bow, the lamp dangling from his fingers, sending shadows wavering across the broken pillars.
‘I look forward to our next meeting, mademoiselle,’ he said.
The bobbing light passed out of the church, leaving Camille alone.
Hand trembling, she slid her gun back in her sash and swore.
Now what?