He knew things about her, even lovers from her past. He was subtle, casually mentioning Miguel Lopez, even Michel Remy, as if he knew them, when it was obvious he was only trying to intimidate her. She’d quickly learned that silence was the only way to deal with him, and she retreated behind a wall of indifference.

Today he had told her, they would reach Mexico City.

“It has been some time since you were last there, I understand.” He sat directly across from her in the black lacquered carriage, his long legs deliberately brushing against her knees. Occasionally, he allowed his knee to push her legs apart, suggestively subtle.

Ginny eyed him coldly and refused to rise to the bait.

“You are very lovely, Señora Alvarado,” Luna said, and smiled when she merely looked at him. “Can it be that you do not like me? But why? I have done nothing to you. I have been only courteous and respectful. Did you not have a room to yourself? I have not attempted to force my attentions upon you.”

Turning her head, she stared out the window. Her pointed silence should be enough to dissuade him, but it wasn’t.

“Tell me,” Luna said when the silence dragged on for a time, “when you were known as Madame du Plessis, did you also sleep with Maximilian? I had heard he was one of your conquests. But then, you seemed to prefer the lower caste to the more aristocratic lovers. It was said you were even once married to one of those dirty Juaristas, a half-breed mongrel like a mad dog.”

She faced him then, green eyes narrowed and sparkling with anger. “He has more nobility in his little finger than your entire family has ever possessed, I am certain. Please excuse me if I don’t care to continue talking to you. I feel quite nauseous suddenly. There seems to be a noisome stench in the carriage.”

Luna laughed, but behind the smile his black eyes glittered with fury and menace. Ginny stifled a sudden shudder. He would not dare harm her! She had already reminded him that her father-in-law was the very influential Don Francisco Alvarado, and that she was well-acquainted with both Sebastian Lerdo and Porfirio Díaz. They would definitely take it amiss should she be insulted.

By the time they reached Mexico City she had developed a loathing for the handsome officer.

It was obvious to her that Lerdo was losing control of the country; Mexico City showed all the signs of an imminent invasion. Troops were scattered and looting was rampant. Those loyal to Lerdo were taking what they could while they could, for once Díaz came into power, they would be lucky to escape with their lives.