“Good girl,” Reeve murmured as he heard the nervous laughter. “Let’s get down to the main breakers.”

Hannah hadn’t come back. The words kept echoing over in Bennett’s mind as he heard Alexander murmuring reassurances to Eve. She was out there somewhere, alone in the dark. Without hesitation, he was moving toward the door.

“Your Highness.” The looming figure of a guard inched toward him. “If you would please remain seated.”

“Let me pass.”

“Bennett.” His father’s voice cut through the dark. “Please sit. This should be over in moments.”

“Hannah’s not here.”

There was the briefest of silences. “Reeve will handle things.”

There was duty, and the honor he’d never questioned. Now there was love. Bennett shoved his way through the door and went to find her.

*   *   *

Hannah had the gun in her hand as she stood in the stairwell. She didn’t move, barely breathed, as she debated whether to go up and check on the Bissets, or whether to go down and check the power. If there had been one bomb, there could all too easily be another.

Her head told her that the Bissets were well guarded and her job was to find the source of the trouble. Her heart wanted only to see if Bennett was well and safe. Following it, Hannah started up the stairs. She’d climbed no more than three when she heard the sound of a door closing on the landing below.

With her finger wrapped around the trigger, she pointed the barrel of the gun up and started down again. She saw the beam of the flashlight before she heard the footsteps. Cautious ones. Quiet ones. Like a shadow, Hannah melted into a corner and waited.

She recognized him from the museum. He was dressed now in the dark blue uniform of the maintenance crew and carried a small toolbox. She almost nodded in approval. Anyone seeing him would simply assume he was assigned to fix whatever had gone wrong. The beam skimmed past the toes of her shoes before she stepped out and pressed the gun at his side.

“Be easy,” she said in undertones. “I apologize for greeting you this way, but I didn’t want a hole in my head before you recognized me.”

“Mademoiselle.” She heard the tightly controlled fury in his voice. No man liked to be caught unaware. “I was told you would remain out of the way this evening.”

Hannah drew the gun back but kept it steady. “I prefer a firsthand look at what’s going on. A dramatic distraction,” she complimented him. “Are there other plans for tonight?” He was prepared to kill, she was certain. But was he armed? She knew if she detained him too long or pressed too hard, her cover would be in jeopardy.

“Only if the opportunity arises. You will excuse me?”