Cate took a step away from Elise, wishing she could say something to give her comfort. But it was their fault, all of them collectively, that Elise was even in this position.

“He doesn’t know,” Elise said. “He’s just smitten with my sister from the look of it.”

“It could all be part of an elaborate ruse,” Harry said. He started to pace the small room, then edged closer to the window.

“It’s not a ruse,” Elise snapped. “If he thought there was even a possibility we had British soldiers in our home, he’d have stormed the place and dragged you out. It’s her he wants, it’s as simple as that.”

Silence hung between them. Elise’s chest was heaving, and Cate could almost feel the fear radiating off her.

“I’m sorry, Elise,” she finally said. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“There’s no point being sorry,” Elise said, shutting the door and slowly sliding down it until she was sitting on the floor. “What’s done is done.”

“It’s him.”

“Who’s him?” Cate asked.

“It’s the commander, the one who gave the order,” Harry yelped. “Your sister is leaving with the man who massacred my entire regiment!”

Cate looked at Harry as he sank on to the bed, head in his hands.

“You’re certain?” Elise’s throat sounded raw.

As Harry looked up, his eyes searching out Elise’s, Cate knew there was no way he was wrong.

“I’ll remember that bastard till my last breath, Elise. It’s him.”

Cate went to Elise and sat beside her on the floor, reaching for her hand. There was nothing left to say; they just had to wait now for Adelaide to return home.

Cate squeezed her fingers, and Elise squeezed back. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“It’s not your fault,” Elise replied, her eyes shut as her head dropped back against the door.

Only it was, and they both knew it. She’d brought him to their front door that night; she was the one who’d as good as told Wolfgang where Adelaide lived.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN ELISE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ELISE

Elise’s feet felt like lead as she walked down the stairs. She’d left Oscar downstairs earlier, knowing that he’d bark as soon as Addy returned, and like clockwork he’d alerted her. She kept her composure as she walked into the kitchen, prepared to give her sister a firm but kind talking to.

No.

No, no, no!

There, sitting in her kitchen, his big frame filling one of her kitchen chairs, was Commander Wolfgang Schmidt. In her kitchen! Sitting there like it was the most natural thing in the world.