Why did that disappoint her?

  The prince had made no demure about his physical want for her, but surely there was more to it than that? They both knew the only way he would ever have a remote chance of taking her would be as his wife, something that was unlikely to happen. She would not become a Pinkerton agent for any duration, and thus have the chain of matrimony placed upon her will in the name of goodness and justice.

  When he spoke again, his voice was so low she could barely hear him, but she made out the words. “My father, in deference to the alliance with France, did reach out to the French government for assistance. He was promised many things, namely, the return of his daughter.”

  “I take it promises were broken?”

  “You are correct, ma reine.”

  Danielle sighed. “If the French government is looking for her, surely they would have some clues to her whereabouts. Princess Hangbe is a royal.”

  Prince Akaba’s eyes leveled on her with an intensity that made her uneasy. “Tell me, Danielle, do you know of a woman by the name of Lady Dallmann? Lady Elizabeth Dallmann?”

  She frowned. “The name does sound familiar,” she replied slowly, tapping her bottom lip. Where had she heard the name from? It was on the tip of her tongue.

  “It should. Your sister, Brielle is acquainted with her.”

  Once he said that, Danielle remembered. “Brielle told me that she enjoyed the hospitality of Lady Dallmann last year.”

  He nodded. “Lady Dallmann has connections all over the world. From London, to Paris, to the States and farther. Due to her catering of intellectuals, sometimes her circles include those within the higher echelons of government. I’m not certain how Lady Dallmann knew to contact me. Or, even knew where I was. But I received a message from her to come to Denver, Colorado. According to her note, she had information regarding my sister.”

  His fists clenched, the skin along his knuckles tight. “When I arrived at her home, I was met by a man by the name of Benedict LaPierre. It seems he is some sort of…operative with the French Ministry of War.”

  Danielle frowned. “That is another name I know. From what my sister said, she stated he was a fortune hunter, looking for a rich heiress.” She touched his arm, feeling the hardness of muscle sheathed under the material of his suit. “How can he be an operative?”

  “I do not know. Frankly, it doesn’t matter. Benedict LaPierre risked much to give me information regarding my sister.”

  “What was it he said?”

  “He told me that my sister was no longer on French soil. She’d been smuggled across the ocean to America.”

  “Why?”

  “According to LaPierre, he and others within the Ministry of War had reliable information that the princess’s whereabouts had been discovered. I cannot remember the name of the town now, but according to LaPierre, they had gone there to recapture the princess when there was an ambush.”

  “Indeed?” Her brows lowered. “How did the assailants know that LaPierre and the others were coming?”

  Without warning, Prince Akaba reached out and cupped the side of her face. She gasped, jolted by the heat from his hand. Danielle could do nothing but stare up into his face as his thumb pressed her mouth gently against her teeth.

  It was like a stamp of ownership.

  With a husky tone, the prince murmured, “You must be mine, ma reine. Your intelligence is on par with your exquisite beauty.” The firelight reflected in the dark twin pools of his eyes, although she wasn’t sure if maybe it blazed from within. “I must possess them both.”

  A jittery feeling coursed through her. She backed away and his hand fell to his side.

  The imprint of his thumb lingered like a curious sort of brand. “I’ll never be your queen, my prince.”

  “You will,” he assured her with the return of the arrogant certainty that made Danielle’s jaw clench.

  He became brisk and continued as if he’d never been interrupted. “LaPierre and his men had captured one of the assailants and interrogated him. During the interrogation, the assailant revealed that the princess had been sent overseas.”

  “To America.”

  He gave a curt nod.

  “What did your father say when you told him?”

  “I’ve not said anything to my father about this matter. He still believes that France has his best interests at heart.”

  “Why haven’t you told the king?”

  “LaPierre mentioned to me that the Ministry of War is aware that the princess is no longer on French soil.”

  “Then why keep that—”

  Her mouth fell open as she realized what the prince was trying to tell her. “That’s the reason why you said there were political intrigues afoot.”

  “Oui, ma reine. Dahomey is dependent on France. France craves Dahomey’s gold and precious metals. If my father knew that my sister was not in the country, then he would be forced to seek the assistance of the American government for his daughter.” A cynical twist of his lips. “I am sure you can assume how such a request would be received by the American government.”

  “The French government wants to keep your father dependent.”

  Danielle went over the details in her mind, trying to make sense of all she was told. A horrible thought rose up like a snake whose head she wanted to cut off. “Do you think…the princess is alive?”

  The prince’s shoulders drooped. “LaPierre seems to think so. If she wasn’t alive, then France would have no leverage against my father. He also revealed to me that he believes France herself is behind the abduction of my sister.”

  “That’s horrible.”

  Prince Akaba’s face contorted. “It was not enough that I was forced to leave the home of my childhood and spend the next ten years entrenched in a society foreign to my own. My sister was also sent in the same capacity but in a different way. Now, if what LaPierre says is true, then they are using the royal house of Dahomey as if we are puppets with strings. Dosu—”

  “Dosu?” Danielle lifted her brow in question.

  “He is my younger brother, born after my sister and me. Dosu is the only one left at Dahomey but he will not inherit the throne when my father passes away. Only in the event of either my sister’s or my death, will it become his.”

  “Have you told him about these machinations?”

  The prince shook his head. “I’ve not talked to my brother in years. I’m sure my father has made him aware of the situation, but besides that, I do not know.”

  Her heart ached for his pain. Impulsively she said, “What can I do, outside of becoming a Pinkerton agent, to help you, my prince?”

  “There is no other way to help, ma reine. You must become an agent, and that means you must become my bride. It is the only way.”

  ***

  “That is not an option, Prince Akaba,” Danielle told him in no uncertain terms. “I will not become an agent or your bride.”

  Lucien took in a deep breath. “Before you say you’ve made your final decision, I must tell you why the only way I can accept your help is by becoming an agent.”

  “It will make little difference.”

  I hope not.

  “The last bit of intelligence LaPierre was able to receive, which is the reason why he reached out to Lady Dallmann, is that the assailant wasn’t sure where my sister was smuggled to. It was narrowed down to three places: Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.”

  “Here? Why here?”

  Lucien had asked the same question a few weeks ago. “I’m not sure, your Highness,” LaPierre had replied, his face wrinkled in concern. “It could be there are factions here that we have no knowledge of. It’s all very murky and covert. There’s also the very real possibility that this place was chosen at random because no one would think to look here. Least of all the king of Dahomey.”

  He related the information to Danielle, seeing the worried frown on her face. “There has to be more reason than that, Prince Akaba.”

  “There may be, but I cannot continue to mull over the problem when I have to find my sister. I can tell you this: I, with the help of the Pinkertons, was able to eliminate two of the three places mentioned.”

  “Pinkertons.” She made the word sound like a curse.

  “Do not be so quick to dismiss them. I know for a fact that your sisters and their husbands were the ones to eliminate those places.”

  Lucien watched with twisted pleasure as his words sank in. “My sisters?”

  “Oui, ma reine. Mr. and Mrs. Smith went to New Mexico and discreetly inquired for the whereabouts of a woman who resembled my sister. Mr. and Mrs. Addison went to Texas and made inquiries there. Mr. and Mrs. Blackburn used their political contacts to also assist in discovering where my sister may be.”

  Danielle’s throat bobbed up and down.

  “Your sisters were more than happy to assist the kingdom of Dahomey.”

  Lucien’s amusement at Danielle’s discomfort faded away and he gripped her by the arms, giving her a little shake. “You do understand what I am saying, don’t you? They risked their lives to help me. The Pinkertons, this agency that you revile and hate so much, is the only place I could go to get help. The governments of the world have my father tangled in bureaucratic rigmarole designed to stave off a deeper view. Without the Pinkertons, I wouldn’t have known even that.”

  “Prince Akaba, you’re hurting me.”

  “Am I?” Something wild leapt inside of him, an uncontrollable urge that made him drag her body up against his. Her labored breathing blew across his face, her gray eyes wide. “Your pain is nothing compared to the pain I have. My twin sister has been gone for several weeks. I have no idea if she has come to harm or any other detrimental state. My father is dying, and her disappearance and the continued stonewalling of France is adding to his ill health.”

  Lucien enfolded her into his arms, feeling her shock but uncaring. “Please, ma reine. Do not leave me. Your sisters have provided me their strengths. Won’t you provide your own for me?”

  “But I—”

  His arms tightened around her waist. The slimness of her form like a delicate, tender tree. If he squeezed too hard, it seemed as if she would break in two.

  But that air of fragility was a lie. He had the bruise to prove it.

  “You traveled across the world to bring your sisters back to your home in order to save your father from his alleged broken heart. You have the blessed knowledge of knowing your family is alive and well.” He pulled back and looked at her. “Would you begrudge me the same compassion? The same assurance? My sister is out there, somewhere. Alone. Frightened. I must be certain of her well-being. Please, Danielle. Help me.”

  She said nothing for what seemed like an eternity. Lucien’s heart pounded in his chest as he waited for her to answer his plea. Then she said, “My prince, I am not trained to become an agent. I don’t know what I can do. How can I go about helping you? We don’t even know if your sister is being held here.”

  Lucien released her abruptly and smoothed the material of his suit. Of course, he should have told that part of the story, but he’d been overcome by his emotions.

  “Through the help of your sisters, the Pinkertons,” he stated pointedly, “LaPierre was able to determine that a small faction of French nationals will be arriving here in Denver within the next week or so. Lady Dallmann, due to her position within society has been asked to act as an escort and a guide for them.

  “These nationals have no idea that Lucien Moreau and Prince Akaba of the kingdom of Dahomey are one and the same person. While I was educated in France during my formative years, I went by the name of my home. When I left it behind, I used the alias of Lucien Moreau. These people have no idea.

  “LaPierre believes one person among these nationals may be involved in this conspiracy of my sister. If so, then we would be able to apprehend them.”

  Danielle’s face brightened with understanding. “I see, my prince. They have no idea that you are even in America. Your presence shall take them by surprise.”

  “And hopefully spur them into action and perhaps, find the location of my sister.”

  “How do I fit in as an agent and…and…as your bride?” She fumbled over the words and her head dipped.

  “The Prince Akaba of Dahomey will be escorted by the general of his mino warriors.”

  Danielle took a step back. “I will be your shield.”

  “Yes. It is a practice of Dahomey, that the king is protected by his mino warriors, the all-female highly skilled virgin warriors.”

  “But I can do that without marrying you, Prince Akaba.”

  “No, you cannot. Archie will not allow an unmarried woman to be a member of his agency and not have the protection of a husband’s name. Your sisters, Arielle and Brielle are expecting. Camille, though she and her husband went to Texas for me, is leaving the agency for her and her husband’s own pursuits. None of the other females of the bureau can safely incorporate into my world as you can.”

  He knew he’d torn down every one of her objections before she could speak them. Danielle knew how to defend herself. She knew how to shoot. Knew how to fight and had the strength and fortitude to protect him.

  He could not have chosen a better warrior to be his shield.

  Or a more lovely woman to be his bride.

  “What of this matter of your desire for me? You made much of it, Prince Akaba.”

  “I will continue to. I wanted you seven years ago and nothing has changed. However, until I find my sister, and I must believe that I will, you will be my bride in name only. But I forewarn you, I always meant to have you as my own and I will pursue you until you succumb to me of your own will.”

  “Or,” she hardened her voice, “until this marriage is annulled.”

  “Very well. Until either of those conditions are met.”

  Danielle nodded. “Just so, as I have no wish to be your wife in truth.”

  “Why, ma reine? Why is it so difficult to see yourself in my arms?”

  “My prince, I have seen the love for your sister in your eyes. You have used any means to get me to agree to help you find her. I was moved by that. My family assisted yours and I can do no less. Yet, you are incapable of love outside of your family. I do not love you, but why should I give you my body when you cannot give me your heart?”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  A week later

  Residence of Mr. and Lady Dallmann

  Danielle stood before her prince and husband, feeling exposed, but comfortable at the same time.

  The attire of the general position of Akaba’s mino was a highly decorated loose fitted tunic-like garment in bold colors that fell past her knees. A belt cinched her waist, leaving her arms, throat, and ankles exposed. About her head, she wore a decorated headdress of a bird’s feather, and wood beading covered the front of the garment.

  The looseness of her clothing allowed for greater freedom of movement. She recalled how scandalous she felt when she’d worn men’s trousers at Arabette Grove against her mother’s wishes. These garments were even better as they gave her a sense of femininity without restriction.

  She wondered what Roseline would have thought if she could see her youngest daughter now.

  When she mentioned the markings that the warriors had painted on their faces, Akaba decided against it.

  “It is enough that you will present the image of the savage maiden these French nationals expect you to be,” he explained to her.

  She held a musket in her hands, although she wished she had a better firearm.

  “Will I do, Akaba?” she asked.

  His dark eyes roved over her person, saying nothing at first. What did he see as she stood dressed in the clothing of his kingdom? Did he see a woman he made no secret of desiring, but considered expendable?

  Or did he see Danielle Bradford, his wife?

  It was still strange to think of him as her husband. She’d fought the relationship with every ounce of strength she had, but in the end, she still succumbed to the inevitable and became his bride.

  While he studied her, she studied him back. He was dressed in a similarly loose fitted garment longer than her own. The right shoulder was exposed, revealing the midnight dark perfection along with the bluish subtle tones of his skin. Muscles rippled underneath as he moved, and she found herself mesmerized by this outward sign of his masculinity.

  The men of her world would have covered themselves completely. Looking at Akaba, seeing the strong column of his neck, the long, richly veined arms, and the bulging calves of his legs, there was something about the openness she’d long forgotten. His boldness was off-putting for her at first. But, seeing the prince like this, she appreciated it more.

  He didn’t have to hide behind any forced societal conventions of courtship. Akaba’s forthrightness was a gift to a woman. There was no need to wonder if she could retain his interest. She had it. However, Danielle would never settle for less than his heart.

  Despite the fact she wished to remain aloof from the prince, her fingers itched to touch the taut skin. See the contrast of her own coffee hued hand pressed against the opal darkness of his chest. Feel those arms wrapped around her. See his head bend toward her and…

  Danielle suppressed a sudden shudder and reigned in her thoughts. She was here as part of a diplomatic mission to help the prince hopefully find his sister.

  How could she do anything else when she learned of what her sisters had done? What would Brutus think when he received her letter?

  The letter home to her father had been painful to write. She had promised Brutus, before she left, that she would come back with her sisters, and bring life back to Arabette Grove again. He had urged her not to go, but she’d been determined.

  Now, she had to reveal she’d fallen into the same trap the Pinkerton agency had set for her sisters.

  “You’ll do well, ma reine,” Akaba declared as he stood up from the chair in the large suite of rooms that Lady Dallmann had provided for them. “The loveliest of all my wives,” he quipped.

  Had they been in Dahomey, he would have been married to all the women of his regiment just as his father was. When she and once asked how many women his father was married to, he casually told her about six thousand.

 

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