Free A Midnight Dance by Lila DiPasqua

the men walked away to do his bidding.
    The two young men before him were watching him, leery, waiting for his next order.
    “Are—Are we free to go?” the younger one asked.
    “In a moment,” Jules advised. “The wine stays here.”
    The two boys glanced over at Martin and Xavier as they removed the wine from their cart.
    “Oh, of course. You keep it!” the younger one offered, sounding relieved. He wiped his tears off his cheeks with a quick swipe of his hand. “And thank you. Thank you for not killing us.” He gave him a nervous smile.
    The older simply looked down at his feet.
    Jules squeezed the hilt of his sword. He wanted silence while he wrestled down the emotions still simmering inside him. If anyone had attempted thievery on board one of his ships, the punishment would have been severe. But they were not part of his crew. Even so, that didn’t mean he could simply let this go.
    His eyes were drawn back to Elise. She watched the men unloading her cart. Even in her disheveled state there was no denying it—she was beautiful. Three days and two nights in her company . . . Should he agree? His body roared, “YES!” Merde . His knees were still weak from the intensity of his orgasm.
    He couldn’t believe he’d had such incredible sex with this sexual novice. Having an inexperienced woman had never appealed to him before. The only virgin he’d expected ever to have was his wife—one day, after he’d regained his nobility and could marry in the class of his birth. The woman who would give him heirs, and would have the title “Marquise de Blainville,” and the esteem that would come with it.
    Elise met his gaze and returned it, unflinching. The urge to reach out and pull her near was as powerful as his urge to initiate her into further carnal delights. She was so genuinely sensual and passionate.
    And someone who’d attempted to deceive you .
    His decision to take her to Maillard would be dependent on the wine.
    Jules tore his eyes away from her and cast his gaze at his own covered carts nearby. Jésus-Christ . If she’d succeeded with her plan, she’d have discovered the wealth he had at hand.
    “Commander, the wine has been removed,” Martin advised.
    Glancing at the thwarted thieves, he sensed their apprehension. She’d said the wine was drugged. What if it had been indeed poisoned? What if the plan had been to kill them all? Desperate people resorted to desperate measures. He couldn’t allow his lust to cloud his thinking.
    That’s what had landed him in this mess to begin with.
    He didn’t want to believe she’d be a part of such a heinous scheme. But he wouldn’t just let them walk away without knowing for certain just how dark a deed they’d plotted.
    “You are free to go,” he said, noting the instant relief on their faces, “ after one of you drinks a goblet of your wine. Raymond, pour their burgundy.”
    Raymond stepped forward. Stooping, he picked up one of the fallen wineskins and a wooden goblet from the ground.
    A stillness fell upon the camp, the crackling of the fire mingling with the sound of pouring wine. The tension from the young men and Elise was palpable.
    Raymond held out a full goblet.
    “Well?” Jules asked. “Which of you will volunteer?”
    The three would-be thieves looked among themselves.
    “I will,” Elise announced and reached out her hand.
    Jules’s heart lurched. He caught her wrist, stopping her from grasping the goblet. “No. Not you.” Deep inside, he was immensely pleased. She wouldn’t have been willing to drink the wine if she knew it was poisoned. She’d told him the truth.
    He believed her story.
    “Why not?” she asked.
    “Because they might have lied to you and purchased poisonous powder instead.”
    She frowned. “That’s nonsense. The wine is drugged. Not poisoned. I believe them.”
    “I don’t. It will have to be one of them who drinks it.”
    He was keenly aware of her wrist in his hand, and fought back the impulse to caress