Free Love and Triumph: The Coltrane Saga, Book 8 by Patricia Hagan

asked impatiently, “what happens when it does?”
    Rudolf was losing patience. “Oh, for heaven’s sake! Stop asking so many questions. The less you know, the better.”
    But Elenore was not to be put off. “If I’m to be involved in something that could get me sent to prison, I’m going to know everything that’s going on.”
    “Will you just stop worrying about it till the time comes?” Rudolf emitted a weary sigh, reached to open the thick iron door. “We’ve got several weeks to finalize the plans. Stop worrying.”
    “Have you told Mother?”
    Another sigh. “Told her what? That one of our houseguests is going to be kidnapped by the Bolsheviks? No, you little fool. Ye gods, I wish I could have convinced them to keep you out of this. You’re such a little nitwit.”
    “You’re the nitwit around here if you think I’m that naive, Rudolf. I’m asking if you’ve told Mother that Marilee’s aunt is a Romanov.”
    He shook his head. “No, and I’m not going to. We’ve got to keep the conversation away from that subject. She got so upset when I told her Marilee was coming that I don’t dare mention anything that will really send her into a rage.”
    “Is she going to be nice to them?”
    “Of course. She can’t afford not to, because she now thinks I’m so much in love with Marilee that if she doesn’t accept her as my future wife, she’ll alienate me forever.” He winked. “I’m not like you , Elenore. I can think for myself.”
    “Oh, really?” She laughed derisively. “And what will happen when Marilee finds out her aunt has been kidnapped? Are you a good enough actor to pretend you had nothing to do with it?”
    “That’s the least of my worries,” he retorted with a laugh of his own, “because if all goes according to plan, we’ll be on our honeymoon when it happens, and she’ll have no reason to think I had anything to do with it.”
    “Honeymoon? She hasn’t even said she’d marry you.”
    “I have to leave now. I’ve wasted enough time with you.” He took out his pocket watch, checked the time. “The train arrives in an hour. I have to pick up flowers, a few gifts. Make sure tea is ready when we get back, and make sure Mother is dressed—and sober .”
    She started to call after him, knew it was no use.
    Rudolf hurried on his way, down the narrow, dimly lit corridor with its damp, sour smell and dusty cobwebs draped everywhere. A rat scurried in the shadows. He paid no attention, lost in his thoughts.
    Stupid, stupid Elenore!
    Was she actually so ignorant as to think he would be anywhere around when Jade Coltrane was abducted?
    He smiled to himself in triumph. Marilee would be quite anxious to marry him—after he seduced her!
    Oh, yes, he silently gloated, the prim and virginal Marilee Mikhailonov would race to the altar in an attempt to restore her virtue.
    Of course, it would be a small, informal ceremony, what with the war and all. No one would question it. Afterward, they would leave on their wedding trip, and that very night the kidnapping would take place. By the time they returned, matters would be settled, and no one would ever suspect he had anything to do with it.
    Back upstairs, he took one last look at the rooms that had been prepared.
    Jade Coltrane’s was on the first floor, conveniently near the door to the cellar. She would be told it was the nicest accommodation available due to the castle being refurbished, which activity, of course, had been temporarily stopped during their visit so as not to cause unnecessary noise and inconvenience.
    Their rooms were nice, he mused proudly, thanks to the wife of one of the Zealots. She worked in a fine antiques shop and had arranged for the loan of splendid furniture.
    Marilee would be in the suite near his, convenient for his planned seduction.
    He went to his room to check his appearance, and was about to leave when his mother called out to him.
    “I suppose you’re going to meet them.”
    He took a deep