Page 25 of Guardian Angel
âYou just opened the door and climbed out?â Nathan asked at the very same moment.
âYes and no,â Jade answered. âYes, I do believe they thought I might have hidden the letters behind the leather, and no, Nathan, I didnât just open the door. Both sides were blocked shut with more branches. I squeezed through the window. Thank heavens the frame wasnât as durable as you believed. Actually, Nathan, now that I have time to reflect upon it, I think you paid entirely too much for that vehicle. The hinges werenât at all sturdy and . . .â
âJade.â
âCaine, donât raise your voice to me,â Jade instructed.
âThat was a close call,â Colin interjected.
âI was very frightened,â Jade whispered. She turned to look at Caine. âThere isnât any shame in admitting I was afraid.â
Caine nodded. Her tone of voice suggested she was challenging him to disagree with her. âNo, there isnât any shame in being afraid.â
She looked relieved. Did she need his approval, then? Caine wondered about that possibility a long minute, then remarked, âNow I know how you got those bruises on your shoulders. It was when you squeezed through that window, wasnât it?â
âHow the hell do you know if she has bruises on her shoulders or not?â Nathan roared his question, for heâd only just realized the significance of Caineâs remark.
âI saw them.â
Nathan would have gone for Caineâs throat if Colin hadnât thrown his arm in front of his chest. âLater, Nathan,â he stated. âYou and Caine can settle your dispute later. It looks like weâre going to be guests for a long while.â
Nathan looked like heâd just been told he had to swim with the sharks again.
âYouâll put yourself and Colin in danger if you leave,â Jade said. âIt would be too dangerous.â
âWe have to stay together,â Colin added.
Nathan reluctantly nodded agreement.
âCaine?â Colin asked. âWhen you went after Pagan, you put yourself in danger. The remaining members of the Tribunal couldnât risk the chance of you finding the pirate.â
âThere was the possibility that Pagan would be able to convince you that she didnât have anything to do with your brotherâs death. Yes, it was too much of a risk to take.â
âAnd so you sent Jade to me,â Caine interjected.
Nathan shook his head. âWe didnât send her. It was her plan from start to finish and we were informed after sheâd left. We werenât given a say in the matter.â
âHow are we going to get the hounds away from you?â Colin asked. âYou canât help us find the culprits as long as youâre being hunted.â He let out a long sigh, then muttered, âHell, itâs such a mess. How in Godâs name are we going to find the bastards? We have absolutely nothing to go on.â
âYouâre wrong, Colin,â Caine said. âWe have quite a bit of information to start with. We know that Hammond, the Tribunalâs director, was a legitimate department head. The three men he recruited were Ice, Fox, and Prince. Now only one or two are still living, correct? And one or both are Willburnâs directors. Willburn, by the way, has to be leading a duel life. He must be working for our government as well as for the Tribunal.â
âHow do you figure that?â Nathan asked.
âWhen we received word of your deaths, my father and I were sent files filed with minor though heroic deeds you two had allegedly fulfilled for England. Willburn was protecting his backside, Colin, and neither file had any substantial information that could be checked out. Security was given as the reason, of course. By the way, you both were given medals for valor.â
âWhy did they bother?â Colin asked.
âTo appease,â Caine answered. âOur fatherâs a duke, Colin. Willburn couldnât just let you disappear. Too many questions would be asked.â
âWhat about Nathan?â Colin asked. âWhy did they bother honoring him after his death? His father was already dead and there werenât any other Wakerfields with a title. Did they want Jade to be appeased?â
Caine shook his head. âYouâre forgetting Nathanâs other numerous titles,â Caine said. âHeâs also the Marquess of St. James, remember? The Tribunal must have considered all the ramifications if they made that barbaric faction suspicious.â
âI did forget about the St. James men,â Colin announced. He turned to grin at Nathan. âYou donât talk much about that side of your family, Nathan.â
âWould you?â Nathan replied dryly.
Colin laughed. âThis isnât the time for levity,â Jade muttered. âBesides, Iâm certain all those stories about the St. James men are pure exaggeration. Why, underneath all that gruffness, theyâre really very kind men. Arenât they, Nathan?â
Now it was Nathanâs turn to laugh. âIn a pigâs eye,â he drawled out.
Jade gave him a good frown for being so honest. Then she turned her attention back to Caine. âDid you go to the ceremony honoring Colin and Nathan?â she asked. âWas it lovely? Were there flowers? Was it a sizable group . . . ?â
âNo, I didnât attend the ceremony,â Caine interrupted.
âShame on you,â she announced. âYou missed your own brotherâs . . .â
âJade, I was too angry,â Caine interrupted again. âI didnât want to listen to speeches or accept any medals on Colinâs behalf. I let my father have that duty. I wanted . . .â
âRevenge,â Colin interjected. âJust like the time you went after the Bradley brothers.â
After making that remark, Colin turned to explain the incident to Nathan. Jade grew impatient again. âI would like to get back to our original topic,â she announced. âHave you come up with any solutions yet, Caine?â
He nodded. âI think I have a sound plan to take the jackals off my trail. Itâs worth a try, anyway, but thatâs only one threat. We still have to worry about Jade.â
âWhat do you mean?â Colin asked.
âColin, weâre dealing with two separate issues here. Iâm one target, yes. We must assume they know I wonât give up looking for Pagan, their convenient scapegoat.â
âBut what does that have to do with Jade?â Colin asked. âThey canât possibly know sheâs Pagan.â
Caine let out a sigh before answering. âLetâs start at the beginning. Itâs obvious that the other two members of the Tribunal knew Fox had saved the letters. Since they couldnât locate them, they did the next best thing. They used their man, Willburn, to recruit you, Nathan. What better way to keep an eye on Foxâs son.â
He didnât wait for Nathan to respond to that statement, but continued on. âI imagine your rooms at Oxford were searched more than once, werenât they?â
Nathan nodded. âThey had to be pretty certain you had the letters. For a time, you were the only logical candidate. Your sister was too young, and Harry had already taken her away. Now then,â he added with a nod. âNo one could believe that Fox would have trusted Harry with the letters. His appearance alone would lead anyone to that decision. They couldnât know Fox had known Harry for some time either.â
Jade felt like sighing with relief. Caine was being so logical now. She felt as though heâd just taken the burden away from all of them. From the look on his brotherâs face, she concluded that Colin was feeling much the same relief.
âAnd?â Nathan prodded when Caine remained silent.
âThey waited,â Caine answered. âThey knew eventually the letters would surface. And thatâs exactly what happened. Harry gave the letters to Jade. She showed them to Nathan and he shared the information with you, Colin.â
âWe know all this,â Nathan snapped.
âHush, Nathan,â Jade whispered. âCaineâs being methodical now. We mustnât interfere with his concentration.â
âWhen Colin told Willburn about the letters, he went to the Tribunal, of course.â
âAnd so we were sanctioned,â Colin said. âI trusted the wrong man.â
âYes, you trusted the wrong man.â
âTh
eyâre still after the letters,â Nathan said.
Caineâs nod was quick. âExactly.â
Colin sat up a little straighter. âNow that they think weâre dead, Nathan, there can only be one other person who could have the damning evidence.â
He turned to look at Jade. âThey know you have them.â
âThey canât be certain,â Jade argued. âOr they would have killed me,â she added. âThatâs why theyâre still searching, why your lovely house was destroyed, Nathan, the reason your fine carriage was shredded too . . .â
âJade, they donât have anywhere else to search. Thereâs only one avenue open to them now,â Nathan interjected.
âTheyâll try to take her,â Colin predicted.
âYes,â Nathan agreed.
âIâm not going to let anyone near her,â Caine announced then. âBut Iâm not convinced theyâre certain she has the letters. Either one of you could have hidden them before you were taken. It must be making them crazed, though, waiting for the letters to surface again. Theyâre getting desperate, I would imagine.â
âSo what do we do?â Colin asked.
âFirst things first,â Caine said. He turned to look at Jade. âDo you remember what you asked of me when you came into the tavern that night?â
She slowly nodded. âI asked you to kill me.â
âYou what?â Nathan roared his question.
âShe asked me to kill her,â Caine repeated, though he never took his gaze off Jade.
âBut he declined my request,â Jade explained. âI knew he would, of course. And just what does that have to do with your plan?â
The dimple was back in evidence when he grinned at her. âItâs really very simple, love. Iâve changed my mind. Iâve decided to accommodate you.â
Chapter Thirteen
âPagan has to die,â Caine said, his voice low, emphatic.âItâs the only way.â He stared at Nathan when he made that statement. Jadeâs brother was quick to nod agreement.
Jade bounded out of her chair. âI donât want to die,â she cried out. âI wonât have it, Caine.â
âNow, Jade . . .â Nathan began.
âHeâs talking about the pirate,â Colin explained. âHe isnât really going to kill you, love.â
Jade glared at Colin. âI know exactly what heâs talking about,â she snapped. âAnd I still wonât have it. Do you have any idea how many years itâs taken to build my reputation? When I think . . .â
The men were ignoring her now. Nathan and Colin were actually smiling. Jade gave up. She sat down again and turned to frown at Caine. âIf you hadnât started your hunt to capture Pagan, none of this would be necessary now. This is all your fault, Caine.â
âJade, itâs the only way,â Nathan argued. âIf Pagan dies, or rather, if the world believes the pirate is dead, then Caine would have to give up his hunt, wouldnât he? The Tribunal knows he fully believes Pagan is responsible for killing his brother, remember?â
She reluctantly nodded. âThen theyâd leave Caine alone, wouldnât they? Heâd be safe again?â
Nathan smiled. He turned to Caine. âThis plan of yours solves more than one problem,â he remarked with a telling glance in his sisterâs direction.
Caine nodded. âJade, youâre going to have to change a few of your ways. When Pagan dies, you arenât going to be able to . . .â
âItâs my work,â she cried out. âItâs what I do best.â
Caine closed his eyes. âExactly what is it that you do so well?â
Nathan answered him. âHarry did the pirating,â he explained. âJade was always on board, but he was the leader back then. She took care of the land raids. She does have a special talent, Caine. There isnât a safe she canât open, a latch she canât trick loose.â
âIn other words, she was an adequate petty thief,â Caine drawled out. He was frowning at Jade when he made that statement.
She took immediate exception to both his manner and his opinion. âI donât care what you think of me, Caine. The deceptionâs over now and youâll never see me again, so it really doesnât matter to me . . .â
Jade stopped her tirade when Harryâs bellow reached her. A womanâs shrill scream came next. Jade assumed one of the servants was being terrorized. âIf youâll excuse me for a moment?â she asked.
She didnât bother to wait for permission, but rushed out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, Caine turned to Nathan. âSheâll figure it all out very soon,â he announced. âBut hopefully by then we will have staged Paganâs death and it will be too late.â
Colin nodded. âYes, sheâs bound to realize they know sheâs with you and that killing Pagan isnât going to make any difference now. Youâre both still in danger. Odd, but Jadeâs usually much quicker,â he added. âHow long do you think it will take for her to sort it all out?â
It was Nathan who answered. âShe already has, Colin. Didnât you see the look of relief in her eyes. It was fleeting, but there all the same. Deep down, I think she wants it to be over.â
âWouldnât you?â Caine asked Colin. âHow could any of you want to go back on the ocean again? Jade isnât capable of being very logical right now. She thinks she has to resume her former . . . duties,â he whispered. âItâs a way of proving herself, perhaps. Still, it doesnât matter what her motives are now. She needs someone to take the possibility away from her, to demand she quit.â
âAnd thatâs you, Caine?â Colin asked.
âYes.â
Jade walked back into the salon then. Nathan turned to her. âJade? I donât think you should leave with Jimbo and Matthew just yet. Wait until weâve settled this problem.â
âDo you mean wait until youâve found the Tribunal?â She sounded appalled. âI canât stay here, not after . . .â
Caine glared her into forgetting her protest. Jade walked over to the side of his chair and stood there. Her hands were folded in front of her.
âWhat about Harry?â Caine asked Nathan. âWill he give us any problems?â
âWhy would he?â Colin asked with another yawn. âHeâs retired now. Surely youâve noticed there havenât been any ships pirated in a long while.â
âI noticed,â Caine returned. âStill, he might take exception to having his ship burned.â
âNo!â
Jade was so appalled by that suggestion, she had to sit down. She moved back to the chair and collapsed.
Nathan was sympathetic. âThe Emerald has been home for Jade,â he said. âPerhaps we could find another ship, paint it to look like the Emerald, and set fire to it. Harry would keep the real one safely hidden.â
Caine nodded. âCan he see to this chore? There have to be witnesses to the shipâs sinking, witnesses whoâll testify they saw Pagan die.â
âIf itâs all spelled out for him, yes,â Nathan agreed.
âIf heâs wearing his spectacles,â Colin interjected with a grin.
âIâll go and speak to him now,â Caine announced.
Nathan stood up before Caine did. âItâs time for you to get some rest, Colin.â
Before Caine or his brother realized Nathanâs intent, heâd lifted Colin into his arms. Nathan staggered under the weight, righted himself, and then started out of the room. Colin immediately started protesting.
âFor Godâs sake, Nathan, put me down. Iâm not an infant.â
âCould have fooled me,â Nathan returned.
Jade watched the two friends disappear around the corner, then whispered, âNathan has taken good care of your brother, Caine.â
Caine turned to look at Jade. She was staring at her lap. âSo have you, Jade,â he replied.
She didnât acknowledge that compliment. âHeâs very gentle, my brother. He hides behind his angry expression most of the time. His back is scarred from the beatings heâs taken, Caine. He wasnât always away at school. He wonât talk about that long time he was missing, wonât tell me where he was. I only know that there was a wo
man involved in his torment. He must have loved her very much, I think, and she must have betrayed him, because now he tries to be so cold and cynical all the time. Colin was able to touch Nathanâs heart, though. Your brother gives his friendship without restrictions. He saved Nathan more than once, too. My brother doesnât trust many people, but Colin is the exception.â
âDoes your brother trust you?â
The question startled her. âOh, yes,â she rushed out. She glanced up to look at him, saw the tenderness in his eyes, and wondered what had caused that reaction. âColin could never have managed all those stairs. Nathan knew that. My brother didnât give him time to let his pride become dented.â
âIt might still be dented just a little,â Caine drawled out. They could both still hear Colin shouting his objections.
Jadeâs smile was hesitant. She stood up, then clasped her hands behind her back while she stared at Caine. âSince I cannot leave England just yet, I believe I shall send a note to Lady Briars and request an invitation to stay with her.â
âNo.â
âNo? Why not?â
âJade, Iâm really getting tired of repeating myself. Youâre staying with me.â
âLady Briars would welcome me into her home. It would be much easier for you if I left.â
âWhy?â
âBecause youâre going to think this all through in that logical mind of yours and then youâre going to decide you can never forgive me. Thatâs why.â
âDo you want me to forgive you?â
âNot particularly.â
âYouâre lying again.â
âDoes it matter?â
âYes, it matters. Jade, I told you I loved you. Doesnât that matter?â
âIt matters,â she whispered. When he took a step toward her, she moved away from the chair and started backing toward the doors. The look on Caineâs face worried her. Retreat seemed the logical choice now. âWhy are you looking at me like that?â she asked.
âYouâve deceived me, manipulated me, run me in circles, but all thatâs going to change now, isnât it?â
âSo itâs finally settling in, is it?â She backed up another space. âWhen you apply your logic, Iâm sure youâll understand that everything I did was to protect you and your brother. First you have to get past your anger . . . and your pride.â