Page 27 of Guardian Angel

  Nathan looked just as defeated. There was a deep cut in the corner of his mouth. He held a handkerchief against the injury, and damned if he wasn’t grinning, too. The area around his left eye was already beginning to swell.

  Jade was so relieved to see that neither Caine nor Nathan appeared to be near death’s door, she started trembling. Then, in a flash of a second, that surge of relief turned to raw anger. She became absolutely furious.

  “Have you two gentlemen resolved your dispute?” Sterns inquired.

  “We have,” Caine answered. He turned to look at Nathan, then slammed his fist into his jaw. “Haven’t we, Nathan?”

  Nathan hit him back before answering. “Yes, we have.” His voice was gratingly cheerful.

  “You children should be sent to your rooms,” Jade snapped. Her voice shook.

  Both men looked up at her, then turned to look at each other. They obviously thought her insult was highly amusing because they both burst into laughter.

  “Your brother sure hits like a child,” Caine drawled out when he could control himself.

  “Like hell I do,” Nathan countered. “Hand me the brandy, Sterns.”

  The butler knelt down on one knee and handed each man a glass. He then filled each goblet with a full portion of the rich liquid.

  “Sterns, are you thinking to get them drunk?” Jade asked.

  “It would be a marked improvement, mi’lady,” Sterns replied dryly.

  The butler stood up, bowed, and then slowly scanned the ruins. “I believe I was correct, Lady Jade. It was the settee that hit the wall.”

  Jade stared silently at the remains of what used to be a tea cart.

  “Sterns, leave the bottle,” Caine instructed.

  “As you wish, mi’lord. Would you like me to assist you to your feet before I leave?”

  “Is he always this proper?” Nathan asked.

  Caine laughed. “Proper? Never, not Sterns. If I’m a minute late for supper, he eats my portion.”

  “Promptness is a quality I’ve still to teach you, mi’lord,” Sterns said.

  “You’d best help him to his feet,” Nathan said. “He’s as weak as a . . . child.”

  The two men started laughing again. “You’d best assist him, Sterns,” Caine said. “He suffered more blows than I did.”

  “You never give up, do you, Caine?” Nathan asked. “You know good and well I won this fight.”

  “Like hell,” Caine argued, using Nathan’s favorite expression. “You barely scratched me.”

  Jade had heard enough. She whirled around, determined to get as far away from the two imbeciles as possible. Caine reached out and grabbed the hem of her gown. “Sit down, Jade.”

  “Where?” she cried out. “You’ve destroyed every chair in this room.”

  “Jade, you and I are going to have a little talk. Nathan and I have come to an agreement.” Caine turned to Nathan. “She’s going to be difficult.”

  Nathan nodded. “She always was.”

  Caine put his goblet down on the floor, then slowly stood up. “Nathan?” he said as he stared at the woman glaring so prettily up at him. “Think you can crawl out of here and give us a few minutes’ privacy?”

  “Crawl, my arse,” Nathan growled as he stumbled to his feet.

  “I don’t want to be alone with you,” Jade interjected.

  “Too bad,” Caine countered.

  “Your parents are upstairs,” she said when he tried to take her into his arms.

  She waited for that statement to get a proper reaction and was unhappy to see that Caine didn’t seem the least bit bothered. “They heard all the noise,” she said then. “Sterns told them you were disputing the issue of crops.”

  “The issue of crops?” Caine asked Sterns.

  The butler nodded, then turned to walk out of the room with Nathan at his side. “The rotation of crops, to be more specific, mi’lord. It was the best I could think of given the circumstances.”

  “They didn’t believe him,” Jade whispered, sounding as though she were confessing a grave sin.

  “I would imagine they wouldn’t,” Caine answered dryly. He noticed that she suddenly looked close to tears.

  “And that upset you, Jade?”

  “No, that doesn’t upset me,” she cried out. She was so angry with him she couldn’t even come up with a suitable insult. “I’m going up to my room,” she whispered. “I need a few minutes of privacy.”

  She didn’t mention she was going to pack her belongings, certain Caine or Nathan would try to waylay her. She simply wasn’t up to another confrontation.

  Without a hint of a farewell, Jade turned and hurried out of the room. Lord, how she wanted to weep. She couldn’t, of course, until after she’d had a long talk with her uncle. Harry needed to understand. She didn’t want him to worry about her.

  She found Harry in the dining room, carefully examining the silver collection. He tucked a fork in his sash when she called out to him, then turned to smile at her. “I’m taking all the silver with me, girl. Caine would want me to have it for my collection.”

  “Yes,” she answered. “I’m certain he would want you to have it. Uncle? I need to speak to you alone, please.”

  The men immediately filed out into the hallway. Jade sat down next to her uncle, took hold of his hand, and quietly told him what she was going to do. She also told him about the last two weeks, though she deliberately left out mention of her nightmares and her intimacy with Caine. Both of those facts would only upset Harry. Besides, he couldn’t do anything about either now. No, he couldn’t ward off her nightmares, and he couldn’t make her quit caring about Caine.

  Her uncle grunted several times during her explanation, but finally agreed. He didn’t have any doubts in his mind that she’d be able to take care of herself. She was his protégée, after all, and as good as the best of them.

  “I’ll be waiting for you at the cottage,” he promised. He pulled her over to kiss her cheek, then said, “Watch your backside, girl. Vermin like to sneak up on a person. Remember McKindry.”

  She nodded. Harry was referring to the pirate who’d marked her back with his whip. He had been vermin and he had snuck up behind her. Her uncle liked to use that memory as a lesson. “I’ll remember,” she promised.

  Jade left her uncle taking inventory of Caine’s possessions and went upstairs to pack. She passed Colin’s room on her way to her own. The door was closed, but she could hear the Duke’s booming laughter interspersed with his wife’s loud, inelegant sobs. Colin’s mama was obviously overcome with emotion and was probably weeping all over her son.

  Colin’s safety wasn’t her concern any longer. She’d finished her task, she told herself. It was over now, finished.

  Jimbo and Matthew were waiting for her in the hallway. Jimbo handed her the farewell gift she’d asked Harry to have him fetch.

  “We’ll be going with you, won’t we?” Matthew asked, his voice a low whisper.

  Jade nodded. “I’ll meet you out back.”

  “I’ll get Caine’s horses ready for the ride,” Jimbo whispered.

  “A man can get himself hung for stealing a horse,” Matthew interjected. His wide grin indicated he thought that was quite all right.

  “Caine won’t tell anyone,” Jimbo argued. He took hold of Jade’s satchel and started after his friend. “It’s a shame, that. How we ever going to keep up appearances if no one . . .”

  His sentence faded away as he turned the corner. Jade immediately went to Caine’s bedroom. She placed the long-stemmed white rose on his coverlet. “I am Pagan,” she whispered.

  It was done. She turned to leave, then spotted Caine’s black robe draped over the back of a chair near the window. On impulse she folded the garment and tucked it under her arm. His scent was on the robe, faint, but there still, and she wanted something to hold during the nights ahead, during the dark nightmares, to comfort her.

  It was time to leave.

  Both Caine and Nathan thought Jade

was resting in her room. Caine had wanted to chase after her, but Nathan convinced him that his sister needed time alone to calm her temper.

  “You might not have noticed yet, Caine, but Jade isn’t one to take orders easily,” Nathan explained.

  Since Caine had more than noticed this, he didn’t bother to comment.

  The talk then turned to the problems at hand. Harry was dragged away from his inventory to add his suggestions. Jade’s uncle had a quick mind. Caine watched him closely and came to a remarkable conclusion. Harry was civilized. He naturally kept that discovery to himself, for he guessed Harry would take grave exception to being confronted with the truth.

  Uncle Harry did grumble about the fact that he was going to have to burn a ship. “It’s a waste of good timber,” he muttered. “Still, it could be worse. I might have to be burning my lovely Emerald, ” he added. “Aye, it could be worse. I’d just as soon put a stake through me heart than damage my baby’s ship. The Emerald’s been home to Jade and me all these many years.”

  Before Caine could comment on Harry’s remarks, the uncle surprised him by adding that he was in full agreement that his baby get out of her present line of work.

  A good two hours passed before their plans were set to everyone’s satisfaction. Harry strolled back into the dining room.

  “He’s bent on eating you out of house and home,” Nathan drawled out. “He’ll steal you blind, too,” he added with a grin. “Harry likes to keep up appearances.”

  “He can have whatever he wants,” Caine returned. “Jade’s had quite enough time to calm her temper, Nathan. It’s high time your sister and I had our talk.”

  “If you lecture her, you’ll only . . .”

  “I’m not going to lecture her,” Caine replied. “I’m simply going to tell her what my expectations are.”

  “Sounds like a lecture to me,” Nathan drawled out.

  Both Nathan and Caine walked into the foyer just as the Duchess was coming down the winding staircase. Both men stopped to watch her. Caine’s stepmother was smiling, but also dabbing at the corners of her eyes with her lace handkerchief. She’d obviously had quite a good cry.

  Gweneth almost lost her balance when she spotted Nathan. She grasped the banister and let out a soft gasp of surprise. She quickly regained her composure, however, and continued down the steps. When she reached the foyer, she moved to Caine’s side. “Is he the pirate friend of Colin’s?” she whispered.

  Nathan heard her. “I’m not the pirate, Pagan, madam, but I am a friend of your son’s.”

  Nathan assumed his voice had been a little too harsh for her liking when she grabbed hold of Caine’s arm and moved closer to his side. Her dark brown eyes widened, too, but she valiantly held her smile.

  “You look very like a pirate,” she announced. She adjusted the folds of her pink gown as she waited for his reply.

  “Have you seen many, madam?” Caine asked.

  “No, I’ve never seen a pirate,” she confessed. “Though this gentleman certainly fits the picture of one in my mind. I believe it’s because of the length of his hair,” she explained after turning back to look at Nathan. “And the scar on your arm, of course.”

  “He’s also covered with blood,” Caine drawled out.

  “That, too,” his stepmother admitted.

  He’d meant the remark as a jest, but her expression had become so solemn, he knew she didn’t understand he was teasing her. “Pirates do like to brawl,” she added with a nod.

  “Madam, didn’t Colin explain that . . .” Caine began.

  “My son insists upon keeping Pagan’s true identity a secret,” she interrupted. “Still, I’m not completely obtuse,” she added with a meaningful glance in Nathan’s direction. “I’ve been around the corner once or twice. I know who Pagan is,” she added with a nod. “Henry also knows.”

  “Henry?” Nathan asked.

  “My father,” Caine explained.

  “Henry’s never wrong, dear.”

  She’d made that statement to Nathan. He found himself nodding in agreement. “Then I must be Pagan,” he announced with a grin. “If Henry’s never wrong.”

  She smiled over his easy acceptance. “Do not worry, sir, for I shall guard your secret. Now where is that lovely young lady I was so horribly rude to, Caine?”

  “You’re never rude, madam,” Caine interjected.

  “I didn’t properly introduce myself,” she argued. “Now where is she?”

  “Upstairs, resting,” Nathan answered. “Why do you ask?”

  “You know perfectly well why,” she answered. Her exasperation was obvious.

  “I do?” Nathan asked.

  “I must apologize for my behavior, of course, but also I must thank her for all she’s done for this family.”

  “Nathan is Jade’s brother,” Caine said.

  “I knew that,” she answered. “His green eyes gave him away, of course.”

  The Duchess walked over to the man she believed was the infamous pirate. “Lean down, dear boy. I must give you a kiss for being such a loyal friend.”

  Nathan was a bit disconcerted. Caine’s stepmother had sounded like a commander when she gave her order. He suddenly felt as awkward as a schoolboy and didn’t have the faintest idea why.

  He did, however, do as she asked.

  The Duchess kissed Nathan on both cheekbones. “You need to wash that blood away, my dear. Then Henry will give you a proper welcome into the family.”

  “Will he kiss him, too, madam?” Caine drawled out. He was thoroughly enjoying Nathan’s obvious discomfort.

  “Of course not,” his stepmother answered.

  “Why would he want to welcome me into the family?” Nathan asked.

  The Duchess smiled, yet didn’t bother to explain herself. She turned back to Caine. “I should have realized Lady Aisely wasn’t going to do.”

  “Who is Lady Aisely?” Nathan asked, trying to catch the drift of this conversation.

  “A ball of fluff,” Caine answered.

  The Duchess ignored that insult. “Henry realized right off. The green eyes, you see. And the red hair, of course.” She patted her blond curls and looked over her shoulder at Nathan. “Henry’s never wrong.”

  Nathan found himself agreeing once again with the woman. He still didn’t have a clue as to what she was babbling about, but he found her loyalty to her husband quite honorable.

  “Henry’s infallible.” Caine said what Nathan was thinking.

  “My baby’s terribly weak,” the Duchess remarked. “And as thin as a reed.” She started toward the dining room. “I’m going to find Sterns. Colin needs a good hot meal.”

  Because Caine was in a hurry to get to Jade, he forgot all about Harry and his men. Nathan was more astute. He thought about warning Caine, or mentioning the guests to his mother, then decided he’d just wait and see what happened. Besides, Caine was already halfway up the stairs, and the Duchess had already turned the corner.

  Nathan started counting. He’d only reached the number five when a shrill scream filled the air.

  The noise stopped Caine. He turned around and found Nathan lounging against the door frame again, grinning broadly.

  “What the . . .” Caine began.

  “Harry,” Nathan drawled out.

  “Hell” Caine returned as he started back down the stairs. “Harry.”

  The Duchess was screaming like a wild woman now. “Damn it, Nathan,” Caine roared. “You could have reminded me.”

  “Yes,” Nathan replied. “I could have.”

  Just as Caine reached the bottom step, his father appeared at the top. “What in God’s name is going on?” he shouted. “Who is making all that noise”

  Nathan answered before Caine could. “Your wife, sir.”

  Caine paused to glare at Nathan, then turned to his father again. He was torn between going to his stepmother’s assistance, and preventing his father from doing murder.

  The chilling look in his father’s eyes convin

ced him to handle him first. There was also the fact that even though Harry was probably scaring the Duchess out of her wits, Caine knew he wouldn’t really hurt her.

  Caine grabbed hold of his father’s arm when he reached him. “Father, it’s quite all right, really.”

  Henry didn’t look at all convinced. “Your wife has just met Black Harry,” Nathan interjected.

  Caine’s father pulled away from his son’s grasp just as the dining room doors bounded open. Everyone turned to watch the unsavory-looking men filing past.

  Black Harry was the last in the procession. He was dragging the Duchess in his wake.

  Nathan started laughing. Caine shook his head. The Duke’s full attention, however, was centered on the giant of a man with the gleaming gold tooth who was now swaggering toward the front door. A large silver bowl was tucked under the man’s arm.

  Henry let out a roar and started forward. Both Nathan and Caine blocked his path. “Father, let me take care of this, please,” Caine asked.

  “Then tell him to unhand my wife” his father bellowed.

  “Henry, do something,” Gweneth cried out. “This . . . man believes I’m going with him.”

  Nathan took a step forward. “Now, Harry, you can’t be taking . . .”

  “Get out of my way, son,” Caine’s father snapped.

  “Father, Harry’s a friend,” Caine countered. “He’s Jade’s uncle. You owe this man a debt for helping with Colin”

  Henry paused to give his son an incredulous look. “And Gweneth is payment for this debt?”

  “Let me handle this matter,” Caine demanded once again.

  Before his father could argue with him, Caine turned. “Harry,” he called out.

  Black Harry whirled around and hauled the Duchess up against his side. Caine noticed his grim expression, of course, but also the definite sparkle in his eyes. Appearances, he thought to himself. And pride. Both needed to be upheld.

  “I’ll be taking her with me,” Harry announced to his audience. His men nodded their agreement. “Caine would want me to have her.”