Page 29 of Guardian Angel
âWell, what?â she asked, staring into those dark eyes that made her feel fainthearted.
âIâm good, arenât I?â
The dimple was back in his cheek. She couldnât help but smile. âGood at what?â she asked, pretending innocence.
âPillaging.â
She slowly nodded. âVery good,â she whispered.
âAnd did I impress you?â he asked.
âPerhaps just a little,â she answered. She let out a gasp when the palm of his hand pressed against the junction of her thighs. âWhat are you doing?â
âImpressing you again, sweetheart.â
The man was as good as his word, Jade decided a long while later. And he had far more stamina than she did. When he finally rolled away from her, she felt like a limp rag. She fell asleep with Caine holding her close, whispering words of love.
She didnât have any nightmares that night.
By noon, they were back at Caineâs house. Matthew and Jimbo couldnât leave for Shallowâs Wharf quickly enough. They were both mortified by their slip up of the night before. Theyâd obviously underestimated the Marquess. Matthew didnât think heâd ever live down the disgrace; though, of course, Jade promised not to tell anyone heâd been caught so unaware.
Hell, Caine had prodded him awake, and how in Godâs name such a big man was able to get into his room without making a sound still baffled him.
As soon as they returned to Caineâs home, Jade changed her gown and then went to Caineâs study to make copies of the letters for him. She listened to him explain his plan. She argued something fierce about trusting Richards, but agreed that Lyon could hold a confidence.
âWhen you meet Richards, youâll like him as much as you like Lyon,â Caine replied. âYouâll trust him as much, too.â
She shook her head. âCaine, I like Lyon, yes, but that isnât the reason I trust him. No, no,â she continued. âLiking and trusting are two different kettles of fish.â
âThen why do you trust Lyon?â he asked, smiling over the censure in her tone.
âI read his file,â she answered. âDo you know, in comparison, Caine, youâve led the life of a choirboy.â
Caine shook his head. âI wouldnât mention reading his file to him,â he advised.
âYes,â she agreed. âHeâd probably get as prickly as you did when I told you,â she added. âLyonâs file is just as fat as yours, but he didnât have a special name.â
Caine looked thoroughly irritated with her. âJade, exactly how many files did you read?â
âJust a few,â she replied. âCaine, I really must concentrate on these letters. Please quit interrupting me.â
The library door opened then, drawing Caineâs attention. Nathan walked inside. âWhy hasnât anyone tried to get to you, Caine, since youâve been here? Itâs damned isolated, and I would think . . .â
âSomeone did try to get to Caine the day we arrived, Nathan,â Jade said without looking up.
When Jade didnât continue, Caine filled Nathan in on the details of the failed attempt.
âNathan, how nice you look,â Jade said, completely turning the topic when she glanced up and saw his handsome shirt and pants.
âThat shirt looks damned familiar,â Caine drawled out.
âItâs yours,â Nathan answered with a grin. âFits well, too. Colin has also borrowed a few of your things. We hadnât packed sufficiently when we were tossed into the ocean. Why hasnât anyone tried to get to you since that first day?â he added with a scowl.
Nathan started to pace the room like a tiger. Caine continued to lean against the edge of the desk. âThey have.â
âWhat?â Nathan asked. âWhen?â
âThey have not,â Jade interjected. âI would have known.â
âIn the past ten days, four others have tried.â
âAnd?â Nathan asked, demanding more of an explanation.
âThey failed.â
âWhy wasnât I informed?â Jade asked.
âI didnât want to worry you,â Caine explained.
âThen you had to have known Matthew and Jimbo were here,â Nathan said.
âI knew,â Caine answered. âI left them alone, too, until they burned down my stables. Then I had a little talk with them. Couldnât you have come up with another plan to keep me busy while you went to see my father?â
He was getting all worked up again. Jade guessed he still wasnât over the fire yet. Sterns had said the stables were brand new. âI should have been more specific with Matthew,â she announced. âI left the diversion up to him. Still, he was very creative, effective, too. You were busy.â
âYou took a needless risk going off on your own like that,â he snapped. âDamn it, Jade, you could have been killed!â
He was shouting at her by the time heâd finished that statement. âI was very careful,â she whispered, trying to placate him.
âThe hell you were!â he roared. âYou were damn lucky, thatâs all.â
She decided she needed to turn his attention. âIâm never going to finish this task if you two donât leave me alone.â She tossed her hair over her shoulder and returned to her letter writing. She could feel his glare on her. âWhy donât you both go see how Colinâs doing. Iâm sure heâd like the company.â
âCome on, Caine. Weâve just been dismissed.â
Caine shook his head. âPromise me you wonât take needless risks again,â he ordered Jade. âThen Iâll leave.â
She immediately nodded. âI promise.â
The anger seemed to drain out of him. He nodded, then leaned down to kiss her. She tried to dodge him. âNathanâs here,â she whispered.
âIgnore him.â
Her face was bright red when he lifted his mouth away from hers. Her hands were shaking, too. âI love you,â he whispered before he straightened up and followed Nathan out of the room.
Jade stared at the desktop a long while. Was it possible? Could he really love her? She had to quit thinking about it in order to calm the trembling in her hands. Richards and his friend wouldnât be able to read the letters otherwise. Besides, it didnât matter if he loved her or not. She still had to leave him. Didnât she?
Jade had worked herself into a fine state of nerves by the time dinner hour was over. Nathan had decided to eat his supper upstairs with Colin. She and Caine, and Sterns, of course, ate at the long table. They got into a heated debate about the separation between church and state. In the beginning, when Caine stated he was in favor of the separation wholeheartedly, she took the opposite opinion. Yet when he deliberately argued the opposing view, she was just as vehement in her rebuttal.
It was a thoroughly invigorating argument. Sterns ended up acting as referee.
The debate made Caine hungry again. He reached for the last slice of mutton only to have it snatched out of his reach by Sterns.
âI wanted that, Sterns,â Caine muttered.
âSo did I, miâlord,â the butler answered. He picked up his utensils and proceeded to devour the food. Jade took sympathy on Caine and gave him half of her portion.
Both Sterns and Caine looked at each other when the sudden pounding on the front doors echoed through the room. Caine lost the staring contest. âIâll get it,â he announced.
âAs you wish, miâlord,â Sterns agreed between bites of his mutton.
âBe careful,â Jade called out.
âItâs all right,â Caine called back. âNo one could have gotten to the doors without my men noticing.â
A good ten minutes elapsed before Sterns finished his second cup of tea. âI believe I shall go and see whoâs calling,â he told Jade.
âPerhaps itâs Caineâs papa.â
âNo, miâlady,â Sterns countered. âI have ordered the Duke and Duchess to stay away. It would draw suspicion if they began to pay daily visits to their son.â
âYou really ordered them?â she asked.
âBut of course, Lady Jade.â With a formal bow, the but
ler left the room.
Jade drummed her fingers on the table until Sterns returned.
âSir Richards and the Marquess of Lyonwood have arrived,â he announced from the doorway. âMy lord is requesting both brandy and you in the library.â
âSo soon?â she asked, clearly startled. She stood up, smoothed the folds of her gold-colored gown, then patted her hair. âI wasnât ready to meet anyone,â she said.
Sterns smiled. âYou look lovely, miâlady,â he announced. âYouâll like these visitors. Theyâre good men.â
âOh, Iâve already met Lyon,â she replied. âAnd Iâm certain Iâll like Richards just as much.â
As she started for the door, her expression turned from carefree to fearful.
âThereâs really nothing to be concerned about, miâlady.â
Her smile was radiant. âOh, Iâm not worried, Sterns. Iâm preparing.â
âI beg your pardon?â he asked. He followed after her. âWhat are you preparing for, miâlady?â
âTo look worried,â she answered with a laugh. âAnd to look weak, of course.â
âOf course,â Sterns agreed with a sigh. âAre you ill, Lady Jade?â
She turned to look at him when she reached the library door. âAppearances, Sterns.â
âYes?â
âThey must be kept up. Do the expected, donât you see?â
âNo, I donât see,â he answered.
She smiled again. âIâm about to give Caine his pride back,â she whispered.
âI wasnât aware heâd misplaced it.â
âI wasnât either, until he mentioned it to me,â she replied. âBesides, theyâre only men, after all.â
She took a deep breath, then let Sterns open the door for her. She stood just inside the entrance, her head bowed, her hands folded together in front of her.
Sterns was so surprised by the sudden change in her demeanor, his mouth dropped open.
When Caine called out to her, she visibly jumped, as if his command had the power to terrify her, then slowly walked into the study. The one called Richards bounded to his feet first. He was an elderly man with gray hair, a gentle smile, and a round belly. He had kind eyes, too. Jade acknowledged the introduction by making a perfect curtsy.
She then turned to greet Lyon. When he stood to his full height, he fairly towered over her. âIt is good to see you again, Lyon,â she whispered, her voice little more than a faint shiver.
Lyon raised an eyebrow in reaction. He knew she was a timid creature, but he thought that she had gotten over her initial reaction to him the first time theyâd met. Now, however, she acted afraid again. The contradiction puzzled him.
Caine was sitting behind his desk. His chair was tilted back against the wall. Jade sat down on the edge of the chair adjacent to the desk, her back ramrod straight. Her hands were clenched in her lap.
Richards and Lyon both resumed their chairs across from her.
Caine was watching Jade. She appeared to be terribly frightened. He wasnât buying it for a minute. She was up to something, he decided, but he would have to wait until later to question her.
Richards cleared his throat to get everyoneâs attention. His gaze was centered on Jade when he said, âI cannot help but notice, my dear, how worried you seem to be. Iâve read the letters your father saved, but before I ask you my questions, I want to make it perfectly clear that I donât hold you in less esteem because of your fatherâs transgressions.â
She still looked like a trapped doe, but she managed a timid nod.
âThank you, Sir Richards,â she replied in a bare whisper. âIt is kind of you not to blame me. I was worried that you might condemn me.â
Caine rolled his eyes heavenward. Richards, a man rarely given to showing any affection, was now clasping Jadeâs hands. The director looked like he wanted to take her into his arms and offer her solace.
She did appear to be very vulnerable. Caine suddenly remembered that that same expression had been on her face when sheâd stared at him in the tavern. Sheâd appeared vulnerable then, too.
What was her game?
âNeither one of us condemns you,â Lyon interjected. He, too, leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. âYou have had a difficult time of it, Jade.â
âYes, she has,â Sir Richards agreed.
Caine forced himself not to smile. Both his superior and his friend were falling under Jadeâs spell. He thought Lyon should have known better. After all, heâd met Jade before. Still, her manner now, added to his earlier thought that she was terribly timid, obviously convinced Lyon that she was sincere.
âAre you up to answering a few questions now?â Richards asked.
Jade nodded. âWould it not be better to have Nathan answer your questions? Men are so much more logical. Iâll probably make a muddle out of it.â
âJade.â Caine said her name as a warning.
She turned to give him a tremulous smile. âYes, Caine?â she asked.
âBehave yourself.â
Richards turned to frown at Caine. Then he returned his attention to Jade.
âWeâll ask Nathan our questions later. If it isnât too painful to recount, please tell us exactly what happened to you from the moment you arrived in London.â
Jade nodded. âCertainly,â she agreed. âYou see, this all begins with the letters. My Uncle Harry was given a packet of letters by my father. Just two days later, Father was killed. Harry took me away on his ship then. He saved the letters, and when he felt the time was right, he gave them to me. I read them of course, then showed them to Nathan. My brother was working with Colin at the time, and he confided in him. Now then,â she continued in a brisker tone. âAs Caine has probably told you, both Colin and Nathan were . . . attacked. The villains thought theyâd done them in, and . . . Pagan decided to let the hired thugs return to London to report their success.â
âA sound decision,â Richards interjected.
âYes,â Jade said. She turned to frown at Caine. âThe plan was very simple. Pagan snatched a physician to take care of the injuries, and it had been decided that when Colin was well enough to travel, he would tell his brother, Caine, about the letters and ask his assistance.â
âWhat happened to sour this plan?â Richards asked.
Jade frowned at Caine again. âHe soured it,â she announced. âPagan had been made the scapegoat for Nathan and Colinâs deaths, as you know, and Caine decided to seek vengeance. His timing couldnât have been worse. The remaining members of the Tribunal couldnât take the risk of Caine finding the pirate and having a talk with him. So Caine had inadvertently put himself in danger.â
âIt wasnât inadvertent,â Caine interjected.
She shrugged. âColin had made Pagan promise not to tell Caine anything. His brother knew Caine would . . . charge right in, you see, and Colin wanted to explain everything. In truth, I do believe Colin wasnât thinking the thing through, but he was in terrible pain at the time and he seemed obsessed with protecting Caine. Pagan agreed, just to placate Colin.â
âAnd where do you fit into this scheme?â Lyon asked.
âNathan is my brother,â Jade answered. âI returned to England and went to stay at his country estate. There were several of Paganâs men with me. They took turns watching out for Caine. Several attempts were made to get him, and it was then decided that I would find a way to get Caine away from his hunt. Two days before I was supposed to leave, a series of incidents took place. On the first morning, when I was taking my usual walk, I came upon three men digging up my parentsâ graves. I shouted, for I was in a rage, you see, over what they were doing. I drew their notice, of course. One of the villains shot at me. I ran back to Nathanâs house to get help.â
âWerenât Paganâs men still guarding you?â Richards asked.
Jade shook her head. âThey were all needed to keep Caine safe. Besides, I had Nathanâs butler, Hudson, and the other servants to assist me.â
âAnd then wha
t happened?â Lyon asked.
âIt was too dark for the servants to go to the graves. It was decided to wait until morning. That night, the house was pillaged,â she continued. âI slept through, however, and never heard a sound. Even my bedchamber was turned upside down.â
âYou must have been drugged,â Richards announced.
âI canât imagine how it was done if I was drugged,â Jade said. âThe following morning, I rode one of Nathanâs mounts back to the graves to see if any evidence had been left. Nathanâs butler, Hudson, was having a difficult time believing me, you see, and I wanted to convince him. As it turned out, I never made it to the graves. The villains were obviously waiting to intercept me. They killed Nathanâs horse. I went flying to the ground.â
âGood Lord, you could have been killed by the fall,â Richards said.
âI was most fortunate, as I only sustained a few bruises,â she explained. âI went running back to the house, told Hudson what had happened. He sent men to chase after the villains. When they returned, they told me they couldnât find any evidence of foul play. The horse had vanished. Iâm not certain how that was accomplished. Caine said it would take more than three men to lift it into a wagon and cart it away.â
She paused to shrug, then continued. âI decided to go to London with all possible haste and immediately ordered the carriage made ready. Yet, as soon as weâd traveled down the first hill, the coachman shouted that there was a fire. We could see the smoke. I returned to the house just in time to witness the full fire. Poor Nathanâs house was gutted to the ground. I then ordered Hudson and the other servants to go to Nathanâs London residence, then once again set out for my own destination.â
âAnd where was that?â Lyon asked. âWere you also going to Nathanâs town house?â
Jade smiled. âNo, I was going to a tavern called the Neâer Do Well. I had a plan, you see, to get Caine away from his hunt.â
Lyon nodded.
âI donât understand,â Richards interjected. âWhat exactly was this plan? Caine isnât one to be easily fooled, my dear.â