Page 31 of Guardian Angel
She didnât even look up at him. âItâs ridiculous to pretend Iâm not here,â he told her, his exasperation obvious in his tone.
âAs ridiculous as giving back everything I take?â she countered, her attention focused on her book.
Caine added two more candles to the bedside table. He went to the hearth next. âWhereâs Sterns?â he asked.
âSterns has gone to bed,â she answered. âYouâd make a good butler, Caine. Your man has trained you well.â
He didnât jump to the bait. âYouâre spoiling for a fight, sweetheart, but Iâm not going to accommodate you.â
âIâm not spoiling for a fight,â she snapped. She slammed her book shut while she watched him add another fat log to the embers.
In the firelight, his skin looked as bronzed as a statue. His shirt was opened to the waist, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The fabric was stretched tight across the back of his shoulders, showing the splay of muscle there when he reached for the iron staff to prod the fire into a full blaze.
She thought he was the most appealing man in all the world.
Caine turned, still bent on one knee, and smiled at her. The tenderness in his gaze tugged at her heart. He was such a good man, a trusting man, a loving man.
He deserved better than the likes of her. Why didnât he realize that obvious fact?
Tears welled up in her eyes and she started trembling. It was as though the blankets had suddenly turned into snow. She was freezing . . . and terrified.
Donât ever let me leave you, she suddenly thought. Make me stay with you forever.
Oh, God, how she wanted to love him, to lean on him.
And then what would she become, she asked herself, when he left her. How in Godâs name would she survive?
The change in her was startling. Her face had turned the color of her white nightgown.
âSweetheart, whatâs the matter?â he asked. He stood up and walked toward the bed.
âNothing,â she whispered. âNothingâs wrong. Iâm just cold,â she added in a stammer. And afraid, she wanted to add. âCome to bed, Caine.â
She desperately needed to hold him close. Jade added to the invitation by pulling the covers back for him. Caine ignored her request. He went to the wardrobe, found another blanket on the top shelf, then draped it over the other covers on the bed.
âIs that better?â he asked.
âYes, thank you,â she answered, trying not to sound too disgruntled.
âIf you arenât too tired, I want to ask you a few questions,â he said.
âAsk your questions in bed, Caine,â she suggested. âYouâll be more comfortable.â
He shook his head, then sat down in the chair and propped his feet up on the foot of the bed. âThis will do,â he said then, trying his damnedest not to smile.
She wanted him, perhaps even as much as he wanted her. And by God, she was going to have to tell him so.
Jade tried to hide her irritation. The man was as dense as rain. Didnât he realize she wanted to be held? Sheâd told him she was cold, damn it. He should have immediately taken her into his arms, then kissed her of course, and then . . .
She let out a long sigh. Caine apparently didnât realize what she needed when he started in with his questions about the stupid files again.
It took all her determination to hold onto her concentration. She had to stare at her hands so his heart-stopping smile wouldnât detract her.
âJade?â
âYes?â She looked startled.
âI just asked you if you read the files on our Williams,â he said.
âThey arenât our Williams,â she replied.
She gave him an expectant smile, waiting for his next question.
Caineâs smile widened. âAre you going to answer me?â he asked.
âAnswer what?â
âYou seem preoccupied.â
âIâm not.â
âSleepy then?â
âNot at all.â
âThen answer my question,â he instructed again. âDid you read the files . . .â
âYes,â she interrupted. âYou want to hear them, donât you?â
âYes, I do,â he answered. âWas there something else you wanted to do?â he asked.
The blush came back to her cheekbones. âNo, of course not,â she answered. âAll right, Caine, Iâll tell you . . .â
A knock sounded at the door, interrupting them. Caine turned just as Nathan peeked inside.
When Jadeâs brother saw Caine lounging in the chair, he frowned. âWhat are you doing here, Caine?â
âTalking to Jade,â Caine answered. âWhat do you want?â
âI couldnât sleep,â Nathan admitted. He strode over to the hearth and leaned against it. Nathan was barefoot and shirtless now. Caine saw the scars on Nathanâs back, of course. He didnât mention them, but he wondered how Nathan could have survived such a beating.
âHereâs Caineâs robe, if youâre cold, Nathan,â Jade said. She pointed to the empty chair on the other side of the bed. âYouâll catch a chill if you donât cover up.â
Nathan was in an accommodating mood. He put Caineâs robe on, then sprawled out in the chair.
âGo back to bed, Nathan,â Caine ordered.
âI want to ask my sister a couple of questions.â
Nathan had left the door opened. For that reason, Sir Richards didnât bother to knock when he reached the room. The director was dressed in a royal blue robe that reached his bare feet. He looked positively thrilled to see the gathering.
Jade pulled the covers up to her chin. She looked at Caine to see his reaction to this invasion.
He looked resigned. âPull up a chair, Sir Richards,â Caine suggested.
âBe happy to,â Richards replied. He smiled at Jade then. âI couldnât sleep, you see, and so I thought Iâd look in on you and . . .â
âIf she was awake, you were going to question her,â Caine guessed.
âThis isnât at all proper,â Richards said as he dragged a chair close to the bed. His chuckle indicated he didnât mind that fact at all. âNathan?â he added then. âWould you mind fetching Lyon for us? By now heâll have a few questions of his own.â
âHe might be sleeping,â Jade said.
âI could hear him pacing in the chamber next to mine. This Tribunal has us all rattled, my dear. Itâs quite a lot to take in.â
Nathan returned with Lyon by his side. Jade suddenly felt ridiculous. She was in bed, after all, and dressed only in her nightgown. âWhy donât we go down to the library to discuss this?â she suggested. âIâll get dressed and . . .â
âThis will do,â Caine announced. âLyon, Jadeâs going to give us the files on the Williams.â
âDo I have to repeat every word, Caine?â she asked. âIt will take days.â
âStart with just the pertinent facts,â Richards suggested. âLyon and I are going back to London tomorrow. Weâll read the files from start to finish then.â
Jade shrugged. âIâll start with Terrance then,â she announced. âThe dead one.â
âYes, the dead one,â Lyon agreed. He leaned against the mantel and smiled encouragement.
Jade leaned back against the pillows and began her recitation.
Lyon and Richards were duly impressed. When they got over their initial astonishment, they took turns interrupting her to ask specific details on certain missions William Terrance was involved in.
She didnât finish with the file until two in the morning. She couldnât quit yawning either, a hint of the exhaustion she was feeling.
âItâs time we all took to our beds,â Sir Richards announced. âWeâll start in again come morning.â
The director was following Lyon and Nathan out of the room when Jade called out to him. âSir Richards? What if the William youâre looking for isnât one of the three in the files?â
Richards turned back to her. âItâs just a starting place, my dear,â he explained. â
Then we begin the cross-check, read through each and every file the superiors in every department kept. It will take time, yes, but we will persevere until we get to the bottom of this.â
âThere couldnât be a chance theyâre both dead now?â Jade asked.
She looked so hopeful, Richards hated to disappoint her. âIâm afraid not,â he said. âSomeone wants those letters, dear. At least one of the two remaining members of the Tribunal is still very much alive.â
Jade was relieved to be alone with Caine again. She was exhausted, worried, too, and all she wanted was for him to take her into his arms and hold her close. She pulled back the covers for Caine, then patted the sheet.
âGoodnight, Jade,â Caine said. He walked over to the bed, leaned down, and gave her a horribly chaste kiss, then blew out the candles on his way to the door. âPleasant dreams, sweetheart.â
The door closed. She was astonished heâd left her.
He didnât want her any longer. The thought was so repugnant to her, she pushed it aside. He was just angry with her still because heâd had to chase after her again, she told herself . . . he was tired, too, she added with a nod. It had been a long, exhausting day.
Damn it, the man was suppose to be reliable.
She didnât have pleasant dreams. She was drowning in the blackness, could feel the monsters circling her as she went down, down, down . . .
Her own whimpers awakened her. She instinctively turned to Caine, knowing heâd soothe away her terror.
He wasnât there. She was wide awake by the time sheâd made that determination, and shaking so much she could barely get the covers out of her way.
She couldnât stay in bed, but went to the window and stared out at the starless night while she contemplated her bleak situation.
She didnât know how long she stood there, worrying and fretting, before she finally gave in. She was going to have to go to him.
Caine woke up as soon as the door opened. Since it was dark, he didnât have to hide his smile. âI donât know how to dance, Caine,â she announced.
She slammed the door shut after making that statement, then walked over to his side of the bed. âYou might as well know that right off. I canât do needlework, either.â
He was resting on his back with his eyes closed. Jade stared at him a long minute, then prodded his shoulder. âWell?â she demanded.
Caine answered her by pulling the covers back. Jade pulled off her nightgown and fell into bed beside him. He immediately took her into his arms.
The shivers vanished. She felt safe again. Jade fell asleep waiting for Caine to answer her.
He woke her up a little past dawn to make love to her, and when he was done having his way with her and she having her way with him, she was too sleepy to talk to him. She fell asleep listening to him tell her how much he loved her.
The next time she was nudged awake, it was almost noon. Caine was doing the nudging. He was fully dressed and sweetly demanding she open her eyes and wake up.
She refused to open her eyes, but tried to kick the covers away and make him come back to bed. Caine insisted on holding the covers up to her chin. She didnât understand why he was being so contrary until she finally opened her eyes and saw Sterns standing at the foot of her bed.
She took over the task of shielding her nakedness then. Jade could feel her face turning crimson. It would be pointless to try to bluster her way through this embarrassment. âOh, Sterns, now youâre ashamed of me, arenât you?â
The question came out in a wail. Sterns immediately shook his head. âOf course not, miâlady,â he announced. âIâm certain my employer dragged you into his bed,â he added with a nod in Caineâs direction.
âBy her hair, Sterns?â Caine asked dryly.
âI wouldnât put it past you, miâlord.â
âHe did,â Jade announced, deciding to let Caine take all the blame. âYou mustnât tell anyone,â she added.
Sternsâ smile was gentle. âIâm afraid there isnât anyone left to tell.â
âDo you mean Sir Richards and Lyon know?â
When Sterns nodded, she turned to glare up at Caine. âYou told them, didnât you? Why donât you just post that in the dailies too?â
âI didnât tell,â Caine countered, his exasperation obvious. âYou didnât shut your door when you . . .â He paused to look at Sterns, then said, âWhen I dragged you in here. They noticed the empty bed on their way downstairs.â
She wanted to hide under the covers for the rest of the day.
âJade? Why is my silver under my bed?â
âAsk Sterns,â she said. âHe put it there.â
âIt seemed an appropriate place, miâlord,â Sterns announced. âOne of your guests, the big man with the gold tooth, certainly would have taken a liking to the silver. Miâlady suggested a safe haven for the pieces once Iâd explained their special meaning to you.â
She thought he might thank her for saving his treasures. He laughed instead. âCome downstairs as soon as youâre dressed, Jade. Richards wants to start questioning you again.â
Sterns didnât leave the room with his employer. âThe Duchess has sent over several gowns belonging to one of her daughters. I believe the fit will be close, miâlady.â
âWhy would she . . .â
âI requested the clothing,â Sterns announced. âWhen I was unpacking your belongings, I couldnât help but notice there were only two gowns.â
She looked as though she were going to protest, but Sterns didnât give her time. âThe selection is hanging in the wardrobe. Cook will act as your ladyâs maid. I shall go and fetch her immediately.â
It wouldnât do her any good to argue with him. Sterns had turned from butler to commander. He selected the garment sheâd wear, tooâa deep, ivory-colored gown with lace-embroidered cuffs. The gown was so elegant looking, Jade couldnât resist.
There were undergarments as well. Though Sterns didnât make mention of them, he put the silk treasures on the foot of her bed, next to the thin-as-air stockings and matching ivory-colored shoes.
Jade was washed and dressed in the finery a scant fifteen minutes later. She sat in a straight-backed chair while Cook pulled on her hair. The elderly woman was tall and rotund. Her salt and pepper hair had been clipped into short, bobbing curls. She attacked Jadeâs hair as if it were a side of beef. Still, Jade would have put up with the mild discomfort for the rest of the day if it would put off having to face Lyon and Sir Richards again.
The meeting couldnât be avoided, however. âYouâre a looker, you are,â the servant announced when sheâd finished her task. She held up a hand mirror and gave it to Jade. âItâs a simple braid, but those little wisps of curls along the sides of your face soften the look. I would have put it up in clusters atop your head, miâlady, but I fear the weight would have toppled you over.â
âThank you so much,â Jade replied. âYouâve done a splendid job.â
Cook nodded, then hurried back downstairs. The meeting couldnât be avoided any longer. Caine would only come and fetch her if she stayed closeted in his room. When Jade opened the door, she was surprised and irritated to find two guards in the hallway. Both men looked a little undone by the sight of her. Then one stammered out what a fair picture she was. The other blurted out that she looked just like a queen.
Both guards followed her downstairs. The dining room doors were closed. The bigger of the two men rushed ahead to see them opened for her. Jade thanked the man for his consideration, then straightened her shoulders and walked inside.
Everyone was seated at the long table, including Sterns. And everyone, including the rascal butler, was staring at her.
All but Colin stood up when she entered the room. Jade kept her gaze on Caine. When he moved to pull out the chair adjacent to his, she slowly walked over to his side.
He leaned down and kissed her brow. Nathan broke the horrid silence. âGet your hands off her, Caine.â
âMy hands arenât o
n her, Nathan,â Caine drawled out. âMy mouth is.â He kissed Jade again just to goad her brother. Jade fell into the chair with a sigh.
Sterns saw to her breakfast while the men continued their discussion. Sir Richards sat at one end of the long table, Caine at the other. When her plate had been taken away, Sir Richards called everyone to attention. She realized then that they had all been waiting for her.
âMy dear, weâve decided that you must come to London with us,â Sir Richards announced. âWeâll keep the security tight,â he added with a glance in Caineâs direction.
Richards then pulled the pen and ink well close. âIâd like to make a few notes while I question you,â he explained.
âSir? Why must I come to London?â Jade asked.
The director looked a little sheepish now. Lyon, Jade noticed, was grinning.
âWell, now,â Richards began. âWe need to get in the file room. If I request the keys during working hours, my name will have to go into the entry book.â
âThey want to go during the night,â Colin interjected. âWithout keys.â
âYou did say youâd broken into the building once and read the files,â Richards reminded her.
âThree times,â Jade interjected.
Sir Richards looked as if he wanted to cry. âIs our security so puny then?â he asked Lyon.
âApparently,â Lyon returned.
âOh, no,â Jade said. âThe security is very good.â
âThen how . . .â Richards began.
Caine answered. âSheâs better than good, Richards.â
Jade blushed over the compliment. âSir Richards, I understand your need for secrecy. You donât want the Tribunal knowing youâre hunting them, but I believe they probably know already. Theyâve sent men here. Surely they saw you and Lyon arrive and reported back . . .â
âNo one who was sent by the Tribunal has returned to report to anyone,â Lyon explained.
âBut how . . .â
âCaine took care of them.â
Jadeâs eyes widened over Lyonâs statement. He sounded so certain. She turned to look at Caine. âHow did you take care of them?â
Caine shook his head at Lyon when he thought his friend might explain. âYou donât need to know,â he told Jade.