Page 6 of Guardian Angel
âIâm certain,â he returned. âJust hold on a little longer, sweet. Weâll be out of this muck in no time at all.â
His soothing voice did calm her a little. She was still trying to strangle him, but her grip had lessened. It was only a halfhearted attempt now.
They floated at least a good mile down the winding river before he finally pulled her out of the water and onto the grassy slope. Jade was too cold, too miserable, to blister him with her opinion of his conduct.
She couldnât even get in a decent whimper. Her teeth were chattering too much. âI smell like dead fish,â she stammered out in a pitiful wail.
âYes, you do,â Caine agreed. He sounded amused.
âSo do you, you . . . pretender.â
âPretender?â he repeated while he tore his jacket off and tossed it on the ground behind him. âWhat do you mean by that?â
Jade was trying to wring the water out of the hem of her gown. Her hair covered most of her face. She paused to toss the clumps out of her vision. âYou neednât act so innocent with me,â she muttered.
She gave up her task and accepted the pitiful fact that her gown now outweighed her, then wrapped her arms around her waist and tried to hug some warmth back into her bones. Her voice took on her shivers when she added, âPretending to be the pirate, Pagan. He would never throw a gentle lady in the Thames.â
âJade, I did what I thought was best under the circumstances,â he defended.
âI lost my cloak.â That announcement came out in a loud gasp.
âIâll buy you another one.â
âBut my silver coins were in that cloak,â she said. âWell?â
âWell, what?â
âGo fetch it.â
âWhat?â
âGo fetch it,â she ordered again. âIâll wait here.â
âYou canât be serious.â
âIâm perfectly serious,â she countered. âWe only drifted a mile or so, Caine. It shouldnât take you any time at all.â
âNo.â
âPlease?â
âIâd never find it,â he returned. âItâs probably at the bottom of the river by now.â
She mopped at the corners of her eyes with the backs of her hands. âNow Iâm a pauper and itâs all your fault.â
âDonât start,â he commanded. He knew she was on the verge of tears again. âNow isnât the time for hysterics or complaints, even though they seem to be the only two things youâre any good at,â he continued. He caught her gasp and smiled. She was getting her temper back. âDo you still have your shoes on or do I have to carry you?â
âHow would I know?â she asked. âIâve lost all the feeling in my feet.â
âLook, damn it.â
âYes, damn it,â she muttered when sheâd done as he ordered. âIâm still wearing them. Well?â she added. âAre you going to apologize or not?â
âNo,â he answered in a clipped voice. âIâm not going to apologize. And lower your voice, Jade. Do you want every cutthroat in London after us?â
âNo,â she whispered. She moved close to his side. âCaine? What would you have done if I didnât know how to swim?â
âThe same thing,â he answered. âBut we would have jumped together.â
âI didnât jump,â she argued. âOh, never mind. Iâm cold, Caine. What are we going to do now?â
He took hold of her hand and started up the bank. âWeâre going to walk over to my friendâs town house. Itâs closer than mine.â
âCaine, youâre forgetting your jacket,â she reminded him.
Before he could tell her to leave it, she rushed back, lifted the jacket, rung as much of the water out of it as she could manage with her numb fingers, and then hurried back to his side. She tossed the hair out of her eyes again, just as he put his arm around her shoulders. âI look terrible, donât I?â
âYou smell worse,â he told her quite cheerfully.
He gave her an affectionate squeeze, then remarked, âIâd say itâs more like rotten meat than dead fish though.â
She started to gag. Caine slapped his hand over her mouth. âIf you lose your supper, Iâll become very angry with you. I have enough to contend with now. Donât you dare complicate matters by getting sick.â
She bit his hand, gaining both her freedom and another blasphemy from him. âI didnât have any supper,â she announced. âI wanted to die on an empty stomach.â
âYou still might,â he muttered. âNow quit talking and let me think. Why the hell did you want to die on an empty stomach?â he couldnât help but ask.
âSome people become ill when theyâre frightened. I thought I might, you see, right before you . . . oh, never mind. I just didnât want to go to my Maker in a messy gown, thatâs all.â
âI knew I shouldnât have asked,â he replied. âLook, when we get to Lyonâs place, you can have a hot bath. Youâll feel better then.â
âIs Lyon the interfering friend Monk mentioned?â
âLyon isnât interfering.â
âMonk said heâd find out what happened to you this black night,â Jade replied. âThose were his very words. That certainly sounds interfering to me.â
âYouâll like Lyon.â
âIf heâs your friend, I have my doubts,â she returned. âStill, I will try to like him.â
They lapsed into silence for several blocks. Caine was on his guard now and Jade wasnât nearly as worried as she pretended to be.
âCaine? After weâve had our baths, what will we do?â
âYouâre going to sit down and tell me everything that happened to you.â
âIâve already told you what happened to me. You didnât believe me though, did you?â
âNo,â he admitted. âI didnât.â
âBesides, your mind is already set against me, Caine. You wonât believe anything else I tell you. Why should I make the effort?â
âMy mind isnât set against you,â he answered. His irritation was obvious in his tone.
She let out a rather inelegant snort. Caine vowed he wouldnât let her draw him into another argument. He led her through another maze of back streets. She was so exhausted by the time theyâd reached the steps to the impressive, redbrick town house, she wanted to weep real tears.
A giant of a man with a rather sinister-looking scar creasing his forehead opened the door on Caineâs insistent pounding. The man had obviously been asleep. He wasnât happy about being awakened, either. Jade took one look at the strangerâs dark scowl, and edged closer to Caine.
The man she assumed was Lyon wore only a pair of black britches. The frightening scowl quickly turned to a look of true astonishment as soon as he saw who his visitor was. âCaine? What in Godâs name . . . come inside,â he rushed out. He moved forward with the intent of clasping Caineâs hand, then abruptly changed his mind. Heâd obviously just gotten a good whiff of the two of them.
Jade was horribly embarrassed. She turned to glare at Caine, a silent message that she still believed her foul condition was all his fault, then walked into the black and white tiled foyer. She saw a beautiful woman hurrying down the winding staircase then. The womanâs long, silvery blond hair flew out behind her. She was so lovely, Jade felt all the worse.
Caine made hasty introductions while Jade stared at the floor. âThis is Lyon, Jade, and his wife, Christina.â
âWhat happened to you two?â Lyon asked.
Jade whirled around, raining drops of sour water in a wide circle. She lifted her hair out of her eyes and then announced, âHe threw me in the Thames.â
âHe what?â Lyon asked, a hint of a smile in his expression now, for heâd only just noticed what looked very like a chicken bone dangling from her hair.
âCaine threw me in the Thames,â she repeated.
âHe did?â Christina asked. Lyonâs wife sounded astonished.
Jade turned to her. âHe truly did,â she announced yet again. âHe didnât apologize afterward either.â
r /> After making that remark, she burst into tears. âThis is all his fault,â she sobbed. âFirst he lost his carriage wheel and then he lost his instincts. My plan was really so much better. Heâs just too stubborn to admit it.â
âDonât start on that again,â Caine warned.
âWhy did you throw this poor dear in the Thames?â Christina asked again. She hurried over to Jade, her arms outstretched. âYou must be chilled to the bone,â she said in sympathy. Christina came to a quick stop when she got close to Jade, then backed up a space.
âIt was necessary,â Caine answered. He was trying to ignore Jadeâs glare.
âI believe I hate him,â Jade told Christina. âI donât care if heâs your friend or not,â she added on another sob. âThe manâs a scoundrel.â
âYes, he can be a scoundrel,â Christina agreed. âBut he does have other nice qualities.â
âIâve yet to see them,â Jade whispered.
Christina wrinkled her nose, took a deep breath, and then put her arm around Jadeâs waist. âCome with me, Jade. Weâll have you cleaned up in no time. I think the kitchen will serve us better this night. Lyon? You best wake up the staff. Weâll need help heating the water. My, you do have an unusual name,â she told Jade then. âItâs very pretty.â
âHe ridiculed my name,â Jade whispered, though loud enough for Caine to overhear.
Caine closed his eyes in vexation. âI did not ridicule your name!â he shouted. âI swear to God, Lyon, that womanâs done nothing but complain and weep since the moment I met her.â
Jade let out a loud gasp, then allowed Christina to prod her along toward the back of the house. Both Caine and Lyon watched the pair depart.
âDo you see how insulting he is, Lady Christina?â Jade asked. âAll I asked was one little favor from the man.â
âAnd he refused?â Christina asked. âThat certainly doesnât sound like Caine. Heâs usually very accommodating.â
âI even offered to pay him silver coins,â Jade announced. âIâm a pauper now. Caine threw my cloak in the Thames, too. The coins were in the pocket.â
Christina shook her head. She paused at the corner to look back at Caine so he could see her displeasure. âThat was terribly ungallant of him, wasnât it?â
They rounded the corner on Jadeâs fervent agreement.
âWhat was the favor she asked of you?â Lyon asked.
âNothing much,â Caine drawled out. He bent over to pull off his water-soaked boots. âShe just wanted me to kill her, thatâs all.â
Lyon let out a shout of laughter, but stopped when he realized Caine wasnât jesting.
âShe wanted it done before morning,â Caine said.
âShe didnât.â
âShe was willing to let me finish my brandy first.â
âThat was thoughtful of her.â
The two men shared a grin. âNow your wife thinks Iâm an ogre because Iâve disappointed the woman.â
Lyon laughed again. âChristina doesnât know what the favor was, friend.â
Caine dropped his boots in the center of the hall, then added his socks to the pile. âI could still change my mind and accommodate the little woman, I suppose,â he remarked dryly. âDamn, my favorite boots are ruined.â
Lyon leaned against the archway, his arms folded across his chest, while he watched Caine pull off his shirt. âNo, you couldnât kill her,â he replied. His tone was mild when he added, âShe wasnât really serious, was she? She seems quite timid. I canât imagine . . .â
âShe witnessed a murder,â Caine interjected. âNow she has several unsavory men chasing after her, obviously intent on silencing her. Thatâs all I know, Lyon, but as soon as possible, Iâm going to find out every detail. The sooner I can solve her problem, the sooner Iâll be rid of her.â
Since Caine was glaring so ferociously, Lyon tried to hide his smile. âShe really has you rattled, doesnât she?â he asked.
âThe hell she does,â Caine muttered. âWhy would you think a mere woman could get me rattled?â
âYou just took your britches off in the middle of my foyer, Caine,â he replied. âThatâs why I think youâre rattled.â
âI need some brandy,â Caine countered. He grabbed his pants and started to put them back on again.
Christina strolled past him, smiled at her husband, and then continued on up the stairs. She didnât mention his near naked condition, and neither did he.
Lyon thoroughly enjoyed Caineâs embarrassment. Heâd never seen his friend in such a state. âWhy donât you go inside the library. The brandyâs on the side bar. Help yourself and Iâll see about your bath. God, you do smell rank.â
Caine did as Lyon suggested. The brandy warmed him a little and the fire he started in the hearth took the rest of his chills away.
Christina left Jade alone once the tub had been filled with steaming hot water. Sheâd already helped her wash her hair in the bucket of warm, rose-scented water.
Jade quickly stripped out of her soggy clothing. Her fingers were numb from cold, but she took the time to remove her dagger from the hidden pocket in the lining. She put the weapon on the chair beside the tub as a precautionary measure in case someone tried to sneak up behind her, then climbed into the hot water and let out a long sigh of pleasure.
She scrubbed every inch of her body twice before she felt clean again. Christina came back into the kitchen just as Jade was standing up. Since her back was to her, Christina immediately noticed the long, jagged scar along the base of her spine. She let out a gasp of surprise.
Jade grabbed the blanket from the back of the chair, wrapped it around herself, and then stepped out of the tub to face Christina. âIs something the matter?â she asked, daring her to mention the scar she knew sheâd seen.
Christina shook her head. She saw the knife on the chair then and walked over to have a closer look at it. Jade could feel herself blush with embarrassment. She tried to think of a logical explanation to give her hostess as to why a gentle lady would be carrying such a weapon, but she was simply too weary to come up with a believable lie.
âMineâs much sharper.â
âI beg your pardon?â Jade asked, certain she hadnât heard correctly.
âMy blade is much sharper,â Christina explained. âI use a special stone. Shall I fix yours for you?â
Jade nodded.
âDo you sleep with this by your side or under your pillow?â Christina asked very matter-of-factly.
âUnder my pillow.â
âSo did I,â Christina said. âItâs much easier to grasp that way, isnât it?â
âYes, but why did you . . .â
âIâll take your knife upstairs and put it under your pillow,â Christina promised. âAnd in the morning, Iâll sharpen it for you.â
âThatâs very kind of you,â Jade whispered. âI didnât realize other ladies carried knives.â
âMost donât,â Christina replied with a dainty shrug. She handed Jade a pristine white nightgown and matching wrapper, then helped her dress. âI donât sleep with a dagger under my pillow any longer. Lyon protects me. In time, I think youâll give up your dagger, too. Yes, I do believe you will.â
âYou do?â Jade asked. She was desperately trying to make sense out of the womanâs remarks. âWhy is that?â
âDestiny,â Christina whispered. âOf course, youâll have to learn to trust Caine first.â
âImpossible,â Jade blurted out. âI donât trust anyone.â
From Christinaâs wide-eyed expression, Jade assumed sheâd been too vehement in her reply. âLady Christina, Iâm not at all certain I know what youâre talking about. I barely know Caine. Why would I have to learn to trust him?â
âPlease, you neednât call me Lady Christina,â she countered. âNow come and sit by the fire while I brush the crinkles out of your hair.â
She dragged the chair across the room, then gently pushed Jade down into the seat. âI donât have many frien
ds in England.â
âYou donât?â
âItâs my fault,â Christina explained. âI donât have enough patience. The ladies are very pretentious here. Youâre different, though.â
âHow can you know that?â Jade asked.
âBecause you carry a knife,â Christina explained. âWill you be my friend?â
Jade hesitated a long minute before answering. âFor as long as you wish me to be your friend, Christina,â she whispered.
Christina stared down at the lovely woman. âYou believe that once I know all about you, Iâll change my inclination, donât you?â
Her new friend shrugged. Christina noticed her hands were tightly clenched in her lap.
âI havenât had time for friends,â Jade blurted out.
âI noticed the scar on your back,â Christina whispered. âI wonât tell Caine about it, of course, but heâll notice when he takes you to his bed. You carry a mark of honor, Jade.â
Jade would have bounded out of the chair if Christina hadnât grabbed her shoulders and held her down. âI meant no insult,â she rushed out. âYou shouldnât be ashamed of . . .â
âCaine isnât going to take me to his bed,â Jade countered. âChristina, I donât even like the man.â
Christina smiled. âWe are friends now, arenât we?â
âYes.â
âThen you cannot lie to me. You do like Caine. I could see it in your eyes when you looked at him. Oh, you were frowning, but it was all bluster, wasnât it? At least admit that you think heâs handsome. All the ladies find him very appealing.â
âHe is that,â Jade answered with a sigh. âHeâs a womanizer, isnât he?â
âLyon and I have never seen him with the same woman twice,â Christina admitted. âSo I do suppose you could call him a womanizer. Arenât most until theyâre ready to settle down?â
âI donât know,â Jade replied. âI havenât had many men friends either. There just wasnât time.â
Christina finally picked up the brush and began to give order to Jadeâs lustrous curls. âIâve never seen such beautiful hair before. There are threads of red fire shining through it.â
âOh, you have beautiful hair, not me,â Jade protested. âMen have a preference for golden-haired ladies, Christina.â