A Thin Line (41 page)

“Sounds delicious.
 
I didn’t realize how hungry I was.
 
After this afternoon, I didn’t think I would be able to eat again.”

“It was a gruesome sight.”
 

“Yes,” she replied softly and closed her eyes trying to erase the image from her mind.
 
The same girl interrupted their silence by bringing out the meal.
 
After she placed everything on the table, Kala watched her blurry hand rest on Gabe’s shoulder.

“Anything else, love?”

Yes.
 
Remove your hand from my husband
, Kala yelled in her mind.
 
On the outside she merely smiled politely, and let Gabe reply.
 
Once the woman had moved off, she tried again.
 
“Gabe, I really cannot see well.
 
If I squint extremely hard and try to focus my eyes, I can for a few seconds.”

“I see.”

“No, you don’t.
 
You are wondering if I had my sight back before falling into the Serpentine, aren’t you?
 
Perhaps even before that.
 
I don’t live in a world of shadows anymore Gabe, and I am not sorry for that.
 
I can see colors, but not sharply.
 
Yes, I pray every minute that it will change.
 
That I will have my full sight back, and if that does not please you, I am sorry.
 
I am not a woman used to being dependent on others.
 
I want to see again.
 
And most importantly, I did not have my sight when we married.”

“Eat your meal so we can get back on the road.”
 
He grabbed his tankard and meat pie and left her sitting alone at the table while he walked outside.
 
He took a breath of fresh air.
 
She could see.
 
No longer would she rely on him.
 
Grandmother was right, he was losing her.
 
He quickly ate his lunch and drank his ale, then found the young man and his horse.

“He is watered and ready to go, sir.”

“Good man.
 
Let me get my wife, and we will be on our way.”
 
He walked into the inn to see a man accosting Kala.

“I said leave me alone,” she pushed at the man, but could not free herself.
 

“Come on, lovey.
 
Your man won’t mind.
 
He left you in here alone didn’t he?
 
We don’t see much like you around here.”

“Unhand my wife,” Gabe’s cold, hard voice echoed loudly in the inn.

“You shouldn’t have left her alone.
 
She was gettin’ lonely and I was just keepin’ her company.
 
Wasn’t I, lovey?”
 
The man planted a wet, sloppy kiss on Kala’s mouth and Gabe saw red.
 
He pulled the man off of Kala by the scruff of his collar.

“I said, unhand my wife,” and he reared back with a fist and let it fly at the man’s face.
 
The man only had time to yelp before Gabe sent him sprawling against the wall and he landed in a heap on the floor.
 
“Let’s go.”
 
He threw some money on the table and grabbed Kala’s hand jerking her behind him.

Within minutes they had started on their trip once more.
 
For the first time in her life, Kala found herself afraid to speak to Gabe.
 
She squinted in his direction and could only make out how stiffly he held himself.
 
She rested a hand on his arm and could feel his muscles contract.
 

“Thank you.”

“Not now.”
 

She removed her hand and tried to sit as primly as the rutted road would allow.
 
She did not let any part of her body touch him.
 
Did he realize she hadn’t done anything to lead the man on?
 
She hoped he realized she wouldn’t purposefully encourage a man’s attention just to antagonize him.
 
She let out a sigh and hoped the time would pass quickly.

Gabe missed the softness of her hand on his arm, but he didn’t trust himself at the moment.
 
Did Kala not realize that her looks alone tempted men beyond their control?
 
She didn’t have to do a thing but sit there and look helpless, or talk.
 
The way her voice sounded could push any man to lose control.
 
Then when she acted like a spitfire, she attracted an entirely different kind of man.
 
For some reason, he fell into both categories right now.

He remembered the rage that had coursed through him when he saw that man kiss her.
 
She’s mine, dammit, and no one else will ever touch her!
 
He was amazed at how possessive he felt towards her.
 
He didn’t know how to define what he felt for her, but he knew he couldn’t let her go.
 
Not now, not ever.

“Are you ever going to talk to me again?”
 
He heard her demand.

“I haven’t decided.”

“It wasn’t my fault.
 
I was just sitting there, eating.”

“You don’t realize how men turn their heads when you walk into a room, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh, no.
 
You are not going to get off that easy.
 
What did you mean by that little comment?”

“You can turn a man’s head just by smiling at him or walking into a room.
 
You don’t have to make conversation with him.”

“I do not.”

“You do, and I want you to quit.”

“How do you expect me to do that?
 
Should I find some soot and rub it all over my face?
 
Perhaps I should walk around with my hair in a tangle.
 
Would that make you happy?”

“I don’t know what would make me happy,” he lied catching a whiff of her scent on the air.
 
She smelled like jasmine, sweet and clean.
 
He would be more than happy to pull the phaeton over and find a secluded spot to have his merry way with her.
 
That is what would make him happy.
 
Desire coursed through his body as he imagined how it would be--hot, wild, and passionate.
 
He cleared his throat before announcing, “We’re here.”
 

He tried to think of things that would weaken his desire before he found himself forced to leave the phaeton.
 
The drive to Southerby’s country estate was long and winding.
 
Two large deerhounds trotted alongside them, barking to announce their arrival.
 
“They are ruining any possibility of sneaking up on Southerby.”

“Why would we want to sneak up on him?
 
Justin will answer our questions.
 
Besides, he wouldn’t hurt me.
 
I have told you before, and I will tell you again.”

“I would rather have the element of surprise on my side.”

“Of course you would,” she replied sarcastically.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”
 
She heard rocks crunching beneath the wheels of the carriage as they entered the main part of the drive.
 
It lurched to a stop and she felt it dip as Gabe got out.
 
He came around and his hands closed about her waist as he lifted her out.

They knocked on the door, and only a few seconds passed before an elderly man with wild red hair fading to white opened it.
 

“Is Lord Southerby in?
 
The Duke and Duchess of Hawkescliffe are here to see him.”

“I apologize, Your Graces, but you just missed him.”

“Can we wait his return?”

“I don’t know exactly when to expect him back.
 
Lord Southerby and Lady Clarissa left earlier this morning.
 
If you ask me, I think the two may be headed to Gretna Green.
 
She’s such a lovely lass.”

“Lady Clarissa who?” Kala asked curiously.

“Blackerby, Your Grace.”

“Oh, my,” Kala whispered.

“Perhaps you can answer a few questions for me then.”
 
Gabe focused on the butler so that he wouldn’t have to watch the expressions that crossed his wife’s face, fearing the worst.

“I’ll try.”

“How long have the two been here?”

“Almost a fortnight, Your Grace.
 
But everything was perfectly chaperoned.
 
Lord Southerby’s godmother served as chaperone.”

“I see.
 
Did Southerby ever leave for London?”

“Once, sir.
 
Government matters.”

“When?”

“Almost a week ago.”

“How long did he remain gone?”

“Two days.”

“Thank you for your help,” Kala stepped in

“Certainly, Your Grace,” the man bowed deeply.
 
“Your Grace, if it helps any, you are not the first to ask about Viscount Southerby’s whereabouts.”

“Oh?”

“A woman and man came by this morning, and then another man about an hour ago.”

“I see.
 
Do you remember who they were?”

“The first two were in some way related to Lady Clarissa, but I forget how.
 
The other man that came by was Lord Dewberry.”

“Dewberry?”
 
Kala asked confused.
 
“Could you mean Dewhurst?”

The man’s rheumy eyes lit up, “Yes, that’s it.”

“Did he say what he wanted?”

“Said he needed to talk to Lord Southerby about some government matters.”

“Thank you, you have been very helpful.”

“It has been my pleasure, Your Graces.
 
The weather is beginning to turn.
 
I’m sure Lord Southerby would wish you to stay here.”
 
The sound of distant thunder punctuated his words.

“I believe we can make it to the inn before the weather hits, thank you.”
 
The old man nodded his head, hobbled inside and shut the door.

“You believe they may be working together, don’t you?”
 
Silence.
 
They had climbed back into the phaeton and turned down the drive, the deerhounds serving as escorts to the gate.
 
“Justin couldn’t stand being around Dewhurst anymore than I could.”
 
Silence.
 
“What do we do now?”

“Go to your brother’s.
 
Dewhurst could be anywhere at this point.”

“You are done suspecting Justin, aren’t you?”

“I haven’t decided.”

“Why? Because of me or because he has now absconded with the dear Lady Clarissa?”

“Kala, you are being ridiculous.”

“Am I, really?”

“Yes, you are.”

“Why are you so determined that it is Southerby or Dewhurst?”

“Both men have ties to government offices. Southerby, as I have said before, could have very easily read the missive before delivering it.”
 
The wind picked up and he saw Kala pull her cloak tighter about herself.
 
“Dewhurst does something in my office.
 
I am not sure what, as I do not always have interactions with everyone in the office.
 
No one would think anything of it if he were in someone’s office milling around on the pretext of delivering papers, waiting for a meeting, or anything else.
 
He is a member of the
ton
, therefore he is trusted.”

“You know, they really shouldn’t trust just anyone, whether they are a member of the
ton
or not.
 
Do they not realize we are in a full-scale war?
 
Have they not read about the Trojans?”

“Calm down, Kala.”
 
All of a sudden, one of the phaeton’s wheels fell into a large pothole.
 
A loud crack filled the air.
 
The phaeton listed to one corner and the horse drug it a few feet before finally being brought to a halt by Gabe.

Chapter 30

“Are you all right?”

“Yes.
 
What happened?”

“Something broke.
 
Here, hold the reins.”
 
He put them into Kala’s capable hands before climbing out and walking around to her side.
 
“We broke a wheel.
 
I’m going to unhitch the horse.
 
We’ll have to ride him to the nearest village.”

Kala waited several minutes while Gabe unhitched the horse and readied it to be ridden bareback.
 
He didn’t bother asking Kala if it bothered her to ride that way, because he knew she could, and very well.
 
He helped her down and onto the horse before climbing up behind her.