Guardian Angel (43 page)

She looked as though she were going to protest, but Sterns didn't give her time. “The selection is hanging in the wardrobe. Cook will act as your lady's maid. I shall go and fetch her immediately.”

It wouldn't do her any good to argue with him. Sterns had turned from butler to commander. He selected the garment she'd wear, too—a deep, ivory-colored gown with lace-embroidered cuffs. The gown was so elegant looking, Jade couldn't resist.

There were undergarments as well. Though Sterns didn't 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 Jade's 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 couldn't be avoided, however. “You're a looker, you are,” the servant announced when she'd finished her task. She held up a hand mirror and gave it to Jade. “It's 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, mi'lady, but I fear the weight would have toppled you over.”

“Thank you so much,” Jade replied. “You've done a splendid job.”

Cook nodded, then hurried back downstairs. The meeting couldn't 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. “Get your hands off her, Caine.”

“My hands aren't on her, Nathan,” Caine drawled out. “My mouth is.” 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.

“My dear, we've decided that you must come to London with us,” Sir Richards announced. “We'll keep the security tight,” he added with a glance in Caine's direction.

Richards then pulled the pen and ink well close. “I'd like to make a few notes while I question you,” he explained.

“Sir? Why must I come to London?” Jade asked.

The director looked a little sheepish now. Lyon, Jade noticed, was grinning.

“Well, now,” Richards began. “We 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.”

“They want to go during the night,” Colin interjected. “Without keys.”

“You did say you'd broken into the building once and read the files,” Richards reminded her.

“Three times,” Jade interjected.

Sir Richards looked as if he wanted to cry. “Is our security so puny then?” he asked Lyon.

“Apparently,” Lyon returned.

“Oh, no,” Jade said. “The security is very good.”

“Then how . . .” Richards began.

Caine answered. “She's better than good, Richards.”

Jade blushed over the compliment. “Sir Richards, I understand your need for secrecy. You don't want the Tribunal knowing you're hunting them, but I believe they probably know already. They've sent men here. Surely they saw you and Lyon arrive and reported back . . .”

“No one who was sent by the Tribunal has returned to report to anyone,” Lyon explained.

“But how . . .”

“Caine took care of them.”

Jade's eyes widened over Lyon's statement. He sounded so certain. She turned to look at Caine. “How did you take care of them?”

Caine shook his head at Lyon when he thought his friend might explain. “You don't need to know,” he told Jade.

“You didn't kill them, did you?” she whispered.

She looked frightened.

“No.”

Jade nodded, then turned to look at Lyon again. She noticed his exasperated expression but decided to ignore it. “He didn't kill them,” she announced. “Caine doesn't do that sort of thing any longer. He's retired.”

She seemed to want Lyon's agreement. He nodded, then knew his guess had been correct when she smiled at him.

“Jade?” Colin asked, drawing her attention. “You can stay with Christina and Lyon when you reach London. Caine will stay in his town house, of course . . .”

“No,” Caine interrupted. “She stays with me.”

“Think of the scandal,” Colin argued.

“It's almost summer, Colin,” Caine countered. “Most of the
ton
is away from London now.”

“It only takes one witness,” Colin muttered.

“I've said no, Colin. She stays with me.”

His hard voice didn't suggest his brother continue the argument. Colin sighed, then reluctantly nodded agreement.

Jade wasn't certain she understood. “What did you mean by one witness?”

Colin explained. Jade looked appalled by the time he'd finished telling her the damage that could be done by one malicious gossiper. Sterns sat down next to Jade, patted her hand, and said, “Do look on the bright side, mi‘lady. Mi'lord won't have to post it in the dailies now.”

She turned to glare him into silence. Sterns couldn't be intimidated, though. He squeezed her hand. “Do not fret, dear lady. It has all been arranged.”

She didn't know what he was talking about but his grin suggested he was up to something. Sterns turned her attention, however, by arrogantly motioning to his empty tea cup. She immediately went to fetch a fresh urn.

As soon as she'd left the room, Sterns turned to Caine. “Your guests should be arriving in half an hour's time.”

“Guests? We can't be having any bloody guests,” Colin bellowed.

Nathan nodded. “Damned right we can't. Caine, are you out of your mind to invite . . .”

Caine was staring at Sterns. “I didn't invite anyone,” he said. A hint of a smile turned his expression. “Why don't you tell us who these guests are, Sterns?”

Everyone was staring at the elderly man as though he'd just grown another head. “I have taken the liberty of inviting your parents, Jade's uncle and cohorts, and one additional guest.”

“What the hell for?” Nathan demanded.

Sterns turned to smile at him. “The ceremony, of course.”

Everyone turned to look at Caine. His expression didn't tell them anything.

“The license, Sterns?” Caine asked in a blasé tone of voice.

“Secured the day after you signed the request,” Sterns answered.

“Isn't this man your butler, Caine?” Sir Richards asked.

Caine wasn't given time to answer that question, for Nathan blurted out, “She'll argue fierce.”

Colin agreed. “I don't think Jade has come to terms with her future just yet.”

“I'll persuade her,” Caine announced. He leaned back in his chair and smiled at his butler. “You've done well, Sterns. I commend you.”

“Of course I've done well,” Sterns agreed. “I've seen to everything,” he boasted.

“Oh?” Nathan asked. “Then tell us how Caine's going to convince Jade?”

In answer to that question, Sterns removed the empty pistol he'd concealed in his waistband. He dropped the weapon in the center of the table.

Everyone stared at the pistol until Sterns broke the silence again. He addressed his remarks to Richards. “I believe I overheard you suggesting the pistol be aimed at Lady Jade's shoulders, or was I mistaken?”

The laughter was deafening. Jade stood at the door, the urn in her hands while she waited for the men to calm down.

She then poured Sterns his tea, put the urn on the sideboard, and returned to her seat. She noticed the pistol in the center of the table, but when she asked what it was doing there, she couldn't get a decent answer. The men had all started laughing again.

No one would explain. Jade guessed someone had told a bawdy jest and they were too embarrassed to share it with her.

Jade was ready to return to their plans. Caine surprised her by suggesting she return to her room.

“Why?” she asked. “I thought we were going . . .”

“You need to pack your things,” Caine said.

Jade nodded. “You just want to tell more of your jests,” she announced before she took her leave.

They were all smiling at her like happy thieves looking over their booty. She didn't know what to make of that. The two guards were waiting for her in the foyer. They helped her carry the gowns Sterns had placed in Caine's wardrobe down to her chambers, then waited outside in the hall while she packed.

When she was finished with her task, she sat down by the window and began reading the book she'd only half finished two nights ago.

A short time later, there was a timid knock on the door. Jade closed her book and stood up just as Black Harry came into the room.

She was clearly astonished to see him. Her uncle was carrying a dozen long-stemmed white roses. “These are for you, girl,” he announced as he shoved the bouquet into her arms.

“Thank you, Uncle,” she replied. “But what are you doing here? I thought you were going to wait for me at the cottage?”

Harry kissed her on the top of her head. “You look fit, Pagan,” he muttered, completely ignoring her question. “Caine should be wearing my clothes this proud day.”

“Why should Caine wear your clothes?” she asked, thoroughly confused now. She'd never seen her uncle act so nervous. He looked terribly worried, too.

“Because my shirt is the very color of your pretty gown,” Harry explained.

“But what does . . .”

“I'll be telling it in my own good time,” Harry blurted out. He hugged her close, squishing the flowers in the process, then stepped back. “Caine asked me if he could wed you, girl.”

Harry took another precautionary step back after making his announcement, fully expecting an explosion. He got a dainty shrug instead. He noticed, though, that she was gripping the flowers tightly. “Watch for thorns, girl,” he ordered.

“What did you tell him, Uncle?” she asked.

“He asked me real proper,” Harry rushed out. “I could have had him down on one knee,” he added with a nod. “He said he would, if it be needed to win my permission. He said it loud and clear right in front of me men, he did.”

“But what did you tell him?” she asked again.

“I said yes.”

He took another hasty step back after telling her that. She shrugged again, then walked over to the side of the bed and sat down. She put the bouquet of roses on the coverlet beside her.

“Why aren't you getting your temper up, girl?” Harry asked. He rubbed his jaw while he studied her. “Caine said you might be resistant to the notion. Ain't you angry?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?” he demanded. He clasped his hands behind his back while he tried to guess her reasons. “You care for this man, don't you?”

“I do.”

“Well then?” he prodded.

“I'm afraid, Uncle.”

Her voice had been a bare whisper. Harry heard her but was so astonished by her admission, he didn't know what to say. “You're not,” he stammered.

“I am.”

He shook his head. “You ain't never been afraid of anything before.” His voice was gruff with affection. He went to the bed, sat down beside her on top of the flowers, and awkwardly put his arm around her shoulders. “What's different now?”

Oh, yes, she wanted to shout, I've been afraid before . . . so many times, so many near mishaps, she'd lost count. She couldn't tell him, of course, for if she did, he'd think he'd failed her.

“It's different because I'll have to give up my work,” she said instead.

“You know it's time, what with me retiring and all,” he countered. “I've hid it from me men, girl, but my eyes, well, I ain't seeing as proper as I used to. They'll balk at following a blind pirate.”

“Then who will they follow?” she asked.

“Nathan.”

“Nathan?”

“He wants the
Emerald.
It belonged to his father, after all, and he has that little business to take care of. He'll make a fine pirate, girl. He's learned how to be real mean.”

“Yes, he would make a good pirate,” she admitted. “But Uncle Harry, I can't be the kind of woman Caine wants.”

“You are the woman he wants.”

“I'll make so many mistakes,” she whispered. She was on the verge of tears and was valiantly trying to keep her emotions controlled for Harry's sake. “I don't know how to do all the things a proper wife should know how to do. I'm no good with a needle, Harry.”