Guardian Angel (44 page)

“Aye, you're not,” Harry admitted bleakly, remembering the time she tried to mend his sock and stitched it to her gown.

“I can't dance,” she added. She looked so forlorn when she'd made that confession, Harry threw his arm around her shoulder and hugged her. “All the fine ladies of the ton know how to dance,” she ended on a wail.

“You'll learn,” Harry predicted. “If you want to learn.”

“Oh, yes,” she admitted in a rush. “I've always wanted . . .”

Now she sounded wistful. Harry didn't know what was going on inside her mind. “What?” he asked. “What have you always wanted?”

“To belong.”

The look on his face indicated he didn't understand what she was talking about.

“Are you wishing now I'd given you to Lady Briars? She would have taken you, girl. Why, she fought me something fierce for you, too. She's the reason we snuck off real quiet-like right after your father's funeral. I guessed she'd come back with the authorities and try and steal you away from me. I weren't your legal guardian, if you'll remember. Still, your papa wanted you to get away from England.”

“You kept your word to my father,” she interjected. “You were very honorable.”

“But are you wishing now I wasn't so honorable back then?”

She shook her head. For the first time in all their days together, she was seeing Harry's vulnerability. “I cannot imagine my life without you, Harry. I would never wish that things had been different. You loved me as though I were your very own daughter.”

Harry's arm dropped to his side. He looked dejected. She put her arm around his shoulders, trying now to comfort him. “Uncle, Lady Briars would have taught me all the rules, yes, but she couldn't have loved me the way you did. Besides, you taught me far more important rules. You taught me how to survive.”

Harry was quick to perk up. “I did,” he admitted with a grin. “You had the makings though. I've never seen such a natural thief or a born liar in all my days. I'm right proud of you, girl.”

“Thank you, Uncle,” she replied, blushing over his praise. Harry wasn't one to give idle compliments and she knew he spoke from his heart.

His expression soured, however, when he returned to her initial remark. “Yet you didn't think you belonged? You did say you wanted to belong, girl.”

“I meant to be a proper wife,” she lied. “That's what I meant by belonging now.”

“You weren't speaking plain enough, girl,” Harry announced. He looked relieved. “As for me, I've always wanted to be a grandpapa.”

She started to blush. “I don't know how to have babies either,” she wailed.

Harry had meant to lighten her mood. He realized he'd taken the wrong approach. “Hell, no woman knows how until the time comes, girl. Tell me this. Do you love Caine? He says you do.”

She skirted his question. “What if he gets tired of me? He'll leave me then, Harry,” she whispered. “I know he will.”

“He won't.”

“He needs time to realize . . .” She paused in midsentence. “That's it, Harry. If the courtship is long enough, perhaps he'll realize he's made a mistake.” She smiled then. “And during that time, in case he isn't making a mistake, I could try to learn all that would be required of me. Yes, Uncle, that's it. Caine's being very honorable now, trying to do the right thing . . .”

“Well, now, girl,” Harry interrupted. “About this lengthy courtship plan . . .”

“Oh, Harry, that is the only answer,” she interrupted. “I'll insist on a year. I'll wager he'll agree right off.”

She was so pleased with her decision, she rushed out of the room. Harry adjusted his ill-fitting spectacles on the bridge of his nose, grabbed the bouquet and tucked it under his arm, and chased after her.

“Wait up,” he bellowed.

“I must talk to Caine at once,” she called over her shoulder. “I'm certain he's going to agree.”

“I'm just as certain he ain't going to agree,” Harry muttered. “Girl, hold fast. There's still a bit of the telling I have to do.”

She'd already reached the foyer by the time Harry reached the landing above. “They're in the drawing room,” her uncle shouted as he lumbered down the stairs.

Jade came to an abrupt stop when she opened the doors and saw the gathering. Harry caught up with her and forced her hand on his arm. “We're doing this proper, girl,” he whispered.

“Why are all these people here?” she asked. She looked at the group, recognized everyone but the short, partially bald-headed man standing by the French doors. He held a book in his hand and was in deep conversation with the Duke and Duchess of Williamshire.

Caine was standing by the hearth, talking to Lyon. He must have sensed her presence, for he suddenly turned in midsentence and looked at her.

His expression was solemn.

He knew at once by her puzzled expression she didn't understand what was going on. Caine braced himself for the fireworks he was sure were about to erupt, then walked over to face Jade.

“I ain't had time to finish explaining,” Harry said.

“I can see you haven't,” Caine interjected. “Jade, sweet, we're going . . .”

“I'll be telling it,” Harry insisted.

He clasped Jade's hand flat on his arm so her nails wouldn't do injury, then said, “There ain't going to be a year's courtship, girl.”

She continued to stare up at him with that innocent, angelic gaze. Harry tightened his hold on her hand. “But there's going to be a wedding.”

She was beginning to understand, Harry guessed, when he noticed her eyes were turning the color of emeralds again.

She was trying to tug her hand away. Harry held tight. “When is this wedding?” she asked in a hoarse whisper.

Harry grimaced before answering. “Now.”

She opened her mouth to shout her denial, but Caine moved closer, blocking her view from the audience. “We can do this the easy way, Jade, or the hard way. You call it.”

She shut her mouth and glared up at him. Caine could see how frightened she was. She was in a near panic. She was actually shaking. “The easy way is for you to walk over to the minister and recite your vows.”

“And the hard way?” Jade asked.

“I drag you over there by your hair,” Caine told her. He made sure he looked as if he were up to that task, too. “Either way, I win. We are getting married.”

“Caine . . .”

The fear in her voice tore at his heart. “Decide,” he ordered, his voice hard. “Easy or hard?”

“I won't let you leave me,” she whispered. “I won't! I'll leave you first.”

“What are you stammering about, girl?” Harry asked.

“Jade? Which is it?” Caine demanded again, ignoring both her protest and Harry's interference.

Her shoulders sagged. “Easy.”

He nodded.

“I'll be walking her over to the preacher man,” Harry announced. “Nathan,” he called out. “You can trail behind.”

“In just a minute,” Caine ordered.

While Jade stood there trembling with panic and Harry stood there giving the Duchess downright lecherous looks, Caine went over to the minister and spoke to him. When he was finished, he handed a piece of paper to the man.

All was finally ready. Colin stood up at his brother's side, supported by Caine's arm. Jade stood beside Caine. Harry had to support her.

Jade repeated her vows first, a breach from tradition Caine had insisted upon. He stared at his bride while he repeated each of his vows. He let her keep her gaze downcast until he reached the end of the litany. Then he tilted her chin up and forced her to look at him.

She looked so scared, so vulnerable. Her eyes glistened with tears. He loved her so much. He wanted to give her the world. But first he had to gain her trust in him.

The minister closed his book, opened the sheet of paper in his hand, and began to read. “Do you promise to stay with your wife for as long as you shall live? Do you give your word before God and these witnesses that you will never leave her until death do you part?”

Her eyes had widened during the minister's questions. She turned and saw the paper he was holding.

“I do,” Caine whispered when Jade turned back to him. “And now the last,” Caine directed the minister.

“This is highly irregular,” the minister whispered. He turned to address Jade. “And do you promise to tell your husband you love him before this day is out?”

Her smile was radiant. “I do,” she promised.

“You may kiss the bride,” the minister announced.

Caine happily obliged. When he lifted his head, he said, “You're mine now.”

He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “I never make the same mistake twice, sweetheart,” he whispered.

“I don't understand, Caine,” she replied. She was still on the verge of tears and was desperately trying to maintain her composure. “Then why didn't you have the minister make me promise not to leave you? Don't you believe I'd honor my vows?”

“Once you give your word, I know you won't break it,” he answered her. “But you have to give it freely. When you're ready, you'll tell me.”

He wasn't given any more time to talk to her, for the crowd of well-wishers moved in on them to offer their congratulations.

Harry stood in the corner with his men, dabbing at his eyes with the edge of his sash. Caine's mother seemed genuinely happy to have Jade in the family. Of course she didn't know her new daughter-in-law was a common thief, Jade reminded herself.

“Will your uncle be visiting you often?” Gweneth asked after giving Harry a quick glance.

“He lives a fair distance from England,” Jade explained. “He'll probably come just once a year.”

Caine heard the last of Jade's explanation, saw his mother's quick relief, and started to laugh. “My mother's a little nervous around your uncle,” he said.

“Oh, you shouldn't be,” Jade countered. “Harry is really a very kind man. Perhaps if you got to know him better . . .”

Caine's mother looked absolutely appalled by that suggestion. Jade didn't know what to make of that. “That was Harry's idea a while back,” Caine explained. “He wanted to get to know my mother a whole lot better.”

Since Jade hadn't witnessed Harry trying to drag the Duchess out the front door, she didn't understand why his mother was looking so horrified. She didn't understand Caine's amusement, either.

“Now, son, this isn't the time . . .”

“You called him son,” Jade blurted out. “And you called her mother, didn't you?”

“He is my son,” Gweneth announced. “What else would I call him, dear? I have his permission.”

Jade was so pleased, she couldn't quit smiling. “Oh, I misunderstood,” she whispered. “I thought he only called you madam, and that you never, ever called him son. I wanted him to belong . . . yes, I was mistaken.”

Neither Caine nor his mother set her straight. They smiled at each other.

“Where's Henry?” Gweneth suddenly asked. “Harry's coming over here.”

The Duchess picked up her skirts and went running toward her husband before Caine or Jade could stop her.

“You were worried I didn't belong?” he whispered.

She looked embarrassed. “Everyone should belong to someone, Caine, even you.”

Harry shoved the bouquet of roses in her hands. “These will be the last roses Jimbo's going to fetch for you, girl, so you might as well enjoy them.” He thought his announcement might have sounded surly, so he gave her a kiss on her forehead. Then he turned to Caine. “I need to give you the telling about the fire we got planned for the ship,” he said. “The painting should be done by tomorrow.”

“If you'll excuse me, I want to talk to Nathan,” Jade said. She noticed her brother standing all alone on the terrace.

Caine listened to Harry as he outlined his plans, but he kept his gaze directed on his bride all the while. Jade faced her brother and spoke to him a long time. Nathan nodded several times. His expression was serious. He looked startled, too, when Jade pulled one of the roses from her cluster and held it out to him.

He shook his head. She nodded.

And then he smiled at his sister, accepted the rose, and pulled her into his arms.

For the first time since Caine had met Nathan, he was seeing the real man. He was completely unguarded now. The look on his face as he held his sister close was filled with love.

Caine didn't intrude. He waited until Jade moved away from Nathan and walked back to his side.

Harry and his men were all watching Nathan now. When Jade's brother lifted the rose in the air, a resounding cheer went up. The men immediately went to Nathan. Both Jimbo and Matthew pounded him on his back.

“What is that all about?” Caine asked Jade. He put his arm around her and pulled her into his side.

“I gave Nathan a wedding present,” she told him.

Her eyes sparkled with merriment. He was sidetracked by the sudden desire to kiss her. “Well?” she asked when he just stared down at her so intently. “Don't you want to know what I gave him?”

“A rose,” he whispered. He leaned down and kissed her brow. “Love, let's go upstairs for a few minutes.”

The urgency in his voice, added to the look on his face, left her breathless. “We can't,” she whispered. “We have guests. And we have to go to London,” she added with a nod.

Caine let out a long sigh. “Then quit looking at me like that.”