Guardian Angel - Garwood Julie - Страница 24

She was beet red when she glanced over at Lyon. Since he was grinning at her, she turned her attention

to her lap. She realized then that she was clutching Caine's hand against her bosom, and immediately tossed it aside.

"You forget yourself, sir," she announced.

He decided not to remind her that she'd been the one to bring up the topic of kissing in the first place.

"I think it's high time we heard her explanation," Lyon ordered. "Jade?" he asked, though in a much

softer tone when he saw the startle his booming voice had caused. Lord, she was timid. "Why don't

you tell us about the first fire?"

"I will try," she answered, her gaze still downcast. "But the memory still gives me the shivers. Please don't think me a weak woman." She turned to look up at Caine. "I'm really not weak at all."

Lyon nodded. "Then can we begin?" he asked.

"Jade, before you tell us about the fires, why don't you give us a little background?" Lyon asked.

"My father was the Earl of Wakerfields. Nathan, my brother, has that title now, along with numerous others, of course. Father died when I was eight years old. I remember he was on his way to London to see another man. I was in the garden when he came to say goodbye."

"If you were so young, how can you remember?" Caine asked.

"Papa was very upset," she answered. "He frightened me and I think that must be the reason I remember it all so clearly. He kept pacing back and forth along the path with his hands clasped behind his back and he kept telling me that if anything happened to him, Nathan and I were to go to his friend, Harry. He was so insistent I pay attention to what he was telling me that he grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me.

I was more interested in the trinkets I wanted him to bring home for me." Her voice took on a wistful quality when she added, "I was very young."

"You're still young," Caine interjected.

"I don't feel young," she admitted. She straightened her shoulders and continued. "My mother died

when I was just an infant, so I don't have any memory of her."

"What happened to your father?" Caine asked.

"He died in a carriage mishap."

"He had a premonition, then?" Lyon asked.

"No; he had an enemy."

"And you believe your father's enemy is now after you? Is that the reason for your fears?" Lyon asked.

She shook her head. "No, no," she blurted out. "I saw someone murdered. The men who killed him did get a good look at me. The only reason I told you about my father was because you asked me to explain to you my… background. Yes, Lyon, that was your very word."

"Sorry," Lyon said again. "I didn't mean to jump to conclusions."

"What happened after your father died?" Caine asked. He was suddenly feeling immensely superior to his good friend, as Lyon now looked thoroughly confused and bewildered. It was nice to know he wasn't the only one muddled around Jade. Damned nice.

"After the burial service, Harry came to get us. When the summer was over, he sent Nathan back to school. He knew our father would have wanted my brother to finish his education. I stayed with my uncle. He isn't really my uncle,,, he's actually more like a father to me now. Anyway, he took me to his island where it's always warm and peaceful. Uncle Harry was very good to me. He'd never married, you see, and I was just like his very own daughter. We got along well together. Still, I missed my brother. Nathan was only able to come and visit us once in all those years."

When she paused and gave Caine such an expectant look, he gently prodded her into continuing.

"And then what happened?"

"I came back to England so I could see Nathan, of course. I also wanted to see my father's house again. Nathan had made several changes."

"And?" Lyon asked when she paused again.

"Nathan met me in London. We went directly to his country home and spent a wonderful week together catching up. Then he was called away on an important personal matter."

"Do you know what this matter was?" Caine asked.

She shook her head. "Not all of it. A messenger arrived with a letter for Nathan. My brother became very upset when he read it. He told me he had to return to London and that he would be back in two weeks. His good friend was in trouble. That's all he would tell me, Caine. Nathan's an honorable man. He would never turn his back on a friend in need, and I would never ask him to."

"So you were left alone?" Lyon asked.

"Oh, heavens no. Nathan had a complete staff in residence. Lady Briars… she was a good friend of my father's… well, she'd hired the staff and even helped Nathan with his renovation plans. She wanted to raise us, you see, and was going to petition the court for guardianship. Then Harry took us away, and she never could find us. I will have to go and see her as soon as this has been settled. I dared not go before, of course. They'll probably burn her house to the ground if they…"

"Jade, you're digressing," Caine interjected.

"I was?"

He nodded.

"I'm sorry. Now where was I?"

"Nathan left for London," Lyon reminded her.

"Yes," she replied. "I now realize I did do something foolish. On my island, I could come and go as I wished. I never had to worry about an escort. I'd forgotten that England isn't at all the same. Here, everyone must lock their doors. Anyway, I was in such a hurry to get outside, I wasn't looking down,

you see, and the heel of my boot got caught up in the carpet loop on the way down the stairs. I took

quite a tumble," she added. "And hit my head on the knob of the banister."

She paused, waiting to hear their remarks of sympathy. When both men just continued to look at her so expectantly, she decided neither was going to say anything. She gave them both a disgruntled look for being so insensitive, then continued. "About an hour later, after my head quit pounding from my fall, I

set out on my own for a brisk walk. I soon forgot all about my aches and pains, and because it was such

a glorious day, I forgot the time. I was just about to look inside the pretty church when I heard all the commotion, and that's when I saw the poor man being pitched to the ground."

She took a deep breath. "I shouted and went running," she explained. "I had lost my direction though,

and I ended up on the rise directly above my parents' graves. That's when I saw the men again."

"The same men?" Lyon asked. He was leaning forward in his chair, his elbows braced on his knees.

"Yes, the very same men," Jade answered. She sounded bewildered. "They must have decided it wasn't worth their effort to chase after me, and they were very… occupied."