Julie Garwood - Guardian Angel

She smiled over his easy acceptance. "Do not worry, sir, for I shall guard your secret. Now where is that lovely young lady I was so horribly rude to, Caine?"

"You're never rude, madam," Caine interjected. "I didn't properly introduce myself," she argued. "Now where is she?"

"Upstairs, resting," Nathan answered. "Why do you ask?"

"You know perfectly well why," she answered. Her exasperation was obvious. "I do?" Nathan asked.

"I must apologize for my behavior, of course, but also I must thank her for all she's done for this family." "Nathan is Jade's brother," Caine said. "I knew that," she answered. "His green eyes gave him away, of course."

The Duchess walked over to the man she believed was the infamous pirate. "Lean down, dear boy. I must give you a kiss for being such a loyal friend."

Nathan was a bit disconcerted. Caine's stepmother had sounded like a commander when she gave her order. He suddenly felt as awkward as a schoolboy and didn't have the faintest idea why. He did, however, do as she asked. The Duchess kissed Nathan on both cheekbones. "You need to wash that blood away, my dear. Then Henry will give you a proper welcome into the family."

"Will he kiss him, too, madam?" Caine drawled out. He was thoroughly enjoying Nathan's obvious discomfort. "Of course not," his stepmother answered.

"Why would he want to welcome me into the family?" Nathan asked.

The Duchess smiled, yet didn't bother to explain herself. She turned back to Caine. "I should have realized Lady Aisely wasn't going to do."

"Who is Lady Aisely?" Nathan asked, trying to catch the drift of this conversation.

"A ball of fluff," Caine answered.

The Duchess ignored that insult. "Henry realized right off. The green eyes, you see. And the red hair, of course." She patted her blond curls and looked over her shoulder at Nathan. "Henry's never wrong."

Nathan found himself agreeing once again with the woman. He still didn't have a clue as to what she

was babbling about, but he found her loyalty to her husband quite honorable.

"Henry's infallible." Caine said what Nathan was thinking.

"My baby's terribly weak," the Duchess remarked. "And as thin as a reed." She started toward the

dining room. "I'm going to find Sterns. Colin needs a good hot meal."

* * *

Because Caine was in a hurry to get to Jade, he forgot all about Harry and his men. Nathan was more astute. He thought about warning Caine, or mentioning the guests to his mother, then decided he'd just wait and see what happened. Besides, Caine was already halfway up the stairs, and the Duchess had already turned the corner.

Nathan started counting. He'd only reached the number five when a shrill scream filled the air.

The noise stopped Caine. He turned around and found Nathan lounging against the door frame again, grinning broadly.

"What the…" Caine began.

"Harry," Nathan drawled out.

"Hell," Caine returned as he started back down the stairs. "Harry."

The Duchess was screaming like a wild woman now. "Damn it, Nathan," Caine roared. "You could have reminded me."

"Yes," Nathan replied. "I could have."

Just as Caine reached the bottom step, his father appeared at the top. "What in God's name is going on?" he shouted. "Who is making all that noise?"

Nathan answered before Caine could. "Your wife, sir."

Caine paused to glare at Nathan, then turned to his father again. He was torn between going to his stepmother's assistance, and preventing his father from doing murder.

The chilling look in his father's eyes convinced him to handle him first. There was also the fact that even though Harry was probably scaring the Duchess out of her wits, Caine knew he wouldn't really hurt her.

Caine grabbed hold of his father's arm when he reached him. "Father, it's quite all right, really."

Henry didn't look at all convinced. "Your wife has just met Black Harry," Nathan interjected.

Caine's father pulled away from his son's grasp just as the dining room doors bounded open. Everyone turned to watch the unsavory-looking men filing past.

Black Harry was the last in the procession. He was dragging the Duchess in his wake.

Nathan started laughing. Caine shook his head. The Duke's full attention, however, was centered on the giant of a man with the gleaming gold tooth who was now swaggering toward the front door. A large

silver bowl was tucked under the man's arm.

Henry let out a roar and started forward. Both Nathan and Caine blocked his path. "Father, let me take care of this, please," Caine asked.

"Then tell him to unhand my wife!" his father bellowed. "Henry, do something," Gweneth cried out. "This… man believes I'm going with him."

Nathan took a step forward. "Now, Harry, you can't be taking…"

"Get out of my way, son," Caine's father snapped.

"Father, Harry's a friend," Caine countered. "He's Jade's uncle. You owe this man a debt for helping

with Colin."

Henry paused to give his son an incredulous look. "And Gweneth is payment for this debt?"

"Let me handle this matter," Caine demanded once again.

Before his father could argue with him, Caine turned. "Harry," he called out.

Black Harry whirled around and hauled the Duchess up against his side. Caine noticed his grim expression, of course, but also the definite sparkle in his eyes. Appearances, he thought to himself.

And pride. Both needed to be upheld.

"I'll be taking her with me," Harry announced to his audience. His men nodded their agreement.

"Caine would want me to have her."

"No," Caine replied. "I don't want you to have her."

"You being inhospitable, boy?"

"Harry, it isn't possible for you to take her."

"It's a fair exchange," Harry stated. "You're determined to have my girl, now aren't you?"

Caine nodded. "I am."

"Then I'm taking this one," Harry countered.

"Harry, she's already taken," Caine argued. He turned to his stepmother then and said, "Madam, please quit shouting. It's difficult enough to negotiate with this stubborn pirate. Nathan? If you don't quit laughing, I'm going to bloody your nose again."

"What's this woman to you, Caine?" Harry asked. "You just called her madam. Now what the hell does that mean?"

"She's my father's wife."

"But she ain't your mama?"

"She's my stepmother," Caine qualified. "Then it shouldn't matter to you if I take her or not." Caine wondered what Harry's real game was. "She has been like a mother to me," he said.

Harry frowned, then turned to his pretty captive. "Do you call him son?"

The Duchess lost her outraged expression and slowly shook her head. "I didn't believe he would wish

me to call him son," she answered.

"He ain't your favorite," Harry announced.

The Duke of Williamshire quit trying to get past Caine. His stance became relaxed. A hint of a smile turned his expression. He understood at last what this was all about, for he remembered Jade's instructions about loving his children equally. She must have mentioned her concern to Harry.

"I don't have a favorite child," Gweneth cried out. "I love all my children."

"But he ain't yours."

"Well, of course he's mine," she snapped.

The Duchess didn't look frightened now, only furious. "How dare you suggest…"

"Well now, if you'd call him son," Harry drawled out, "and if he called you mother, then I couldn't be taking you with me."

"For heaven's sake, Gweneth, call Caine son!" Henry roared, trying to pretend outrage. He was so pleased inside over this surprising development, he wanted to laugh.

"Son," Gweneth blurted out.

"Yes, Mother?" Caine answered. He was looking at Harry, waiting for his next rebuttal.

Harry let go of his hostage. His chuckle was deep as he turned and walked out the doorway.

While Gweneth threw herself into her husband's arms, Caine followed Harry outside. "All right, Harry, what was that all about?"

"My reputation," Harry drawled out after his men had taken their leave. "I'm a pirate, if you'll remember."

"What else?" Caine asked, sensing there was more to tell.

"My girl worried about Colin being the favorite," Harry finally admitted.

Caine was astonished by that statement. "Where did she get that idea?"

Harry shrugged. "Don't matter where she got it," he replied. "I don't want her worrying, no matter what the niggly reason be. You're going to have to ask me for her, you know. You'll have to do it proper, too, in front of me men. It's the only way you're going to be getting her, son." He paused to grin at Caine,

then added, "Course you're going to have to find her first."

A feeling of dread settled in Caine's bones. "Hell, Harry, she isn't upstairs?"

Harry shook his head.

"Where is she?"

"No need to shout, son," Harry answered. "Can't tell you where she is either," he added. He waved his men away when they started toward him, then said, "It would be disloyal."

"My God, don't you…"

"I'm wondering to meself why you haven't noticed both Matthew and Jimbo are missing," he interrupted. "That's telling, ain't it?"

"She's still in danger."

"She'll do all right."

"Tell me where she is," Caine demanded.

"She's running from you, I imagine."

Caine didn't want to waste any more time arguing with Harry. He turned around and almost ripped the hinges off the door as he pulled it open.

"Where you going, boy?" Harry called out.

There was more than a thread of amusement in the old man's voice. Caine wanted to kill him.

"Tracking, Harry."

"You any good at it?"

Caine didn't bother to answer that question.

"She's led you a merry chase with her little deception, now hasn't she? I'd have to say she did a fair job

of impressing you," Harry called out at Caine's back.

Caine turned around. "What's the point, Harry?"

"Well now, I'm thinking to meself it's about time you did a little impressing of your own, assuming, of course, that you're up to it."

Caine took the steps to his bedroom two at a time. He was pulling his shirt over his head by the time Nathan caught up with him.

"What's happening now?" Nathan demanded.

"Jade's gone."

"Damn," Nathan muttered. "You going after her?"

"I am."

"I'll go with you."

"No."

"You could use my help."

"No," Caine snapped. "I'll find her."

Nathan reluctantly nodded. "You any good at tracking?"

Caine nodded. "I'm good."

"She left you a message."

"I saw it."

Nathan strolled over to the side of Caine's bed and lifted the long-stemmed white rose from the pillow.

He inhaled the sweet fragrance, then walked over to the window to look outside.

"Is she in love with you?" Nathan asked.

"She is," Caine answered. His voice lost its brittle edge. "She just doesn't know it yet."

Nathan tossed the rose back on the bed. "I'd say Jade was telling you goodbye when she left you the rose."

"No."

"She might be reminding you who she is, Caine."

"That's part of it," Caine said. He completed his change of clothes, stomped into his boots, and started

for the door.

"Then what's the rest?" Nathan asked as he trailed after him.