and finish this."
"You're looking at me the very same way Hudson… oh, all right then, I'll finish. I was on my way back to London when the footman shouted that Nathan's house was on fire. He could see the smoke coming over the hilltops. We immediately turned around, of course, but by the time we arrived back at the house… well, it was too late. I ordered the servants to go to Nathan's London town house."
"And then you set out for London again?" Caine asked. He was absentmindedly rubbing the back of her neck. It felt too good for Jade to ask him to stop.
"We stayed on the main road, but when we turned a curve, they were waiting for us. The driver was so frightened,-he ran off."
"The bastard."
Lyon had made that remark. Caine nodded agreement.
"I don't fault the man," Jade defended. "He was frightened. People do… peculiar things when they're afraid."
"Some do," Caine allowed.
"Tell us what happened then, Jade?" Lyon asked.
"They blocked the doors and set the carriage on fire," she answered. "I was able to wiggle out through the ill-framed window. Nathan spent good coins on that vehicle, but it wasn't at all sturdy. I was able to kick the hinges away from the branches easily enough. I don't believe I'll mention that fact to my brother, though, for it would only upset him… unless, of course, he thinks to hire the same company."
"You're digressing yet again," Caine said.
Lyon smiled. "She reminds me of Christina," he admitted. "Jade, why don't you go and find my wife for me? She was going to pack a satchel for you to take with you."
Jade felt as though she'd just been given a reprieve. Her stomach was in a quiver of knots. She felt as though she'd just had to relive the terror.
She didn't waste any time at all leaving the room.
"Well, Caine?" Lyon asked when they were alone. "What do you think?"
"There were men chasing us last night," Caine reminded his friend.
"Do you believe her story?"
"She saw something."
"That isn't what I asked you."
Caine slowly shook his head. "Not a damned word," he admitted. "And you?"
Lyon shook his head. "It's the most illogical story I've ever heard. But damn, if she's telling the truth, we've got to help her."
"And if she's not?" Caine asked, already guessing the answer.
"You damned well better watch your back."
"Lyon, you don't think…"
Lyon wouldn't let him finish. "I'll tell you what I do know," he interrupted. "One, you're not being objective. I can't fault you, Caine. I reacted to Christina in much the same way you're reacting to Jade. Two, she is in danger and has put you in danger, too. Those are the only facts we can take as true."
Caine knew he was right. He leaned back against the settee. "Now tell me what your gut reaction is."
"Perhaps this has something to do with her father," Lyon suggested with a shrug. "I'll start looking into
the Earl of Wakerfield's history. Richards will be able to help."
Caine started to disagree and then changed his mind. "It couldn't hurt," he said. "Still, I'm beginning to wonder if her brother might not be behind all this. Remember, Lyon. Nathan went to London to help a friend in trouble. That's when all this started."
"If we accept the story she told us."
"Yes," Caine answered.
Lyon let out a long sigh. "I only have one question to put to you, Caine." His voice was low, insistent. "Do you trust her?"
Caine stared at his friend a long minute. "If we apply logic to this bizarre situation…"
Lyon shook his head. "I value your instincts, friend. Answer me."
"Yes," Caine said. He grinned then. For the first time in his life, he pushed reason aside. "I trust her
with my life but I couldn't give you one valid reason why. How's that for logic, Lyon?"
His friend smiled. "I trust her, too. You don't have the faintest idea why you trust her, though, do you, Caine?"
Lyon sounded downright condescending. Caine raised an eyebrow in reaction. "What are you getting at?"
"I trust her only because you do," Lyon explained. "Your instincts are never wrong. You've saved my backside more than once because I listened to you."
"You still haven't explained what your point is," Caine reminded him.
"I trusted Christina," Lyon said. "Almost from the very beginning. I swear to you it was blind faith on
my part. She led me a merry chase, too. Now I must side with my wife. Christina, as you know, has some rather unusual opinions. She's on the mark this time, though."
"And how is that?" Caine asked.
*'I believe, good friend, that you've just met your destiny." He let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. "God help you now, Caine, for your chase is just about to begin."
Chapter Seven
The ladies were waiting in the foyer for Caine and Lyon. A large gray and white speckled satchel was
on the floor between them.
Caine tried to lift it, then shook his head. "For God's sake, Jade, no horse is going to be able to carry
this load. The weight will be too much for the animal."
He knelt on one knee, flipped open the catch on the satchel and looked inside. Then he let out a low whistle. "There's a bloody arsenal in here," he told Lyon. "Who packed this thing?"
"I did," Christina answered. "There are just a few weapons I thought Jade might need to protect the
two of you."
"Weapons Jade might need to protect me?" He looked incredulous. "Lyon, did your wife just insult me?"
Lyon smiled while he nodded. "She certainly did, Caine. You might as well apologize now and get it
over with."
"Why in God's name would I apologize?"
"It will save time," Lyon explained. He was trying not to laugh. Caine looked thoroughly bewildered.
"Marriage has made you soft," Caine muttered.
"As soft as milk toast," Lyon announced with a grin.
Caine turned his attention back to stripping the unnecessary items from the bag.
While both ladies gasped in dismay, Caine tossed several long knives to the floor, two pistols, and one mean-looking link of chain. "You aren't going to need all of this, Jade. Besides, you're far too timid to
use any of them."
She was already gathering up the weapons. "Leave them there, my little warrior."
"Oh, have it your way," she muttered. "And quit using endearments on me, sir. Save them for the other women in your life. I'm neither your sweetheart, nor your love, and I'm certainly not your warrior. Oh, don't look so innocently perplexed, Caine. Christina told me all about the other women."
He was still trying to make sense out of her earlier comment. "Calling you a warrior is an endearment in your befuddled mind?"
"It most certainly is, you rude man," she replied. "I won't make you apologize for calling me befuddled, but only because you're probably still cranky over the news that your town house was burned down."