'What business?'
'He has to fetch his bride.'
That statement did get a reaction. Caine was stunned. 'Nathan's married?'
'Since he was fourteen,' she returned. 'By the King's command.'
'Where's his wife?' Caine asked.
She laughed, delighted by his astonishment. 'That's the business he has to attend to, Caine.'
He started to laugh. 'Do you mean to tell me Nathan lost his wife?'
'Not exactly,' she answered. 'She ran away from him. Now can you understand why he's so cranky?'
Caine nodded. 'Sweetheart, how many other secrets have you still to share with me?'
She wasn't given time to mull that question over. Sir Richards interrupted with the reminder that it was time they left for London.
'Jade, you'd better change into your riding garments,' Caine instructed. 'We won't be taking the carriage.'
She nodded, quickly said her farewells, and went upstairs to change. Sterns carried her satchel
downstairs to give to the stablemaster so he could secure it on the back of her horse.
Caine was just putting his jacket on when she walked into his room. He'd already changed into snug-fitting fawn-colored britches and dark brown Hessian boots. He wore the same white shirt but
had removed the cravat.
'I'm ready,' she called out from the doorway to get his attention.
'It's a hell of a way to begin our marriage,' Caine muttered.
'We could have waited,' she replied.
He shook his head. 'No, we couldn't have waited.'
'Caine? Why couldn't we have taken the carriage?'
'We're taking the back way, through the woods, starting out in the opposite direction, of course, and
then circling. We're going to sneak up on London, sweet.'
She smiled. 'Just like McKindry,' she announced.
Caine slipped the long knife into one boot, his attention turned to his task, and asked, 'Who's McKindry?'
'The man who used the whip on me,' Jade answered. 'Don't forget your pistol, Caine.'
'I won't,' he answered. He turned to look at her. 'McKindry's the bastard who marked you?' he demanded.
'Don't look so angry, Caine, it was a long time ago.'
'How long ago?'
'Oh, I was eight, perhaps nine years old at the time. Harry took care of McKindry. And it was a very good lesson for me,' she added when his expression turned murderous.
'What lesson?'
'McKindry sneaked up behind me,' she explained. 'After that, every time Harry left me, his very last words were, always, remember McKindry. It was a reminder, you see, that I must always be on my guard.'
What the hell kind of a childhood was that? he asked himself. Caine kept his anger hidden. 'And how often did Harry leave you?' he asked, his tone mild. He even turned toward the wardrobe so she
wouldn't see his expression.
'Oh, all the time,' she answered. 'Until I was old enough to help, of course. Then I went with him. Caine, you'd really better hurry. Sir Richards will be pacing. I'll go downstairs…'
'Come here, Jade.'
His voice was a hoarse whisper, his expression solemn. Jade was thoroughly confused by his behavior. She walked over to stand in front of him.
'Yes, Caine?' she asked.
'I want you to remember something else besides McKindry,' he said.
'What?'
'I love you.'
'I could never forget you love me.' She reached up and gently brushed her fingertips down his cheek.
She tried to kiss him then, but he shook his head. 'I also want you to remember something else,' he whispered. 'Remember your promise to me that you're never, ever going on the ocean again.'
Her eyes widened. 'But I didn't promise you…'
'Promise me now, then,' he ordered.
'I promise.'
