'The bed would be more comfortable,' he answered. 'But if you're determined to…'
'Learn how to dance,' she interjected. 'That is what this discussion is all about, isn't it?'
She smiled ever so sweetly up at him after telling that lie, waiting for his reaction. She thought she'd bested him with her trickery. Caine, however, proved to be far more cunning than she was, more creative, too. He followed her into the drawing room, locked the doors behind him, and then proceeded
to teach her how to dance.
It was a pity, but she was never going to be able to show off her new skill in public, for Caine and she would scandalize the ton with the erotic, absolutely sinful way he taught her how to dance. And though
he was thoroughly logical in his explanation, she still refused to believe the ladies and gentlemen of the
ton took their clothes off before they did the waltz.
Caine kept her entertained the rest of the day, but as soon as darkness fell, they had their first argument.
'What do you mean, you're leaving?' she cried when he put his jacket on. 'We agreed that we wouldn't leave this town house…'
'I'll be careful,' Caine interrupted. He kissed her on her forehead. 'Lyon and Richards are waiting for
me, sweet. I'm going to have to go out every night, I'm afraid, until we finish this. Now quit worrying
and tell me you won't wait up for me.'
'I will wait up for you,' she stammered out.
'I know,' he answered with a sigh. 'But tell me you won't anyway.'
She let him see her exasperation. 'Caine, if anything happens to you, I'm going to be very angry.'
'I'll be careful,' he answered.
Jade chased after him to the back door. 'You'll remember McKindry?'
He turned, his hand on the doorknob. 'That's your lesson, sweetheart.'
'Well, you can damned well learn from it, too,' she muttered.
'All right,' he answered, trying to placate her. 'I'll remember McKindry.' He turned and opened the
door. 'Jade?'
'Yes?'
'You will be here when I come home, won't you?'
She was amazed by his question, insulted, too, and she would have blistered him with a piece of her
mind if he hadn't sounded so vulnerable. 'Have I made you so insecure, then?' she asked instead.
'Answer me,' he commanded.
'I'll be here when you come home.'
Those parting words became their ritual. Each night, just as he was leaving, he would tell her he would remember McKindry, and she would tell him she would be waiting for him.
During the dark hours of the night, while she waited for her husband to come home to her, she thought about his vulnerability. At first, she believed she was the cause. After all, she'd let him see her own insecurity often enough. But she sensed, too, that Caine's background was another reason for his own vulnerability. She couldn't imagine what his early life must have been like. Sir Harwick had called Caine's mother a shrew. She remembered he'd also said that the woman had tried to turn her son against his father. It couldn't have been a peaceful time for Caine.
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that Caine actually needed her just as much as she needed him.
That realization was a comfort.
Lady Briars sent several notes inviting Jade to visit. Caine wouldn't let her leave the town house, however, and sent word back that his wife was indisposed.
In the end, her father's dear friend came to see her. Jade's memory of the woman was hazy at best, but she felt horribly guilty about pretending to be ill when she saw how old and frail the woman was. She
was still beautiful, though, with clear blue eyes and silvery gray hair. Her intellect appeared to be quite sharp, too.
Jade served tea in the drawing room, then took her place next to Caine on the settee. He seemed quite determined to participate in the women's conversation.
Both husband and wife listened to Lady Briars extend her condolences over Nathan's tragic death. Jade played the role of grieving sister well, but she hated the deception, for Lady Briars was so sincere in her sympathy.
'When I read about the tragedy in the papers, I was stunned,' Lady Briars said. 'I had no idea Nathan worked for the government doing such secretive work. Caine, I must tell you how sorry I was to hear your brother was also killed by that horrid pirate. I didn't know the lad, of course, but I'm certain he
must have had a heart of gold.'
'I never met Colin either,' Jade interjected. 'But Caine has told me all about him. He was a good man, Lady Briars, and he died for his country.'
'How did Pagan become involved in this?' Lady Briars asked. 'I'm still hazy on the details, child.'
Caine answered her question. 'From what the War Department was able to piece together, Nathan and Colin were waylaid when en route to investigate a highly secretive matter.'
