“I have told you that I made no promises to Clarissa.”
“It’s not Clarissa, it’s the idea of her. The perfect hostess. The perfect duchess to your spotless reputation as a duke. I know you married beneath you when we exchanged vows. We both know that, at some point, I will be an embarrassment to you. I know you will come to resent me, and our physical attraction will not even be enough to hold you. I suggest that we go our separate ways after all this is over,” she sounded much more confident than she felt.
“You are being ridiculous.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You are. There is one important thing you have overlooked. I am going to need an heir. If we are living separate lives, how do you suggest I get one? Should I conjure a child out of thin air?”
“You’re right.”
Gabe relaxed somewhat, until he heard her next words.
“An annulment would have been better, but a divorce will have to do. You have enough connections that it should not be too hard to obtain. Place the full blame on me, barrenness, mental instability, or anything else. Then you can marry someone more fitting. Perhaps Clarissa will still be available.”
“Let’s get one thing straight. There will be no bloody divorce,” he growled. “We are married and will stay married. I will hear no more arguments to the contrary.”
“My, you really do sound like a wolf. I can only imagine that your teeth are gritted and your lips are practically snarling at me.”
“Yes, and would you like to make a comment about the scar as well?”
“No,” she didn’t know why, but for some reason he did not like to talk about how he had acquired the scar. Mikala had always been curious, but that same day his brother had died in a horse-riding accident and there never seemed to be time.
“And all this talk about Clarissa stops here and now. She is not what I desire in a wife.”
“Then you will find somebody suitable. In the meantime, I will stay out of your way as much as possible.”
“Kala, I didn’t mean to say what I did yesterday. I was tired and it had been an extremely bad day.” He saw her flinch at his words. “Not the wedding,” he quickly explained, “the other.”
“I’m truly sorry about that, Gabriel. I just think that perhaps we should rethink our situation.”
“Rethink our situation? Dammit, Kala, we’re married in every way imaginable. There will be no undoing that, do you understand? I don’t know exactly what it is you feel you have to rethink, but I am going to be gone a few days and by the time I get back you better bloody well have it figured it out.”
“Where are you going?”
“When you decide you want to be my wife in every way, not just the bedroom, then you can question me. Until then, I need to bathe and get dressed, so if you would leave me in peace, I would appreciate it.”
“I hope you break your bloody neck!”
“It is so nice to have one’s wife wish them well on their travels. I will keep your felicitation close to my heart,” Gabe replied sarcastically. He watched her pass through the connecting door, slamming it shut behind her. Part of the sheet caught between the door and frame, and remained there. He walked towards the door and his hand paused on the handle when he heard her muffled crying. His gut clenched and he briefly touched the door before turning away. Gabe couldn’t remember ever having witnessed her cry before. She would never forgive him if he walked through that door now. It seemed they were at an impasse.
***
“Hello, beautiful,” the maid pulled up at hearing the voice. She looked around, but saw no one else around her at the moment. Then she saw him. She had seen him several times the last few days as she went to the market. Tracy thought him to be one of the most handsome men she had ever seen. He didn’t wear servant’s clothes and seemed to be a business man of some type. They always seemed to run into each other when she had to go to market for Cook.
“Hello,” she replied shyly. Her heart raced in excitement. He had never spoken to her before.
“What are you doing about all alone?”
“Going to the market. And you?”
“Why, accompanying you. My name’s Mike,” the man had the most beautiful face and eyes. She found herself upset that his hat brim covered much of it. “I’ve seen you from afar and you have just about stolen what good sense I have left.”
“Really? And you have nothin’ better to do than to follow me around?” the maid teased.
“I did until I saw you the other day, and you just about took my breath away. What’s your name?”
“Tracy,” she replied, not quite meeting his eyes.
“Tracy, that’s just lovely. Well, Tracy, what time will you be running your errands tomorrow?”
“I won’t be. Tomorrow is me day off.”
“Ahhh, well how ‘bout you let me squire you ‘round?”
“I don’t know. I just met you.”
“Oh, now that hurts. Here it has taken me this long to build up the courage to even talk to you. And you are willing to turn me down without even giving me a chance?”
“Well,” she drew out considering what he said.
“I’ll take you for an ice and a stroll around the park. We’ll get to know each other better.”
“That sounds nice,” she replied softly, finding herself enchanted. “Will you be able to get away?”
“Of course, I am my own boss.”
“Truly?”
“Truly. But I will never own a fine a house as what you find yourself in now.”
“It is beautiful, but not that happy right now,” she chatted as they continued walking towards the market vendors. “The master and mistress have been having horrible rows ever since their wedding. In fact, His Grace just left. And so many guards. He must be worried over her for some reason.”
“Really?”
“Aye. And the mistress is so pretty. You know she can’t see.”
“No, I didn’t,” he glibly lied. “But on to better things, like you and me. What time would you like me to come round tomorrow?” They made their plans and he watched her sashay off back towards Grosvenor Square. So the duke had left his wife of a few days. Interesting. And he had added security about the house. Hmm. He would wait and see what events unfolded, then he would be ready to act.
Chapter 22
Mikala only allowed herself to give into her misery and cry for a few minutes before cleaning herself up and dressing. She scurried down the stairs and quickly found the parlor, thanks to the footmen. She set about memorizing the layout of the parlor. On her third turn about the parlor she tripped over what felt like an ottoman. Kala landed in an ungainly heap on the floor, rubbing her hip. She felt certain it had been next to one of the chairs. She lay near the piano, her head having come perilously close to the edge.
“Is this a new way of memorizing the layout of a room?” A deep, heavily sarcastic voice asked from the door.
“Why, yes, it is. I call it snake style memorization.”
“Let me know how it goes,” he retorted before moving down the hall. It sounded like he had entered his study.
“Jackass,” she muttered as she rolled to her stomach and pushed herself up. Mikala very carefully moved about the room, holding her hands in front of her.
“Your Grace, Lord Southerby is here to see you,” Hamlin announced.
Grateful for any diversion, she said, “Please show him in.”
“Of course, Your Grace. Lord Southerby, Her Grace will see you now.”
“Justin,” Kala said excitedly.
“Kala, you are looking well.”
“Thank you. What brings you by?”
“I’ve been asked to help a friend. In fact, I am only in town because of a previous engagement. I just wanted to come by and wish the newlywed happy before I left. It appears I will be out of pocket for a while.”
“You are too kind,” Kala couldn’t hide the disappointment that entered her voice.
“Kala, you don’
t exactly sound ecstatically overjoyed as a new bride should.”
“Perhaps because I’m not,” she snapped and instantly regretted it. “Forgive me, Justin. Things just aren’t turning out as I had hoped.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Just promise that no matter what you hear in the next few months that you will remain my friend.”
“I could do nothing less.”
“Thank you,” she said before impulsively hugging him.
A deep male voice cleared itself from the doorway. “What is this Mikala? Cuckolding me already?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Justin asked while setting her away from him.
“Ignore him, Justin. It was good to see you and I look forward to seeing you when you get back.”
“Like hell you will,” she heard her husband say from the doorway. Then she heard him snarl, “Stay away from my wife.”
“Perhaps you should treat her more like one.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? Mikala, what did you tell him?”
“Nothing.”
“Anyone can look at her Hawkescliffe and see she isn’t happy, that is anyone who knows her well enough. So that leads me to a question for you. Just how well do you know your wife?”
“Well enough.”
“Really? I think not. It seems to me that if you did, there would be a smile on her face that couldn’t be removed by the greatest tragedy. I think I would know how to put that smile on her face.” She heard Justin provoke Gabe followed by a great crash. She ran over to where she had last heard the two men. She felt her way until she came upon them struggling with each other.
“Get back, Mikala,” she heard Gabe command.
“Let him go. He was just aggravating you,” she tried prying the two men apart. “Hamlin, help me,” she called. She heard several pairs of feet run in.
“If you don’t let me go, I’ll fire every one of you.”
“No he won’t. Don’t let him go,” Kala instructed. “Justin, you should leave.”
“If you should need me, send a note to the Foreign Office, they will know how to contact me,” she heard him pause his steps. “You know Hawkescliffe, you should really treat your wife better and work harder at putting a smile on her face. You would be surprised at how many men would like to do the job for you.”
“Justin,” Kala said, exasperated at his audacity. She felt a kiss brush her lips before hearing him casually stroll out the door, whistling. Once she was certain he had left she turned to the footmen who she could tell by the sounds were still restraining her husband. “You may let him go now.” She heard and felt the footmen brush by her as they made a quick exit. Then she felt her shoulders pinned against the wall.
“You are not to see him ever again, do you understand? And the same goes for Dewhurst and McKenzie.”
“And are you giving up your women?”
“What women?”
“Don’t try to tell me a man like you doesn’t have a mistress.”
“No, dammit, I do not, and I am not having this argument with you.”
“Why not?” She taunted.
“Pest, you should stop now.”
“I am no longer a child to answer to ridiculous nicknames. I am your wife and expect to be treated with the dignity that comes with it.”
“And how dignified were you this morning on your hands and knees in my study.”
“How dare you cheapen what we did? We are married.”
“Oh, now you want to be my wife? And when you stop acting like a petulant child, I will stop treating you like one.”
“I think you should go.”
“Just keep this in mind. I have men watching this house. Those men report to me. They will tell me the comings and goings of anyone and everyone in this house. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I am a prisoner. At least it is an opulent prison, from what I remember.”
Not trusting his actions, he spun on his heel and left. Mikala felt her shoulders slump as the air whooshed out of her body.
“What’s wrong with him?” She heard Judith ask from the doorway.
“He is being reminded that the woman he married is not one to be ordered about,” Kala answered, and wrapped her arms around her waist.
“What?”
“It doesn’t really matter. Judith, will you help me with some correspondence?”
“Of course.”
“I must swear you to secrecy in regards to it.”
“Kala,” she heard the hesitancy in Judith’s voice.
“Judith, you are the only one who can help me.” She let a hint of desperation enter her voice.
“Fine. Let’s go up to my room and make ourselves comfortable.”
“Thank you.”
Once they were sequestered in Judith’s room, she began to dictate the letter. “Blackhawke Shipping? Mikala Hawke what are you up to?” Kala quickly told Judith how Derek trapped Gabe to accept another partner for one or two shipments. Only after she told her did she realize that she had called her by her married name. Something that she had wanted for what seemed forever, but now looked as if it wouldn’t last. “Oh, dear. If Gabriel finds out, he will ring your neck.”
“He won’t find out. I just want to give some suggestions on our next shipment.”
“What type of suggestions?”
“Items that I have heard women complaining they wished they had replacements for since the war has begun. They crave their fine cloth. I have also heard that they are beginning to find a great many artifacts in the ancient lands. I think they will be a popular boon for antiquity collectors.”
“I don’t know Mikala,” Judith hedged.
“I do. This is my chance at independence.”
“What do you mean? Gabriel will take care of you.”
“Gabriel may not always be around to take care of me.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Nothing you need to worry about. Now I need you to pen one more letter for me, but again, I must have your promise of complete silence.”
“Mikala, you are worrying an old woman,” Judith said pensively.
“There is nothing to worry about. Gabe and I were talking last night about how he can never seem to get away, and it is really too dangerous to travel outside of the country. So I thought I would surprise him with finding somewhere to spend a few days together here and there for a honeymoon of sorts.” Kala felt some amazement at how easily the lie slipped from her lips. She also found she wished very much that she spoke the truth.
“Mikala, what a wonderful idea!”
“I thought so,” she preened a bit.
“He works entirely too hard and he has forgotten how to have fun. I will be oh so very glad when they catch the Little Tyrant, for he is destroying more lives than even he knows.”
“You are right, Judith. Now let me dictate this letter and we can move on to other matters.” Mikala dictated the second letter and prayed fervently that Judith would indeed keep her secret.
***
Gabe shook with a combination of anger and worry as he left the house. The entire time he had fought with Southerby, he kept seeing flashes of Natalia, dead with that note pinned on her bodice. Only, instead of Natalia’s face, it was Kala’s. If she hadn’t moved between them and called for the footmen, he very well could have killed the man.
“Have Diablo readied immediately,” he instructed a groom, then walked over to some other men who were milling around the gardens. “I am leaving town. No one should come in or out of this house until I return. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“If you should have need of me, I will be at Blackburn Hall. There are some matters I must take care of there.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
“Whatever you do, do not let anything happen to my wife.” He couldn’t help the anxiety in his voice. He knew that Kala believed him to be running away from the situation, but h
e needed time to think. Besides he needed to talk to someone who had recently been in his shoes, as well as break the news that they were married. Gabe dreaded this the most, not sure what Derek’s reaction would be, but found it to be a good enough excuse to leave his wife alone for a few days. He needed the distance from her.
Perhaps his absence would instill a fondness for him within her. Or perhaps he would realize everything she confronted him with to be correct. If he and Derek had trusted her with their secrets, perhaps she wouldn’t be blind right now. But dammit, she’s a woman. What right does she think she has to know what all is going on in their lives? She was your shadow for years and did know everything you did, his conscience berated him. She even knew when he and Derek had tupped the serving wenches for the first time at the local tavern.
She knew more than any girl had the right to know about the habits of two growing boys as they turned into men. Perhaps that is why her mother and sister had always looked down on her following them. She had always been one of them for as long as he could remember. And then all of a sudden she no longer knew their secrets nor tagged along as she once had.
One of the stable lads brought Diablo around and he quickly mounted and headed towards the gates of town. Perhaps she had thought to replace him and Derek with McKenzie, Southerby, and Dewhurst. It would be a cold day in hell when that happened. Gabe kicked Diablo into a cantor before letting him have his head as they passed through the gates that would lead him to Blackburn Hall.
Diablo ate up the road between London and Blackburn Hall, and before he knew it he stood on the stoop staring at the door. How did one go about telling one’s best friend that he had been seen in a compromising position with his sister, and now they are married? Dusk had fallen on the landscape and he finally raised his hand to knock on the door when he heard the clopping of hooves down the drive. He turned to see Derek on his horse wearing homespun clothes. Dirt covered almost every inch of him and he couldn’t look happier.
A Thin Line Page 19
