“Are all these things for clients?” he asked.
“Eventually they’ll find their proper owners,” she sighed dreamily, tracing a horrific gargoyle statue with her fingertip. “I just pick these treasures up whenever they call out to me. Don’t worry, it never spills over into the rest of the place.”
The living room was comfortable, and as she instructed, if he craned his neck he could see the ocean from the large windows. Everything was a different, vibrant color, but it all seemed harmonious somehow.
“You really are talented with decorating,” he said. “No one else could do this.”
She shrugged modestly. “The kitchen is completely utilitarian but hardly gets used. If you want a great cook, you’re out of luck, my darling.”
She looked up at him with a tinge of worry on her pretty face. “I don’t care a whit about your cooking abilities. Not with every other place you pass on the street selling some kind of food.”
She relaxed and grinned. “Yes, welcome to America. And I won’t let you starve.” Her smile turned lascivious and his fatigue fell away. “Now, finally, the bedroom.”
“Thank God,” Hugh said.
“That tired, are you?” she teased, pulling him down a hallway that had a riot of photos and paintings hanging on the walls.
The bedroom was the opposite of the chaotically colorful living area. The walls were a pale, soothing gray with one large painting that seemed like a refreshing breeze with its shades of cool blues and purples. The bed had a mound of soft pillows on it and looked utterly inviting. He pulled her close and edged them toward it.
“We’re home at last,” he said, leaning down to kiss her. He stopped abruptly to see tears sparkling in her eyes. “What is it?”
She sniffled and shook her head. “You said we’re home. I was so afraid you only came because my life was here. I know how badly you want to try and regain your titles and land. And California is about as different as you can get from England.”
It was true he hadn’t given up all hope of ever regaining what he’d lost. But for now, it wasn’t important. He kissed her deeply, trying to convey his feelings.
“Where you are is where I am, my love.”
She sighed. “I love you. And your beautiful Hallmark card way of always saying the right thing.”
“It’s only the truth,” he told her, not bothering to ask what she meant.
He knew he’d never completely understand the mad things she said, but he could understand her heart. And see in her eyes how much she loved him. That was worth all the titles and land in England.
Her hands roved along his back and he pulled her the rest of the way toward the bed.
“Let’s really make this place ours,” she said, starting to unbutton his shirt.
“Indeed. A wonderful suggestion.”
He slid his hands under the edge of her blouse, hungry for a touch of her soft skin. He didn’t think he could ever tire of her, could ever be anything but dazzled by her beauty. She stiffened in his arms and pulled away, a grimace on her face. Then he heard it from the other room. Her phone. It was a miracle she’d managed to let it get so far out of her sight, but apparently not her hearing.
“Sorry,” she said, slipping away. “Let me see if it’s Jade. Anybody else and I’ll ignore it.”
He nodded, trying not to look as disgruntled as he felt. It wasn’t Seda, it was that bloody contraption. Some things were not better in these modern times.
And of course it was Jade calling back. He crept to the doorway to listen, his heart flip-flopping at the idea that he might see his betrayer, the man who knew his darkest secret, in mere hours. More than five hundred years had passed but he knew Daniel hadn’t forgotten anything.
“Okay, great,” Seda said, walking in small circles. The things the phone made people do. He’d never seen her be still when she was on it. “That’s good. But still don’t let him out of your sight. Or tell him— yeah, perfect. That’ll work.” She paused again, turning to him and smiling widely. That must mean everything was working out between Jade and Daniel and Seda could rest easy that she’d righted another wrong of her past life. “Sure, sure. We’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
She ended the call, made a big show of turning the phone off, and rushed into his arms.
“All is well, I take it?” He ran his hands down her back, trying to fight the heartsick feeling that tomorrow he might lose her.
“Jade’s in denial, but I think it’s all working out. She accidentally slipped up about how hot he looked in a suit, which I wonder how she even knows that? Anyway, I told her we’d drop by her house tomorrow. I guess he was worried to death about you, so it should be a nice reunion.”
Hugh remained silent until she squeezed his waist, expecting some sort of answer. Try not to spew vitriol, he told himself.
“If that corrupt reprobate is truly worried about me, then I am that boy wizard whose castle you made me visit last month.”
She laughed. “Okay, Harry Potter. Why not give him the benefit of the doubt. For me?”
He blew out a breath until he had no air left in his lungs. He would have given anything to never see the bastard again, but he couldn’t allow Seda to be alone with him. If he was there, he could redirect any of Daniel’s attempts to tell her about his darkest secret. With his fists, if necessary.
“At least don’t punch him, all right?” she asked, as if reading his thoughts. “Promise?”
He kissed her forehead, wanting to put Daniel out of his mind. Then he kissed her lips and pulled her back toward the bed, hoping to distract her because he couldn’t promise her any such thing.
The next morning, Hugh felt lighter than air. He was in a new world, starting a new life. He’d been born to be the Marquess of Altonshire and the Earl of Debbenly. There was never the remotest possibility he could do anything else. It had stifled him when his father died while he was still so young, which was probably the reason he’d gone along with Daniel’s criminal schemes. Pirating was a lark, especially when he himself was never in any physical danger. He only had to find out when and where the ships would be, arrange the funds to keep Daniel’s ship afloat, and provide alibis for Daniel if they were ever needed. But the degenerate fiend was so good at it, he’d never needed one.
Now that Hugh had complete control of his life and a wealth of choices to be whatever he wanted, he felt magnanimous toward Daniel. Had he needed the gold Daniel had stolen from him? His magnanimity faltered when he thought how helpful it would have been when he’d first come out of his painting. But he and Seda had been fine without it in the end.
And the woman? What if Daniel had ended up with the faithless trollop? The witch had made them both suffer for five centuries. But Daniel hadn’t known she was a cruel, evil witch. He’d thought she was the woman Hugh loved, and had still run off with her to Italy. His stomach curdled at that betrayal. It was far worse than stealing ten fortunes in gold.
Looking down at Seda’s still sleeping form, he tried to calm himself and regain the forgiving feeling he’d had when he first woke up. He even went to the living room windows to see the glimpse of the ocean. It took some time and effort to calm himself, but he thought he could truly let the past go. Perhaps if he forgave Daniel, the man would also let go of the past. Perhaps his secret would never come to light. It wasn’t the way he would have chosen, but it was the way that would make Seda happy, so he had to try.
And if the scoundrel so much as uttered a hint of what he’d done, then he’d bash his face to a pulp so that he’d never speak again.
“You’ve been standing there like a statue for a half an hour.” He turned to see Seda fully dressed and ready to go. He fought back bile. “Don’t look too excited about it,” she said with a reassuring smile. “I’m certain everything will be fine.”
He hurriedly dressed, torn between wanting to impress his nemesis with how well he’d adapted to this time and not caring at all what he thought. The whole drive over, Seda kept offer
ing encouraging words interspersed with begging him not to hit Daniel.
“Just hear what he has to say. Maybe it was all a misunderstanding.”
“Yes, I’m positive he accidentally dug up the gold and my betrothed just fell into the carriage that took them to the docks.”
They pulled up to a wrought iron gate and Seda leaned out and pressed a button. A few moments later the gate slid open and they made their way up a long drive. As they got to the top, he could see the ocean behind the mansion in all its glory. It helped him to grasp onto the tiniest shred of the magnanimous, forgiving feelings he’d had.
He had to do this for Seda’s sake. If he wanted to keep her by his side and not have her despise him for his wrong-doings, he had to stay calm.
“You okay?” she asked after she rang the front doorbell. “No punching, right?”
He sighed. “Right.”
“Promise? You never promised last night. I knew you were trying to distract me but I liked it so I let you.”
He smiled down at her, his heart so full of love there wasn’t an iota of room for hatred and bitterness. “I promise,” he said.
Jade answered the door and ushered them inside. “He’s so excited to see you,” she said. “We’re down by the pool. There’s lemonade and some cupcakes I had delivered from your friend Audrey’s shop.” She continued to ramble anxiously as she led them down some winding, natural stairs to a lovely grotto.
He concentrated on the soothing blue ripples of the pool until a man in absurd flowered shorts rose from its depths, climbed out and stood right in front of him. It was as if no time had passed at all. There was that ginger-haired boy he’d played with all his life. His best friend for as long as he could remember. Yes, there was that same mischievous smile.
“Hugh, my old friend. I’m so glad to see you well.”
Hugh nodded once and then punched him in the face as hard as he could.
Chapter 8
Daniel rarely got hit. It wasn’t that people never took a swing at him, they did. Too often for his taste. But he had an uncanny ability to sense when someone was about to punch him and he was usually able to get out of their way. He’d been so overjoyed and so relieved to see Hugh had been saved from the witch’s curse that his guard was down.
“Bloody hell,” he said, cupping his nose. It had to be broken. Blood dripped between his fingers. “What was that for?”
Hugh leaped at him but a woman grabbed his arm, shouting about a promise. Hugh stopped trying to tear him to pieces and only stood and glared at him now. His nostrils flared as he seethed with rage.
“You dare to ask me what that was for?” His voice rose with every word until he was bellowing, his fists clenching again.
Jade handed Daniel a towel and he pressed it to his throbbing nose. He honestly didn’t know why he was being attacked, but didn’t dare ask again. Thankfully Jade stepped up for him.
“Goodness,” she said, waving at Seda to corral Hugh to a chair, or at least beyond hitting range of Daniel. “What’s gotten into him?”
“He’s mad about the gold,” Seda said, keeping a firm grip on Hugh’s arm.
“And the betrayal,” Hugh added.
“Gold?” Jade asked.
“Betrayal?” Daniel was completely dumbfounded.
Hugh took several large breaths, blowing out like a bull about to charge. “You’re still pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about? Did getting your comeuppance make you forget your treachery?”
Now Daniel saw red. “Are you saying I deserved being cursed to five centuries of a living nightmare? After what I did— tried to do for you?”
“What did you do but steal my share of the fortune and make off with my betrothed?” He paused for a moment, wringing his hands. “Perhaps you didn’t deserve quite what you got. I only say that because I experienced it myself. What you do deserve is—”
He lunged with his fists raised again, but Seda and Jade both jumped in the middle of them. Daniel reached for Jade to get her out of the way, but her damnable rule didn’t allow him to touch her. Hugh stopped short of knocking Seda’s head off and staggered back, shaking his head.
“My love, you must be careful. I could have hurt you.”
She slapped her hands on his chest and shoved him backward. “No hurting anyone. You got to break his nose, that’s going to have to be enough.”
He sat down on a chaise, back ramrod straight, staring daggers at Daniel. Seda daintily sat next to him and put a calming and hopefully restraining hand on his knee.
“Would you like some lemonade?” Jade asked awkwardly.
“No,” Hugh snapped. “What I would like is justice.”
“I’ll take some lemonade, thanks,” Seda said, gripping his knee until her knuckles turned white. “I thought we agreed he’d been punished enough. The gold is long gone. Get over it.”
Daniel warily took a seat and nodded. “That’s true enough about the gold.” He was just as bitter about that as Hugh. “I imagine the witch must have searched the ship and taken it for herself. It would have funded her evildoing for a good, long time.”
“You needn’t look so sour about it,” Hugh griped. “It wasn’t as if it was yours to begin with. Is stealing from a thief really stealing?”
“It was half mine,” he argued, fed up with his old friend. If the women weren’t around he’d be happy to let Hugh start swinging again. He wouldn’t mind finishing that fight at all. “And I didn’t steal it. We were meant to meet up in Italy. I was keeping it safe for you.”
Hugh started to stand but Seda yanked him back down. “Keeping it safe?” he thundered. “From its rightful owner? Were you also keeping my beloved safe from having a life with me?”
If Daniel hadn’t been partly responsible for breaking most of the the pottery during his tussle with Reynolds, he would have tossed a pot in his fury.
“What are you on about, Hugh? I was trying to save you from her.” He stopped, thinking of the witch’s taunts. “I didn’t know it was too late until we were on the ship, halfway to Italy. I didn’t know what she truly was until she threw it all in my face. Right before she cursed me.”
Hugh looked like he might burst rather than show curiosity. “She told me you wooed her away from me. Told me how you both laughed about running away together. Right before she cursed me.”
“I’m sorry I was too late, my friend.”
There was a long silence as the men ruminated about their sorry pasts. Finally Seda spoke up. “If you didn’t know she was a witch, what were you trying to save him from?”
Her tone was merely inquisitive, but Hugh jumped in with accusations. “Yes. Indeed. I almost got caught up in your web. If you didn’t know she was a witch, didn’t know she would curse me, what were you trying to save me from?”
Daniel sighed. “I saw her trolloping with another man in a tavern near the docks.”
“Not another one,” Seda groaned, putting her head in her hands.
“Do you think she cursed someone else?” Jade asked, putting down her untasted cupcake.
“Please. Let me continue,” Daniel begged, feeling like he might be breaking through Hugh’s anger. His jaw wasn’t clenched so tightly anymore and his hands lay loose in his lap.
“Go on, then,” Hugh said. “You say she was untrue?”
“Worse than untrue. Far, far worse. A harlot of the first order. I asked around, in case my eyes were deceiving me. In fact, it was John Archer who told me how many times he’d seen her at that tavern. You recall that miscreant John, don’t you? Wasn’t he the one you hired to—”
Hugh stood up so fast he knocked over the small glass table that held the refreshments. Cupcakes rained down into the pool and the lemonade pitcher shattered. Jade groaned and closed her eyes, probably grateful they weren’t inside. Before Daniel could jump out of the way, Hugh had his hands wrapped around his throat.
“Not another word!” He thrust Daniel backwards, away from the women. His eyes no longer
shot fiery arrows of rage. He seemed terrified of something all of a sudden. “Do not even take another breath,” he hissed. Turning around, he waved away the women like they were flies. “Go inside at once.”
“Uh, no way,” Jade said, taking her phone out of her pocket. “Broken furniture is one thing but I’m not having anyone get killed out here.”
“Hugh, calm down,” Seda begged.
Hugh widened his eyes beseechingly at Daniel. “I will let go, but not another word until they leave.” He seemed to hold his breath, his lower lip shaking, revealing his inexplicable fear. “If you ever had any true feeling for me as a friend, I beg you.”
Daniel couldn’t say anything since his windpipe was being crushed, but he nodded. Hugh released him and stepped away.
“We’re fine,” he said. “Seda, please let us have a bit of time alone. I promise I’m calm now.” He made a slight bow. “I beg your pardon. A moment of madness that has passed, I assure you.”
“Daniel?” Jade asked, holding up her phone questioningly.
“It’s fine. Give us some time.”
“I’m going to be watching,” Jade called as she led a tearful Seda up to the house.
Daniel saw that Hugh was trembling, his arms held tight around his middle.
“What in God’s name is it?” he asked. “Do you not believe me about the witch?” He snickered. “Isn’t it funny that I can’t recall her name?”
“It’s not amusing at all,” Hugh said, anxiously pacing. “It seems we’re destined to meet again if we continue to live in this town together. I can forgive you for the gold, forgive you for taking my betrothed—”
“I didn’t take her,” Daniel broke in.
Hugh shook his head. “Fine. What I’m trying to say is that none of that matters to me if you’ll only never tell Seda what I did.” He cleared his throat and looked like he might be ill. “Why I hired him. She’ll never understand. She’ll despise me.”
Daniel was shocked. So shocked he had to sit down. “She’ll do no such thing. You did what you had to do to protect your sister from that cad stealing her virtue and her fortune. She’ll think you’re a hero for hiring John Archer to get rid of him. And it all worked out in the end, anyway.”
Renaissance Rogue (Cursed Painting Book 3) Page 6
