Their host was fooled by Lyon’s chuckle. Christina wasn’t. Lyon’s unbreakable hold on her hand told her he wasn’t really amused at all.
He was determined to win. Christina thought he’d probably cause a scene if she tried to deny his request again. The man didn’t seem to care what others thought of him. It was a trait she couldn’t help but admire.
Lyon didn’t have to use pretense, she reminded herself. His title assured compliance. Why, he was as arrogant and as confident as the chief of the Dakotas.
Christina tried to disengage herself from his hold when she turned to confront him. Lyon was smiling at Lord Baker, yet increasing the pressure in his grip at the same time. He was telling her without words not to argue, she supposed. Then he turned and started to pull her with him.
She didn’t struggle but straightened her shoulders and followed him. Everyone was staring at them, and for that reason she forced herself to smile and to act as though it was nothing at all to be dragged across the room by a man she’d only just met. When she heard one woman whisper in a loud voice that she and the Marquess made a striking couple, she lost her smile. Yes, she did feel like hitting Lyon, but it was certainly uncomplimentary of the woman to make such a remark. She knew Lyon had also heard the comment. His arrogant grin said as much. Did that mean he wanted to strike her?
Lyon stopped when they reached the alcove. Christina was so relieved he hadn’t dragged her outside, she began to relax. They were still in full view of the other guests—a blessing, because Christina knew Lyon wouldn’t try to kiss her senseless with an audience watching his every move. No, tender embraces and soft words belonged to moments of privacy, when a man and woman were alone.
After nodding to several gentlemen, Lyon turned back to Christina. He stood close enough to touch if she took just one step forward. Though he’d let go of her hand, his head was inclined toward hers. Christina deliberately kept her head bowed, refusing to look up into his eyes. She thought she probably appeared to be very humble and submissive. It was an appearance she wished to give her audience, yet it irritated her all the same.
Another lie, another pretense. How her brother, White Eagle, would laugh if he could see her now. He knew, as well as everyone else back home, that there wasn’t a submissive bone in Christina’s body.
Lyon seemed patient enough to stare at her all evening. Christina decided he wasn’t going to speak to her until she gave him her full attention. She captured her tranquil smile and finally looked up at him.
He was angry with her, all right. The gold chips were missing. “Your eyes have turned as black as a Crow’s,” she blurted out.
He didn’t even blink over her bizarre comment. “Not this time, Christina,” he said in a furious whisper. “Compliments won’t get me off balance again, my little temptress. I swear to God, if you ever again dismiss me so casually, I’m going to—”
“Oh, it wasn’t a compliment,” Christina interrupted, letting him see her irritation. “How presumptuous of you to think that it was. The Crow is our enemy.”
Heaven help her, she’d done it again. Lyon could so easily make her forget herself. Christina fought the urge to pick up her skirts and run for the front door. But she suddenly realized he couldn’t possibly understand her comment. The confused look on his face told her she’d swayed his attention, too.
“Birds are your enemies?” he asked in a voice that sounded incredulous.
Christina smiled. “Whatever are you talking about?” she asked, feigning innocence. “Did you wish to speak to me about birds?”
“Christina.” He’d growled her name. “You could make a saint lose his temper.”
She thought he looked ready to pounce on her, so she took a protective step back and then said, “But you aren’t a saint, are you, Lyon?”
A sudden shout drew Lyon’s full attention. Christina also heard the sound, yet when she tried to turn around, Lyon grabbed hold of her and roughly pushed her behind his back. His strength amazed her. He’d moved so quickly Christina hadn’t even guessed his intent until the deed was accomplished.
His broad shoulders blocked her view. Christina could tell by his rigid stance that there was danger. And if she hadn’t known better, she would have thought he was trying to protect her.
She was highly curious. She hadn’t sensed any threat, yet when she peeked out from Lyon’s side she could see armed men standing in the entrance. Her eyes widened with surprise. The evening had certainly taken another bizarre twist. First she’d encountered a lion, and now it appeared that they were about to be robbed by bandits. Why, it was turning out to be an extremely interesting evening after all.
Christina wanted to get a better look at the mischief makers. Lyon, however, had other ideas. As soon as she moved to his side he pushed her behind him again.
He was protecting her. A warm feeling swept over Christina. She was pleased with his determination and actually smiled over it. She decided to let him have his way, then stood on her tiptoes, braced her hands against Lyon’s back, and peeked over his shoulder so she could see what was going on.
There were five of them. Four held knives. Poor workmanship, Christina noted with a shake of her head. The fifth man held a pistol in his right hand. All wore masks that covered the lower portion of their faces. The man with the pistol—obviously the leader in Christina’s judgment—shouted orders from the entrance. His voice was strained into a deep, guttural tone. Christina immediately assumed he was known by some of the guests. He wouldn’t have disguised his voice unless he thought he’d be recognized. And while he was dressed like the others in peasant garb and an ill-fitting hat, his boots weren’t the same at all. They were old and scruffy, like the boots the others wore, but the quality of the leather was apparent to Christina.
And then the leader turned and looked across the room. His eyes widened in surprise. Christina let out an involuntary gasp. Good Lord, she’d just met the man not an hour past.
Lyon heard her indrawn breath. The scowl increased on his face, for he immediately assumed Christina was terrified. He backed up a space, pushing Christina further into the shadows. His intent was to block her inside the alcove, and if the danger increased, he’d shove her out the doorway.
Lord Baker’s wife swooned when one of the bandits demanded her diamond necklace. She conveniently landed on the settee. Christina was desperately trying not to laugh. Swooning was such a delightful pretense.
All of a sudden, Christina’s aunt walked into the middle of the commotion. The Countess didn’t seem to comprehend the fact that there was a robbery going on. When the leader turned and aimed his pistol in her direction, Christina immediately retaliated.
Crazed or not, Aunt Patricia was family. No one was going to harm her.
It happened too quickly for anyone to react. Lyon heard the whistle of the knife seconds before the bandit’s howl of pain. He’d seen the glint of metal fly by his right shoulder. He turned, trying to protect Christina from the new threat, but didn’t see anyone standing behind her. Whoever had thrown the weapon had vanished out the doorway to the balcony, he concluded.
Poor Christina. She tried to look dignified. Her hands were demurely folded together, and she gave him only a curious look. She even looked behind her when Lyon did, yet she didn’t seem to understand there might be jeopardy there, lurking in the shadows.
Lyon quickly pushed her into the corner so that the wall protected her back. When he was satisfied no one could get to her from behind, he turned back to face the bandits. His shoulders pressed Christina against the wall.
She didn’t argue over the confinement. She knew what he was doing. Lyon was still protecting her and was making sure no one was going to come back in through the archway. A noble consideration, Christina thought.
There wasn’t any need, of course, for there had never been anyone behind her. She couldn’t very well tell Lyon that, however, and his concern for her safety did please her immensely.
The leader had disappeare
d out the front door. The other bandits threatened the guests by waving their knives in front of them as they backed out of the room.
Both pistol and knife lay on the floor.
Lyon turned to Christina. “Are you all right?” he demanded.
He sounded so concerned. Christina decided to look frightened. She nodded, and when Lyon placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her toward him she could feel the anger in him.
“Are you angry with me?” she asked.
He was surprised by her question. “No,” he announced. His voice was so harsh, he thought he might not have convinced her. “Of course I’m not angry with you, love.”
Christina smiled over the forced gentleness in his tone. “Then you may quit squeezing my shoulders,” she told him.
He immediately let go of her. “You’re angry because you couldn’t fight the mischief makers, aren’t you, Lyon?”
“Mischief makers? My dear, their intent was a little more serious,” Lyon said.
“But you did want to fight them, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” he admitted with a grin. “I was aching to get in the middle of it. Some habits die hard,” he added.
“You’ll always be a warrior, Lyon.”
“What?”
Oh dear, he was looking confused again. Christina hastened to say, “There are too many old people here. It wouldn’t have been safe for you to interfere. Someone might have been hurt.”
“Is your concern only for the old men and women?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Lyon frowned over her answer. Then she realized he wanted her to be concerned for his safety, too. Didn’t he realize it would have been an insult for her to show concern for him? Why, that would mean she didn’t have enough faith in his ability! Still, he was English, she reminded herself. And they were a strange breed.
“I wouldn’t worry for you, Lyon. You would have held your own.”
“You have that much faith in me, do you?”
She smiled over the arrogance in his tone. “Oh, yes,” she whispered, giving him the praise he seemed to need. She was about to add a bit more when a loud wail interrupted her.
“Our hostess is coming out of her swoon,” Lyon announced. “Stay here, Christina. I’ll be back in a minute.”
She did as he ordered, though she kept her attention directed on him. Her heart started pounding when Lyon knelt down and picked up her knife. She took a deep breath, held it, and then sighed with relief when he put the knife on the table and turned his attention to the pistol.
The chaos surrounding her was confusing. Everyone was suddenly talking at the same time. Perhaps she should try to swoon after all, Christina considered. No, the settee was already taken, and the floor didn’t look all that appealing. She settled on wringing her hands. It was the best she could do to look upset.
Two gentlemen were in deep discussion. One motioned Lyon over to join them. As soon as he moved toward the dining room Christina edged her way over to the table. She made certain no one was paying her any attention, then she cleaned and sheathed her knife.
She hurried over to stand beside her aunt. The Countess was administering blistering advice to the distressed woman draped on the settee.
“I believe we’ve had enough excitement for one evening,” Christina told her guardian when she was finally able to catch her attention.
“Yes,” the Countess answered. “We’d better be on our way.”
Lyon was blocked in the dining room, listening to absurd suggestions as to how two ancient gentlemen thought to trap Jack and his band.
After ten minutes or so, he’d had his fill. His attention kept returning to the unusual dagger he’d held in his hands. He’d never seen the like before. The weapon was crudely made, yet toned to needle-point sharpness. The handle was flat. Whoever owned the knife certainly hadn’t purchased it in England.
Lyon decided to take the weapon with him. He was highly curious and determined to find the man who’d thrown it.
“I’ll leave you gentlemen to think your plans through,” Lyon announced. “I believe I’ll see Princess Christina and her guardian safely home. If you’ll excuse me?”
He didn’t give them time to start in again but turned and hurried back inside the drawing room. He remembered telling Christina to wait for him until he returned. He shouldn’t have left her alone, assuming she was still frightened enough to need his comfort. He sincerely hoped she was, for the thought of offering her solace was very appealing.
Lyon was already planning how he’d get Christina away from her guardian. He just wanted to steal a few minutes so he could kiss her once more.
“Well, hell.” Lyon muttered the obscenity when he realized Christina had vanished. He glanced over at the table where he’d left the knife, then let out another foul expletive.
The knife had vanished, too. Lyon’s mood blackened. He considered questioning the guests, but they were all still occupied rehashing their reactions to the robbery. He decided not to bother.
Lyon turned to look again at the alcove where he and Christina had stood together during the robbery. A sudden revelation popped into his mind. No, he told himself. It wasn’t possible.
Then he strolled over to the alcove and continued on until he was standing next to the balcony railing.
A good twenty feet separated the balcony from the sloping terrace below. Impossible to scale. The railing was shaky, too weak to hold rope and man.
His mind immediately jumped to a ludicrous conclusion.
Lyon shook his head. “Impossible,” he muttered out loud. He decided to put that puzzle aside and concentrate on the real worry now.
Lyon left Baker’s house in a black mood. He was too angry to speak just yet. He determined to wait until tomorrow.
Then he was going to have a long, hard talk with Rhone.
Chapter Four
Edward always wore white. Colors displeased him. He preferred me to wear long, flowing Grecian-styled gowns of white also. The palace walls were whitewashed once a month, and all the furnishings were devoid of even a splash of color. While Edward’s peculiarity amused me, I did comply with his wishes. He was so good to me. I could have anything I wanted and wasn’t allowed to lift a finger in labor. He only bound me to one rule. Edward made me promise never to leave the pristine palace grounds, explaining it was for my protection.
I kept my promise for almost six months. Then I began to hear rumors about the conditions outside my walls. I believed Edward’s enemies spread the rumors of brutality solely to cause unrest.
My maid and I changed into peasant clothing and set out on foot for the nearest village. I looked upon the outing as an adventure.
God help me, I walked into purgatory.
Journal entry
August 15, 1795
The solicitors in care of the Earl of Acton’s estate called upon Countess Patricia Cummings Tuesday morning at ten o’clock. Misters Henderson and Borton were prompt to the minute.
The Countess could barely contain her enthusiasm. She ushered both gray-haired gentlemen into her study, shut the door behind her, and took her place behind the scarred desk.
“You’ll have to forgive such shabby furnishings,” she said. She paused to give both men a brittle smile before continuing. “I was forced to use the last of my reserves to dress my niece, Christina, for the season ahead of us, and there just wasn’t anything left over. Why, I’ve had to turn down many requests for visitations with my niece—too embarrassed, you understand, to let anyone see the way we’re living. Christina has caused a sensation. I’ll marry her well.”
The Countess suddenly realized she was rambling. She gave a dainty little cough to cover her embarrassment. “Yes, well, I’m certain you both know this townhouse is only on loan to us for another month. You did receive the bid for purchase, did you not?”
Henderson and Borton nodded in unison. Borton turned to his associate and gave him an odd, uncomfortable look. He poked at his cravat. The Countess
narrowed her eyes over the rudeness. “When will my money be transferred into my hands?” she demanded. “I can’t go on much longer without proper funds.”
“But it isn’t your money, Countess,” Borton announced after receiving a nod from his associate. “Surely you realize that fact.”
Borton blanched over the horrid frown the Countess gave him. He couldn’t continue to look at her. “Will you explain, Henderson?” he asked, staring at the floor.
“Certainly,” Henderson said. “Countess, if we might have a word in privacy with your niece, I’m certain this misunderstanding will be cleared up.”
Henderson obviously wasn’t intimidated by the Countess’s visible anger. His voice was as smooth as good gin. He continued to smile all through the foul woman’s tantrum. Borton was impressed.
Patricia slammed her fists down on the desk. “What does Christina have to do with this meeting? I am her guardian, and therefore I control her funds. Isn’t that the truth?” she screeched.
Before Henderson could answer, Patricia slapped the desk again. “I do control the money, don’t I?”
“No, madam. You do not.”
Christina heard her aunt’s bellow all the way upstairs. She immediately left her bedroom and hurried down the steps to see what had caused the Countess such an upset. Christina had learned the difference between her aunt’s screams long ago. This one resembled the protest of a trapped owl, telling Christina her Aunt Patricia wasn’t frightened. Just furious.
She reached the library door before she realized she was barefoot. Lord, that would certainly push her aunt into a tither, Christina thought. She hurried back upstairs, found her impractical shoes, and quickly put them on.
Christina counted five more shrieks before she was once again downstairs. She didn’t bother to knock on the library door, knowing her aunt’s shouts would drown out the sound. She threw the door open and hurried inside.
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