A Thin Line

by Tammy Jo Burns

  “I haven’t the foggiest idea what you are talking about. Let me see your wrist.”

  “So you can cause more damage, I don’t think so.”

  “Quit being stubborn and let me see.” He gently took her arm in his hands and studied her wrist. “I believe you sprained it. We should probably wrap it to give it some support.”

  “Why are you helping me?” She asked warily.

  “Because you’re my wife and you’re hurt. What else is a husband supposed to do?”

  “Isn’t it a little out of character to help the one you injured?” He helped her sit up and then grabbed her around the ribs to help her stand. She winced at the pressure on her side that made contact with the edge of the table.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I hit my side on the table before I flipped over. It will be fine, probably just a little bruised.”

  “Now this is the second time you have accused me of trying to intentionally hurt you. Where are you getting these ideas?”

  “Someone is moving the furniture on me. Before you came in I fell trying to sit in the chair and then the table incident. Nothing happened while you were gone.”

  “So because I am home, it’s my fault?” Anger emanated from his voice.

  “You tell me.”

  “Bloody hell. No, I didn’t do it.”

  “Then who? The only other person I would suspect is in bed with a hurt ankle.”

  “You are blaming my mother?”

  “No. Remember, I blamed you. If you hadn’t been here, and she had been up and about, she is the other one I would have blamed.”

  “Do you think we hate you so much?”

  “I don’t know anymore. Her? Yes, but I don’t know why.”

  “You think I hate you?”

  “You didn’t want to marry me. We both know that I am not, nor ever have been duchess material, regardless of any feelings I might have once had for you. You didn’t want me in the role that I am currently in. Can you tell me that you don’t resent me in the least?”

  “No, Kala, I don’t.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t believe you.”

  “I’m sorry, too. See that someone wraps your wrist.” He paused to see the shock and hurt flicker across her face before she could mask it. Good, he thought, at least I know she can hurt as well.

  ***

  “Hi there, beautiful.” Tracy’s pulse quickened when she heard his voice. She didn’t know why he was interested in a maid, but she counted herself lucky. If his business investments took off, perhaps they would get married, have a little house, and she would no longer have to work.

  “Hello,” she replied breathlessly before he captured her lips in a passionate kiss.

  “How I’ve missed you, my sweet.”

  “It has only been a few days,” she replied.

  “But it felt like a lifetime.” She could feel her knees melting like fresh churned butter. “Are you ready for our picnic.”

  “Yes.”

  They spent the day walking about London and going to Hyde Park.

  “Tell me about your work.”

  “There isn’t much to tell,” she shrugged nonchalantly. The master is still gone, the mistress looks to be miserable and still does not have her sight, and there are still extra guards around the house.”

  “Why so glum?”

  “I can’t sneak out with so many people standing guard. How can I come see you?”

  “Well, think of it this way, love, when we are together, it will be explosive,” he said before pulling her into some dense shrubbery. After dropping her of at Hawkescliffe’s house, the man kept on walking.

  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. For, in this, patience was an art, and he was the artist.

  Chapter 24

  Several days passed where they treated each other civilly. Kala continued to trip over things placed in her way. Gabe always seemed to be nearby, ready to assist her, but still denied any involvement. In the meantime, she could feel the bruises covering her body. Frustrated and angry, she stomped about the house.

  “What is the matter with you?” Gabe asked her, returning from a particularly stressful day at the office. If only this war would contain itself to the battlefields. McKenzie had finally returned and had been in a sour mood, yelling at anyone and everyone.

  “What do you care?” Mikala fought back, bringing his attention back to the present.

  “I care because you are my wife,” he attempted to remain calm, knowing no amount of shouting would do them any good.

  “If you cared, you would listen to me and what I have to say. You would believe me when I say your mother is trying to harm me. But instead you always end up taking her side. Just because she gave you life does not mean she is a saint.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” He asked sounding weary all of a sudden.

  Mikala felt her anger dying a little. “Gabe, I can’t keep doing this. The stress alone is going to kill me. I never feel well. I am tired. And as much as I hate to admit it, I am scared. I want my sight back desperately, but it just isn’t happening.”

  “Mikala, you’re strong.”

  “One can only be strong for so long,” she said softly. She heard him cross the room and pulled her into his arms. For a moment she laid her head on his shoulder, allowing him to be strong enough for both of them. Then she pulled back and pushed him away. “I am just feeling sorry for myself.” She felt him capture her lips in a slow, seductive kiss. Kala felt herself leaning towards him and into the kiss. She found herself wishing desperately they were happy and in love. Once again, she broke the contact.

  “Do you know how beautiful you are?”

  “Oh please. For all I know, I could be wearing two different color shoes.”

  “If you were it would be eccentric.”

  “That’s enough.” His words and actions had her confused.

  “Let me escort you to dinner.”

  Kala allowed him to escort her although she knew she could find the room on her own. She picked at the food on her plate, not having been lying when she told him the stress of their situation had begun to take its toll on her physically. He had seated her to his immediate right, not in her usual chair at the other end of the table. Gabe hoped it disturbed her in a good way, but worried as he watched her pick at her food. His grandmother joined them and sat on his left. The meal actually passed somewhat enjoyably.

  “We have to get you out of this house,” Judith’s words pulled him out of his introspection.

  “What?” He asked startled.

  “We have to get Kala out of this house. Look at her, she isn’t eating and has grown pale. She is going to be stark-raving mad before long.” Gabe’s stomach clenched as he thought about another woman close to him who showed signs of madness. He could not stand it if Mikala followed in those footsteps.

  “You’re right,” Kala added. “There is only so much of my own piano playing I can take.”

  “Any of us can take,” Gabe amended the statement with a chuckle.

  “You’re right,” Kala laughed openly. “It is a bit of a punishment for everyone isn’t it? So, what do you suggest, Judith?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I have an idea,” Gabe said.

  “What’s that?”

  “How about an evening at the opera?”

  “Boring if I can’t see what’s going on. And besides, I am a little leery of theaters at the moment,” Kala said, referring to the theater fire that almost took Tessa’s life.

  “True. What if we just went out? We could go to Hyde Park, walk about a while. We could find somewhere to eat and have ices at Gunter’s? Just spend the day doing nothing and everything.”

  “Oh that does sound like fun. When can we go?”

  “I have some business to take care of tomorrow. How about the next day”

>   “That sounds perfect,” she covered a yawn. “I swear I haven’t done anything all day, and I’m exhausted.”

  “They say inactivity makes one tired,” Judith said wisely.

  “Grandmother, would you excuse us?”

  “Of course darling. Have a good night.”

  “You too,” they chorused together. Gabe took Kala’s hand, draping it over his arm, and led her upstairs.

  “Gabe you really don’t have to escort me to my room. I know the way.”

  “It would give me great pleasure to escort you.” They walked up the stairs in companionable silence. He paused in front of her room. “We’re here,” his voice sounded awkward and unsure to his own ears.

  “Thank you,” she replied in her sultry voice. “Gabe, I feel like I owe you an apology.”

  “For?”

  “Taking my frustration over falling out on you. I am just angry at the entire situation. I’m certain that a maid, while cleaning, moved them and forgot to put them back in place.”

  Even though he knew she couldn’t see him, he tipped her chin up so he could look into her hazel eyes. He knew she lied because her eyes had sparks of blue intermingling with the gray and green, and he couldn’t blame her. Mother had to be brought under control. Mikala’s lashes had grown back in, thicker and longer than before. They perfectly accentuated her eyes. The little dimple in her chin tempted him to tease it with his tongue. He attempted to pull himself under control, but could not help the tightening of his lower body.

  “Kala, I want you to know that I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you. You matter more to me than anyone.”

  “Please Gabe, don’t say that. We both know we were forced into this by your well-placed honor. I’m not who you really wanted.”

  “Oh, ye of little faith,” he murmured before bending down and teasing her lips. He felt the faint quiver that Kala couldn’t hide. “Kala, never say that you don’t have feelings for me.”

  “Don’t,” she pleaded and tried to pull her head away from him. He stepped closer to her so that she could feel his body’s physical reaction to her.

  “Do you feel that Kala?” He heard her whimper in response. “That is what you do to me. That is what you have done to me for months, years. Why else do you think I pushed you away? You were the pest that followed me around from the time you were big enough to run without falling. You are my best friend’s sister. How could I tell him how I felt about you? He would have killed me first.”

  “Gabe,” she moaned.

  “I want you, now.” He let go of her chin and grabbed either side of her hips, pulling them into the proof of his desire. He pushed his hardened manhood against her, rolling his hips sensuously against her. “This is what you do to me when I see you, smell you, or hear your deep, sultry voice. I could have killed the man who almost strangled you, but what he did to your voice made me want to give him a reward. Haven’t you ever wondered why men are mesmerized by you when you speak?”

  “No. I just sound like I always have a cold.”

  “Cold?” He gave a strangled laughed at her assumption. “Sweetheart, a man could run fever just listening to you talk,” he bent his head and teased her lips until they parted ever so slightly. Then he swept the sweet, dark recesses of her mouth with his tongue. He felt her begin to respond. He moved her backwards until her back pressed against the door to her room. He gripped the wooden frame until his knuckles turned white.

  He pressed the lower half of his body more firmly against her and felt both surprise and elation when she pressed back in encouragement. Her hands traveled up his chest and around his neck and played with the cool strands of his hair, making him shiver in response. He felt her lips curve into a smile before he ravaged her mouth. After feasting on her for several minutes, he pulled away and rested his sweat-soaked brow against hers. He bent down and swung her up into his arms.

  “Kala, open the door.”

  “What?”

  “Open the door.”

  “Oh,” his guttural words got through to her and she reached behind her, searching out the doorknob. Once she found it, she turned it to allow them entrance into the room.

  “I knew you couldn’t leave that hussy alone,” they heard a screeching voice from down the hall.

  “Damn her,” he heard Mikala mutter as fine tremors shook her body.

  “Go in your room and lock the door.”

  “You stole one man from me, now you want to take another?” Gabe quickly set Mikala down in her room just as Sarah reached them and began hitting her son. “Let me by, I’ll see that she no longer disrupts the Hawkescliffe’s!”

  “Shut and lock your door!” Gabe shouted.

  “Is she hitting you?” Mikala asked in shock.

  “Lock yourself in your room!” She quickly did and continued to hear the angry cries from his mother and the blows she landed. “Grandmother!”

  She heard Judith joining them. “Quickly, follow me,” she said. Once the sounds became muffled, Mikala unlocked the door and slipped into the hallway. She listened carefully and followed the sounds. “…have to do something. She is going to harm someone someday, if not herself. What happens if one of these spells descends upon her at an event?”

  “You’re right. I can’t put Mikala at risk. If only you had seen the way she came after her. If she had a weapon, Mikala might very well be dead right now.”

  “You are going to have to tell her about Andrew. I avoided the topic, because I feel it is your place. She must know. You must also tell her about your mother’s instability. It is not either of their faults, rather just a sad situation.”

  “Yes.”

  “The laudanum is working. She is almost asleep.”

  “I will have a guard posted outside her door. I must check on my wife.”

  Mikala started to dart down the hall to her room, but decided against it. She heard the door open followed by a heavy sigh. Then it closed once more. His scent hung heavy in the air, enticing her.

  “How much did you hear?”

  “Some.”

  “Come,” he tangled his fingers with hers and led her down the hall. “We are in my bedchamber. Have a seat in one of the chairs and I will be back shortly. I need to arrange for a guard at Mother’s door.”

  “Of course,” she said. Instead of waiting though, she found the connecting door and went through it and quickly donned a gown and wrap.

  “Mikala!” Did she detect a bit of desperation in his voice?

  “In here. I wanted to change,” she ended talking into a firm chest. Steel bands in the shape of arms held her tightly. “Can’t breathe,” she gasped.

  “What?” He relinquished his hold.

  “Can’t breathe,” she said pulling back. “Gabe, I am fine.” She felt him take her hand once more and lead her back into is room. A fire burned, warming the room.

  “Mother hates you, yes, but she hates me equally. She just knows that I can have something done about her behavior and you cannot.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Andrew,” he said quietly.

  “Your brother?”

  He nodded in response, but then realized she would be unable to see the action. “Yes.”

  Andrew had died in a riding accident. His elder brother Steven, and his father, the previous Duke of Hawkescliffe, had perished in a boating accident. Andrew had been a vivacious young man. He had been six years older than Gabe and had died soon after Gabe returned from the Navy. She had never been close to him because of their age differences. “What about him?”

  “He wanted you.”

  “What? He loved me?”

  “No, you confuse love with want. He wanted you. He knew that you only had eyes for me. You were eighteen or nineteen, I can’t remember. He told me that he wanted you. He knew that I had begun to recognize you as the woman you were.”

  “You never told me.”

  “You were young and my best friend’s sister. I didn’t feel I could do anything
. Remember that day you were swimming in the lake on the back of my father’s property and I came upon you?”

  “You were so angry. I felt certain you hated me. You told me to get dressed and go home. You never wanted to see me on your property again.”

  “I had gone for a ride that day. I spotted Andrew leering at you through some trees. In fact, he had started undressing by the time I rode up.”

  “Undressing? But he wouldn’t…”

  “He would have. Andrew could be ruthless when it came to something or someone he wanted. After I ran you off, I confronted him.”

  “He died that day. You didn’t...”

  “No. I could have; I was that angry. We came to blows. Andrew gave me my scar,” he ran his finger along the ridge of puckered skin. “He rode off on his horse and broke his blasted neck. I wanted to be sad that I had lost my brother, but I couldn’t.”

  “All my fault. All of it. How can you not hate me? My God, I ruined your family, destroyed it.”

  “No, my family had been destroyed for a long while.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Andrew thought himself quite a ladies’ man. Apparently he worked his way through many of the women of London. Who knows how many children I am truly an uncle to?”

  “Gabe,” she said softly and placed her hand on his arm.

  “I haven’t even told you the most horrific part. You see, mother and Andrew had been having an affair.”

  “But, they were…”

  “No blood relation. And while society has rules, people break them every day.”

  “Your mother blames me for his death, doesn’t she? That is why she hates me.”

  “That is why she hates us.”

  “You mean she chose her lover over her son?”

  “Mother was very like Andrew. She had many affairs during her marriage to father. He married her so that Steven and Andrew would have a mother figure, and then I happened along. Father always regretted not marrying his true love.”

  “Who would that be?”

  “Stuart McKenzie’s mother.” Gabriel watched as Mikala sat there mulling over what he said. He found it fascinating as she pieced the puzzle together and came up with a startling revelation.