by Mari Carr
Chapter 21
Bright sunshine fell across the bed creating such a feeling of warmth and contentment, Hayley opened her eyes with a smile on her face. However, it quickly diminished as she looked around the strange bedroom and struggled to remember where she was. This same disoriented feeling had come to her every single morning she’d found herself still trapped in the past. She had only just become accustomed to her room at Fernwood Grange, but once again, she suffered a momentary pang of alarm as she tried to figure out where the hell she was.
Memories of the previous night flooded back—the rain, Simon and Julia’s escape, the earl, the chase, her late night confession to Jack. It all replayed in fast-forward and she groaned. The harsh light of day cast too much focus on the personal things she had managed to keep safely hidden for years. Now that it was out in the open, what would Jack think? How would he react toward her?
The bedroom door opened. Jack entered and her fears were washed away the moment she gazed into the face of her handsome pirate.
Juggling a tray of food, Jack was clad in the wrinkled pants he’d slept in. His chest was bare and she admired his smooth, bronze skin and well-defined pecs.
“How do you feel this morning?” he asked.
“Like a Mack truck ran over my head. Like I just rammed my Volkswagen bug into a brick wall. Like I drank a whole bottle of tequila and ate the worm. Like I—” She giggled as he interrupted her.
“I think I understand.” He placed the tray of food on the bedside table. “I don’t know what a Mack truck is or what kind of bug a Volkswagen is, but I am familiar with tequila having spent some time in Spain.”
The room fell into an awkward silence as Jack arranged the food on the tray and Hayley settled to a sitting position on the bed. Grateful she was decently clad above the waist, she was somewhat captive beneath the sheets. She spotted her jeans hanging over a chair across the room. Despite the previous evening’s revelations, she felt shy and wouldn’t have the nerve to prance across the bedroom clad in only a shirt and panties, regardless of having gone swimming in much less in Jack’s presence.
“Actually,” Hayley said, anxious to end the stifling quiet, “I feel empty.” Jack looked at her, concern in his gaze. “It feels kind of good. Weird, but good.”
He pulled a chair over to the edge of the bed. “Well, let’s see if we can fill you up again. While you were lazing about and sleeping half the day, I was slaving in the kitchen, preparing your breakfast.”
“You cook?” She eyed the tray of food suspiciously. “I didn’t think anyone cooked for themselves in this time period, especially not men.”
“I cook,” he answered sourly. “And if I may say so, I cook well.”
“Well, I’ll be the judge of that.” The delicious smells were definitely tempting. She reached over to pick up a fork, only to have her hand slapped away.
“Hey,” she cried.
“Not yet.”
Hayley noticed a new look enter his eyes. His previous lightheartedness was gone, replaced with something she couldn’t quite place.
“You, mademoiselle, have some explaining to do.” He picked up the fork and loaded it with a huge dollop of the most scrumptious looking eggs she’d ever seen. “In fact, after last night’s midnight ride, I may lock you up and feed you nothing but dry bread and water for the rest of your life.” He ate the eggs, chewing slowly with a smile on his face.
Incensed by his threat and hungry beyond belief, she rose up on her knees and poked a finger into Jack’s chest. “Listen, buddy, just because I told you some secrets about me last night does not mean I’ve handed you the position of my keeper. If I hadn’t come along, dear old Uncle Bobby would have caught you. I saw you on that ship and I know—thanks to your lessons—you would never have been able to cast off before he and Rawlings boarded and searched every inch of it. The way I see it, you should be offering me the position of your keeper.” Each word she spoke became increasingly louder and she punctuated them with her finger, poking him harder and harder.
Suddenly furious, Jack leaned closer. “I specifically told you to stay at the Grange with Alex and Erin where you would be safe. Not two hours later, I see you riding a horse in a torrential downpour being chased by a deranged madman I have the misfortune to call a relative. What the hell could have possessed you—”
“Possessed me?” They were nose to nose—their words growing more heated and angry by the minute. “Do you think you’re the only one capable of executing a rescue? And now that you mention it, I did not appreciate you ordering me to stay behind—”
“Dammit woman, you were seriously injured for failing to listen to me the night before. You have stitches in your head and a concussion and you still won’t heed my words. I’ve had enough of your disobedience and these deliberate attempts to place yourself in danger.”
“Disobedience?” she cried incredulously. “What am I? A dog?”
“I won’t spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder to make sure you aren’t following me into danger.”
“Who’s asking you to?”
“You may not have a care for your own safety, but I do. I promised to take care of you when I dragged you—”
“Oh stuff it—you’re nothing but an arrogant, pompous, self-righteous son of a—” Hayley yelled over his words.
“Ahem!” came a loud voice from the doorway.
Both Jack and Hayley paused to look. An exceedingly uncomfortable Rogers was standing behind a harried-looking Alex and a handsome, dark-haired man Hayley had never seen before. The stranger leaned comfortably against the doorframe with a huge grin on his face.
From beside her, Jack muttered a loud curse, worse than his usual ones. The stranger laughed aloud.
“What are you two doing here?” Jack asked, suddenly sounding weary.
“My wife sent a messenger to London urging me to come here immediately.” Alex looked ready to kill and after only a short time in 1818, Hayley was pretty certain his anger had to do with the fact she was dressed in only a shirt and in Jack’s bed.
“I can explain,” she began.
“I—for one—cannot wait to hear an explanation.” The strange man looked as if he would burst with merriment.
“I’m sorry,” she said, still poised on the bed on her knees. “I don’t mean to be rude, but do I know you?”
“Miss Hayley Garland,” Jack began in a formal tone. “May I introduce you to Lord Benjamin Sinclair? Ben, Miss Garland is a friend of Lady Dorset’s from America.”
Her attempt to rise from the bed and shake Ben’s hand was stopped by Jack’s firm grip on her shoulder. “Let’s save the formalities for a time when you’re dressed.”
Responding in a whisper, she replied, “I am dressed—mostly.”
Ben erupted in laughter at her words. She liked this man. At any rate, she liked him better than she liked Alex, who looked ready to kill Jack, and Jack, who looked ready to kill everyone.
She smiled coyly at Ben. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Erin. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Approaching the bed, Ben bowed formally, taking her hand and kissing it. Hayley, glancing at Jack from the corner of her eye, definitely liked Ben. She appreciated anyone willing to risk life and limb to push Jack’s buttons and Ben was certainly doing that. Jack’s face left the bright red range and moved straight into a vivid purple. Even she hadn’t been able to provoke that much color and she had certainly done her best.
“You are even more handsome than Erin said,” she added flirtatiously.
This playful jab took in another victim as Alex’s head jerked up. “When did Erin say that?”
Ben laughed again. “I told you your wife fancied me, Alex.”
“Oh, Alex. You know Erin is head over heels in love with you. You can’t seriously be jealous of some harmless girl talk.”
“What else did she say about me?” Ben asked.
“Never mind what she said,” Alex retorted. “Dammit, Ben
, stop muddying the waters. Jack, what the hell is going on here?”
“It’s a long story.” Jack cast a seething look at Ben, who was staring appreciatively at her. Glancing down, she spied her legs peeking out from underneath his shirt before Jack reached down and threw a blanket over her. “Why don’t we talk in the study? We’ll be more comfortable there.”
Alex grabbed Ben’s arm and pulled him toward the door. “We’ll wait for you there. Five minutes, Jack. You have five minutes.”
Sighing heavily, Jack watched as Hayley rose and crossed the room to where her clothes lay before the fire. “I’ll explain everything to Alex,” he said quickly. “Why don’t you stay here and eat the breakfast I made. I’d prefer that Ben not see you in your breeches.”
“I thought I was being restricted to bread and water.”
“Firebrand,” Jack began, but he appeared to be stopped by the image of her in her panties.
She rolled her eyes at his typically male reaction, then slid her jeans on slowly, taunting him with a slight wiggle as they cleared her hips. “Actually, I think I’ll head back to Fernwood Grange.”
It took several moments before Jack could process her comment. “Oh no, you’re not going anywhere without me, especially dressed like that. We need to get a few things straight between us.”
Hayley pulled on her socks. “I don’t want to argue with you anymore. Erin is probably worried sick and who knows how long it will take you to straighten things out with Alex. Templeton will ride back with me or maybe your friend Ben wouldn’t mind escorting me.”
“You aren’t going anywhere alone with Ben Sinclair.”
“Erin said you, Ben and Alex are the best of friends. The three of you went to school together and served in the same unit in the war. Certainly, he would be a perfectly suitable escort.” She secretly savored his show of jealousy and the image of his lovely blue eyes going green with envy.
She was also relieved her confession hadn’t changed their relationship. He wasn’t treating her with kid gloves as if she would break. It lightened her heart. Sparring with Jack Campbell was quickly becoming her favorite pastime. Oddly enough, she actually felt giddy over the fight Alex and Ben had just interrupted.
Jack crossed the room. “You aren’t leaving. No more arguing, Hayley. In fact, you’re right, no more talking.” He pulled her into his arms and proceeded to kiss her into a stupor. Hayley clung to him for fear she would fall down. The kiss wasn’t gentle or loving. In fact, it was as if the devil himself possessed her and she was helpless to resist. When he finally pulled away, he gently pushed her into a chair. “This is for your own good.”
Before she could recover from the kiss or understand his words, he tied her hands, then her feet to the chair with his cravats.
“What are you doing?” She struggled to free herself. “You better hope I don’t get free, Jack Campbell, because the second I do, you’re a dead man.”
“Hayley, my love, I’m about to spend my next few moments of my life completely free of worry. Something I haven’t done since you stepped through that blasted tree. Believe me, it’s worth the risk to my person. I only wish I’d thought of this earlier.” Smiling wickedly, he bent and planted a quick kiss on her pursed lips.
“I’ll scream,” she said vehemently.
“Oh, my sweet firebrand, I’d expect no less from you.” He calmly pulled out another cravat and tied it securely around her mouth before she could utter a sound of protest.
She watched a humming Jack walk out of the room, locking the door behind him. She struggled only for a moment, her furor quickly turning to amusement. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror on the wall, she started to giggle.
Oh, she was going to make Jack Campbell sorry for this. She couldn’t wait to get her revenge.
Jack paused outside the door to his study. No sense rushing in to face a firing squad. By the look on Alex’s face when he entered Jack’s bedroom this morning, it was going to be a miracle if he emerged from the room unscathed and rightly so.
In the past twelve hours, he’d smuggled Alex’s cousin away in the middle of the night on one of his ships, helped the man elope and allowed Erin’s friend to stay unchaperoned in his townhouse—in his bedroom, in his bed, and in his shirt. Regardless of the true events of the previous evening, the way they’d been found was completely compromising. If it had been Alex alone who’d entered the room, perhaps Jack would be able to explain the situation, but Ben had seen it also, not to mention poor Rogers, who was probably a mass of quivering nerves by now.
Stiffening his spine, he turned the knob and entered the room. Ben was comfortably reclined in Jack’s favorite chair by the glowing fire. He had helped himself to a glass of Jack’s best brandy, despite the early hour and was slowly swirling the liquid around with an annoyingly cheerful look on his face.
Ben obviously enjoyed Jack’s predicament enormously. It was all Jack could do not to walk over and wipe the smug smile from his friend’s face. Unfortunately, Jack couldn’t deny if the shoe were on the other foot, he would be taking great delight in Ben’s discomfort. Such was the nature of their friendship. When the chips were down, however, Ben was the man Jack would choose to have at his back. There could be no more loyal friend than he.
Ben’s reclining comfort was sharply contrasted by Alex’s furious, tense pacing. His hands were clasped tightly behind his back and it looked as if he were crushing his own fingers. He halted when Jack appeared in the room, then began his trek again. “Finally! One more minute and I was coming to drag you in here myself.”
“Alex,” Jack began, but he was instantly cut off as Alex launched into the tirade he had obviously been rehearsing since receiving Erin’s message.
“What the hell were you thinking? How long did you know where Julia was? Good God, man, all those weeks we spent searching for her. Erin was worried sick about the poor girl. We aren’t worthy of your trust? Did you really think we’d send her back to the earl? Where is Simon? Katie and Sarah are out of their minds worrying about him. Did you think about that and what his disappearance would mean to them? Poor Ben’s been running all over London searching for him. And Hayley!” Alex continued, without taking even a small breath. “Damnation, I don’t even want to think about that yet.”
“Alex.” Ben rose from his chair. “Why don’t you let the man answer a question before you ask the next?”
“Oh, he’ll be answering my questions, if I don’t beat the hell out of him first. I rode all night in one of the nastiest storms I’ve ever seen to get to London to search for my wayward cousin, only to receive word from Erin he’s with you—here. Then I ride all the way back after no sleep to find the young woman in my charge, naked in your bed. You promised, Jack.”
“Technically, as the lady pointed out, she wasn’t naked.” Ben gave them a mischievous grin. “She was wearing a shirt, and if I must say, it looked quite fetching—”
“Enough!” Jack and Alex shouted in unison.
Feigning remorse, Ben fell silent.
“Alex, I only discovered Julia’s whereabouts last evening. Apparently, Simon and Hayley have been harboring her in the hunting cabin on the edge of the Grange property. You’re familiar with it?”
Alex nodded.
“By the time I arrived,” Jack continued, “Wilshire and Rawlings were hot on our heels. There wasn’t time to inform you and frankly, I wouldn’t have anyway. You’re a peer of the realm, Alex. How could I ask you to help me smuggle away an earl’s betrothed bride?”
“You couldn’t,” Alex replied, beginning to calm down. “You said Hayley and Simon have been hiding her in the cabin?”
“For weeks. I never thought to look there after—” Jack paused, glancing at Ben, who was listening to every word. “After the night I stayed there several weeks ago.” Jack omitted the fact Hayley had been with him.
Alex nodded his understanding. “So, Simon never went to London?”
“No,” Jack answered. “Apparently, he
and Julia have been secretly meeting during the past year. They’re in love. Simon has been with Julia in the cabin the last month.”
“Good God,” Alex exclaimed. “How dare he compromise that young girl.”
Jack and Ben passed amused grins, and then looked back at Alex, who shook his head. “When did I get this old? I sound like a self-righteous prig. Hell, even worse, I’m starting to sound like my father.”
“Where are Simon and Julia now?” Ben asked.
“Aboard one of my ships headed for Portugal. The captain of the vessel is a former vicar. He performed a wedding service last evening before the ship departed. I thought it best not to wait given the two have been alone together every night for weeks. I’m sorry there wasn’t time to seek your approval.” Jack was afraid word of his cousin’s unexpected nuptials might upset his friend.
“Nonsense. I would have approved. They’re too young, but overall, it’s a good match.”
“A tidal wave wouldn’t have prevented him from marrying that girl. I haven’t seen anyone that much in love since you at your wedding last year.” Jack felt the previous tension in the room lessening.
“He’s still in love,” Ben added, pointing at Alex. “All he ever talks about is Erin this or Erin that. It’s enough to lead a man to drink.” Ben lifted his glass in salute.
“The earl won’t be pleased to learn his prey has escaped him. I fear what he’ll do to you in retaliation,” Alex said soberly.
“Actually,” Jack replied, “it’s Hayley I’m worried about.”
“Hayley?” Alex asked.
“She followed us last night when I was attempting to get Simon and Julia to the ship. She disguised herself in Julia’s cape and arrived just after the earl. He would have had plenty of time to board the ship and retrieve Julia before they could cast off, but he thought Hayley was Julia and gave chase.” Jack shuddered as he recalled the image of his uncle racing after Hayley through the storm while he was helpless to get to her.
“What a woman.” Ben exclaimed appreciatively. “I knew I liked her.”
Scowling, Jack started to warn Ben about staying away, but Alex halted that line of conversation. “How did Hayley end up here?”