Mack carefully walked to the man. “Your mother?”
“Dead, sir.”
The older man took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling before looking at Mack once again. Mack thought he saw tears shimmering in the man’s eyes.
“Do you know who I am?”
“The Duke of Hawkescliffe, but I suspect you’re my father.”
“If I had only known. Damn Izzy and her stubborn pride.”
“I never knew until now, but I don’t think mother ever loved anyone but you. I know she didn’t love my…Laird McKenzie.”
“Did he hurt you or her?”
“I was nothing to him, but yes, he hurt Mother, but he can’t hurt her anymore.”
“No, he can’t, son. Have you received any schooling?”
“Only what mother was able to teach me.”
“I’m going to send you to Eton.”
“Will they accept bastards?”
“Who called you that?”
“Laird McKenzie. He refused to call me by my name. He even had my brothers and sisters call me ‘Bastard’ instead of my name.”
“Did you know your mother named you after me? She just reversed my names to make yours.”
“I do now.”
“So Stuart James McKenzie, what do you prefer to be called?”
“Mack, it is my own, no one else’s.”
“Mack, it is. And I have enough money that Eton will take you, regardless of your background. You’re my son, and I do not care who knows. I want you to know that I loved your mother very much for many, many years.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Gabriel, come here!” Hawkescliffe called.
“Yes, Father?”
“I want you to meet your brother, Mack. He will be going to Eton with you this term.”
“Hello,” Gabriel said, reluctantly.
“H’lo,” Mack returned, feeling scrutinized.
“Even though you’re younger, you have great influence. I expect you to watch out for him, help him find his way.”
“Yes, sir.”
Cassie could tell that Mack was lost in memories. She dropped the blanket and stood, moving to him. She placed her hand against his cheek. “What happened?”
“He accepted me. Society did not, nor did my brother. I ran off from Eton two years after showing up in London. I had been in my fourth fight that year. A group of boys cornered me and beat me senseless. Out of the corner of my eye I saw my brother watching, smiling as it happened. The one friend I had was too sick and weak to help me. I told Teddy, my friend, after the fight that I could not stay any longer. He was sad to see me leave, but understood. That night I snuck out and made my way to the London docks. I lied about my age and joined the Navy.”
“I think I hate your brother, Duke or not.”
“Don’t. He was a boy and jealous. Father favored me, I think because of Mother. Gabe’s mother is insane and has been removed from society. I really can’t blame him for his actions, and besides that, we have made up and decided to be a family now. If we were to have a repeat performance of that fight, he would be right there beside me getting his arse kicked.”
“From now on, I will be right there beside you,” Cassie said. She placed a hand on either side of his face and placed a gentle kiss against his lips. “Never again will I call you a bastard. I will find other words to describe your wretched behavior, but never that one,” a small smile lifted her lips. The look on his face did something to her. It melted her insides and somehow he went from being the hard man that she had known and married to someone else entirely. “Where is Teddy? I think I would very much like to meet him.”
“He was killed a little over a year ago saving my life from an assassination attempt.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It was actually an answered prayer. He was dying of consumption, slowly and painfully. At least he went quickly and as a hero.”
“Mack,” she whispered against his lips.
“What, Cassie?”
“Take me upstairs.”
“I don’t think I can make it that far.”
“Then shut the drapes and the lock the door. This room is on the first floor.”
“That, I can do,” he pulled the drape across the window and then pulled Cassie into his arms.
Chapter 21
For two days they cut themselves off from the world. For two days they talked, they laughed, and they learned one another. For two days he did not give orders, and she did not fight him. It was a pleasant interlude they both knew could not last forever. As dawn broke on the third day, it heralded the end of their honeymoon. It was also the end of the world’s madness staying away and leaving them alone.
Cassie was once again lying on her stomach, as she was wont to do. Mack leaned over and brushed a kiss on her shoulder blade. He was going to miss this. Miss her. Dammit man, pull yourself together. She’ll be here tonight when you get home, he chastised himself.
“Mmmm,” a feminine voice moaned from the wrinkled bed. “What time is it?”
“Time for me to be getting to work.”
Cassie rolled over, wrapping herself in the sheet as she she went. “You’re dressed and shaved,” she observed.
“Aye.”
“You really are going to work,” she said.
“Aye.”
“Are you certain I can’t entice you to stay?” she asked, stretching, allowing her bosom to slowly slip free of the sheet.
“I believe I have made you insatiable,” he groaned, feeling himself harden.
“I’ll tell you what you’ve made me,” she pulled him down and whispered naughty things in his ear.
“I have to go,” he croaked.
“Truly?” She cupped his manhood through his trousers.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he groaned.
“What a way to go,” she said, a wicked smile spread across her face.
Fifteen minutes later, Mack left his wife slumbering in their bed. Deciding that he was already late, he began walking to the Horseguards instead of taking a carriage. He would have to take a hack at some point, but he needed to be out and in what little fresh air London provided. Cassie was a fast and eager learner when it came to bed sport. He couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face when he thought about how they had spent the last two days. She had found his copy of the Kama Sutra. It had been one of his prized possessions that he had purchased in the Navy. He remembered how he and some of the other men had gathered around curiously looking at the book. Cassie had insisted they do much the same thing, and so they had studied each page. Even though they did not understand the words, the pictures said plenty. Some poses she had giggled over, while others she had dismissed as being totally impossible. But then there had been some she had eagerly begged him to try. That had been fun, he mused to himself. And they were by no means finished with the book.
His mind drifted to the threatening note that they found. It currently lay safely tucked away with the maps and other documents beneath the loose floorboard. After he had revealed his past to her, he had shown her the hiding spot.
“I would never have found the maps,” she said.
“That is the plan. I need them to be secure. You and Bartlett are the only people that know where I keep them.”
“Not even your brother?”
“Not even Gabe.”
“Why me?”
“I trust you.”
“Do you not trust Gabe?”
“I do. It’s just, well…”
“Yes?” she asked, refusing to let him get away with not answering.
“I still feel like I am always competing against Gabe. He joined the Navy after completing his studies. There were several times we met up in our service. Never once did we acknowledge one another. Our relationship, until recently, has been strange and strained to say the least, and a secret. Perhaps I keep some secrets from him so that I can remain one step ahead of him. He’s a Duke.”
“You are the Director of the War Office.”
“See, somehow we are equal but not.”
“I’m honored that you trust me.”
Cassie was intelligent and capable. She was strong and resilient. She made him want to protect her, to care for her, to leave this crazy life behind and live quietly somewhere, just her and him. There would be no wars he had to fight. No crazy people would be threatening their lives. There would be no injustices she felt she had to write about, placing herself in constant danger. Bloody hell, he thought, this is exactly why I did not need to get involved with anyone. She is distracting me from my job.
He looked up and down the street before stepping down to cross it. His mind was in turmoil, thinking about everything when the shouts finally penetrated his thoughts. Mack stood in the middle of the street and quickly looked about to see what was wrong. That was when he saw the carriage barreling down on him. When he looked the other direction, he saw another team pulling a wagon almost upon him. There was no way he could reach the other side.
Mack sent up a prayer and dove between the slow moving wheels of the wagon. He twisted, but not quickly enough. The left back wheel of the wagon rolled over his foot, causing him to grunt in pain. When the wagon passed over him he found himself staring at the underbelly of a horse that was pawing at the air. Upon seeing a man on the ground where his horses’ hooves should be, the rider had pulled the horse up short. Mack rolled again toward the walk and out of the way of the deadly hooves.
“Go home and sleep it off,” the rider yelled down at Mack.
Mack looked up and down the street, but the carriage had disappeared. The wagon lumbered on, the driver having no idea what had just unfolded beneath his conveyance. Under his own power, Mack got to his feet. The one that the dray had run over was sore, but thankfully nothing felt broken. If the dray had not been empty, his foot could have very well been crushed. Mack straightened his coat. He waved down a hack and climbed inside after giving the jarvie directions to take him to the Horseguards. There were two things he knew. That carriage had intentionally tried to run him over, and he was going to be incredibly sore.
***
When Mack limped into his outer office, Preston greeted him with an exclamation of dismay.
“Look that good, do I?” Mack asked, trying to sound rakish and casual.
“What happened, Director? That is, if I might ask?”
“I was nearly run down by a carriage. My foot was rolled over by an empty dray wagon, and I was almost trampled by a horse.”
“Well, you look good considering,” Preston said.
“I echo that sentiment,” Gabe said from the doorway. “You need to change your coat. It has several tears in it.”
“I keep an extra set of clothes here just on the off chance I should ever need them. I guess that day has finally arrived.”
“I’ll help you.”
Mack led Gabe into the office. He limped over to a small wardrobe nestled in the corner and removed a coat to replace the damaged one. He dropped it over his desk.
“Should you have someone look at your foot?”
“No. It isn’t broken, just sore. The dray was empty. Otherwise it could have been crushed.”
“What happened?” Mack repeated the story while Gabe pulled off the form fitting coat. “Another assassination attempt?”
“Yes and no.”
“That makes no sense, whatsoever.”
“I need to talk something out with someone besides Cassie.”
“How is my favorite sister-in-law.”
“She wanted to do bodily harm to you yesterday.”
“What did I do?”
“Eton.”
“We were boys.”
“That’s what I told her. Just don’t be surprised if she treats you somewhat coldly for a while.”
“So you love each other after all.”
“Not in the least. We are making the best of a bad situation.”
“You tell yourself whatever you have to, Brother. Now, what is it you need to discuss?”
“I really hate it when you make me feel like I’m younger than you, when just the opposite is true.”
“Years of practice being a duke,” Gabe negligently said.
“Cassie received a threat the evening of our wedding.”
“A threat?”
“Yes.” Mack quickly explained what they had found and what the note had said.
“Who would want to hurt her?”
“Gabe, Cassie writes the articles by C.E. Jones in The Times.”
Gabe thought about that for a moment and the implications that went along with it. “What did the note say again?”
Mack told him.
“The person wants to take Cassie’s happiness?”
“Yes.”
“Mack, I don’t think they are after Cassie. At least not at this point. I think they are going to target those that she cares about most, or that they believe she cares about.”
“How do you explain the carriage?”
“Brother, you are dense sometimes. Whoever it is more than likely does not know that you and Cassie were forced into marriage. They probably think that you are in love.”
“But we’re not.”
“They don’t know that.”
“What do we do? I can’t announce it to the world. Cassie would be embarrassed.”
“You’re going to have to figure out who this person is before they strike again.”
“I’m going to have to put guards on Chang and Sir Graham. Bartlett will be able to watch over Cassie during the day.”
“Who’s going to watch over you?”
“I can take care of myself.”
“Says the man who limped in here wearing a torn coat because he was almost trampled to death by a coach and four.” Gabe held up his hands when Mack looked at him sourly. “Just look after yourself.”
“I will. Now, what brought you by here?”
“Thought I would check on the newlyweds. I came by yesterday, but there was no sign of you.”
“We’re fine,” Mack said, looking down at his desk and reaching for some papers.
“So it appears.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to get caught up on your work.”
“I appreciate that.”
“If you and your bride aren’t too busy, Mikala asked if you would join us for a family supper the day after next.”
“We’ll be there.”
“Excellent.”
Gabe stood and crossed to the door. “Mack, I meant it when I said be careful. I am no longer that bitter young man. I’ve grown rather fond of having you as a brother.”
“I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
“Good.”
“Preston,” Mack bellowed.
“Yes, sir?” The secretary stuck his head inside the door.
“See if you can find any coffee, and then come in and debrief me on everything that has happened the past few days.”
“Right away, sir.”
Mack leaned back in his chair, wincing. He picked up a letter and broke the seal.
Your bride is lovely. Enjoy her while you can. I’ll try to make your death as painless as possible. It is Mrs. McKenzie, alone, who should suffer.
“Bloody hell!” Mack roared.
“I found coffee, sir. It is going to take some time to make, though,” Preston nervously wrung his hands at the sound of Mack’s yell.
“When did this letter come, Preston?”
“Yesterday, sir.”
“Who delivered it?”
“It came in with everything else. Is there something wrong?”
“Yes.”
“Anything I can do?”
“Do you have a crystal ball?”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Get Hanks in here right away.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mack folded the note and slid it into a hidden pocket in his superfine before going through the rest of the letters
on his desk.
“You requested to see me, sir?”
“Hanks, I want you to get our best men, and I want constant surveillance on Sir Graham and his man servant. I also want someone watching my house as well as the Duke of Hawkescliffe’s house.”
“Yes, sir. Do we know who we are looking for?”
“No. Everyone should be treated as a threat.”
“And if we find out who the person is?”
“Attempt to bring them in without harming them, but if they do not cooperate, use whatever force necessary.”
“Yes, sir.” The man bowed and left the room.
Mack felt confident that Hanks would see to everything. He worked his way through the rest of the letters while waiting on Preston. All the rest were benign and related to the War Office and the business at hand. Mack spent the rest of the day replying to correspondence and attending meetings.
Chapter 22
Usually Chang cooked the meals at home, but for some reason Cassie had felt a need to try her hand at cooking a meal for Mack. Bartlett had been kind enough to go to the market for her and get everything she needed. Then three hours later, when the contents of the oven had shot flames at her upon opening the door, and she had thrown up her hands in defeat, Bartlett had made a return trip. This time he returned with Mack’s favorite meat pies.
Bartlett had gently maneuvered her out of the kitchen and taken over the clean up of the mess that was to have been their supper. Cassie ended up in the study writing on her story. After the last few days, she had found herself inspired and had led her characters on a merry chase through the blank pages she had filled with words. That was where Mack found her when he arrived home.
She was so intent on her story, she did not hear him arrive. The lamp burned brightly on the desk, lighting her work space. She blindly reached the nib of her pen to the ink well, but jumped when she felt lips brushing her neck. Cassie gave a squeak and quickly dropped the pen to right the small bottle before ink spilled everywhere.
“Mack, you gave me a start.”
“Did you not hear me? I was speaking to you ever since I walked into the room.”
“I’m sorry, I was writing.”
“I thought I told you no more articles.”
“I’m not going to fight about this with you now.”
Seducing the Ruthless Rogue Page 24