“I accepted you, Alex.”
His hands caressed hers. “I know, and I was truly blessed to have found in you such a wonderful friend.” He let go of her hands then and shifted in his seat to face Rose. “Mary was and is a great friend, Rose, but it was your mother who stole my heart in total. One kiss and I knew she was mine forever, though sadly fate did not give us that long.”
Her mother. Dead. Gone. Leaving Rose to take on the responsibility of caring for her father when other young women were courting, marrying, having babies.
She had not minded—then. But now…
She withdrew her hand from Nathan’s. Now she minded but should not. Now she wanted more. But her father still needed her. Especially now.
“Do not worry about the diamond. It is in safekeeping.”
“Where? They searched our home, ransacked it, but found nothing.”
“That is because it is not there. Your mother is keeping it safe.”
“Mother?”
“Don’t be surprised. Your mother always blessed Mary for getting me out of Zarrenburg when others wanted my head on the guillotine.”
Rose swallowed back her shock, refusing to allow such images into her brain. Her father was free. Safe. She would not think of death.
“When I retrieved the Pasha Star, I went directly from the exhibition to the cemetery. Your mother has the diamond.”
“Ingenious,” Nathan enthused. “I knew you would find a way out of this. Thank you, old friend.”
The princess beamed. “Oh, Alex, you bring tears to an old woman’s eyes.”
Alex’s face softened. “Not so old, Your Highness, and still very beautiful.”
Rose witnessed the faint tint of a blush to the princess’s cheeks. It did not worry her that her father had feelings for this woman. They were old friends, and that was the best kind to have. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Nathan. Could she consider him an old friend?
A lover?
No. He wasn’t either of those things. Last night was simply fleeting; a moment in time to take solace in another being.
Worry trailed across her brain, and she dragged her gaze from him. She could protest all she wanted that her time in Nathan’s arms meant nothing, that she felt nothing, and that she did not want more.
But it was a lie.
She wanted it all, and that scared her. She had never wanted love or marriage before, at least not with any of the men clamoring for her attention. But with Nathan… That was different.
But it could never be. He would leave as soon as the exhibition was over, and she would remain to fulfill her promise to her mother. There was no future for her with Nathan Hawk.
Rose glanced toward Nathan, who discussed something quietly with her father. Damn it, they’re planning something—without me.
Alex stood and massaged his back. “A wash and clean clothes would be greatly appreciated, but first Nathan and I will go and retrieve your diamond. I cannot rest until it is safe in your hands once more.”
I knew it. Rose jumped to her feet. “Just you two. Typical, just the men. That’s not fair.” She clenched her hands at her sides. Rose knew her anger was exaggerated, but… Saving her father had been paramount. In truth, she didn’t care a whit about the diamond, just that her father was safe. But by going out to retrieve the Pasha Star, he would put himself at risk again.
“Rose, my daughter…”
“No, Papa. I love you very much, but…” She directed her gaze to Nathan. “You will not leave me behind. You promised we were a team.”
Nathan offered a shrug. “It’s dangerous.”
“Oh, phooey. It was dangerous when the soldiers were shooting at us. And who saved your sorry backside? Me. Now you think it’s too dangerous for me.”
“You have a strong young woman for a daughter, my friend. You should be proud of her.” The princess tugged on the bell cord at the side of the closed door.
“I am.”
“So let me come with you.”
A maid entered within seconds, and the princess quickly gave instructions. She turned back to face them. “Clean clothes, food, and hot water are being delivered to your rooms as we speak. I’ve also arranged for my guards to escort you to and from the cemetery. I know it is a place of solitude and sadness for you, my old friend, but now that Randolph knows you have escaped, he will stop at nothing to find you, and the diamond.”
“I understand.”
The princess turned to Rose and gathered Rose’s dirty and bloody hands in her delicate pale ones. She did not even blink at the filth. “It is you and young Nathan I must thank also. You have put yourselves in great danger. You are a brave young woman. I think I know where you inherited that from. Your mother was a very determined woman to take on Alex.”
“You knew my mother?”
“Sadly, no,” she said with a tiny smile, “but I knew of her. She would be so proud of you. You have turned into a remarkable young woman. Any husband you choose will be a very lucky man.” Her gaze shifted ever so slightly toward Nathan.
Rose tugged her hands loose. “Thank you for the compliment. My mother was formidable. She…she showed great courage when she was dying.”
“Not an easy death.”
“No.”
“That is why your father needs you safe.”
Prince Randolph was nothing if not devoted to his cause of seizing power. Instinctively, Rose knew he wouldn’t give up. Not until he had the diamond and the ultimate glory of reigning over Zarrenburg in his firm grip. He wouldn’t let go. Her father and Nathan would be in just as much danger whether she went or not.
She swung to face them. “You need me. I can be an extra pair of eyes for you.”
“That’s what the princess’s guards are for.” Nathan’s stare seemed distant, cutting her adrift.
Words formed on her tongue but failed to materialize, and she clamped her jaw closed. He did not need her now and had cast her aside. Frustration rode through her.
The princess leaned closer, whispering to her. “Love is never easy, my dear. Don’t make the same mistake I made. Fight for what you want.”
“I promised my mother I would look after my father.”
“An obligation you have fulfilled admirably. Your mother loved your father very much. He is a loveable man. She would want you to have the same.”
“But what will happen to him without me?”
The princess, about to reply, was forestalled by the return of her maid. “The rooms are ready for your guests, Your Highness, and the guard contingent awaits.”
“Thank you, Serena.”
Her father and Nathan ceased their conversation.
The princess linked her fingers together; though it was obvious she could not suppress her delight that the Pasha Star was safe. “Your escort is ready when you are, dear friend.”
Her father nodded. “Thank you. The sooner your diamond is in your safe hands, the better.”
“Nathan!” Rose’s squeak echoed around the ornately plastered walls. “You will not leave me behind!”
He turned to her. “You’re better off here.”
“No! I intend to see this to the end.”
Her father captured her hands in his. “Not this time, dear daughter. You must stay here. It is too dangerous.”
“And hasn’t it been dangerous these last few days? Why cannot I see this to the end?”
“Because you are safe. Because you are my daughter, and I love you.”
“But…”
Her father stemmed her tirade, placing the tip of his arthritic finger on her lips. “Silence, sweet Rose.”
“Ha, you must be joking. Rosie doesn’t know the meaning of silence, or acquiescence.”
Rose shot Nathan a demonic glare. “No one asked for your opinion.”
He shrugged. “It’s never stopped me before.” His nonchalance morphed into a full smile, and despite her frustration at her father’s stance, Rose couldn’t staunch the butterflies taking flight in her stomach or the strange flip-flop sensation there.
Not strange. She knew that feeling well where Nathan Hawk was concerned.
Her father reached out to her. “Go upstairs, child. Take a bath, for I’m sure it has been some time since you indulged in such luxury.”
Nathan snorted, sniffing at the air theatrically, and a deep blush heated Rose’s cheeks. Then he turned his attention the princess. “I think it is time to retrieve your diamond.”
The guards were summarily called, and Nathan and her father, along with their escort, walked to the main foyer. Rose and the princess followed.
“Go upstairs, daughter. Relax. Enjoy your bath and…” Her father’s voice faltered, eyes misted with exhaustion. He leaned into her, whispering, “Know that I love you, always.” With that, he spun away, striding on legs bowed with age, the guard cortege following him.
Nathan hesitated, and Rose was captured by his intense stare.
“What? Have you decided you need a bath too? For I do declare you are rather odiferous.”
“Only if you’re offering to scrub my back, squirt.”
Rose sniffed. “In your dreams.”
“Ah yes, my dreams. Such fantasies.” With a chuckle, Nathan left with her father.
The princess came alongside her. “Do not fear. They are well protected.”
“I know.”
“He loves you, you know.”
“Of course. He’s my father, and I love him.”
“No. I speak of Nathan. It’s in his eyes.”
“Rubbish. The man is self-absorbed.”
“He only thinks of your safety. Why do you think he agreed with your father?”
“Because he wants the limelight. Save the diamond and all that.”
“You’re wrong, child. Your father and Nathan both want to protect you.”
“I’m no wilting flower.”
“No, you’re not. But men see it differently. Perhaps we bring out their protective instincts.”
The image of Nathan in a bearskin came immediately to mind, and Rose chuckled “That may be, as long as Nathan doesn’t try carting me off by my hair!”
Chapter Seventeen
After a bath and donning a clean dress brought by the princess’s maid, Rose almost felt renewed.
Everything would be perfect once the diamond was returned.
She glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece over the fireplace in her bedchamber.
Already an hour had passed since her father and Nathan had left for the cemetery.
What if something had gone wrong? What if Prince Randolph had tracked them down?
Fear pirouetted in her gut, churning with increasing intensity as the minutes passed.
Suddenly, a horse whinnied and carriage wheels echoed from the cobbles outside. Rose raced to the window and peered down into the internal courtyard.
They were back.
Her feet flew as she descended the stairs, but she stalled at the landing as the door opened and her father and Nathan stepped inside.
Her heart skipped several beats.
Nathan! Her Nathan.
His dark eyes that almost smoldered sought hers and held them as something unspoken passed between them. Her grip on the handrail tightened. She wanted to release it, rush to him. Kiss him.
Dear Lord, she was lost.
“You’ve scrubbed up, I see.” His gaze twinkled, and the humor-filled statement forced her to release her hold on the handrail. But she didn’t take a step toward him.
She shifted her gaze to her father. “You’ve got it?”
He held up a canvas pouch. “Indeed. Safe and sound, just as we both are.”
The princess rushed out from the room to the left. “Oh, Alex.” She reached for her father, grasped his shoulders and hugged him, kissing his cheek. His face turned pink, and Rose would bet that it had nothing to do with the chill of the night air they had just taken leave of.
“Come in, come and get warm.” The princess directed them into the lounge, but Rose hesitated, somehow feeling left out of the moment.
Nathan stalled at the doorway and turned to her. “Not coming to see what’s caused all this trouble?” He held a hand out to her, and Rose swallowed back the lump that had formed in her throat. She stared at his hand, his long fingers, remembering the feel of them as they had grazed over her skin.
Remembering it and wanting it again.
She took the remaining steps down, but instead of taking his hand, she walked right past him.
The princess sat beside her father, excitement and relief blatantly sparkling in her eyes. “I cannot thank you enough for this moment, Alex, all of you. This means everything to Zarrenburg, and my family.” She looked directly at Rose’s father. “And my son.”
The only other seating in the room was the sofa, upholstered in a soft pink. Rose looked at the seat and then at Nathan, who now sat there.
He patted the spare seat. “Aren’t you brave enough to sit by me?”
Words failed her, and the room went silent. With a toss of her head, she took the seat beside him, ensuring she kept as far away as possible. Under no circumstances did she want to touch him. Touching was out of bounds. Dangerous to her sanity.
Nathan leaned over to her. “See, you are a brave warrior.”
Rose steeled herself from reaching out and slapping him, then kissing him better. “So does that make you my enemy?”
The princess’s tinkling laughter infiltrated the moment. “Now, now, you two. Children are always the same, are they not, Alex? Mr. Hawk, I suggest you sort out your lover’s quarrel with this beautiful young woman.”
Though Nathan went to answer, a wag of her father’s finger at him silenced his retort.
The princess held the pouch aloft. “Welcome home to your rightful place, my Pasha Star.” She tugged at the drawstring closer and tipped the pouch up. The diamond tumbled into her open palm.
Rose’s jaw dropped at the beauty of it.
Yes, she had created several in its image, but seeing the real diamond took her breath away.
The princess noted her awe. “It does that to everyone who sees it, for it is not simply beautiful, but there is a purity in its beauty, an honesty that inspires love.”
“Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder.”
“True, Mr. Hawk.” Princess Mary held the diamond out to Nathan. “What do you see?”
It was then that Rose realized Nathan’s eyes were not on the diamond, but on her.
“Ah.” He tapped a finger to his nose and offered a smile she wished he did not direct at her. “That would be telling.”
* * * * *
Dinner proved enjoyable, the princess regaling them with stories of court and Nathan enthralling them with tales of life in San Francisco and the New World, of Indians, and trains across vast landscapes that seemingly went on forever.
As the meal ended, an enveloping tiredness seemed to overcome them all and silence settled over the room. The princess pushed her wineglass away. “Tomorrow night there is to be a grand gala and you are, of course, all invited.” Her gaze rested on Rose’s father. “It is the least I can do. A thank-you for all you have done. Of course, I will wear the Pasha Star.” The princess reached over to Rose and took her hands in hers. “Will you help me make sure the clasp is secure?”
“Of course. It would be my pleasure.”
“I have already requested a gown be stitched for you. Teal, I think, because it will be a perfect foil for your delightful coloring, do you not think so, Mr. Hawk?”
Nathan, his glass of claret at his lips, replaced the glass to the table. “Perfe
ct.”
Perfect?
Did he really think so?
Rose stole a look at him, trying to decipher what she witnessed in his eyes, only to be forestalled as his long dark lashes veiled his expression.
He was talking of San Francisco. His home. The place he would return to. He was a man with an adventurous spirit. He lived in his world, and she in hers.
Rose continued to listen to his stories, and with each new one, a sense of sadness took hold, until finally she needed to leave.
She excused herself, exhaustion taking over, and headed upstairs to bed.
Despite her fatigue, sleep, however, proved impossible.
A soft knock sounded on her door.
For a moment, she didn’t move.
Whoever it was knocked again.
“Rosie, it’s me. Open up.”
Butterflies took flight in her stomach.
Rose tossed the covers back and scrambled from the bed, feet padding over the thick Oriental rug. Her hand clasped the door handle, but she hesitated, teeth scraping over her bottom lip.
Was this foolish?
The adventurous stories Nathan recounted at the dinner table came to mind. Adventure. His adventures.
Well, this is yours.
She opened the door. He stood with his shirt open, baring his chest. Flames heated Rose’s cheeks as scalding as any furnace, nipples pebbling beneath her nightgown. As discreetly as possible, she wrapped her arms across her chest.
“I’ve come to say I’m sorry.”
Her brows shot up. She hadn’t been expecting that. “About?”
“I should have insisted that you come with us to the cemetery.”
Her annoyance resurfaced. “You should have. Why didn’t you?”
To Love a Thief (Steel Hawk) Page 19