"Did you witness the murder before or after you hit yourself in the head?" Caine asked.
"Do you suppose it was a titled gentleman she saw murdered?" Monk asked Caine.
"I did not hit myself," Jade snapped. "And it was before… no, it was after. At least I think it was after
I fell down. Oh, I don't remember now. My head's pounding again. Do quit your questions, sir."
Caine turned back to the tavernkeeper. "Now I'm beginning to understand," he said. He looked at Jade again. "Were you wearing your cloak at the time of this mishap?"
"Yes," she answered. She looked perplexed. "But what does that…"
"You tore your cloak and bruised your face when you fell down, didn't you?"
His tone was a little too condescending for her liking. "Tell me exactly what it is you think you're beginning to understand."
"It's really very simple," he answered. "Your head suffered a trauma, Jade. You aren't thinking logically now, though I must admit that most women aren't ever logical. Still, with plenty of rest and care, in a
few days you'll realize your mind was just playing tricks on you. You'll be worrying about what gown
to wear to your next ball then."
"My mind isn't playing tricks on me," she cried out.
"You're confused."
"I am not confused!"
"Quit shouting," Caine ordered. "If you'll only think about what I'm…"
He gave up when she shook her head at him. "You're too addled to be reasoned with now. We'll wait until you're feeling better."
"He's right, miss," Monk whispered. "If you'd seen a titled gentleman murdered, the news would have
hit this section of town right off. The men who'd done the deed would have boasted of their cunning. Listen to Caine now. He knows what's best."
"But if you believe I'm just imagining I'm in danger, then you don't need to protect me, do you?"
"Oh, yes, I do," he replied. "Only now I know who I'm protecting you against."
Before she could ask another question, he continued. "Like it or not, you're a menace until you've recovered. In all good conscience, I can't leave you on your own." His smile was gentle when he added, "I guess you could say I'm protecting you from yourself, Jade. Now give me your satchel. I'll carry it for you."
She tried to lift the bag before Caine could and ended up in a tug of war. Caine won. "What in God's name do you have in here?" he asked. "This thing weighs more than you do."
"Everything I own," she answered. "If it's too much for you, I'll be happy to carry it."
Caine shook his head. He took hold of her hand. "Come along. My carriage is waiting two blocks over. You should be home in bed."
She drew to an abrupt stop. "Whose bed, Caine?"
His sigh was loud enough to wake the drunks littering the alleys. "Your very own bed," he snapped. "Your virtue's safe. I never take virgins to my bed and I sure as certain don't want you."
He thought she would be relieved by his vehement promise not to bother her. It was only a half lie, of course. He did want to kiss her, yet he wasn't sure if it was merely out of the need to have a few minutes of blissful silence.
"Is that a little rule of yours?" she asked. "Not to bed a virgin?"
She looked highly insulted. Caine didn't know what to make of that reaction. "It is," he answered. "I also don't bed daft women I don't particularly like, sweet, so you're safe enough with me."
He dared to grin at her when he made those shameful remarks. "I do believe I'm beginning to hate you," she muttered. "Well, you're bloody safe with me, too, Caine. I would never let you touch me, either."
"Good."
"Yes, good," she replied, determined to have the last word. "If you don't quit dragging me, I'm going
to scream your name over and over again until the authorities come and take you away, Pagan."
"I'm not Pagan."
"What?"
She almost fell down. Caine grabbed her. "I said, I'm not Pagan."
"Just who in thunder are you then?"
They'd reached his carriage but she refused to let him assist her inside until he'd answered her question. She kept slapping his hands away.
Caine gave in. He tossed her satchel up to the driver, then turned back to her. "My name really is Caine. I'm the Marquess of Cainewood. Now will you get inside? This is neither the time nor the place for a lengthy discussion. When we're on our way, I'll explain everything to you."
"You promise?"
"I promise," he answered with a low growl.
She didn't look like she believed him. Jade folded her arms across her chest. "Shame on you, Caine. You've been pretending to be the noble pirate all this time…"
"That bastard's a lot of things, Jade, but he sure as hell isn't noble."
"How can you know if you speak truth or fancy?" she demanded. "I'll wager you never even met the man. Is your own life so unhappy that you must pretend to…"
The look on his face turned as stinging as his hard grip on her arm, interrupting her speech. While she watched, he tore the flower from his lapel and tossed it on the ground. He wasn't at all gentle when he half lifted, half tossed Jade inside the vehicle.
Once the carriage started moving, the interior was thrown into darkness. She couldn't see his scowl and was most relieved.
He couldn't see her smile either.
They rode in silence a short while. Jade used the time to regain her composure. Caine used the time to calm his frustration.
"Why were you pretending to be Pagan?"
"To hunt him down," Caine answered.
"But why?"
"Later," he snapped. "I'll tell you all about it later, all right?"
He was sure his hard tone of voice would discourage her from asking any more questions. He was mistaken.
"You're angry because I made you quit your hunt, aren't you?"
His sigh indicated his impatience. "You didn't make me quit my hunt. I might have failed thus far, but when we've taken care of your problem, I'll go back to my hunt. Don't worry, Jade. I won't fail."
She wasn't at all worried, but she couldn't very well tell him that. Caine hadn't failed at all. No, he'd
gone into the tavern to draw Pagan out.