Nightingale. Part 17

Less than three hours after that conversation, Bear's new burden grew weighty.

Late in the afternoon, Devlin signaled the driver to pull to the side of the road to allow the pa.s.sengers to stretch and refresh themselves. After the two outriders ranging ahead determined a likely spot to accommodate the ladies' needs, Jessica and Lady Anne retired into a thicket for privacy. When they had finished, the dowager returned to the carriage, but Jessica saw the iridescent flutter of a bluebird and wandered hoping to glimpse the elusive prize.

She heard a rustle in the underbrush, but before she could turn, a huge, calloused hand clamped over her mouth as a matching arm caught her about the waist and lifted her high so her kicking feet met only air.

"Hush up, my love," a familiar voice hissed. She grew still. There were better ways to deal with John Lout than a physical struggle.

"Oh, John, thank heaven it's you. I was frightened nearly to death."

The arm locked at her waist relaxed and he lowered her feet again to the ground. "Ah, Jess, I am relieved to hear yer glad it's me. Is the old duke treating you badly, then?"

She set a warm smile on her face. "No, John, the duke thinks of me as a pet."

"People are saying coa.r.s.e things about you and this duke fella'. They say you warm his bed at night."

"As I told you, he has never suggested intimacy." This statement was not altogether true, if one counted Devlin's teasing.

John's voice lowered a third. "I would kill him if he did. I might go so mad as to kill you, too, before I got meself under control."

"What if he offered to pay for the privilege, John, more than the hundred he already promised for my care and company? What would you say then?"

Lout rubbed his chin and his eyes narrowed. "I'm a reasonable man, Jess. Has he offered money for the favor?"

"No. He hasn't."

"Will he, do you think?"

She shrugged; disheartened that even John could draw the correct conclusion. "No." She looked toward the coach. "I need to return before anyone realizes I am gone."

But their private tete-a-tete had been discovered. In spite of his size, Bear moved through the underbrush with the stealth of a cat.

When his mother returned without Jessica, Devlin sent Bear for their missing member.

Bear grudgingly did as he was bidden, tracking back the way the d.u.c.h.ess had returned.

He heard rustling and the girl's startled yelp when Lout grabbed her. Bear listen, placated by the fact that she did not sound alarmed.

Staying to the cover of the trees, Bear crept close to hear their conversation.

"Does the old duke know we are betrothed?" Lout said, stalking her as she began walking back toward the road.

Bear studied her face and decided the man spoke the truth about their impending nuptials. At the same time, he was curious. Jessica's expression was not that of a bride gazing upon her beloved.

"If that's the case, I'd better take you meself now," Lout said. He lunged, but she sidestepped agilely, staying well beyond his grasp.

"It's likely you shall have me, John, but not before the appointed day, after the words have joined us as man and wife. You agreed."

"All that prevents us now is the speaking a' the words?"

"I intend to have say over my own body until the vicar's words join us."

Lout tramped close, a determined look in his eyes.

The girl might not realize her peril. Bear saw the man's intentions. He thought of his orders not to intervene unless she was threatened. Did the order antic.i.p.ate protecting her from her own beloved?

Lout raised an arm.

No longer ambivalent about his sworn duty, Bear lunged, grabbing a fallen log.

Jessica stood boldly. Lout was nearly on top of her when she squatted and covered her head with both arms.

As the length of dead wood from Bear's hand broke over his head, John went limp. His ma.s.sive body folded over itself with a whoosh.

Hearing the unexpected thud, Jessica peered from between her fingers to see the huge man crumple. She saw Bear and her terror spiked. She shrank again.

"Don't be scared, milady. I'm here to serve you." Bear held out his open hands. "It's me. Bear." He spoke softly, as if to mollify her and, at the same time, keep a watchful eye on Lout. The downed man groaned and began to stir.

"I recognize you, Bear."

"I thought ye might be too scared to know it was me, Miss. Come, then, let's be leaving."

"No. You must go, and quickly, before he rouses."

"How will you explain the lump on his head?"

"I will tell him a branch fell out of the tree. I will tend him sweetly, soothe his wound and gentle him with my caring ministrations, while you run for your life."

Bear swelled to his full, height, over six foot three, and flexed a ma.s.sive arm. "I do not run from fights, Miss, for sure not from a scuffle with no two-footed creature."

"For my sake, then." She knelt and began stroking Lout's brow as he groaned. He raised thick, searching fingers to his head only to encounter Jessica's delicate hand.

He mumbled without opening his eyes. "Am I dead?"

Jessica bit both lips to stifle a laugh. "No, but you were no match for the tree."

"What happened?" His eyelashes fluttered. Jessica raised a pleading look to Bear.

"You have felled many trees in the woods, John. I suppose it was only a matter of time before one took revenge."

There was a slight rustling of underbrush as Bear slipped into the thicket, where the sounds of movement stopped. Jessica knew he had not gone far.

"What does an injury to me have to do with you, Jess?" John groaned.

Seeing the bully humbled, she felt a stir of tenderness. "I do not wish any man ill, especially you who will be my husband, make my living, provide for my table, warm me on cold winter nights in our bed."

His eyes rolled as he tried to focus, his face contorted with a silly look of tender disbelief.

"No, John, I do not wish to see you injured."

His tender look became alarm. "Did you hear something?" Squinting but obviously unable to see clearly, he pointed to the place where Bear had disappeared.

"The wind, John. Come now; let's see if you can stand."

"Nay, not yet."

She started to rise, but he caught her wrist in his great paw. She smiled. "I'll fetch water to wash your face and help you come fully awake."

A giddy smile bowed his lips.

Jessica glanced toward the woods as she scurried to fetch a jug from the carriage. Perhaps she could see Bear's form in the underbrush, but maybe not, camouflaged as he was by the trees. Then a hand appeared, floating, and waved.

She flapped a hand back, as if shooing an insect, in case John saw her and wondered.

Because of the distance and the size of their party, Devlin knew his entourage would not reach the city in one day. He had arranged for accommodations at the Greymont Inn, a relatively clean place, respectable, host to many of the gentry when they spent a night on the road.

As the ladies freshened themselves and prepared to sup in the tavern below stairs, Bear led the duke to the stable, beyond the hearing of others, to report Jessica's meeting with Lout.

"When they spoke of their agreement, did you take it to mean they were referring to their betrothal?" Devlin asked.

"I'm not certain, Your Grace."

"Was she terrified of him?"

"Not so much terrified, as not altogether pleased."

"Perhaps she was startled by his sudden appearance."

"That may be, mixed with annoyance. Her concern rose as they spoke, eying each other like two warriors about to do battle."

Devlin rubbed his chin briskly. "There was no tenderness or affection between them?"

"None." Bear added. "Well, none until I dropped him."

"You say she attended him when he was injured?"

"Yes."

"Of course she did." Devlin mumbled, as if speaking to himself. "That is what she does. Attends the lost and hurting."

Bear felt ashamed that he might have drawn Jessica and Lout closer, which might have been a good thing, under other circ.u.mstances. Obviously that consequence did not please Devlin, however, and what did not please His Grace, did not please Bear.

In his youth, Devlin had not shown good taste in his choice of women. Bear had, on more than one occasion, worried that some temptress would fool the lad with her wiles, but that had not happened.

This one - this Jessica - was different. She slipped into Devlin's heart as she had into almost every other heart in the household.

At first, Bear did not trust her for allowing the sightless Devlin to believe her a young girl rather than a la.s.s of marriageable age. She did not behave like a girl in search of a husband.

Bear was better satisfied with her behavior when he saw her with the horses, the kittens in the barn, her exuberance with the hounds that showed none of their usual mistrust of strangers. He liked her exchanges with the household staff as well. She treated them as equals, in spite of her preferred status, yet she did not let the officious ones take advantage of her.

Mostly, however, he liked how she was with Devlin, respectful, watchful, not overly sympathetic, pus.h.i.+ng him but not expecting more of him than he could manage.

He also liked that she didn't sidle close or rub against the duke, as many a la.s.s had done, even when he had his sight, to draw his attention.

There was quality, character and conduct worthy of respect in this Jessica Blair. When Devlin asked Bear to keep an eye on her, he accepted the charge with more than a little curiosity of his own.

In the tavern below stairs for supper, the duke dismissed his concerns as he and his mother and Jessica finished their meal. He ordered extra gla.s.ses of a surprisingly good wine, which, the keep boasted, he made himself.

Noisy new arrivals shouted and shoved benches that sc.r.a.ped and toppled thunderously, disrupting the cozy atmosphere. Devlin did not want to show his annoyance, particularly when he felt Jessica, on his left, stiffen as the rowdies fairly took over the establishment.

Devlin placed a steadying hand on the back of her neck and put his mouth close to her ear. "Do not be alarmed, Nightingale. They are just off the road. There is no cause for concern."

"I am sure you are correct, Your Grace."

She remained stiffly alert and Devlin was prompted to ask, "What is causing you such discomfort, darling?"

"Nothing, Your Grace. I am just being silly."

"Are you overly fatigued?"

She insisted she was fine, shushed him, and fell silent as his mother continued her running account of who was who in London society, but where Jessica had asked questions and expressed genuine interest earlier, she grew tense and did not speak.

"Jessica, are you tired?" the d.u.c.h.ess asked finally.

"What? Oh, yes, Your Grace. The excitement of the day and the long ride has finally caught up with me. I am embarra.s.sed that you and the duke are able to outlast me."

Lady Anne laughed lightly. "We have had years of conditioning. In town, people often welcome the dawn before seeking their beds."

"How does one endure it?"

"We sleep away the morning, a practice foreign to you. Just as well. I doubt it is one that will be available to any of us tomorrow. In keeping with country hours, I suppose we should be up the stairs and to bed."

Instead of listening to his companions, Devlin had tuned his sensitive hearing to private conversations, particularly to the last noisy group, for their talk seemed to be about the n.o.bleman and his ladies. He didn't like the men observing his party so closely.

Then the deepest, most graveled voice overcame the others as all conversation in the room fell to whispering.

Devlin knew his concerns probably were unwarranted. Still, he would feel better having his charges upstairs and bolted. He would put both ladies in one room and a.s.sign Bear to the door. Also, he decided to tell Ned, a st.u.r.dy, well-trusted footman, to mind the back of the tavern, the area between the inn and the stable, as another precaution.

"Jessica," Devlin said quietly as she guided him up the stairs, his hand, as usual, on her shoulder, "would you mind very much quartering with my mother tonight?"

Her exhale sounded like relief. "Certainly, Your Grace."

No questions? How extremely unlike her, but she had been behaving strangely since the band of men entered the tavern. Perhaps they had expressed unwelcome interest, had cast lurid looks her way, and she had been uncertain about how to spurn their attention. He didn't bother asking. She would no doubt deny her nervousness in an effort to allay his concerns.