“Who the hell are you?” he gasped, his face turning white from the pain.
“Someone very interested in Jillian’s welfare,” he growled. “Stay away from her or you will regret it sorely.”
Lucas cried out as his wrist snapped. Hawk released him and he frantically grabbed his injured hand. “You broke my arm!” he screamed.
“Consider yourself fortunate that it is all I broke.” He turned and guided Jillian the rest of the way to the carriage. To Hawk’s satisfaction he saw the Regent’s royal carriage rolling away from the square. He handed Jillian up into the warm confines of Case’s carriage, and as they rode away they heard Lucas shouting. “I’ll find you, bitch. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll find you!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Justin paused to wipe the sweat from his brow then swung the axe once more, neatly chopping the piece of wood in two. He kicked the pieces over into a pile and positioned another rounded log in front of him. The wind was cold, but he paid it no heed as he concentrated on the task before him.
It had been a week since he and Edward had arrived here, and there was still no sign of Jillian. He was driving himself crazy thinking of the possibilities. What if something had gone terribly wrong? Damn Hawk and his interference. He should be with Jillian, not here like a helpless idiot.
He stopped and let the axe swing down to the ground, leaning heavily on the handle. The ocean swells were large in the distance, and he could hear the waves crashing against the cliffside. A storm was coming.
Gathering an armful of wood, he made his way into the cottage, where he dumped the pieces into the woodbox by the hearth. The fire had died down, and he threw in a few logs and watched as the flames sprang back to life.
As was his practice, he walked over to the window that faced the road and looked out. For six days he had waited for some sign of Jillian, and for six days he had turned away from the window after watching countless wagons and local traffic pass over the dusty road.
He gazed out, and then in disappointment started to turn away, when he saw an approaching carriage out of the corner of his eye. His heart skipped a beat and his breath caught in his throat as he monitored its progress. As it pulled even closer, he stepped out of the front door into the small yard, daring to hope that this might be her.
The carriage came to a stop and the door opened. Case stepped out and reached back and then Jillian came into view. Justin was in front of her in an instant, pulling her into his arms. He closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair, his relief nearly overwhelming. Then he drew back and bent his head, capturing her lips in a long kiss.
Jillian breathed deeply of his warm, masculine scent and burrowed deeper into his arms. How wonderful the comforting safety of his embrace felt. She clung to him, not wanting to let go even for a moment. She hadn’t thought it possible that she could love him more than she had the night of their engagement ball, but now she realized just how wrong she was. How would she ever be able to live without this man?
Case stood back with Hawk and grinned as the two embraced. “Almost makes you believe in love.”
“Almost,” Hawk said dryly.
Justin drew away from Jillian, looking down tenderly at her. The bruises had turned from the black and purple to fading yellow and green and the swelling was nearly gone, but she had never looked more beautiful to him than now.
He escorted her inside with the others, and they sat in the tiny front room, crowding around the fire. Case and Hawk quickly caught him up on the events that occurred after his departure from London, and his heart lurched as they told him of their encounter with Penroth outside Lady Bea’s home.
“You took a terrible risk with your life,” he admonished gently.
“I was in no danger. I had Case and Hawk with me at all times,” she said, ignoring the scowl he gave her.
“Still, it was foolish, but thankfully you are here now and safe.”
A brief, troubled look crossed her face and then was replaced by an indiscernible smile as she listened to Case continue on with the conversation. Justin frowned. What could be bothering her?
After they ate a meal prepared by Edward, Justin insisted that Jillian retire. Exhaustion was evident on her face and she had been unnaturally quiet throughout dinner.
After seeing her into her room, Justin returned to the front room where Case and Hawk were sipping brandy in front of the fire. He sat down and looked over at Case. “I want you to take Edward back with you. He belongs at Whittington, not here. I don’t know when or if it will ever be possible for me to return there, but until then I trust you to see to matters.”
“You can, of course, count on me,” Case said, his voice tight with emotion.
“Justin, you should know that I made Jillian a promise,” Hawk said uneasily.
He raised an eyebrow at his cousin, and a moment of uncertainty gripped him. Why would Hawk have made Jillian a promise and why was Hawk looking very much like he wished he hadn’t made the promise? “Go on,” he said.
“She didn’t want to come,” he said with a pained expression. “But I told her that I promised you I would get her here safely, and then I gave my word to her that once I had fulfilled my promise to you by taking her here–if she didn’t want to stay, then I would convey her wherever she wished to go.”
“She is trying to protect you, Justin,” Case broke in quickly.
“Yes, I can see she is,” Justin said quietly. “I would never keep her here against her will.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” Hawk was looking more uncomfortable by the minute. “I wanted you to know—Case and I must leave in the morning. That gives you just a short time to convince her to stay. I suggest you get to it.”
