Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) (26 page)

Smokey hadn't even thought of that. She glanced at Darsey,

who had been with Dallas during this time, and then back at

the man himself.

177

"When do they need me?" she wanted to know.

"In about two weeks. Without you they don't have a case."

Smokey hid her disappointment and spoke carefully. "We

could do some trading down the southern coast in the next

week and be back here in two weeks."

Darsey's mind was already obeying orders, but Dallas

stepped in again.

"No."

"What do you mean, no?" Smokey asked him with raised

brows. They'd had no time alone since their confrontation in

Willa's living room, and even though the apology had been

spoken, their relationship was not yet on solid footing.

"I mean that you need a rest, and I know just the place. I've

contacted a friend. He and his wife would be glad to have us."

Smokey glared at Darsey when he covered a laugh with a

cough. The older man was thinking that Dallas was digging

himself in deep.

'You took it upon yourself to arrange leave for me?"

Smokey's tone told Dallas he was in trouble, but his determination

to get this girl to himself for a few days never

wavered

"Yes, I did," he told her calmly. "You look exhausted, your

eye is still black and swollen, and you are going with me to

Bracken. If I can't convince you, I'm sure Darsey can."

"Did you know about this, Darsey Brennan?" Smokey

nailed him with a glance.

"Not a bit, lass, but if you ask me--"

"No one's asking you, Darsey," Smokey cut him off, and it

was Dallas' turn to muffle his laughter.

He was truly desperate to get Smokey someplace safe and

restful, but Dallas knew from the thundercloud on her face

that he was going to have to change tactics. He stepped close

and spoke low.

"You asked me not to let him get you again. I can't do that if

we're not together."

178

In the light of his tender gaze and caring voice, the indignation

drained out of Smokey. Running her tongue over her

suddenly dry lips, a shiver of fear resurfaced

"So you think they might not hold him?"

"I don't know. Something didn't feel right to me, but I can't

put my finger on it."

Smokey nodded, knowing just what he meant. She glanced

out over the Thames in indecision and then at Dallas' shirtront.

Dallas reached out two long fingers and placed them

under Smokey's chin. With a gentle move, he tilted her face

until her eyes met his.

"Please come with me to Bracken so I can take care of you.

Darsey will be there as well, and I know you'll love Brandon

and Sunny."

Smokey thougjit she could agree to anything when he

spoke low and touched her so tenderly.

"All right," Smokey said and felt suddenly cold when

Dallas immediately removed his hand and stepped away. He

turned to leave then, calling absentmindedly over his shoulder

to say that they would be leaving for the country in an

hour.

Dallas completely missed the vulnerable look on Smokey's

face. Darsey, on the other hand, saw it all. He walked down the

gangplank with Dallas and stopped him with a few words

when he would have walked away.

"Don't play games with her." The older man's voice was a

growl.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about touching her and saying sweet things

just to manipulate her."

Dallas stared at him in true surprise. "Does she feel that

way?"

"You saw the look on her face. You know she does."

Dallas looked back to the deck, but Smokey was gone. He

honestly hadn't noticed any distress on Smokey's part. In

truth, he thought Darsey was being overly protective.

179

When Dallas looked at Smokey's first mate again, he was

given one final, serious warning before Darsey boarded the Aramis.

"Don't play with my girl, Mr. Knight, because I won't stand

for it."

Dallas stood for just a moment and recounted his scene

with Smokey. She wasn't some child to be easily fooled, and

Darsey knew that. Dallas was not a man who believed that the

end justified the means. He didn't feel he'd been out of line.

He hoped to have a chance very soon to tell Darsey that he was

overreacting.

It took Dallas just ten minutes into the carriage ride to

Bracken, Lord and Lady Hawkesbury's home, to see that

Darsey had read the signs correctly. He had hurt Smokey. Her

set face and the way she held herself spoke volumes.

Dallas had complimented Smokey on her dress, a lovely

rose-colored day dress, as soon as he had seen her, but he

realized now that her thanks had been rather stiff.

His desire to ask Darsey to ride with the driver so he could

be alone with Smokey was nearly overwhelming. But he knew

that both Smokey and Darsey would take that request as an

insult. It would only make things worse.

If only they weren't so tired right now. Darsey looked ten

years older, and Smokey's good eye sported a dusky circle, a

sure sign of fatigue. DaHas' own eyes had a gritty feel when he

blinked He was glad that evening was approaching, knowing

they could all get some rest soon after they arrived at Bracken.

He told himself he would make things right with Smokey

in the morning. All that mattered right now was her rest and

safety. Dallas found himself wishing he didn't have to sail to

Denmark, but the shipment could not wait. At least he didn't

have to leave until tomorrow afternoon and would only need

to be gone three days.

180

He watched the small brunette nod off from his seat in the

carriage across from Darsey and Smokey. Darsey himself

looked like he would surrender to sleep at any moment, so

Dallas let his own head fall back against the squabs where he

dozed off and on for the next hour.

G/uwfo~Qfy

smokey bunked as she read the clock on the mantel in

her room, certain that it must be wrong. It said 2:00, and the

sun was streaming through her window. Could she have slept

that long?

They had arrived at Bracken, the most gorgeous home

Smokey had ever seen, about 8:00 the evening before. She'd

met the Duke and Duchess of Briscoe, a couple much younger

than she had envisioned, and then been shown to a small

dining room where she, Darsey, and Dallas had been given a

light supper. She could not at the moment even remember

what she ate.

Directly after the meal she had been shown to a bedroom

the size of Willa's entire house. Smokey didn't believe she

would ever fall asleep in such a cavernous space, but sleep she

did and for nearly 17 hours.

Smokey was just thinking about rising when someone

knocked. TUgging the covers up a bit higher, she called an

entrance. Darsey walked in and softly shut the door.

"Good afternoon," Smokey said after he'd taken a chair by

her nightstand.

His eyes twinkled when he spoke. "I'm glad to see you

decided to join us. I've been checking on you all day, wondering

if you were ever going to wake up."

182

183

'I was rather surprised to read the clock a few minutes

ago.

"So -you Just woke up?"

Smokey gave a sheepish nod and then grinned at him.

"Have you ever seen a house like this in all your life?"

"House?" Darsey questioned her. "I believe mansion or

palace would be more fitting."

"I think you're right. Willa would spend all her time cleaning,

certain that no one could do a better job. It would put her

in an early grave."

Darsey agreed and then glanced around the room. He said

his own bedroom was just as magnificent. "I was offered

lunch," Darsey added, "but I wanted to wait for you."

Smokey nodded. "I'd be a little intimidated to be here

without Dallas," Smokey admitted. "I hope he's around when I

get downstairs."

"He won't be," Darsey said flatly, and Smokey wondered at

his tone. "He had to leave for Denmark. He's got a shipment

due in. Said he'd be back in three days, maybe four."

Smokey was so surprised that she did not immediately

speak. Darsey watched her face and knew that he would have

thrashed Dallas if he could have laid hands on him.

"I can't stay here without Dallas," Smokey finally said. "I

mean, they're his friends and I just wouldn't feel right."

"I must admit that I was feeling the same way."

"All right." Smokey made a swift decision. "Give me a

few minutes. I'll get dressed and come downstairs and explain."

Darsey left then, but with a heavy heart. If Dallas really

cared for Smokey, why would he go off and leave her? It

seemed to Darsey that he'd had plenty of opportunity to

explain his plans. Smokey was just starting to look rested, and

the last thing she needed was to travel all the way back to

London today.

Darsey went to his own room to pack up, completely

unaware of the way Dallas had paced the floor of the library

Ukeacaged animal that morning, waitingfor Smokey to come

down.

Less than an hour later, captain and mate appeared downstairs

at Bracken Darsey was holding the handle of his own

rl^ed cS ^well aTsmokey's satchel. T^ey stood in the

ouiet entrvway gripped with indecision.

^ImoSTwas on the verge of knocking on one of the

nume^ doors off the foyer, hoping to find someone to

wC she could explain their sudden departure, when a

voice spoke behind them.

itarHpHe both Smokev and Darsey turned to find a tall,

nea^cada Sual with a very proper air address08

Sarks, head of housekeeping here at Brackea Lady

Hawkesbury is expecting you in the salon. If you and Miss

StaSeT a"nd S eSS a puzzled glance but folJd etheSmrsey

still holding W j

to one of the numerous doors and opened it. ****.***

^^^1^,^^=^ pleasure^ a picture or grace * % * from her place on the sofa. "I hopeyou both slept well. I know

yTmustte hungry, so I've ordered tea tobe^servedand--^

Sunny, a warm and sensitive hostess, suddenly noticed her

^Sthing wrong?" she asked Darsey kindly, making

"We appreciate your kindness, but we need to get bacfc to

London."

184

"Oh," Sunny's eyes swung to Smokey for an instant, and although

her mind was racing, her look was calm.

"Is there something we can do?" Sunny finally asked,

automatically addressing herself to Darsey.

"You've been more than kind," Smokey put in again, "and I

thank you for the good night's sleep, but we really must be on

our way."

Panic began to spiral through Sunny. She knew that Dallas

expected them to be here when he returned, and why in the