Jade Star (Star Quartet 4)

“You think I’m afraid to work?”

“Jules, I don’t think you’re afraid of a damned thing, more’s the pity.”

Yes, she wanted to tell him, she was afraid of more things than she could count. Why wasn’t he angry with her, yelling at her, for going to see Maggie?

She blurted out her last thought, “Aren’t you angry with me?”

He nodded. “Yes, of course.”

But he didn’t care enough to yell at her, she thought. She didn’t know what to say. She watched him rise. He’d opened his shirt at the neck and she coud see the silken tufts of hair on his chest. He was so handsome, she thought, her eyes going down his body hungrily. But he didn’t love her, he didn’t even like her, not anymore. She gave him nothing but trouble.

“I’m going out,” Saint said. “Incidentally, Jules,” he added, halting a moment in the doorway, “Thackery will be here.”

“Ah yes, my jailer. Give my regards to Mrs. Branigan.”

He paused and said, his voice hard, “You will cease using Jane as a bone of contention between us. She is a fine woman. I admire her and respect her, but that is all.”

She lowered her head, saying nothing.

21

January is a brooding month, Jules thought, pulling her cloak more closely about her. The air was thick with sw

irling fog and a chilling drizzle that made her bones ache with cold. She thought of Maui, pictured herself running along the beach, the warm trade winds in her face. She wondered if she’d ever become accustomed to this bitter climate. She supposed with a shake of her head that she should count her blessings. After all, she could have ended up in Toronto.

She’d managed to lose Thackery. She’d gotten quite adept at it over the past couple of weeks. She was hunting again. It added excitement to the game to think she was also the hunted. Wilkes was there, waiting for her, just as she was searching for him. She knew it, she could practically feel his presence.

It was odd, her thinking continued, even as her eyes darted about her as she walked, but Wilkes had become the focal point of her life. It was odd and, she realized, rather pathetic. But she had nothing else.

Both Thomas and Lydia knew that Michael slept in the parlor. Lydia had said nothing, but Thomas had not been so reticent. Indeed, she thought, seeing his face in her mind’s eye, he’d been appalled and angry.

“What the hell is going on, Jules?”

She’d merely looked at him, not at first understanding his attack.

“Saint,” he nearly shouted at her. “Your husband, little sister. I find to my chagrin that my brother-in-law, the owner of this damned house, is sleeping like some sort of extra guest downstairs! What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” Jules said.

That had brought him up short. His features softened just a bit. “Look, Jules, I realize that all is not well with you two, but you don’t even allow him to sleep in his own bed?”

“He doesn’t want to,” Jules said.

“Oh, come on, Jules.” Thomas said in disgust. “You’re not exactly a troll. I don’t understand any of this.”

“It’s very simple, Thomas,” Jules said, her voice hard. “Michael didn’t want to marry me in the first place. He had to, if you’ll remember. In terms of sleeping with me, he’s not interested.” That wasn’t precisely true, but all the rest of it was hardly Thomas’ business, after all.

Thomas looked shocked. “He’s never slept with you?”

“Once. That, it appears, was more than enough. Now, Thomas, is there anything else?”

He saw tears sparkling in her eyes, and without another word gathered her in his arms. “This isn’t right, love,” he said quietly, stroking her hair. “I’m sorry, Jules. Damn, after all that happened to you, well . . . is there anything I can do?”

She shook her head against his shoulder. “Don’t embarrass Michael, please, Thomas. He doesn’t deserve it, it’s not his fault. He’s making the best of a bad bargain.”

But there was something Thomas could do, and he had done it two days later. He’d moved out. The short note he’d left his sister simply said that it was time to make his own way. And he’d thanked her for her hospitality.

Thomas had been gone a week now, Jules thought, starting momentarily at the shadow of a man in an alley to her right. Nothing. Jules had moved that same day back into the guestroom.