The Cracksman's Kiss (15 page)

“Seven years? I was under the impression
he could have me declared dead after one?”

“It depends on the judge and the circumstances my dear.”

Kassie lifted her chin and nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Penning. I am sorry to have wasted your time.”

He nodded and stood to escort her to the door. “Good luck to you, Lady Everton.”

She didn’t bother to answer as she made her way out the door and down the street. Tears blurred her vision, and she blinked them away. Seven years was a long time. On the other hand, what else did she have to do? There was no other waiting in the wings.

Chapter
Eighteen

Kassie huddled on the small bed as the ship pitched and r
olled in the violent storm. She moaned, fighting the steady waves of nausea. In her grief she had not thought to procure more ginger root and the results of her forgetfulness was miserable. Her new maid was of little help since it turned out the girl was terrified of the sea. Kassie moaned again. She would rather be afraid than seasick. A chair crashed to the floor as the ship floundered on its side for a moment, then lurched back in the other direction. Squeezing her eyes shut, clutching the side of the bed, she wallowed in her misery.

“Kassie?”

She opened her eyes. Auggie stood in the doorway, feet braced against the bucking of the ship. “Why did you not let me die?”

He stumbled across to the bed. “Nay, lass, ye donna’ want t' die.”

She closed her eyes as he sat down on the edge.

“What kin I get for ye?”

Kassie shook her head. “There is naught you can do for me, Auggie.”

The ship pitched again and Kassie would have rolled onto th
e floor if Auggie hadn’t caught her. She didn’t protest as he wrapped his big arms around her and cradled her against his broad chest.

“I’m sorry lass.”

“You cannot help the storm.” Kassie sniffed. A shudder rippled through his chest. It took her a moment to realize the man was shaking. Puzzled she squinted up at him in the dim light of the room. Something shiny glistened on his cheeks, and a drop of dampness fell onto her hand. Was the great hulking man crying?

“I’m so sorry, lassie. I tried t' save ‘em both, really I did.”

Kassie wiggled against his chest in an attempt to sit up, but his arms held her captive, his body shaking with great sobs of grief. Before Kassie knew it, she was clutching him to her and sobbing as hard as he.

“I canna’ claim to know how ye feel, lassie. I lost a good fr
iend, but ye lost yer wee bairn and the man ye love.”

The words hit Kassie as if wielded by a runaway coach a
nd four. The man she loved. Her heart broke at that moment. The tears she shed up till now were nothing compared to the grief which released itself in torrents in the comfort of Auggie’s arms. She clutched his shirt front as his lips brushed the top of her head, then turned her face up and looked into his eyes. The pain and anguish there was like a mirror into her tortured soul. Her mind was in a fog when his lips locked onto hers, his kiss desperate, rough, and without meaning. She gave into his plea, wrapping her arms around his neck and returning his savage kiss with frantic thoughtlessness. They shared their grief in this way until neither one could breath, their hands and lips roving, desperate, searching for a release from the pain.

Auggie pulled away, his breathing ragged and his eyes wild.
“Kassie, forgive me lass, for I dinna’ mean to do this.”

Kassie looked down, her breath coming in gasps as labored as his. Shame filled her. What
was she doing? She wanted him, but not in the way she had wanted Cohen. This was a primal need, a searching for a release of all the pain, fright, and loneliness she carried for the last year and a half. To give in to this feeling was wrong. She pushed against his chest to free herself, but he held tight.

“I’m sorry, lass.”

Kassie didn’t need to look up to know the sincerity of his words. She stopped her struggles and leaned against his warmth. “Just hold me, Auggie, please. Just hold me.”

They weathered the storm together, finding an odd peace in the
sharing of their grief. By the time the sea calmed, the brutal pain was eased as well.

“Kassie?”

She rubbed her cheek, salty with dried tears against his soft tartan. “Yes, Auggie?”

“I promised Cohen I’d look after ye if any thin’ happened to him.”

Kassie smiled. “You have fulfilled your promise.”

“N
ay.” He sat up and eased her away from his chest. “I want to take ye to wife, Kassie. Marry me and I swear I’ll protect and cherish ye for the rest of yer days.”

If all her tears were not already spent she would have cried
. “Oh, Auggie.” She cradled his face in her small hands. “I cannot marry you, for I belong to Lord Everton for seven years. Until he is convinced of my death and has the marriage annulled, I will not be free of him.”

Auggie nodded, but the determined look in his eye did not fad
e. “Then I’ll wait. Until then, I’ll keep ye safe and see ye are happy.”

“Thank you.” Kassie p
laced a light kiss on his cheek, and then sobered, dropping her hands to her side. He wrapped his arms around her, leaning back so he was sitting up against the wall. Kassie took a deep cleansing breath and sagged against him. Her eyes grew heavy as he stroked her hair. “I do not know what I would have done without you these past few days.”

“I only wish I could have saved ‘em for ye.”

She closed her eyes, the soft rise and fall of his chest lulling her into a false sense of contentment. What was she going to do? She could not accept Auggie’s proposal. It was not fair of her to make him wait, and did he not have a girl somewhere? Once they told Cohen’s family where would she go? Perhaps she could find work keeping books somewhere. She yawned. It was not likely anyone would hire her when she did not even speak French very well. Perhaps she could ask Alex to continue to tutor her.
Now that I am alone in the world I will have to learn to
fend for myself.

“Auggie?”

“Yes lass?”

“Tell me about Cohen.”

“He was a good man, and I am proud to ‘ave called him my friend. We met on my first dig in Scotland. He was sweet on my sister Gwendolyn.”

Kassie pushed aside the stab of jealousy at the thought
of Cohen being sweet on anyone other than her.

“We always thought he’d marry her, but then the cave-in ha
ppened. Everton could not stand the idea of losin’ out on a major find so he sabotaged the supports along the cliff. The side collapsed, my father and a couple others were killed. My sister thought Cohen was trapped down there, and she tried to go down herself to get him. She fell from the cliff when the last support gave way.”

She pondered his words. “Why did no one hold the earl accountable for his dirty deed?”

“Everton is a cunnin’ bastard. We all knew he was behind it, but the men he hired mysteriously disappeared.”

“Oh.” Kassie yawned. “For what it is worth, I
am sorry you lost your family.”

His voice softened. “Thank ye, lass.” He eased his bulk o
ut from behind her. “Sleep now, lass.”

She smiled as he tucked the covers up around her chin like a mother putting a child to bed.
He did not love her and never would. All he wanted was to protect her; she could not let him throw away his own future because of his promise. No matter what, she had to make it on her own.

After Auggie left, she sat up and reached for the orient
al box she kept by the bed. Her fingers stroked the top of the polished surface before she opened it and plucked out the little jade elephant. She rolled the smooth carving around in her fingers as was her habit when she needed to feel close to Cohen. The ship lurched and the box slid from her lap, clattering to the floor. She waited until the sea settled, and then leaned over the cot and picked up the box. A piece of the teak wood had broken loose and caught on the blanket. She tugged it loose and the piece dropped into her lap along with a small velvet pouch. Setting the box beside her, she stared at the tiny black sack. Picking it up with trembling fingers, she untied the strings and dumped the contents onto her palm. A piece of rolled up parchment paper fell out. She turned it around in her hands. An emerald encrusted ring held the paper in place. Kassie slipped the paper from the ring and unrolled it, recognizing Cohen’s handwriting.

Kassie,

If anything should happen to me I hope you will find this ring. It is the ring I intend to place on your finger the day you and I are wed. Wear it and my family will honor my commitment to you and our son.

My love for eternity,

Cohen.

A single tear trickled down Kassie’s cheek. When did Cohen hide th
e ring in her box? Why did he not tell her about the hidden compartment? She let the paper roll up and placed it in the box beside the elephant. Picking up the ring, she held it up to the small shaft of light filtering through the porthole. The emeralds flashed in the scant light, twinkling, the same color as Cohen and Lucca’s eyes. She slipped the ring on her finger and settled back under the covers. Pressing her hand to her breast, she smiled.
He intended to marry me.

Chapter
Nineteen

Kassie shifted on the carriage seat, staring at the massive old
castle looming in the distance against the churning seascape. This was Cohen’s home? No wonder his whole family lived with him. The place looked like it could house an entire town with little difficulty. She glanced at Auggie. His leg twitched as his fingers worried the brim of the hat he held in his hands.
The poor man.
She could not imagine having to tell a family she was close to of their brother’s death. Auggie looked pained, his eyes blank and unreadable. The coach rattled through the weather whitened stone gates and up to the impressive matching steps. He set his lips into a grim line and opened the coach door as it came to a stop. After he stepped down, he turned, and held out his hand to her.

Kassie twisted the heavy ring on her finger. Would Cohe
n’s family welcome her or would they see her as the instrument of his death? If she had anywhere else to go she would have fled at that moment, but Auggie needed her. Standing beside him was the least she could do to thank him for all his support. She stood and allowed Auggie to help her from the coach. He gave her a sad smile and squeezed her hand. They were making their way up the steps when the door was flung open.

“Auggie!” A small dark-
haired woman squealed, limping her way down the steps, leaning on a cane.

He let go of Kassie’s hand and hurried up the steps to inter
cept the woman, scooping her up in his arms and twirling her around. “Emmie, ye look ravishin’ as always.”

The pale woman giggled, throwing her arms around his
neck and planting a kiss on his cheek. “You always know how to flatter a girl.”

Auggie set her down with great care. “Only the pretty
ones.” He smiled and turned to Kassie. “Emmie, this is Kassie. Kassie, this is Miss Emily Ashton.”

She caught her breath as Emily turned to her. Cohen’s daz
zling green eyes looked back at her from a feminine replica of his face. She blinked. “It is nice to meet you, Emily. Cohen has told me so much about you.”

Emily blushed. “All of it good, I hope.” She smiled. “How do you know my brother?”

Kassie drew a sharp breath.

Auggie glanced at her and
then turned back to Emily. “Emma, Kassie is Cohen’s … she is the one he was gonna’ marry.”

“Fiancée?” Emily’s brow furrowed and she tilted her h
ead in puzzlement. “Where is my brother?” She looked past them at the coach.

Auggie took her hand and led her back up the stairs. “Where
are yer sisters and brother? I wish to speak with ye all together.”

Kassie followed them up the stairs and into the castle. O
nce inside Emily instructed the butler to take their wraps and summon the rest of her family. They followed as she led the way to a cozy family parlor. After they were seated, she rang for tea while they waited for the rest to arrive. The tea arrived in a timely matter as did the rest of Cohen’s family. Kassie discovered Cohen’s brother and three other sisters were carbon copies of himself. Five sets of his eyes stared at her with open curiosity as she was introduced.

Auggie cleared his throat. “Devon, Penny, Clare, and M
elissa, this is Kassie, Cohen’s intended fiancée.”

She fought back tears when Cohen’s brother, as identical as
if they were twins, kissed the back of her hand. The only difference between the two she could see was the light feathering of white hairs at his temple.

After introductions were made and everyone was seated,
Auggie paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. “I have something to tell ye all. I guess I should start at the beginning.”

Kassie stared
at the teacup in her hand as he began his tale. The cup rattled against the saucer, and she placed her other hand on the rim to steady it, trying to block out Auggie’s words. This was the moment she dreaded. Would they hate her? Would they cast her from their house in anger? She could not blame them if they did; after all, she was a fallen woman and the indirect cause of their brother’s death. Her subconscious registered their gasps and she steeled herself for their outrage. She looked up as Auggie finished the tale, and the women began to weep.

Tears rolled down Emily’s face as she turned to look at Kass
ie. “Oh, Kassie! You poor dear, to lose my brother and your son must be heartbreaking.”

Kassie blinked, astonished at the other woman’s compassion.

Emily stood, hobbled across the room and enveloped Kassie in a fierce hug. “Never fear, you will stay with us and we will look after you.” She pulled away, looking over her shoulder at her three sisters and brother. “Right, Devon?”

Cohen’s brother wiped his misty eyes with his handkerchi
ef and nodded. “Ashtons always take care of their own.”

Her heart swelled at their compassion. Even in the midst of th
eir own grief they opened their hearts to her as though she was truly part of their family.

The rest of the family came one by one and hugged h
er, and then Emily summoned the butler. “Perkins, please show Lady Everton to a guest room in the right wing. I am sure she would like to rest after her long journey.”

Kassie stood and followed the butler from the room. The
bedchamber she was shown to surpassed even her wildest imaginings. The white stone walls were covered with rich tapestries depicting various medieval scenes that added color and warmth to the room. A footman was already lighting a fire in the large stone fireplace flanked by an upholstered armchair and settee. The bedchamber itself was a separate room. A large canopied bed covered in pillows took up the center of the room, opposite it stood an oriental screen, dressing table, and wardrobe. Tall glass doors led to a private balcony with the garden and the frothy sea beyond.

She wandered over to the glass doors and looked out. Bits
of green already poked through last year’s dried brown vegetation. The waves crashed against the jagged rocks, spraying vast fountains of spray and foam into the air. She leaned her head against the cool glass.
Where do I
go from here?

Her maid hurried into the room followed by a footman
with the small trunk of clothes purchased in the little village of Lands End. “My lady, I will unpack right away. Is there anything I can get for you?”

Kassie smiled at the girl. She missed Sally. Not to say th
e new maid was not as good, but she did not seem to be at all interested in being friends. “No, thank you.”

The girl gave her a solemn look
. “The butler informs me dinner will be served at seven. I have taken the liberty of ordering you a bath.”

Kassie nodded.
She never smiles.
She turned back to the view. It was probably for the best. A real lady did not fraternize with the help, or so the earl had often lectured.

The maid entered a small door opposite the bedchamber, an
d within moments, water gurgled into the tub. It seemed Cohen spared no expense in making the old castle as modern and comfortable as possible. Movement beyond the garden wall caught her attention. A lovely spotted deer wove its way along a narrow trail at the edge of the greenery where it met the sand of the beach. It paused, tail flicking, foot frozen in mid stride, and looked to where she stood.

Even in her sorrow Kassie appreciated its grace and beauty. Its ea
rs twitched before resuming its journey across the brown and green tufts of grass. She watched it until it disappeared from sight over a mound.

“My lady.”

She turned from the window.

The maid gestured to the bathing room. “Your bath is ready.”

Kassie followed her into the room. A large raised tub sat in the center, the likes of which she had never seen before. The maid helped her undress, and then she slipped into the warm jasmine-scented water. She leaned back with a sigh, enjoying the luxury of a hot bath denied her since before the night of the shipwreck. The sight of the deer and the soothing water eased her tortured heart and mind, bringing her to a place of calm acceptance. God had exacted his punishment. There is nothing to do now but try to live a pious life and move on.

An hour later she was bathed, dressed, and filled with a rene
wed sense of determination. She adjusted the hem on her simple, dark green velvet evening dress, and glanced up at the mirror.

The color made her appear pasty and frail looking, but it wa
s the only thing suitable for a mourning gown. At least the bodice was not as tight as her former dresses; no longer nursing, combined with her lack of appetite, had diminished the size of her breasts. She pressed a hand against the tender ache in her chest.

A knock on the door made her turn. The maid opened it.
Auggie stood on the threshold, dressed in a black dinner suit with a tartan wrapped across his chest. Kassie smiled. Even dressed in immaculate style the man still looked out of place. He smiled back at her and shuffled his feet. “May I escort ye down to dinner, lassie?”

She nodded and took the arm he offered. They walked down
the stairs to the dining room. Kassie hung back as they entered. It seemed like an entire village had come to dinner.

Emily hobbled forward to greet her. “Please, do not be put of
f by the size of our family.” A small child darted between them, before being scooped up by a nursemaid. “We all have dinner together, it is a chaotic affair, but Cohen would have it no other way.” Her eyes took on a soft sadness, but a small quivering smile graced her lips.

Devon stood from his place at the head of the table a
nd tapped his spoon against his wineglass. This seemed to be the cue for everyone to be seated as parents and children alike scrambled to their seats. Auggie pulled out a chair for her beside Emily. Once she was seated, he took the empty chair next to her.

Devon raised his glass. “Tonight, we welcome Kassie to ou
r family.” A baby gurgled and a chubby-faced toddler tossed his spoon to the floor with a clatter. Devon smiled. “I hope you will feel at home here, Kassie. I suppose proper introductions need to be made. You have met my sisters, Penny, Clare, Melissa, and Emily. Penny is married to William and those three delightful cherubs across from them are their children. Clare is married to Michael, the little darling who just threw his spoon and the baby next to him are their son and daughter. Finally, Melissa is married to Raoul, and those two wigglers there are their boys.” He smiled at a pretty blonde girl beside him. “This is my new wife, Ann Marie.”

Kassie nodded, overwhelmed by the introductions. One of
the little girls giggled, and popped her thumb into her mouth. Her mother made an exasperated sound and pulled the appendage out.

Everyone raised their glasses as Devon finished his toast.
“To Cohen, beloved brother and friend, we wish you a peaceful journey into heaven and to Kassie, we hope together we can help you heal and embrace life again.” Everyone took a drink from their glasses, and then Devon returned to his seat. Serving girls passed around various dishes and the dining room returned to a controlled mayhem of voices.

Kassie placed a little bit of each food on her plate as it was passed to her. Some
how, a continent away she had stumbled upon a place that reminded her of home. She looked around the table. Mothers, fathers, and nursemaids worked together to tame unruly toddlers. Conversation flowed with laughter and seriousness.
This is a family.

“What are ye thinkin’ lass?

She smiled at Auggie. “I was just thinking this feels like … home.”

He smiled back at her. “I thought it might, that’s why I brou
ght ye here.” He glanced around the room. “I think ye will be safe and happy here while I’m gone.”

“Gone? Where are you going?”

“I have to commission a new ship, and there is still the dig in Sicily.” He patted her hand. “Rest assured lass, I will be back, for I would not abandon ye when I ‘ave made a promise to keep ye safe.”

Kassie looked around the room. “I understand, Auggie. I think I shall be all right here.”

Emily reached out and squeezed her hand. “Do not worry, the time will fly by. I am looking forward to your company, everyone else is always so busy with their family…” her voice trailed off, a remorseful look passing over her pale features. “Forgive me, I did not mean to be insensitive.”

Kassie smiled at her. “It is all right, I understand what yo
u mean. You and I can keep each other company.” She was rewarded with a bright smile. As the meal continued, Kassie relaxed and listened to snippets of conversation around her.

“Surely, Napoleon will come to his senses before an outbre
ak of war.” Raoul said, shaking his fork for emphasis.

Devon shook his head. “Things will get bad between France and
England if he does not. His greed for power will cost this country dearly.”

Clare looked up from spooning potatoes into her son’s mouth
. “Will we have to flee back to England if war is declared?”