Dark Rider (7 page)

“What’s wrong?” Bradford asked.

“It’s not Deville’s daughter.”

“Oh, yes.” Lakoa stepped forward. “It is her. I know her. She is the friend of my sister Lihua. It is Kanoa, the daughter of the one who paints.” His brown eyes filled with concern. “Lihua has great affection for her. This is not good.”

“No, this is not good,” Jared muttered. Nothing about this situation was in the least good. Not Kanoa’s injury, nor her deceit, nor Deville’s escape.

“We must get her to Lani,” Lakoa said. “She will know what to do.”

Lani must be the Polynesian woman at the cottage, Deville’s mistress, Jared decided. Lakoa was right; the cottage was not close, but it was nearer than the village. He checked the wound on Kanoa’s temple. It had stopped bleeding, and the cut did not appear deep. The fall itself had rendered her unconscious.

He cradled her in his arms and rose to his feet. “Let’s go.”

Bradford frowned. “Are you sure? It’s miles back to the cottage. We could camp here and send Lakoa for help.”

“It will be quicker to take her ourselves.” He moved down the hill. “You lead the way, Lakoa. It’s getting black as pitch on this damn mountain.”

Papa was carrying her, holding her close and safe, keeping away the darkness.

No, it couldn’t be Papa. He hadn’t carried her in his arms since she was a little girl. Since the time Clara had told him that such coddling would spoil her. It must be someone else.…

She struggled to open her lids. She gave it up; it was too hard.

“I’ll take her for a while. You must be tired, lad.”

“I’m damnably tired. I’d like to drop her off the side of the mountain.”

“Then why didn’t you leave her? I told you an hour ago carrying her all this way was too much strain. We should have done what I first suggested.”

No answer but a low curse.

Both voices had been deep, masculine, but neither had been Papa’s.

Danger. There was something she should remember.…

She managed to raise her lids this time. Why, that was Lakoa bearing the torch on the trail ahead. She had known him since she had been a child, played with him in the village. “Lakoa,” she whispered.

“Don’t talk.” The words were clipped, reverberating beneath her ear.

She looked up and met the gaze of the man who
was carrying her. Blue eyes, clear and cool as the lake in her valley across the island. She remembered those eyes but couldn’t recall why they brought this feeling of uneasiness.

“Is she awake?”

She caught a glimpse of another face. Heavy features; curly, gray-flecked dark hair; eyes the color of strong tea.

The arms tightened around her. “Barely.”

His scent drifted to her—musk, leather. The scent was also familiar.… Why couldn’t she connect it to the man? He had been close to her once like this and had spoken words, disturbing words.…

“Who are …,” she whispered.

He looked down at her, his eyes gleaming like the blade of a knife.

Gleaming with anger … and something else.

She closed her eyes to shut him out. She could not deal with the uneasiness looking at him brought. The blackness was rushing back, and she had to concentrate on the fight to keep it at bay.

Only a few seconds later the battle was lost, and darkness claimed her once more.

At Jared’s first knock the door of the cottage was thrown open.

“What have you done to her?” the Polynesian woman demanded, staring at Cassie in dismay. “Why did you hurt her? She did nothing to—”

“I didn’t hurt her.” Jared pushed past her and strode into the sitting room. “She hurt herself. The blasted girl fell down the mountain and hit her head.”

“And you had nothing to do with it?” Lani asked with sarcasm.

“She was skipping along the rocks in the dark trying
to make us think she was Deville.” He laid Cassie down on the sofa. “I assume this is his daughter?”

Lani knelt beside Cassie. “Of course it is.”

The confirmation came as no surprise, but he had hoped Lakoa had been mistaken.

“Did she wake at all on the way here?” Lani asked.

“Once. She appeared to be confused. I’ve sent Lakoa and my uncle to King Kamehameha to bring a physician here.”

“I’ve seen many head wounds before. If she woke, then the danger is probably not great. Sleep is the medicine she needs.” Lani looked at him. “Charles?”

“We didn’t catch him.” He gazed directly into her eyes. “But we will.”

“So that you can break his head, too?”

“I didn’t break—” He drew a deep breath and tried to control his temper. “I don’t go around breaking girls’ heads—even if they deserve it.”

“To try to save a father’s life is such a heinous crime.”

His hands clenched into fists. “It’s not criminal, but it’s damn foolish. She could have died on that mountain.”

She tilted her head and gazed at him curiously. “You are concerned about her.”

“I’m
not
concerned. Anyone who is stupid enough to risk everything for a man who— Why are you just kneeling there? Do something! At least wash the blood from her face.”

“I will do so.” She paused. “If you wish to be helpful, you could keep Clara out of my way. She’s bound to hear me, and she thinks no one does things properly but herself.”

Clara? He vaguely remembered the woman. “The housekeeper? Very well.”

“And you could carry Cassie into her room. She will be more comfortable there.”

Jared lifted Cassie again and followed Lani down the short hall. After he had placed Cassie on the narrow bed, he stepped back. God, she was pale.

“Now leave the room,” Lani ordered. “She will be disturbed if she wakes to a stranger.”

Jared hesitated. He didn’t want to go, blast it.

“You have no place here.” Lani’s soft voice held a note of steel. “You’re the enemy, and I won’t have her made afraid when she’s ill.”

Of course, he was the enemy. Did the woman think he would forget it? “I have a place here until I find Charles Deville.” He turned on his heel. “I’ll let you have your way, but I’ve not noticed Kanoa is burdened by an overabundance of fear.”

As he closed the door behind him, Clara Kidman appeared in the hall.

“What’s happening?” she asked sharply. “What are you doing here?”

He opened his lips to answer with the same rudeness, then changed his mind. The woman was as sour as an unripe grape, but in the house of the enemy you gathered any ally you could. He injected all the powers of persuasion at his command into his smile. “Ah, I was just coming to tell you all about it, Miss Kidman. It appears we have a desperate situation and need someone of your obvious intelligence and efficiency to help us solve it.”

The scent of lavender soap, vanilla, and ginger flowers drifted to Cassie even before she opened her eyes.

Lani.

Lani’s beautiful, serene face above her, Lani wiping her forehead with a cool cloth. Everything was all
right; safety, love … Not quite all right, she realized the next moment as a throbbing pain shot through her temple.

“My head hurts.” The words came out in a croak.

Lani smiled. “It’s not surprising when you tried your best to break it open. Does your throat ache?”

She swallowed. “A little.”

“I’ve been able to get only a little water down you in the last few hours.” She took a cup from the bedside table. “Drink.”

It wasn’t water but sweetened coconut milk, Cassie recognized. She must be ill. From childhood Lani had always given her the same drink when she’d been sick. She had made up a story for Clara that though the drink was bitter tasting, it had special healing properties. Cassie remembered the secret laughter they had shared as she had feigned reluctance even to taste the milk.

Her lips curved in a smile before she made a face. “What foul stuff.”

Lani’s eyes twinkled. “But it’s so good for you.”

She took another sip. “Am I sick?”

“You don’t remember? You fell and hit your head at Pelée’s Breath. But don’t worry, the doctor was here just a few hours ago and said no true harm had been done.” She wrinkled her nose. “I didn’t need him to tell me that.”

Pelée’s Breath. What had she been doing at Pelée’s—

She sat upright in bed. “Papa!”

“Lie back down,” Lani said. “All is well. At least I think it is. The Englishman has not found Charles yet. Do you know where he is?”

“Yes.” Ignoring Lani’s order, she threw the cover aside and swung her legs to the floor. Then she had to
clutch at the mattress as dizziness overwhelmed her. When it cleared, she cautiously lay back down before asking, “How long have I been here?”

“Danemount brought you back late last night. It’s a little after noon now. He found you lying in a faint at the bottom of Pelée’s Breath. You’d hit your head on a rock.”

Cassie suddenly remembered that moment of waking on the trail. “He was angry.…”

“Extremely,” Lani said. “He came here first, and when he couldn’t find Charles, he set out for the volcano.” Her lips tightened. “I tried to keep him here, but Clara told him that you had hurried off early that day to give your father a message from the king.”

“Splendid.”

Lani shrugged. “She appears to be mildly enthralled with His Grace. I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. He’s an English duke, and even a British peasant is better than the king of any other country.”

“Haven’t you told her he’s Papa’s enemy?”

“When has she ever believed me? I’m a heathen.”

It had been a foolish question. Cassie doubted if Clara would have listened to her either.

“But is he really your father’s enemy?” Lani asked. “What did Charles tell you?”

“He said Danemount wants to kill him.”

Lani’s face paled. “Why?”

Cassie shook her head. “He kept saying, ‘God’s will.’ ”

“Danemount is no angel sent from heaven. Quite the contrary, I’d judge. But he can be charming when it suits him, and he’s made an effort to make himself pleasant to Clara.” She was silent a moment. “He’s a very clever man, isn’t he?”

Cassie could not miss the significance of the question.
Lani suspected things were not as they appeared on the surface, and Cassie knew she should tell her of that meeting on the shore. Yet she was reluctant to do so. She wanted only to block it out, forget it. “How should I know?”

Lani raised her brows. “When he brought you back, he called you Kanoa. Of course, Lakoa could have called you by name, but his manner was definitely familiar. What knowledge do you have of Danemount?”

She looked away and said haltingly, “I … met him on the beach. We talked for a few moments.” She burst out, “He was a stranger. I knew nothing about him.”

“But now you know he’s your father’s enemy.”

“Of course I do,” she said fiercely. “Do you think I would—”

“Shh.” Lani put her fingers on Cassie’s lips. “You didn’t tell me of your meeting, and I had to be sure. He’s a man who’s practiced in molding women to his will. Even Clara has weakened before him. She believes everything he tells her.”

“I can’t imagine that happening.”

“You’ll see.” Lani sat down on the bed. “Now we must talk about your father before they know you’re awake.”

Cassie’s gaze flew to the door. “The Englishman’s still here?”

She nodded. “He’s been here since he brought you back. He told me to call him when you woke.” She grimaced. “There are also two of his sailors from the ship wandering about the grounds ‘for our protection.’ ”

“They think Papa will come back.”

“Will he?”

Cassie shook her head. “I told him to go to Kamehameha, and I’d come to him. Can we count on the king to rid us of Danemount?”

Lani frowned. “Kamehameha has a fondness for Charles, but he won’t help him against the Englishman. He wants British guns to fight his wars.”

“But he’ll hide Papa until the Englishman leaves the island?”

“Unless it proves uncomfortable for him. But how do you know Danemount will leave? I’ve rarely seen a more determined man.”

“He’ll grow tired of looking for Papa,” she said with a confidence she didn’t feel. The man she had met on the shore was not the kind who gave up easily.

“And what if Charles becomes worried about you and comes here?”

That possibility had also been Cassie’s concern. “Can you send him a message?”

Lani shook her head. “I doubt if it would reach him without leading Danemount to Charles. The Englishman is watching us closely.”

“Then I’ll have to go to him.”

“You can’t even get to your feet.”

“Then you must watch for him until I can. I should be fine by tomorrow.”

“I will go to him.”

Cassie shook her head. “He’s expecting me. I have to talk to him and decide what we’re going to do.” She whispered, “He’s so afraid, Lani.”

Lani glanced at the door. “He has a right to be afraid with that man as a foe.” She got to her feet. “I’ll get you water for bathing and a little broth. I’ll keep Danemount from coming to you until later this evening. Try to rest.”

Rest?

Cassie lay back against the pillows. She was not likely to rest, but she had to try. She would need all her strength for the battle ahead. From what Lani had said, Danemount had been busily weaving a cocoon to imprison them here at the cottage. A cocoon that could prove a deadly trap if her father tried to reach her.

Cassie felt much better after the bath and meal, but not well enough to try to get out of bed until later that afternoon. It was the sound of loud male voices just outside her window that finally stirred her to the attempt.

She slowly sat up and swung her feet to the floor. No dizziness. Good.

She slipped on a dark-blue dressing gown over her nightgown and stood up. A slight feeling of nausea, but nothing she couldn’t deal with. She carefully made her way to the window and threw open the shutters.

Two roughly dressed men were strolling about Lani’s garden. She decided they must be the sailors from the
Josephine
Lani had mentioned.

“I see you appear to be doing much better than I was told.”

She whirled away from the window to see Jared Danemount standing in the doorway. He looked slightly raffish, and the lack of elegance made him appear even more threatening. He was without a coat, his shirt was open at the throat, and a day’s growth shadowed his lean cheeks.