Angel in Black (42 page)

“Did she affect you this way when you first saw Katrina?”

“Ahhh … yes, very much so. I have never lost my composure so quickly. She is truly beautiful.”

Considering what he said, Blake then asked bluntly, “You love her, don’t you?”

Trevor was unable to lie and answered, “Yes, I do.”

An uncomfortable silence descended on them. This time, Trevor looked away and Blake sought the right words to explain his feelings. “Katrina is fortunate to have people who truly care for her, Trevor. I find it difficult; when I think of others loving her, a searing jealousy rips me apart. I want to be the only one … the only one so privileged.”

“You are privileged, Blake. Katrina has chosen you to love in return. I don’t mean the love you have for family and friends, but the passionate love you both share — this love created your son. It allows you to forgive one another the greatest of wrongs; or to feel each other’s pain and sorrow. Katrina’s love for you is faithful and true, I have no doubt of this. I consider you the luckiest of men — do not be a fool and lose her. No one has loved her as you have, and strangely enough, I don’t think anyone else ever will.”

The carriage pulled up to the townhouse, and Blake jumped from it before it had completely stopped. Taking the front steps two at a time, Blake burst through the door, his hollering taking everyone by surprise.

“Ryon … Ryon. Where the hell are you?” Blake almost collided with his brother as he entered the hall, a look of shock on the younger man’s face.

“Blake.”

Suddenly, the two brothers were in each other’s arms, laughing and hugging, joy and happiness reflected in their faces. “God, I was beginning to fear we would never see you again.”

Blake held Ryon at arm’s length, his eyes sad and tired. “I have been the biggest of fools, Ryon. Can you and Rebecca ever forgive me for the pain I caused you?”

“Of course we can.” Rebecca’s voice broke into the intimate scene, and Blake found himself surrounded by his loving family. “You are safe and have come home to us; the past and all pain shall be forgotten.”

Blake’s expression turned grave at her softly spoken words, and he gently wiped away the tears spilling onto her cheeks. “The past is like a shadow. It has no substance, but is always at my heels. Unfortunately, there is some pain that cannot be forgotten and I doubt others will be as forgiving as you two are.”

“Come and sit, Blake. We have much to talk about.”

Trevor strolled in, drawing everyone’s attention. “Damn it, Blake. Is this any way to treat a guest?”

Having heard the commotion, Chin Li left the salon and stood in the doorway leading into the hall. “Mr. Wilde. I am so thankful you have come.”

Blake whirled about, his face paled as Jason squirmed impatiently in Li’s arms. “Katrina is here?”

It was more a statement than a question, and sudden relief flooded through him. Turning toward the stairs, his eyes looked up to the second floor, he asked, “Is she upstairs?”

Blake started toward the staircase, but Ryon grabbed his arm to stop him. “Katrina is not here, Blake. She left yesterday morning for Tattershall.”

If Ryon had meant to say something more, he did not, for the stricken look on Blake’s face stopped him.

“Gone?” His initial fear mingled with insane anger as he bellowed at his confused brother. “Gone? Why did you allow her to leave? Dear God!” His fiery gaze fell on Li. “You knew — you should have stopped her.”

Ryon looked about in total bewilderment. “All you need to do is follow her to the village. Surely, a couple of days will make no difference. You can settle your argument, or whatever the hell it is you two seem to be continuously doing.”

Blake tried to control himself, his teeth grinding together impatiently. “What reason did she give you for leaving, Ryon?”

It was obvious Ryon barely held his own temper in check, but answered his brother’s question nonetheless. “Katrina felt she needed some time alone. I don’t know exactly what happened between you two, but I do know she was upset. I had no right to detain her, Blake.”

“You,” Blake pointed at Chin Li accusingly, “you know why she left. Why didn’t you stop her?”

Surprisingly enough, Li faced Blake with no fear and answered honestly. “The letter I left for Mr. Wilde has brought you here; there was nothing else I could do. What guides her now has influenced her life for years, much longer than you or I. She is unable to deny the overpowering feelings of hatred inside of her; it draws her like a moth to flame. I fear there is no one who can stop her.”

Ryon frowned, an uneasy look on his face, confusion clear in his eyes. “I don’t understand what is going on here.”

Trevor grasped Blake’s arm and motioned toward the salon. “I believe we have some explaining to do, but please, let us do it sitting down.”

Rebecca, embarrassed by her lack of consideration, rushed forward to see to everyone’s comfort. Blake sent two servants off with messages and Trevor attempted to explain their reasons for concern. Blake continued to pace the floor as the story unfolded, his anxiety increasing with each second ticking by.

“Blake,” started Ryon, his own features grim, “I had no idea. I assure you, I would not have let her go —”

Blake interrupted his brother, “I know, Ryon. Katrina has kept her secrets well. We would all have done things differently, had we known what we do now.”

One of the servants returned and spoke with Blake, while the others waited anxiously to know what was going on. “It seems Langsford left his townhouse here in London. He suddenly left town to return to Camray, two days ago. Randolph and Catherine Ramsey were with him.”

Ryon jumped up, concern straining his voice. “But he couldn’t know she has returned. How could he? We have said nothing.”

“Damn it, he knows. I don’t know how but he does — and he has gone after her.” Blake slammed his fist angrily against the wall, and said in a low voice, “I will leave within the hour.”

Trevor stood. “I will be ready.”

“Not this time, Trevor. I need you here. I’ve sent word to Lieutenant Greerson; he will accompany me.”

His gaze fell to Ryon, Rebecca, and Chin Li. “And I expect the four of you to take good care of my son until I return with his mother. Don’t underestimate Langsford. If he has found out about Katrina, he will probably know she has a son — Jason is not safe either. Ryon, you and Trevor must protect him. I am depending on you both.”

They all nodded solemnly, tension filled the room with an unspoken fear. Walking over to Li, Blake lifted Jason from her arms. “He is absolutely beautiful. Katrina has given me more than I ever dreamed of.”

Kissing the soft golden curls, Blake whispered to himself, “The first … of a half-dozen.”

He handed him back to Li and said, “Thank you.”

Li nodded, instinctively knowing the thank you was for much more than letting him hold his son. It was Blake’s way of acknowledging the letter she left for Trevor.

D
AVID WAITED IN THE
library, impatient, his curiosity driving him mad as his imagination worked overtime, his mood somber by the time Blake arrived.

“David, I am glad you are here.” Blake closed the door behind him, his riding clothes on.

“So you’ve come home. I must admit, I was surprised to receive your message.”

Blake noted the stiffness in his voice and could not blame him for his cool reception. “I need your help, David. Katrina is in trouble.”

The expression on Blake’s face told David the seriousness of the situation. He did as Blake suggested and sat in the leather chair, accepting the drink offered. Blake sank into the matching seat opposite him and relayed the entire tale.

When he finished, David was astounded, numbed by all he revealed. “Where is she, Blake?”

David dreaded the answer, wanting desperately to hear she was upstairs and safe. But the look in Blake’s eyes said he had more bad news to tell.

“Katrina has gone to Tattershall. She left yesterday morning.”

David blinked and tried to think clearly, to not let panic set in as he was trained to do. “As long as Langsford is here in London, she will be safe.”

“Langsford left for Camray about the same time Katrina did. He knows she is alive, I’m certain of it. I would guess Catherine Ramsey is somehow involved; she left with Lawrence and Randolph.” There was a note of desperation in Blake’s words; filled with silent suffering.

David stood. “We had better go. How long will it take you to get ready?”

“Everything has been prepared; I have horses waiting.”

David shook Blake’s hand. “Thank you for calling me, Blake. We’ll find her and she’ll be all right. Katrina’s one tough little lady.”

“Yes, I know,” muttered Blake. “We must go.”

T
HE NIGHT WAS CLEAR
and warm, the stars sprinkled across the sky in random patterns, their brightness sparkling against the blue-black backdrop. The moon hung just above the horizon as the two men began their trip across country, and as the hours raced by, it climbed higher into the heavens. It was near dawn before they stopped to eat and allow the horses to rest. A splash of soft pastel colors spread across the eastern sky and they shared a moment of peace, their thoughts of Katrina keeping them company.

David remembered the night, long ago, when he discovered the Angel in Black was Katrina Easton. He had devoted his life to his career in the service, loyal to the King of England. But he had gone against King and country by allowing her to go free, and he still marveled at how easily he had done so. And, David knew without a doubt, he would do the same if it were to happen again. He recalled Katrina speaking of an ugliness and hate inside her — now he understood.

He wondered what he would do in her shoes; asked himself an important question: Wouldn’t he want to kill Langsford?

The answer resounded in his mind, no hesitation to his self-imposed question. Yes — he would hunger for revenge. It would be a pleasure to see Langsford die by his blade. Could they deny Katrina the very thing they themselves would seek, simply because she was a woman? His thoughts turned to the danger she was in, and he no longer considered what she might want or need. They must find her before Langsford and Randolph did.

David glanced at Blake, who sat with his back against a large oak tree. Would he and Katrina ever resolve their differences and be happy together?

Blake noticed the curious look David gave him and wondered at his thoughts. It would have amused him to know how much his thoughts were like his own.

He watched the sun make its way into the grayish sky and longed to have Katrina by his side, safely watching the new day arrive. But she was not and he prayed for her safety. She would not expect Langsford to know she was alive and in England, and this terrified Blake. The wily bastard would definitely take advantage and surprise her. Katrina had escaped his murderous attempts twice; Langsford would take no chances this time. Blake shuddered.

“Dear God — what kind of sunrise are you facing this day, little one? I have this dreadful feeling you need me and I cannot be there to help you. Lord, I pray you do not forsake her now.”

With this last thought, Blake rose, and grimly the two men mounted their horses. With renewed determination they rode like madmen, untiring, unbending in their mission.

Chapter Twenty-six

K
ATRINA OPENED HER EYES
to a room shrouded in darkness. Something roused her from a deep sleep and her mind slowly cleared as she listened to the silence around her. She tensed when she heard it again — the sound of horses and they were close.

She slid from the bed, crossed to the window and pulled the worn curtain back to look out. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she knew they were coming before they came into sight. Down the darkened street a large group of men rode, headed straight for her cottage. A cloud passed over the moon, the faces of the figures cloaked in black shadowed.

“It couldn’t be,” whispered Katrina. But she knew the answer to the nagging question inside her, and quickly ran to her bag. She withdrew a pistol from it and jumped when the door downstairs crashed open. Without hesitation, Katrina went down the ladder to the bottom floor. Jenny’s scream echoed in the small house as she and Jake were dragged from their bed. Jake’s curses mixed with Jenny’s frightened cries as he knocked one of his captors to the floor, prepared to take on the rest.

Katrina saw one of the men raise his pistol to club the old man and halt his stubborn resistance. Before he could strike, Katrina’s own pistol barked, dropping him where he stood. Reacting as quickly as his aging bones allowed, Jake grabbed the gun from the dead man and tossed it to Katrina as she laid her empty pistol aside. She then placed herself between the men outside and her family while Jake tended to the terribly frightened Jenny, trying to quiet her sobbing, knowing Katrina needed no distractions.

“Katrina,” Lawrence Langsford’s voice rang out. “It is best you come with us now. People will get hurt if you persist.”

Anger coursed through her like a fiery potion, giving her strength and courage to face them all. Yet, love of family left her torn between logic and her need for revenge.