Her Reluctant Viscount (Rakes and Rogues) (34 page)

“Why are you here, Jack?”

“You ignored my messages. I want Miss Adrys safe.”

Both he and Colin snorted.

“You have used her as an unwilling pawn twice. And she almost died.” Tryst crossed his arms.

“She was
taken
while under yours,” Cam countered.

“Because of a leak in
your
team.” He struggled to remain calm but it was not easy.

Cam glowered and Trystan readied himself for any attack, which may come. At his side, he felt Colin’s subtle shift. No matter the differences they may have at the moment, they were always there for one another and if a fight started, there was no other man he wanted at his back.

“This is not productive.” Jack’s voice was too calm.

“You are not getting your hands on her.” It was a promise.

“Are you truly willing to defy me because you feel responsible for her?”

“I am ignoring you because you have one thought. I am not willing to sacrifice another innocent person. I knew what was expected of me when I signed up. I had a decision and I made it. You are risking her without her knowledge. And her family and friends.”

Jack looked nonplussed. “I have my priorities.”

“So do I.”

“As do I.” Colin stated in an uncompromising tone.

The men stared at one another as time ticked past. Tryst sighed, well aware this could go on for a very long time.

“Leave her to me, Jack. I will kill anyone who gets in my way of keeping her safe,” Trystan declared.

“You seem to be under the assumption I answer to you.” Jack arched his brows.

“No assumption, merely telling you how it will be. I am staying with Jo either here or in London and I
will
protect her.”

“This because I never told you about your half-brother?”

Colin stiffened beside him. “No. Leave Kittle Manor, Jack before it gets ugly. You are not taking her. Not now, not ever.”

“Let me ask her,” Jack requested.

Trystan immediately began to protest only to be overridden by Colin.

“Sounds like a very good idea.” His ex-best friend spoke.

Tryst glared at Colin. What was he thinking? Somewhere he heard a voice saying to trust his friend.

“Jo!” Colin called out.

The women appeared. Najja and Jo. Vittoria, Tryst supposed was with Pug and Alexander. Again, Jo met his gaze but it was fleeting. Not only that but it was also impersonal. He did not like it.

“Yes, Colin?”

“These men want to talk to you.”

She nodded and moved up, standing between Colin and himself. “What was it you needed to say to me?”

“For your safety, Miss Adrys, we would like you to come with us.”

“My safety?”

“Yes.” Jack’s expression was smug.

“Why would I trust you?” She crossed her arms and Tryst bit back a smile. Here was his hellcat. “I had my life in your hands before and I almost died. I was safer on my own until the traitor—in your employ—knocked Tryst out and took me. Duchess Haversham was right in you do not care how many get hurt to obtain your goal. I am not going to be your pawn.”

“How do you know it was not Trystan’s half-brother who sold you out?”

Jo never missed a beat. In fact, she stepped forward as if protecting him. “Leave his family out of this. In fact, leave my house and take Cam with you.”

She whirled on Trystan. “You can see yourself out as well,” she uttered in Najja’s native language. Then she left the room, head high and proud.

Tryst focused on Jack and Cam who did not look very pleased. Najja moved up beside her husband while the door opened and Royce stood there.

“You still have to follow orders,” Jack snapped.

“And you need to understand there are no rules for me when it comes to Jo. I will do
whatever
it takes to ensure she stays alive.”

“You sound in love,” Cam remarked.

Trystan refused to answer. He gave a pointed look to the door. The duo left followed by Royce, which left him alone with Najja and Colin. Both of whom turned their attention to him the instant the door closed.

“What?” Trystan growled.

Najja held his gaze. He was more concerned she had zero expression and emotion than had she been furious. Right now, he faced a lioness who seemed as yet unsure if her cub was in danger from him or not. When she walked away, he did not feel any better.

Colin stepped into his line of sight. Now, him, Trystan knew was furious. His jaw continued to throb where that iron fist connected with him earlier.

“You better not hurt her again, Tryst.” A pause. “And keep her safe.”

“I will.” While he may not like or appreciate Colin telling him that he overlooked it. Jo for all intents and purposes was his sister.

Trystan retreated to the sitting room where they had all gathered. Jo sat with Vittoria and Najja. Pug stood near, overlooking the women and younger brother in a move that was totally copying his father.

“I am staying here, Jo.” Trystan’s announcement came as he reclaimed a vacant seat.

Pug scowled ever more. Jo, however, barely looked at him and shrugged.

“If you desire.”

That was too easy. His frown went unheeded for she immediately returned her attention to the other women. He decided to hold his tongue until the Faulkners left.

Something which did not happen for a few more hours. Pug refused to talk to him. Najja still retained that blank look and Colin was disappointed and angry. Once they were gone, Trystan turned to see Jo climbing the stairs.

“Jo?”

She paused before rotating to meet his gaze with an inquiring one. Words escaped him. He had not any clue what to say. All he knew was something was wrong. She blinked and continued heading up.

“I will show you to your room, my lord.”

He blew out an exasperated breath and nodded at the man beside him. The thin gentleman passed him and led the way to his temporary room. Second floor, three down and across the hall from Jo.

Once alone, he sank to the bed and groaned. Were they in London this would be another compromising situation. Here too, for that matter if he wanted to be honest.

They were not in London and her staff were well trained enough it would not even become gossip fodder. He did not see her until the last meal of the day. Having been settled in she had taken the time to get some other things accomplished. Even so, he was a bit surprised when he entered the room and found her staff removing dishes.

“Did I miss it?” He posed the question as they paused in their removal.

“Dinner, my lord?” Trystan nodded. “Miss Adrys is eating in the office. Would you like to eat here?”

He pursed his lips while debating. “I will eat with her.”

The men nodded and he followed them down the hallway to the masculine room. The closer he got the more aroused he became.

Chapter Thirteen

Found some old sketches I had done for Papa today. They were old and the paper yellowed, but he had them in a small box of what he calls ‘his treasures’. I miss the days when I would draw beside him as he worked on a book.

~From the private journal of Josephine Adrys

Jo scampered down the stairs cursing her skirts the entire way as she ran for the door. Vittoria was outside somewhere and she wanted to get her the news as fast as possible.

They had been here for over a fortnight now and it did her heart wonders to see how the child was coming out of her shell. It had to be a miracle, her having gone through what she did, to be making such progress. There were still times when it was obvious she had been through hell but, for the most part, Vittoria had begun to relax and play a bit. She had definitely begun to fill out having all the food she could hope to eat.

The footman held the door as Jo dashed past with a “thank you” as she continued on her way. Heading in the direction she had seen Vittoria go in earlier, Jo clenched the missive in one hand and held her skirts up with the other.

She drew to a halt when she looked over the open meadow. Vittoria and Tryst were playing ball. It was not just them though, Pug was there as well. Her heart pounded for an entirely different reason than running here from the house. It was Trystan.

Making sure they were never alone was not an easy feat and, honestly, she was tired of all the effort, but she knew she could not handle another rejection. So, she let him stay and do his protection thing. Her heart was her business and she knew now how he truly felt. That first day when he had arrived here to Kittle Manor and was talking to Najja about their time together…she cleared her throat. No time to think about that now.

It was good news in her hand. Not bad.

Trystan spotted her first and stopped playing, standing up tall he watched her. Swallowing back the ever-present nerves being in his presence caused her, she took a deep breath and walked slowly down to where they played. Pug and Vittoria paused as well and observed her approach. The young man stood straighter and held her gaze as she moved.

“Good afternoon, Pug,” Jo said affectionately. “I did not know you were here.”

“Miss Jo,” he replied. “I came to see how Vittoria was doing.”

She knew he was a bit hesitant so she smiled to set him at ease. “You know you are always welcome here, Pug. It is always wonderful to see you.”

Vittoria gave her a small smile. The child had dirt on her face and made her remember her own time growing up.

“What is going on, Jo?” Tryst questioned.

She held the missive up. “I got word from your family, Vittoria. They are coming to get you.” Briefly, she met Tryst’s gaze. “We will meet them in London so will be heading there within the week.”

“Are you sure?” Vittoria asked.

“Positive. Vittoria De Rege, sole daughter of Savino and Carmela De Rege, Comte and Contessa of Parma.

“I can go home?” Her question was so quiet Jo almost missed it. Big brown eyes moved between all three of them before resting back on her.

“Yes,” Jo confirmed.

There was a flash of emotion before it was masked. “Thank you.”

Jo did not take offense. Surely after all she had been through the child was not sure what to believe anymore. So Jo merely nodded and gave another smile.

“Come back to the house and we can eat then pack. Pug, you are more than welcome to join us for the meal.”

“Thank you.” Pug scooped up the ball and walked ahead of them with Vittoria at his side.

An action which left her alone with Trystan. His gaze was hot and burned her. Turning away from the intensity in his stare, she began back to the house as well.

“You received an answer extremely quick. Are you sure they are her parents?”

She did not take offense for she had wondered that herself. “The note came from Duchess Haversham.” She handed it to him. “She has contacts I cannot even begin to imagine.”

“Me either,” he commented with a sharp chuckle.

She smiled, grateful some of the tension between them had eased. “I hope she will be okay. Vittoria is such a lovely child.”

“She will be with parents who love her. It will be rough but you have seen her here, she is strong.”

“Part of it is a show. I hear her crying at night. Some nights I have held her through the nightmares.”

“I know.”

She looked at him surprised he had knowledge of that. “How do you know?”

“You watch over Vittoria and I watch over you, Jo. You need more sleep.”