The Hawk and the Jewel (Kensington Chronicles 1) (43 page)

When she woke and looked out, it was to find it growing dark outside and the ship already docked in London. They had never been out of sight of land, so this shouldn't have surprised her. With sudden and painful remembrance, Sunny thought of the words she had forced Brandon to say.

You're a fool, Sunny Gallf&her,
she told herself.
Why did you do

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such a thing? What kind of love declaration is it when you have to force it out of the man? He certainly couldn't have meant it the way you wanted him to.

Sunny told herself she was not going to torture herself any longer. She washed her face, brushed her hair, and went in search of Brandon. Better to facehimin embarrassment than to wonder and wait. Unbelievable pain assailed her when Dallas told her he was gone. He'd had some things to take care of and would be back soon. Sunny moved wordlessly toward her cabin to pack.

When Sunny returned some 45 minutes later and asked Dallas to have someone bring her trunk topside, he knew his attempts to detain her would be a waste of effort.

"Sunny," he said kindly. "Please wait for Brandon."

"He told you to have me wait?"

"Well, no," the sea captain began. "But he just left, and I know-"

"I need to go home, Dallas. Please see to my trunk."

"I won't," Dallas decided. "You need to wait."

"Then I'll go without it," Sunny said, starting for the gangplank. Dallas, seeing no help for it, had her trunk retrieved and followed her.

"Please help me find a carriage, Lord," he heard her mumble as they moved toward the dock. She walked along, ignoring the astonished looks of the sailors around her, and stopped abruptly when a carriage drove up and Wilson suddenly appeared before her.

"I've a carriage for you, my lady," he stated softly, his eyes not betraying the tear of emotions within.

"More reports, Wilson?" Sunny asked with regret.

"Never again, my lady. I followed the emir's orders because I feared whom he might entrust with the job. And now today, as always, I would gladly lay down my life for yours."

Sunny's eyes held Wilson's as she tried, in her exhaustion, to read the man. He never blinked or looked ashamed, and Sunny was certain she would know his honesty by his eyes.

"How did the emir feel about your decision?"

"It was nothing new to him. He's known all along I would stay in England and keep watch over you like I've done for over four years."

Sunny was so awash with relief that he was now an ally and not an enemy that she nearly cried. Rand had been right about this man

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all along. Sunny couldn't look at Wilson any longer, so she looked at the carriage instead.

"This is Band's carriage, isn't it?"

"Yes, my lady. I've seen him and asked if I could borrow it to wait for you."

ttl want to go home," she told Wilson softly, not really having heard his words. "Home to Ravenscroft."

"As you wish, my lady," Wilson said, opening the door.

"Sunny," Dallas tried again. "If you'll just give Brandon a little more time."

"My reputation will be in shreds as it is, Dallas," she spoke softly, "and I simply can't stay here any longer. Thank you for all you've done."

Dallas watched Sunny disappear into the interior, helplessness washing over him. Brandon had said he would be very brief, and Dallas had no due as to how to contact him. Now Sunny was leaving, and nothing had been resolved. Dallas knew as he went back on board that he could pray for them. Beyond that, however, he could not get involved.

Halfway to Ravenscroft, Sunny told Wilson she would rather go to Willows' End. They pulled along the willow-lined drive very early the next morning, Sunny having completely forgotten that Rand and Chelsea were not there. She was relieved however, to see lights downstairs in the library windows. And she was equally glad to see Miles, since she was nearly out on her feet and terribly disappointed that her brother wasn't there.

"They're in London, aren't they?" Sunny sounded like a lost girl. "Wilson had their coach and said as much, but I never grasped that they were right there."

Miles, very glad that he had been unable to sleep, wondered with pain for his aunt and what she'd been through in the last few days. Gently, he made her feel at home.

"What did you want to see Papa about, Sunny? Maybe I can help."

"I want to go away for a time, Miles. I need something of a rest, and even though I'm looking forward to going back to Ravenscroft

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in safety, I feel the need to get away."

"There's something else going on here, isn't there, Sunny? You don't have to tell me, but I think you might feel better if you did."

Sunny looked into his kind eyes for just a moment before bursting into tears and telling all. Miles was furious over the things the emir said to Sunny and sincerely shocked that Brandon would leave her on the ship. Even though he believed that Brandon had been totally honest when he said he loved Sunny, he could understand her hurt.

The hours passed as Miles, much as Dallas had, tried to talk Sunny out of leaving. But when he saw how determined she was, he decided to lend her his aid. They went together to Ravenscroft. Miles watched Sunny, tired as she was, wake the household and take control.

"Aunt Lucy," Sunny told her aunt calmly, finding her surprisingly lucid for being awakened at such an early hour, "I'm going away for a few weeks."

"Alone, my dear?" Aunt Lucy looked uncertain.

"Yes," Sunny told her.

"Where is Brandon?"

"I don't know, but this doesn't concern him.'' Sunny's voice was final.

"But, my dear, you've had such a traumatic few days. Maybe I should go with you."

Sunny thought how little help Aunt Lucy had been after she had been attacked. The entire affair had upset her so, she'd taken to her bed.

"No, Aunt Lucy," Sunny's voice was gentle. "I wish to be alone."

"Oh, oh my," Aunt Lucy nearly flapped like a chicken. "Well then, take Tildy."

"Tildy will not-want to leave you-"

"On the contrary," Aunt Lucy interrupted. "Tildy thinks the world of you, and she'd be only too happy to go. Isn't that right, Tildy?"

"Of course, my lady," the elderly servant spoke calmly. "I'll go and see to Lady Sunny's packing."

"Thank you, Tildy," Sunny responded, feeling very relieved that Aunt Lucy had insisted.

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"Now," Sunny turned back to her. "I want to tell you where Fm going, but I want you to keep it to yourself. I'll have Wilson and Tildy with me, so I'll be perfectly safe."

"Oh, oh my," Aunt Lucy did flap then, her head shaking in fierce denial, and her elbows going back and forth at her sides like wings. "But it won't work, my dear. Brandon or Rand will come and give me one look, and I'll tell all."

Sunny opened her mouth to deny it, but then closed it with a snap. The old girl was right. She was no match for Brandon or Rand.

"You're right," Sunny told her. "I'll just go, and see you when I return in about a month's time."

It wasn't what Aunt Lucy wanted to hear, but she could see Sunny had made up her mind. Within an hour, Sunny was in her own carriage, Tildy seated across from her. Packed with fresh clothes, her trunk was stowed in the rear. The coachman and Wilson sat up top. Miles stood at the door of the carriage, his tender feelings for her written all over his face.

"Are you sure you're not running away?"

"I'm sure, Miles. I just need some time to think. I really
can
live with the feet that Brandon and I are never going to be anything more than friends, but I just need some time. You'll keep my secret?"

"You know better than to ask," he admonished her. "I'll see you in about a month, and believe me, you'll love Lord and Lady Briton."

With these words the door was shut, and Miles watched as the carriage lurched onto the road. Inside, Sunny sat looking out the window, but that didn't last long. Within three miles, she was sound asleep.

in A RARE show of daring, Aunt Lucy stayed in her room, refusing to come down when she was told that Rand and Brandon had arrived.

It was much later that same day, and Lucy had done nothing but fret and stew over Sunny's departure. With a fierceness she didn't know she possessed, she took Sunny's side. She didn't care what Rand and Brandon did or said to her, she would never tell a soul where her dear Sunny had gone.

Some of Lucy's thunder was stolen when she remembered she didn't know where Sunny was. She made up for this, however, by staying in her room and ignoring the announcement. If she didn't come downstairs, Rand and Brandon would simply have to go away. She shifted in her chair and went back to the book she was reading, looking forward to the time when she could tell Tildy about the way she had championed Sunny.

Aunt Lucy completely underestimated Brandon's need to find the woman he loved. She was shocked speechless when there was a knock on her door and Rand's voice sounded in the hall.

"Please get dressed if there's a need, Aunt Lucy. Brandon and I are coming in."

The older woman gasped and stared in surprise at the door that opened just minutes later.

"Aunt Lucy," Rand's voice was gentle. "Are you coming down, or do we come in?" When the old woman stayed mute, Rand opened the door completely and he and Brandon entered.

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"Where is she, Aunt
Lucy?
The maid downstairs said she was here and gone. Now tell us where Sunny is."

"I can't." Aunt Lucy was shaking with fear, but her heart was resolute. "Sunny didn't tell me, but if I did know, I still wouldn't tell. She wanted to be alone, and I for one respect her wish."

"She gave no hint at all?" Brandon's voice was deeper than Rand's, and Lucy was immediately reminded of a powerful young man she had secretly loved many years ago. She always melted at the sound of that voice, and although she held onto her resolve, she felt shaken.

"She didn't say. I trust her, and I trust Miles. If he was helping-"

"Miles was here?" Rand asked in astonishment, and Lucy could have pulled her own tongue out.

With a movement born of desperation, the older woman shifted in her chair and gave both men the cold shoulder. She was so angry with herself
and
with them that she could hardly think straight. She was surprised nearly widess when both men suddenly came toward her. They bent simultaneously to place a kiss on each withered cheek.

"I love you, Aunt Lucy," she heard Brandon say. She stared at their backs as they exited her bedroom with fast, long-legged strides.

"Miles talked about going to see Jordan and Holly," Chelsea told her worried husband and her pacing brother. "I'm not sure where he is right now."

"I'll head to Jordan's then," Brandon said. "Fll stop here on my way back out to tell you what I learn."

The words were no more out of Brandon's mouth than Miles entered the room. He looked slightly uncomfortable, but he had decided when he watched Sunny's carriage pull away that no one was going to bully him.

"Miles," his father asked, cutting right to the point. "Do you know where Sunny has gone?"

"I know where she was planning to go," he said evasively and fell silent.

His uncle and parents all stared at him, waiting for him to go on, but Miles only stared back. He was beginning to grow angry that they were putting him in this position.

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"I need to talk with Sunny," Brandon told him quietly.

"You should have thought of that before you left her alone on that ship."

Chelsea stifled a gasp, and Rand looked at his son as if he had taken leave of his senses.

"I had reasons for leaving that ship." Brandon's anger matched his nephew's. "But I do
not
feel I need to explain myself to my nephew."

"Suit yourself," Miles said and started for the door.

"Don't open that door!" Rand commanded sternly. When Miles turned back, he saw just how upset his rather had become.

"I'm not sure what has made you turn on Brandon this way," his rather said. "But I think you had better tell us where Sunny is, and now."

"Why?" Miles asked baldly. "So he can do more controlling? She reels like a puppet on a string where Brandon is concerned. She wants to be alone, and she's with faithful servants who'll see that she comes to no harm. Brandon has hurt her terribly, and uncle or not, I'll not betray Sunny's trust in me. She'll be here in a month; you can talk to her then."

Rand opened his mouth to rebuke Miles, but Brandon interrupted.

"You're right, Miles. I have handled things badly and hurt Sunny." His voice was soft now, and Miles saw the pain in his eyes. "That's why I must find her. I know you gave your word, but please, Miles, please forgive my anger with you and tell me where she's gone."

"She'll never speak to me again." Miles felt torn in two.