Jade Star - Catherine Coulter [119]
“Bunker is just fine and he’s surrounded by servants. I am no longer needed here. Now, Jules, no more arguments from you. My wife and I will arrive this evening. All right?”
She gave him a dazed nod, and he walked her to the front door. “Jules, you will tell Thackery.”
“Yes, of course,” she said. “Thomas, it just occurred to me that Michael will wonder why you and Penelope are moving in with us. What should I tell him?”
Thomas grew thoughtful. “Tell him that Pen needs to get away from her parents for a while, more specifically, her mother. Tell him that if he doesn’t mind, we’ll continue our honeymoon with Dr. Saint on Clay Street.”
It had begun to rain harder, and Thomas fetched her an umbrella. After he had handed her into the carriage, he saw that Ezra was regarding him with a great deal of interest.
“You’ll take care of Bunker, won’t you, Ezra?”
“Certainly, Mr. Thomas,” Ezra said. “And you will take care of your sister, sir.”
Thomas nodded, not bothering to ask him what and how much he knew, and headed up the stairs. For all Thomas knew, Ezra might have eavesdropped on their conversation. He paused a moment in front of his and Penelope’s bedroom, squared his shoulders, and strode in. He might as well face the unpleasantness now and get it over with.
* * *
Saint cursed his blindness, for Jules’s face always gave her away. He sighed. “That sounds pretty weak to me, Jules. Won’t you tell me the truth?”
“You don’t mind their coming here for a while, do you?”
“Stop dodging, sweetheart.”
“Michael, please.”
He heard the pleading in her voice, and said finally, “All right. If you and Thomas wish to keep your secrets, very well.” He shook his head. “The thought of Penelope sleeping in our house is unnerving. I wonder if we’ll survive it.”
Penelope was wondering the same thing that evening. She’d said not two words to her new sister-and brother-in-law. She regarded Thomas from beneath her lashes in animated conversation with Saint. My husband, she thought, a trifle bitter. And I am to obey him. And that’s what he’d told her that afternoon when she’d simply stared at him.
“You won’t, of course, haul your entire wardrobe there, Pen, there’s not enough room.”
“How much room is that?” she’d asked him.
Thomas had looked about the enormous bedroom, dripping with opulent furnishings, and smiled. “The bedroom is, as I recall, about a third this size. You’ll like the bed, though,” he’d added, giving her that look.
“I don’t want to go,” she said, digging in her heels. “I must stay here, Thomas. My parents need me.”
“No they don’t. I’ve already spoken to your father. He’s as worried as I am. Our reason for going is valid. I assume that you don’t want my sister to be kidnapped again.”
“No, of course not, it’s just—”
“Enough, Pen. Pack your things. We’ll leave after dinner.”
“But—”
“You are my wife and you will obey me. Now, do as I tell you. Another thing, Pen, you won’t say anything about Wilkes’s threat to Saint. He is not to know.”
And that, Penelope thought now, had been that. She’d seen the small bedroom and shuddered. And the bed, it was so small. She sipped at her tea and tried to think of something to say to her sister-in-law. But it was Jules who spoke first.
“You are very lucky, Penelope,” Jules said, smiling toward her brother. “Thomas is a fine man. I was his slave when we were children.”
“Such an odd life you had,” Penelope said.
“Yes, it was like a Garden of Eden. Despite our father’s rigidity, we managed to run wild most of the time and enjoy ourselves immensely.”
“I don’t have my maid,” Penelope said abruptly.
What do I say to that? Jules wondered. She mustered a smile and some warmth in her voice and said, “It is very kind of you to come, Penelope. I realize that this is not exactly what you’re used to, but I don’t think you’ll be unhappy here, especially since Thomas is here also.”
Penelope merely nodded, and Jules felt a wave of frustration. This, my dear brother, she thought, isn’t a very good idea.
The following morning, Thomas left to see Del Saxton, his explanation to Jules being,