“I’LL EXPLAIN this one more time, numbskull. Now, pay attention.”
Listening to the Gothard brothers argue, Caithren nervously wandered the small chamber they’d brought her to, the back half of a two-room suite at an inn that had seen better days. Besides the sagging bed, a table and two plain chairs were the only furniture. Evidently Jason had been right to think them short of funds.
“Thanks to Cainewood doing just as I expected of him, things are right on schedule.”
“What things, Geoffrey?”
Geoffrey’s gaze flickered to Cait. She moved around to the other side of the table and feigned unconcern, running a finger across the bare wood. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him scribble something on a sheet of paper, neatly fold it into a square, and tuck it into his pocket.
“Things.” Geoffrey blew out a perturbed puff of air. “I’ll be going to the wedding alone.”
As he talked, he donned padding to bulk up his body. He’d also worn it to inquire at Scarborough’s house, Cait realized. Jason had been right about that, too.
Still speaking to Wat, he jerked his squarish head in her direction. “You will wait here and guard the chit.”
In reflex she backed up and sat on the bed. The ropes creaked, and a musty smell wafted from the mattress.
Geoffrey glared at his brother. “Think you can handle that?”
Wat shrugged.
A heavy sigh escaped Geoffrey’s whitish lips. “I’ll lock the two of you in, then. She won’t be going anywhere unless Cainewood breaks down the door. If that should happen, you know what to do?”
Wat just looked at him questioningly.
With a huff, Geoffrey marched over to Cait and pulled her off the bed.
“Ouch!” She yanked free. “I will thank you to keep your hands off my arm. It hurts where your brother cut me.”
Without answering her, he jabbed her in the middle of the back and sent her sailing into the small anteroom, shutting the door behind her.
She stumbled over to sit on an unpadded wooden settle. This room was even more austere than the first. Fuming, she got back up and pressed her ear to the door, but try as she might, all she heard was unintelligible murmurs.
What was he saying? What was he planning? Her mind raced with possibilities. Was he telling Wat to detain Jason? Kill him? Kill them both?
She gulped.
At the sound of footsteps approaching, she raced back to the settle. Geoffrey opened the door between the rooms, and she watched through the frame. He returned to the table and pulled a cracked mirror from a bag, along with a fake beard and some adhesive. Then he set to work, turning himself into the man she’d seen yesterday morn.
Rising again, she positioned herself on the threshold. “Why would Cainewood be breaking down the door?”
Her words came out a challenge, maybe not the smartest thing to do. But she’d never been good at controlling her emotions.
A nasty grin appeared in the bushy brown beard. “Why, to rescue his fair damsel, of course. Conveniently keeping him from the wedding.”
“What makes you think he cares what happens to me?” she asked, almost hoping he didn’t care so he wouldn’t play into the Gothard’s scheme.
“Cainewood hasn’t let you out of his sight.” He settled the wig on his head. “Nor far from his lips, I might add.”
Had he seen them, then, those times they’d kissed to hide their faces?
As though reading her mind, Geoffrey let loose a sinister chuckle. “He’ll be coming after you, all right. Don’t you worry your pretty little head.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Aside from the question of how he would even begin to search for her in this enormous city, what if he thought she didn’t want to be found? She very much doubted Kendra had seen the abduction take place. What if the Chases simply assumed Caithren had run off—had escaped, as Jason had termed it last night—when he’d finally entrusted her with her own bedchamber?
True, he’d said over and over he felt responsible for her safety, and he’d charged after her on his silver horse more than once. But if Jason attended the wedding and captured Geoffrey Gothard—the very menace he’d been protecting her from—then…
Well, then he wouldn’t be responsible for her anymore, would he?
Caithren shook her head. She had no idea what Jason was thinking, which meant she couldn’t count on a rescue. She’d have to manage on her own.
She walked to the window and looked out. Four stories down. Her first thought had been to open the window and jump. But even when Geoffrey left and she had only to deal with thickheaded Wat, it would still be four stories down.
She wouldn’t be jumping.
Pressing her forehead to the cold pane, she strained to see the wall below. Vines. Old, gnarled vines, the stalks as thick as her forearm. She could climb down the vines.
But only if she incapacitated Wat somehow.
Her gaze darted around the room and into the next one. There must be something here that could help her. Whatever it took, she had to get to the wedding.