Iris Johansen - Dark Rider

"I'll be what you called her. Lani isn't a savage, but I can be one. She believes in dignity and kindness and turning the other cheek. She's tried to teach me to do that, but she never succeeded." Cassie stepped closer, glaring at her. "She never understood the warriors of Kalaniopuu, but I did."

"Kalaniopuu," Carolyn repeated. "What rambling is this?"

"Your Captain Cook tried to take the chief Kalaniopuu hostage. Do you know what they did to him?"

"Everyone knows that brave man was killed by savages."

"Then they cut the flesh off his bones and returned it to his sailors in a sack. That's what I'll do to you."

She shuddered. "You truly are a savage."

"Yes, and I would not think twice about creeping into your room and butchering you." The words flowed in a fierce, deadly stream. "Nothing would save you. I'd wait and I'd watch, and when you'd least expect it, I'd strike."

Carolyn turned pale. "Jared! Stop her."

"I'm not sure I can," Jared drawled. "She's really quite terrifying, isn't she?"

Cassie paid no attention to him. "You'll go to Lani and you'll beg her pardon. You'll tell her that you know she's a far finer woman than you'll ever be. You'll curtsy to her and-"

"Curtsy?"

"You should grovel on the floor and kiss her feet," Cassie said fiercely. "If it wouldn't embarrass Lani, I'd make you do it."

Carolyn raised her chin. "All of this is nonsense. I'm not afraid of you."

"Look at me." Cassie held her gaze. "You should be afraid. This isn't my world. I'm not guided by your rules. Every time you go to sleep at night, you'll wonder if you'll live another day."

Carolyn shivered and moistened her lips. "She's mad. Help me, Jared."

"And have her shred the flesh from my bones? I'd really rather like to keep the two together."

"Go!" Cassie shoved her toward the door. "Now! I'll be watching from the doorway."

Carolyn opened the door and glared venomously over her shoulder. "I'll never forgive you for letting her do this to me, Jared." She raised her chin. "Very well, I'll do it, but this small triumph will do you little good. I have a position here. I'm respected and feared. You are nothing." She swept across the room toward Lani. She stopped in front of her, hesitated, and then swept Lani a sketchy curtsy.

Lani gazed at her in astonishment.

Carolyn's words were muttered, but they must have been the right ones, because the guests near the two women wore expressions of bewilderment.

"Satisfied?" Jared asked in Cassie's ear.

"No, but it will have to do." She turned on her heel. "I'm leaving this place. I don't want to be here anymore."

"No more challenge?" He caught Bradford's eye across the room and motioned to him. "As I'm no longer welcome here either, I'll escort you from the premises. Wait outside while I talk to Bradford."

He joined her a moment later and placed her cloak around her shoulders. "You probably don't need this. I doubt if you're feeling the cold."

"Where's Bradford?" she asked as he helped her down the steps.

"He's coming. I'll take you back to the castle in my carriage, and he'll bring Lani and Josette." He motioned to the coachman. "I believe it's best I get you out of here as soon as possible."

She didn't argue as he helped her into his carriage and then settled onto the seat across from her. She wanted nothing more than to escape the place now that the deed was done. She drew the cloak closer about her. Jared was right: she didn't feel the cold, but she was shaking with the aftereffects of that terrible anger.

She breathed a sigh of relief when the lights of Carradine House faded in the distance.

"Would you have done it?" Jared suddenly asked.

"Butchered her? Don't be ridiculous. Even that… that… gargoyle's life has some worth. But I would have frightened her so badly that she would never have felt safe again."

"I'm not sure she will now."

"Good." Cassie leaned back and closed her eyes. The trembling was becoming worse. Perhaps if she feigned sleep, he wouldn't notice.

He didn't speak for a long time, and she thought she had succeeded in deceiving him. Then he said roughly, "Stop shaking, dammit."

"It's cold."

"Stop it!"

Her lids flew open and she said fiercely, "I can't stop it. If you don't want to see it, close your eyes. It's not as if you-"

"Shut up." He was beside her on the seat, his arms sliding beneath the cloak to draw her close. "Just shut up."

Strength and support flowed out of him, enveloping her in a warm haze. She should push him away, show him she didn't need him. Dear God, but she did need him. Perhaps it would be all right to accept comfort for just a little while.

She relaxed against him. "I'll be better soon. It's been… a difficult night."

"For all of us." His arms tightened around her. "And you tried your best to make it impossible."

She sensed he wasn't talking about Carolyn or Lani. "You weren't being fair."

He didn't answer.

It appeared he was not going to argue with her. Relief flowed through her. She'd had enough conflict and challenges tonight. She was glad he wasn't angry.

He really wasn't angry, she thought suddenly. She could sense annoyance but not anger. He had been furious earlier in the evening, and her attack on Lady Carradine should have added fuel to the fire. Why had it not done so? She had been so absorbed with Lady Carradine that she scarcely noticed Jared's response, but now that she thought back, she remembered he had not aligned himself against her. She had ruined all his plans, but he had refused to abandon her. His support was bewildering.

"Why didn't you- Lady Carradine was very angry with you."

"Yes."

"She'll find a way to punish you."

"You give her too much credit."

"Josette."

"I don't believe Josette will be returning to Lady Carradine's School for Young Ladies."

"Won't that enrage her? You said her influence could destroy Josette's position with the ton."

"I'll find a way to deal with her."

"How?"

"I'll destroy her." The words were offhand, spoken with a complete lack of expression. "She's set herself to be an example of virtue and good taste. With a few ungentlemanly words spoken at the right time, to the right people… It shouldn't be difficult to destroy that image."

The ruthlessness of the statement had shocked her -but it shouldn't have. That ruthlessness had driven her father from the island and sent her in pursuit. "You would do that to her?"

He suddenly chuckled. "At least I didn't say I'd butcher her and throw her flesh in a sack." He paused. "Yes, I'll do it if she hurts Josette. I may even do it if she doesn't."

"Why?"

"She lied to me and she didn't play fair."

She shouldn't have had to ask. Justice was important to him, and Lady Carradine had committed a transgression he couldn't forgive. "You believed me?"

"I saw her face." He added, "But I would have believed you anyway. I've found to my misfortune that you're honest to a fault."

She was silent a moment, and when she spoke, her words were muffled. "I'm sorry I caused you and Josette trouble. I had to do it."

"I know you did. Kanoa was in the ascendancy."

She said haltingly, "I thank you for understanding I couldn't-"

"Understand?" He pushed her back, looked into her face, and asked harshly, "Why the devil are you thanking me? Did you think I don't know that I'm to blame for what happened tonight? I trusted Carolyn, and because of my misjudgment Lani was hurt and you were distressed. You owe me no gratitude for being a fool."

"You weren't a fool. She was very clever and-"

"I made a mistake and others suffered for it." His lips twisted. "Which means reparations must be made."

"Lady Carradine already made reparations."