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“Since you’re gifted, feelings matter.”
She froze and stepped back. “Why do you think I’m gifted?”
Cameron arched his brows. “You wrote to the gifted branch of the Home Office.”
“I didn’t know that! My cousin, Jamie Harris, had told me that I could write to Lord Tremayne at the Home Office if there was trouble and I didn’t know where else to turn.” She bit her lip. “I wonder if he had a feeling that I might need such help.”
“Quite possibly, since I gather he was gifted also.”
“You sound so casual about that,” she said cautiously. “Many people despise those who are gifted.”
“You seem surprised,” Cameron replied quietly. “Were you rejected by your family?” He studied her with a gaze that felt as if he was seeing through to her soul. She felt lightning-struck and didn’t know if what she felt was fear or hope.
She slammed the feelings down for later investigation because they were too intense to deal with right now, focusing instead on securing his bandage. “Yes. I almost starved before Jamie took me in. We weren’t really cousins, but … we became family to each other. He died two years ago.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” he said, his voice soft. “You don’t know any other people who are gifted?”
“None that will admit it,” she said dryly.
“Gifts are not uncommon, but many people prefer not to disclose that they have them,” he agreed.
“I assume you’re also gifted … though I doubt you were thrown out of your home,” she said, unable to keep envy from her voice.
“Yes, I’m gifted, but I was indeed thrown out of my home.” Cameron grimaced. “My real father tossed me into a river and shouted that he hoped I drowned. I was four years old.”
Casey gasped. “How horrible! How did you survive?”
“I flailed around and managed to stay afloat long enough to be pulled out of the water by a farmhand. The Tremayne family estate was nearby, and the farmhand knew the Tremaynes were gifted, so he took me there. I was terrified and hid in dark corners until my foster sister Tamsyn lured me out with cream cakes.” He grinned. “She chose her bait well. It wasn’t long until I ventured out of hiding and joined the family.”
Fascinated and impressed, Casey asked, “You took the name Tremayne?”
He nodded. “Lord and Lady Tremayne have three legitimate children and ten fosters like me, but we are all family.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I give thanks daily for the Tremaynes. As you surely do for Jamie Harris.”
She nodded, her throat tight. Turning to practicality, she said, “I have potato leek soup on the hob. It’s a simple meal, but if you’re hungry, it won’t take long to heat up.”
“I’d like that.” Realizing she’d finished, he carefully pulled his bloodstained sleeve down over the crude bandage. “I suspect that your concerns for Sir Samuel are well founded and that’s why that brute tried to kill you, so I’m going to be your house guest and guard until we sort the danger out.”
“You believe me just like that?” she said, startled.
“It’s part of being gifted,” he explained. “One of my talents is evaluating how serious risks are. As soon as I read your letter, I knew your concerns merited immediate investigation.”
Unnerved, she bent to add coal to the fire, then swung the pot of soup over the heat. A house guest? This man who was alarmingly attractive? “You really think it’s necessary for you to stay here?”
Gaze serious, he said, “Given how close you came to being murdered tonight, I’d say yes, it’s necessary.”
She shivered at his words. It was hard to argue with them, but having him under her roof would make it difficult for her to conceal her gender. “If you stay here you might be in danger also.”
“Perhaps, but luckily I’m good at sensing danger, or you might be dead now.”
She winced at a swift memory of that slashing knife. “You might be right.” She rose and poured two glasses of ale, then sliced bread for toasting. “I’m used to a quiet life. You’re sure that man wasn’t a mad random stranger?”
“I am.” His voice was gentle. “It can be hard to accept that you’re a target for violence, but these are difficult times.” He took a sip of the cool, tangy ale and gave a nod of satisfaction. “The Chatham dockyard and Sir Samuel are both very important to Britain now that we’re at war again. There have been serious threats at other dockyards as well, recently.”
She was about to ask about the other threats when a sleek black shape materialized from the shadows and leaped onto the table next to her guest. “Sorry, Mr. Tremayne!” she exclaimed. “Gentleman Jack is always curious.”
“Please call me Cameron, or Cam.” He scratched the cat’s neck. “He’s not a problem. Cats are always welcome in Tremayne homes. I suppose he’s Gentleman Jack because he’s fashionably attired in black with white whiskers and feet?”
Casey smiled. “Exactly. He showed up not long before Jamie died and kept him good company while I was at work.” She stroked Jack’s back fondly and was rewarded by a rumbling purr. “I was honored that he stayed with me after Jamie was gone.” The cat had been a bright spot in a dark time, and he’d become her valued companion.
