As soon as he was able, Sir Avery walked back down to his own room. With a bath and a change of clothes, he professed to feel much better. Immediately after he'd made himself decent, Juliet held up his razor and a pair of scissors.

He laughed. "You are relentless!" But he sat himself down in his chair and allowed her to shave his beard off and trim his hair. When his beard was gone, Juliet discovered a thin scar on one cheek that gave him a slightly roguish air. She touched the scar, questioning it.

He frowned briefly and grinned. "Would you believe a duel over a woman?" Juliet shook her head, though her grin belied the scowl she attempted. "No, you've a right to your suspicions," he repented playfully. "It was practice, a few years ago."

His face was one accustomed to smiling she discovered, with a long, straight nose flanked by high cheekbones and a pair of thin lips. Those emerald eyes tended to distract her attention away from his overly-patrician features and Juliet knew that when he was completely hale, his hollow cheeks would fill out and his color would return as the pneumonia faded.

When she was done, Juliet handed him his mirror so he could see her handiwork. "Very nice," he approved. "Not one scratch. You are an accomplished lady." She raised her eyebrow at his choice of title for her but he nodded. "You do not carry yourself as one born of peasants. Truly, I'm surprised my father didn't see it despite your simple clothing. The first time I saw you, I knew."

Juliet bowed grandly, deferring to his observation. "Ah," he exclaimed. "The mystery deepens! Who are you then, if you are not merely some rude peasant's daughter? And why do you find it necessary to masquerade as a housemaid when you are not?"

Juliet grinned and shrugged, refusing to answer. She'd occasionally seen glimpses of shadows outside the door and knew that the pair of them were being spied upon.

Each day, Juliet sprinkled an appropriate amount of the white powder over his chamber pot. Without his being flat on his back and breathing shallowly, the pneumonia began to subside, leaving him to cough up the fluid in his lungs. He did his best to subdue the coughs when Juliet was in the room, feeling it ungentlemanly to spit out the ugly smelling, thick mucus with a lady present.

It wasn't long before she caught him at it and held his wash bowl in front of him. He shook his head, still with a glob of spittle in his mouth. She pointed. He refused. Knowing it might cause a secondary infection and seeing no other recourse in stopping him from swallowing the stuff, Juliet leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"Spit, ye mangy dog!" she warned him, "or I'll string ye up by yer heels until ye do!" Then she gave him a resounding wallop between his shoulder blades.

Startled, he spat. "You do speak!" he exclaimed, but Juliet clapped her hand over his mouth before he could say anything else.

"Aye," she admitted in a whisper, "but t'would 'ardly be fittin' fer yer father t'find out, so be silent!"

He nodded so she removed her hand before continuing in a whisper. "I be no peasant, nor any angel sent by God." He had to grin at that one, but his grin faded as she continued. "Th' baron be worried far ye'. He sent me to discover be ye' alive still and report back, but I dare not leave without ye' for fear ye'd not survive long enough fer him to return and fetch ye'. There be more, but th' telling would be lengthy. Will ye' trust me?"

Sir Avery nodded. Juliet nodded back. "Good. Several times, I've seen tell o' spies outside th' door, so mind what ye' say."

"I will," he promised in a whisper, then added aloud, "but it's not gentlemanly to spit!" She grinned and shook her head before leaning him forward so she could pound on his back with a cupped hand. When she was satisfied that she'd done what was needed, she handed him a glass of water and motioned for him to drink it.

Learning that the baron worried over him and that the 'Silent Lady' meant to see him removed from the household, Sir Avery found renewed determination to regain his strength. Juliet found herself checking on him more than once during the night, fearful that his recovering strength would provoke an attack by his enemies.

Within days, he'd made it to the library for a book and then the dining room for dinner. Watching him head downstairs to eat in the dining room, Juliet decided to sleep on the floor just inside his door and left her bed as soon as the other maids were asleep. She heard a scuffling noise as she moved silently down the second-floor hallway toward his door.

The sound of someone's voice hastened her steps. "Word came the other day that you've inherited a pretty ward who owns a merchant ship. I can't have you coming down to dinner anymore, Big Brother. In fact, I can't have you around at all. I mean to have that ward and her ship, even if it means you don't wake up!"

Juliet ran down the last length of hallway and found Sir Avery's younger brother standing over the bed, holding a pillow over Sir Avery's face. Sir Avery fought back, pitching his body and trying to roll, but she could see his struggles weakening rapidly.

As noiseless as ever, Juliet launched herself at the assailant. The force of her attack knocked the younger man away from Sir Avery but Sir Henry's younger son was no weakling. Though the young man was about Juliet's own age, he was heavily muscled and as Juliet found, apparently accustomed to such struggles. He soon had control of Juliet herself.

Holding her pinned underneath him on the floor; he seemed to enjoy her attempts to throw him off, kissing her roughly. "You are a minx," he approved. "Let me say one last 'good night' to my dear brother, and then we two will have some fun."

Juliet spat in his face but he only grinned and kissed her again. It was more of an assault than a kiss, smashing Juliet's lips against her teeth and making her feel as if he were trying to smother her.

Suddenly, he stiffened and went limp. At that same moment, a dull thud and a crack sounded loud in the quiet room. Sir Avery kicked his brother off of Juliet and stood beside the man's prone form, holding two broken halves of his ceramic wash basin.

"Are you alright?' Sir Avery asked quietly, offering her a hand up. "Did he hurt you?" The honest concern in his voice registered more than his words.

With a quiet sob, Juliet wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in the ruffles of his nightshirt. He dropped the remnants of basin in order to hold her tight. "I never met me match before," she whispered, sobbing for breath. "He was tryin' ta' kill ye'! And he'd've . . ." The shock of the attack hit her again and Juliet found herself shaking, unable to complete the thought.

"I know," he said, cutting off her words before she could voice the terrible deed. "My brother has an unholy appetite for housemaids. Truly, when I saw him on top of you, I was more angry than I was afraid while he held the pillow over my face. He will not touch you again, My Lady." He shushed her soothingly, holding her and rubbing her back until Juliet's trembling ceased.

Finally, Juliet took hold of herself and made herself release his waist, despite how much she liked being in his arms. "Be he dead then?" she asked, still whispering.

Sir Avery studied her face silently for a moment before he bent down to check. "No, he breathes." Swiftly, he removed the drapery cords from the corners of his bed and trussed his younger brother fast. "I would see him hang for this." The rage in his voice made it shake slightly.

"We must need leave." For the first time, Juliet spoke in a normal voice. "I highly doubt ye'll see yer father side with ye' o'er him. Indeed, Sir Henry may seek yer own neck instead, far attacking yer brother."

Sir Avery stared at her. "You have a beautiful voice!" He paused then asked, "do you have much to pack?"

"I have nothin' here I'll be needin' ag'in," Juliet decided swiftly. "There be girls upstairs what need it more an' well enough we paid the last owner of e'rething I brought. We must leave now. Have ye' strength enough t' reach th' stables?"

"I must," he said simply. "I highly doubt I will ever have another chance." He took her hand in his and kissed the backs of her fingers. "You saved my life again tonight. Thank you." Then, without waiting for a reply, he pulled her from the room, still holding her hand.
Only when he was forced to use both hands in order to saddle a horse did Sir Avery drop Juliet's hand.

Once he'd led his horse from the barn, Sir Avery heaved himself into the saddle and offered Juliet a hand up to sit in his lap. Almost before she was settled onto the saddle horn, Sir Avery kicked his horse into a wild gallop and set off for Danvers Hall. Sir Avery only slowed the horse for a rest after they'd put several miles between themselves and Cooke manor. "You've saved my life and I still do not know your name," he commented while the horse walked.

Juliet grinned up at him, enjoying the hold he maintained on her waist despite the horse's easy pace. "Me crew call me Cap'n Jules," she told him, "and ta th' baron I be Lady Juliet. But other 'n' that, formal introductions ought wait 'til we reach Danvers Hall."

"Lady Juliet," he said, seeming to test the name with his voice. "You have a most interesting accent. It's no wonder why you chose to hide it."

"I've spent nigh onta a month wi' only me own thoughts for comp'ny," she explained. "'Tis the Caribbean ye' hear; given time, I'll sound a bit more normal ta' yer ears." She paused to listen. "We'd best make Danvers Hall 'ere yer brother be discovered, Sir Avery." He agreed and set the horse to running again.

Arriving at Danvers Hall in the middle of the night and dressed in only their night-clothes caused quite a stir in that household. Juliet was met by both Ladies Jane and Diana and soundly hugged by both before being taken to her room for a proper night's sleep.

Lord Andrew took one look at Sir Avery and ordered a room readied for him. Sir Avery insisted on explaining what momentous event precipitated their arrival in such a scandalous fashion. As soon as the younger man had explained and apologized for Lady Juliet's fright, Lord Andrew promised to protect them should anyone come looking for them and sent him off to bed. The young man was swaying on his feet and looked ready to collapse with exhaustion, which he nearly was.

Come morning, Sir Avery was loaned some clothing and met the others over a private breakfast in Lord Andrew's study. Lord Andrew perused him over the coffee cup. "You are a wealthy young man," remarked the baron. "Aside from inheriting Cooke Manor, Baronet Cooke, you are also the nearest male relative to John Drake, who was Lady Juliet's father."

Juliet spoke up with amusement. "I suppose introductions are in order, Lord Andrew. After all, there wasn't time before this for me to properly explain." She turned to her guardian. "Sir Avery Cooke, I am Lady Juliet Lisette Margeaux Gereau du St. Denis Drake, captain of the merchant ship SS Sea Sprite; and your ward, apparently."

Sir Avery jumped to his feet and bowed properly. "Indeed, we are well met, My Lady!" he exclaimed. He re-seated himself when Lord Andrew cleared his throat.

The baron was holding a sheaf of papers. "These should clear up any confusion you may have," the baron offered, and handed Sir Avery each page as he explained. "This is the last will and testament of Captain John Drake. This is a copy of the dowry that the good captain established for his daughter and this is . . ." He was interrupted by a scratch at the door.

The butler poked his head in. "Begging your pardon, Your Lordship, there are two gentlemen outside looking for Sir Avery Cooke and a mute housemaid. It seems that the pair attacked young Master Cooke last night and absconded with Sir Henry's favorite horse."

The baron scowled. "Tell whoever is at the door that certainly no such maid exists here and if Sir Avery might be here, I should welcome his return to health with open arms. Oh, and remind those very gentlemen of who owns the horse, will you?"

"Very good, Milord," the butler closed the door again.

"Lord Andrew, perhaps we would be safer aboard the Sea Sprite," Juliet offered. "And since I will have my legal guardian with me, it could hardly be considered as piracy." Both men gave her dubious looks. "A short voyage would also give Sir Avery time to regain his health away from those who might murder him in his sleep."

She turned her attention to Sir Avery himself. "Aboard the Sea Sprite, you can be certain that the men are trustworthy, that none of them are in your father's employ. Also," she smiled, teasing him, "the salt air would be good for your lungs."

Sir Avery studied her for a long moment. There was intensity to his gaze when he looked at her that wasn't there for anyone else. "I rather miss your accent," he told her quietly. Juliet blushed. He smiled and turned to Lord Andrew. "My Lord, will you keep the horse please? He may be Sir Henry's favorite; but only because General is my horse."

Lord Andrew laughed. "My Boy, so glad to have you back! Of course, I shall be glad to keep General in my stable. May I suggest you pen a letter of explanation before you leave? Make two copies, one for Sir Henry and one for me, then mail them from Oxford. That way Sir Henry cannot accuse Lady Juliet of abducting you or spread word that you are dead in order to claim your property."

"Those are wise suggestions. Thank you, Lord Andrew," Sir Avery nodded. "May I ask one more favor?" When Lord Andrew nodded, he asked, "will you please recommend a reliable solicitor? I shall require a business manager that Sir Henry cannot buy off, one that will not be afraid to evict my father from my home."

Lord Andrew smiled widely. "Capital idea! Then you could leave your letters for him to deliver in person. In fact, I know just the man! Now, if you ladies would care to go pack, I feel the urge to overnight in Oxford. Something tells me that a certain ship may be departing and I shall find it a suitable diversion to provide a proper send-off."

Ladies Jane, Diana and Juliet stood, understanding themselves to be dismissed. The gentlemen stood as well until the ladies should depart. Sir Avery managed to capture Juliet's hand and kiss her fingers.

"Until later?" he enquired in quiet tones. When he looked up to meet her eye, Juliet smiled and nodded her head in deference. Impishly, she reclaimed her hand without answering. "My Lady, you are a tease," he accused, pretending to be wounded. Juliet grinned as she followed the other ladies from the room.