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One Jack Blackthorn, son of Lord Dartmoor, Captain in Her Majesty's Calvalry, and Warden of Sunderland was in an exceptionally pleasant mood. He whistled a jaunty tune, tossing an apple up in the air and catching it as he strolled down the lane. Astrophel, ever the rapscallion, danced amongst the crowd, startling unsuspecting strangers and making children laugh with his petty thievery. One hat moved from this head to that, a kerchief blown into the air, a rook startled into flight after a snort at his tail-feathers.

Oh, yes. It was a fine day, indeed. He had, after all, learned that there were no immediate plans to remove him from his men and assign him to training Wardens - though he did not hold out hope that it would remain this way forever. Still, it was enough for now. After all, Jack was a firm believer in enjoying the moment.

His whistling drifted off as he caught sight of a most unlikely grouping. A dainty doll of a woman seemed to be interrogating a group of men. This might not be completely out of place, except that the young lady in question appeared rather more respectable and demure than the type of woman who usually associated with ruffians. Indeed, the men themselves seemed to be at a loss as to what to do with her. However, they seemed not entirely pleased with her line of questioning, whatever it was.

Well, this simply would not do.

Without another thought, Jack tossed the apple away - Aster caught it with a snort at the poor treatment of the delicious fruit, then proceeded to munch on it - and started directly for them, purpose in his heart, but practiced casualness in his gate. No need to further antagonize the poor men.

It was just as well that Jack was in such a pleasant mood, else his anger on the lady's behalf might have made him do something quite shocking in front of her. As it was, when he saw the man's inspiration, he made a show of slipping an arm around her waste and saying, "I have been looking everywhere for you, darling."

When he looked at the men, his countenance was open and friendly. "I do apologize, good sirs. I hope she hasn't been a bother," he said. Though his tone was polite and even jovial, there was a certain hardness in his eyes that was all but daring them to make an issue of it. If that was not enough to dissuade them in this highly public place, then his uniform and the sword mere inches from his fingertips ought to convince them of where their best interests lie. It was a well cared for weapon, to be sure, and it was most certainly not for decoration.

Astrophel, having finished his apple, stood at Jack's shoulder. In dramatic contrast to his behavior mere moments ago, the buck stood tall and proud, making a display of his antlers. At that moment, he looked nothing like an impish sprite and everything like the warrior-Guardians of old.

If the corner of Jack's lip gave the slightest quiver, the rest of his countenance remained admirably steady in the face of her ignorance. She seemed to be such a sweet thing, it would be a shame to upset her needlessly. Of course, it would be irresponsible of him not to at least attempt to save her from future disaster.

"A thousand apologies, Miss Constance," he said, any trace of the threat he had displayed for the men washed clean from his face. In its place was only the return of his good cheer, tempered, perhaps, by the gentleness he seemed to reserve for ladies.

The offending hand removed itself from her person only to catch her fingers. "Captain Jack Blackthorn at your service," he said, raising those fingers to his lips for a chaste kiss. "And this fine lad is Astrophel," he added, releasing her fingers and glancing sidelong at the buck.

The Guardian in question shook his fur out as though to rid himself of the last vestiges of unwanted seriousness before turning toward Constance. He wagged his fluffy tail and proceeded to nudge her, hoping for attention.

"A pleasure," he said, offering his fingers for the rabbit's inspection.

Aster's eyes closed momentarily in bliss before he noticed the strange, fluffy creature at his hooves. With only a moment's regret for lost scritches, he lowered his head - first to touch noses with the rabbit, then to sniff her ears to tail. What a fluffy thing!

"I could not help but notice the men you were speaking to, Miss Constance," he said, and though his manner was still gentle, there was a note of seriousness in his voice. "They were pirates, you know. You really ought to be more careful." No need to elaborate on what they had so clearly been considering doing to her. Their identity ought to be sufficient deterrent.

Somehow, Jack suspected that the lady was missing the main point. However, he was mollified enough by her initial reaction that he did not press the issue. He was, however, curious about the meaning behind her words. Waving aside her apologies as unnecessary, he inquired, "If I may, what were you asking them about? Perhaps I could be of assistance."

In truth, he could not imagine what a respectable looking young woman like Constance could possibly hope to gain by speaking to pirates - even if she had managed to mistake them for regular sailors. It was unfathomable. But Jack had joined the military for more than one reason, and he truly did wish to help her if he could. It would certainly be safer than allowing her to continue on interrogating any sea-faring man she happened across.

As she spoke of her "lost" brother, Jack felt the strangest combination of discomfort and pity. While pirates killed many respectable sailors, it was true that they took prisoners. However, those prisoners tended to be worth something - a ransom, a particularly useful piece of information - and from the sounds of it, young Constance's brother was not liable to have been ideal prisoner material. What she had failed to take into account was that some men abandoned their ships and became pirates.

The rapscallions hardly sprang forth from the sea. They had to come from somewhere - and where better to swell the ranks of a ship than by accepting able-bodied, trained men from another ship? If her brother were alive, then he was almost certainly a pirate. However, Jack did not have the heart to tell her this.

Instead, he listened to her continue on for a time, and he listened between the words. Oh, he might not have his brother's fancy court tongue or his patience or ability to dance around conversations, but they were brothers. Jack was much more clever than many might credit him for.

"I'm afraid you are right," he said. "I have not heard news of your brother." And he did regret that. He did wish he could have been of more use to her. "Miss Constance, I know your...study is important, but please, do be careful who you approach about such things. Sailors might be more liable to have news than anyone else, but not every man has noble intentions toward young women."

Taking her clasped hands and holding them between his, Jack returned her smile with an understanding one of his own. Yes, he could understand her need to seek out her family. If anything had ever happened to Kit...

He lifted his chin in mock indignation. "You insult me, Miss Constance. I would never betray a lady's trust." Not by going behind her back and speaking to her father, at the very least. That was not at all his style.

"I would not ask that you stop looking for him," he continued, more serious once more. "But I would ask that you take your own well-being into consideration. I doubt your brother would want you to get hurt looking for him." Or if he did, Jack would have a few choice words for the man. Ladies were to be protected, not placed in harm's way.

Though now that he thought of it... "You ought to take someone with you when you feel you need to ask around. It would be safer, I think, if you were not alone."

Jack frowned. No one should be without companions - not that animals did not count for anything, but human companionship was a necessity. He knew this better than most. It was difficult for him, who made friends so easily, to comprehend the life of a person who found themselves alone. It was not part of his life. Even his brother, the more introverted of them, had close friends to call his own.

"That simply will not do," he said, and with the air of a man coming to a grand conclusion, he said. "You'll just have to call on me if you find yourself headed somewhere dangerous."

Far be it from Jack to avoid responsibility for his words. He had suggested she bring along a companion, so if she had no one else, he would be that companion. At any rate, he would feel far better knowing that she was safe in his hands rather than running about accosting pirates on her own.

Jack glanced at his buck. "Or even Aster, here, would be more than happy to accompany you." It was certainly true, and though he was a silly sod most of the time, he was not a Captain's Guardian for nothing. Anyone thinking to underestimate him would be in for a nasty shock.