"But you've been ill, my dear, and certainly haven't been able to think clearly. I don't fault you or Caine," he added with a nod toward the Marquess. "Your host has acted in good faith."

"He has?" Jade asked.

"Most certainly," Sir Harwick replied. "There's a full staff in residence here. Still, the gossipers would have a holiday with this bit of news. Too many people would be hurt by the rumors. Caine's mother…"

"My stepmother," Caine interjected.

"Yes, of course, your stepmother," Harwick continued. "She'd be hurt. As to that, his intended would

also be quite crushed."

"His what?"

She really hadn't meant to raise her voice but Sir Harwick's casually given remark stunned her. She suddenly felt sick. The color all but drained from her face. "Did you say Caine's intended?" she asked

in a scratchy whisper.

"Jade," Caine began. "I believe Sir Harwick is referring to Lady Aisely."

"I see," she replied. She forced a smile for the physician's benefit. "Now I remember. Lady Aisely, the woman you're going to marry." Her voice had risen to a near shrill by the time she'd finished.

She didn't even know this Aisely woman, but she already despised her. The longer she had to mull it over, the more infuriated she was with Caine. God's truth, she hated him, too.

"Lady Aisely wouldn't take the news of your visitation here lightly," Sir Harwick predicted.

"She isn't my intended," Caine interjected. "She's my stepmother's intention for me," he qualified. He couldn't keep the laughter out of his voice. Her reaction to hearing about Lady Aisely couldn't have

been more revealing. It told him she cared.

"But your dear stepmother is…"

"She's hell-bent on getting Lady Aisely and me together," he interrupted. "It isn't going to happen, Harwick."

Jade could feel Caine's stare. She desperately tried to feign disinterest. She realized she was wringing

the compress in her hands and immediately stopped that telling action. "Who you marry doesn't concern me," she announced.

"It should."

She shook her head. "I just wish you'd mentioned your engagement before last night."

"I'm not engaged," he snapped. "And last night would have…"

"Caine!" She shouted his name, then lowered her voice when she added, "We have a guest, if you'll remember."

Harwick let out a rich chuckle. He walked by Caine's side over to the door. "I have a feeling about you two. Am I right?"

"Depends upon what the feeling is," Caine answered.

"She's your intended, isn't she?"

"She is," Caine replied. "She just hasn't accepted it yet."

The two men shared a grin. "I can tell she's going to be difficult, my boy."

"Difficult or not," Caine countered, in a voice loud enough to wake the dead, "she will be my wife."

The door slammed shut on her shout of denial. Jade threw the compress across the room and collapsed against the pillows. She gritted her teeth in frustration.

Why did she care who he married? As soon as Nathan returned, she was never going to see Caine again. And why in thunder did everything have to be so complicated? Lord only knew that protecting Caine

was work enough. Now she had to add Caine's father to her list.

Was Lady Aisely pretty?

Jade pushed that black thought aside. She really was going to have to do something about the Duke of Williamshire. Colin was certain to be upset when he returned home and found his papa had died from grief.

Had Caine taken Lady Aisely to bed?

I cannot think about her now, Jade decided. There are too many other problems to worry about.

She was going to have to do something about Colin's father. A note, she decided, wouldn't be good enough. She'd have to confront the man and have a firm talk with him.

Had Caine's stepmother already made the arrangements for Caine's wedding? Oh God, she hoped Caine had been telling her the truth. She hoped he didn't want Lady Aisely.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered to herself. Of course Caine would marry. And of course it would be

to someone other than her. When he found out the truth about her background, he wouldn't want her anymore.

With a growl of frustration, Jade gave up trying to formulate any plans. Her emotions were like the masts on the Emerald, blowing strong in a high wind. It was pointless to try to concentrate now. Caine's papa would just have to despair a little longer.

She avoided Caine for most of the day. They ate a quiet dinner together. Sterns surprised Jade when he pulled out a chair and sat down with them. The butler ate his meal with them, too. He kept his attention on Caine most of the time, but when he did look at her, his expression was kind, affectionate.

She decided he hadn't found out that she slept with Caine, after all. Jade was relieved. She'd already noticed that Sterns' relationship with Caine was far more than employer and employee. They were very like family, and she didn't want a man who Caine cared about to think she was a trollop.

She kept giving Sterns fretful glances until he reached over and patted her hand.

Caine did most of the talking during the meal. The conversation centered on the problems of running such a large estate. Jade was extremely interested. Surprised as well, for Caine showed he had a true concern for the members of his parish. He actually felt responsible for their well-being.

"Do you aid those who need help?" she asked.

"Of course."

"By giving them money?"

"When it's the only answer," he explained. "Jade, a man's pride is as important as his hunger. Once the stomach's been filled, a way to better himself is the next step."

She thought about that statement a long while, then said,

"Yes, a man's self-worth is important. So is a woman's," she added.

"If you take that self-worth away, there's a good chance that he… or she will give up altogether. A man can't be made to feel he's been manipulated or made to feel a failure."

"There's a difference between manipulation and failure," she argued.

"Not really," Caine replied. "A man's a fool if he allows either, isn't he, Sterns?"