Chapter Eleven

Jade returned to Caine's home a short time later. After handing the reins to Matthew, she rushed up the back steps to her bedroom. When she rounded the corner, she found Sterns standing like a centurian outside her bedroom door.

He did a double take when he spotted her. Then he folded his arms across his chest. "You're suppose

to be inside your bedroom, mi'lady."

She decided to take the offensive. She'd make him do the explaining. "And what are you suppose to be doing?"

"I'm guarding the door."

"Why?"

"So you won't leave."

"But I already left," she countered with a soft smile. "Sterns, I do believe your time is too valuable to

be guarding an empty room."

"But mi'lady, I didn't know it was empty," he protested.

She patted him on his arm. "You may explain this to me later, sir. Now please move out of my way.

I really must change out of this riding garment and go help Caine."

She scooted past the disgruntled-looking servant and shut the door on his protests. In little time at all, she'd changed into a dark green gown and hurried downstairs by way of the main staircase.

Sterns was now guarding the front door. The set of his jaw told her he was going to be difficult.

"You may not go outside," he announced in a voice that would have chilled a polar bear.

She wasn't at all intimidated. She gave him a wide smile. "I can and I will," she answered.

"My lord is most insistent that you remain inside."

"I'm just as insistent that I go outside."

In answer to that challenge, Sterns leaned against the door and slowly shook his head.

Jade decided to turn his attention. "Sterns? How many servants are there in residence here?"

He looked surprised by her question. "We're only half staffed now," he answered. "There are five of

us in all."

"Where are the others?"

"In London," he answered. "They're helping to clean the town house."

"But I thought it was destroyed in the fire," she said.

"It wasn't as bad as all that," he said. "The side's been boarded up and now there's only the smoke damage to be righted. While the workers repair the structure, the servants are cleaning the inside."

"I'm wondering, Sterns, if the servants here can be trusted."

He rose to his full height before answering. "Mi'lady, all the servants are trustworthy. They are all

loyal to their employer."

"You're certain?"

He took a step away from the door. "Why are you so interested in…"

"You'll be having two guests in the next few days, Sterns, but no one must tell that they're here. Your staff must keep silent."

"The Marquess hasn't mentioned any guests to me," he argued, seeming mildly injured.

Jade rushed past him and threw the door wide. "Caine doesn't know about the visitors just yet," she said. "That's the reason he hasn't told you. It's going to be a surprise, you see."

She could tell from his befuddled expression that he didn't see. "I just thought you'd like to be forewarned so you could have the guest chambers made ready," she explained. She picked up her skirts and started down the steps. "Now quit frowning, Sterns. I shall tell Caine you tried to keep me inside."

"And I shall inform mi'lord that you weren't in your room," he called out.

Jade found Caine going through the remains of what had been his stables. Only smoldering embers remained. The destruction was absolute.

The horses, she noticed, were now housed in a large rectangular corral the men had just put together.

Caine's white shirt was covered with soot. "Have you collected all your horses?" she asked when she reached his side.

He slowly turned to look at her. The scowl on his face could very well start a fresh fire. His tone, however, was deceptively mild when he said, "All but the one you borrowed."

"Borrowed?" she asked, feigning innocence.

"Go and wait for me in the drawing room," he commanded.

"But Caine, I want to help."

"Help?" He almost lost his temper then and there. "You and your men have helped enough." Several

deep breaths later, he said, "Go back inside. Now."

His roar accomplished his goal. Jade immediately turned around and hurried back to the house. She

could feel Caine's stare on her back and wouldn't have been surprised if her gown had caught fire.

The man was spitting-embers angry.

It would be pointless to try to reason with him now. She'd have to wait until his anger had dissipated

just a little.

When she reached the bottom step, she turned back to him. "Caine? If you must stay outside, don't be such a bloody easy target."

Sterns rushed down the stairs, grabbed hold of her elbow, and whispered, "Do as he orders, Lady Jade. You don't want to prod his temper now. Come along inside now," he added as he assisted her up the stairs. "I don't believe I've ever seen mi'lord in such a rage."

"Yes, he is in a rage," Jade whispered, irritated by the tremor in her voice. "Sterns, do you think I might have a cup of tea? This day seems to have gone completely sour," she added. "And it's not even half done."

"Of course I shall fix you some tea," Sterns rushed out. "Mi'lady, I'm certain the Marquess didn't mean

to raise his voice to you. Once he gets over his anger, I'm certain he'll apologize."

"He might not ever get over his anger," she muttered.

Sterns opened the front door for her, then followed her inside. "The stables weren't even a month old,"

he said.

Jade tried to pay attention to what Sterns was saying, but Caine's words kept echoing through her mind. You and your men have helped enough. Yes, those were his very words. He knew about Matthew and Jimbo. But how? she wondered, and more importantly, what else did he know?

While Sterns went to see about her tea, Jade paced the confines of the large drawing room. She opened the pair of French doors at the end of the room to let in the fresh spring air. It was a precautionary measure as well, for if Caine was bent on killing her, she'd have a possible escape.

"Nonsense," she muttered as she resumed her pacing. Caine would never raise his hand against her, no matter how angry he became. Besides, he couldn't possibly know the full truth.