Guardian Angel, стр. 56

Chapter Twelve

He didn't take the news at all well. For the longest time, he simply refused to believe Jade could possibly be Pagan. Only a man could get away with such daring feats, only a man.

Colin, Harry, and Nathan were all watching him closely. When he shook his head in denial, they nodded in unison.

"I can see you're having trouble accepting this," Colin said. His expression was sympathetic. "But it is true, Caine. Harry gave her that nickname years ago because…"

"I'll be telling it," Harry interrupted. "It was the color of her hair, son. As red as hell's fire it was when

she was a youngster."

It was apparent from the look on Caine's face that he still didn't accept. Harry thought he didn't understand the reason for her special nickname. "She was as wild as the devil back then, too," he explained. "Just like a pagan baby, she was."

Caine's expression slowly turned from disbelief to fury. Both Colin and Harry became uneasy. Only Nathan seemed to be enjoying the moment. "Would a man be apt to leave a rose behind, Caine?" he asked, hoping to rub salt in his wounds. "That's the work of a woman. It's amazing to me that no one's figured it out by now. Don't you agree, Colin?"

"Yes," Colin answered, his gaze directed on his brother. "Amazing."

It was the last remark anyone made for a long while. Harry and Nathan waited for Caine to come to terms with the truth.

Colin knew his brother far better than his friends did. He patiently waited for the explosion.

Jade was in the dining room helping Sterns set the table. As soon as the butler took one look at her face, he knew something was wrong. She looked as pale as the linen tablecloth.

She wouldn't tell him anything but explained that her uncle had arrived and that he and his four men would require supper before they left. She also insisted upon using the finest crystal. Sterns went into

the kitchens to order the meal, throwing both the cook and her assistant, Bernice, into a frenzy, and

then returned to the dining room.

He found Jade examining a large oval silver platter. "Uncle would like this," she remarked. "The design

is quite magnificent."

Sterns nodded. "A gift from the King," he explained. "When the Marquess was knighted, Colin threw quite a bash in his honor. The King showed up and gave him that platter. If you turn it over, you'll see

the inscription."

Jade shook her head. She thrust the platter into Sterns' hands. "Hide it."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Hide it, Sterns," she repeated. She looked around the room, then asked, "Are there any other special things Caine would rather keep?"

"The silver tea set on the side bar," he said. "I do believe it has special meaning to mi'lord."

"Did the King give him that, too?"

"No, the set came from his grandmother."

"Hide it as well, Sterns. Put the things under Caine's bed. They'll be safe there."

"Mi'lady?" Sterns asked. "Are you feeling ill?"

"No."

"You look ill," Sterns announced. "And you're walking around as though you're in a trance. I know something's wrong…"

Jade walked over to the door, then turned back to Sterns. "You have been very kind to me, sir. I will always remember that."

Sterns looked startled. Jade was about to close the door behind her when Caine's command reached her.

"Jade!"

The bellow made the crystal goblets rattle. Jade showed no reaction to the summons, but Sterns jumped

a foot.

"I believe your employer has just heard some distressing news," she said. "I had hoped that my uncle would wait… it doesn't matter."

Sterns followed her into the entrance. When she started up the stairs, he called out to her. "I believe mi'lord would like you to go to him, Lady Jade."

She continued up the stairs. "I would be happy to stand by your side," he promised. "I know his temper can be frightening at times."

Sterns waited until she was out of sight, then rushed inside the drawing room.

The butler had difficulty maintaining his steely composure when he spotted Colin. "My God, is that you, Colin?" he stammered out.

"Hello, Sterns," Colin said. "It's good to see you again. Are you still ordering your lord around?"

Sterns was slow to recover. "I give it my best," he whispered.

"Is this one a servant, Caine?" Harry asked.

"He's a dictator, not a servant," Colin announced with a grin.

Sterns turned to the older man with the obvious poor eyesight. He tried not to gape.

"Is me supper ready yet?" Harry bellowed.

Sterns decided this one had to be Jade's uncle. The stranger sitting next to Colin was too young. "It is almost ready," he told him before finally turning to Caine. "I must speak to you at once in the foyer, mi'lord. It is a most important matter."

"Not now, Sterns," Caine said, his tone weary. "Talk to me later."

"Perhaps you didn't hear me," Sterns countered. "There is a problem that must be resolved immediately. It concerns Lady Jade."

Caine wasn't at all surprised. "What's she burning now? The kitchens?"

"Mi'lord, this isn't the time for jests," the butler snapped.

"Do I look like I'm jesting, Sterns?"

The butler folded his arms across his chest. "Lady Jade isn't burning anything at the moment," he said. "She's leaving."

That announcement got just the reaction Sterns was hoping for. He moved out of his lord's way when

he bounded to his feet, and nodded with satisfaction when Caine roared, "The hell she is!"

The butler waited until his employer had left the room, then turned back to Jade's uncle. "Dinner will

be served in just a moment," he announced, his haughty tone of voice fully restored.

Caine took the stairs two at a time. His heart was pounding. The thought of her leaving him was untenable. For the first time in his life, he was in a panic. He didn't like the feeling at all.

As soon as he threw the door open to her bedroom, he saw her. The panic left in a rush. He slammed

the door shut behind him and leaned against it.