Guardian Angel - Garwood Julie. Страница 76

utensils and proceeded to devour the food. Jade took sympathy on Caine and gave him half of her portion. Both Sterns and Caine looked at each other when the sudden pounding on the front doors

echoed through the room. Caine lost the staring contest. "I'll get it," he announced.

"As you wish, mi'lord," Sterns agreed between bites of his mutton.

"Be careful," Jade called out.

"It's all right," Caine called back. "No one could have gotten to the doors without my men noticing."

A good ten minutes elapsed before Sterns finished his second cup of tea. "I believe I shall go and see who's calling," he told Jade.

"Perhaps it's Caine's papa."

"No, mi'lady," Sterns countered. "I have ordered the Duke and Duchess to stay away. It would draw suspicion if they began to pay daily visits to their son."

"You really ordered them?" she asked.

"But of course, Lady Jade." With a formal bow, the butler left the room.

Jade drummed her fingers on the table until Sterns returned.

"Sir Richards and the Marquess of Lyonwood have arrived," he announced from the doorway.

"My lord is requesting both brandy and you in the library."

"So soon?" she asked, clearly startled. She stood up, smoothed the folds of her gold-colored gown, then patted her hair. "I wasn't ready to meet anyone," she said.

Sterns smiled. "You look lovely, mi'lady," he announced. "You'll like these visitors. They're good men."

"Oh, I've already met Lyon," she replied. "And I'm certain I'll like Richards just as much."

As she started for the door, her expression turned from carefree to fearful.

"There's really nothing to be concerned about, mi'lady."

Her smile was radiant. "Oh, I'm not worried, Sterns. I'm preparing."

"I beg your pardon?" he asked. He followed after her. "What are you preparing for, mi'lady?"

"To look worried," she answered with a laugh. "And to look weak, of course."

"Of course," Sterns agreed with a sigh. "Are you ill, Lady Jade?"

She turned to look at him when she reached the library door. "Appearances, Sterns."

"Yes?"

"They must be kept up. Do the expected, don't you see?"

"No, I don't see," he answered.

She smiled again. "I'm about to give Caine his pride back," she whispered.

"I wasn't aware he'd misplaced it."

"I wasn't either, until he mentioned it to me," she replied. "Besides, they're only men, after all."

She took a deep breath, then let Stems open the door for her. She stood just inside the entrance, her

head bowed, her hands folded together in front of her.

Sterns was so surprised by the sudden change in her demeanor, his mouth dropped open.

When Caine called out to her, she visibly jumped, as if his command had the power to terrify her, then slowly walked into the study. The one called Richards bounded to his feet first. He was an elderly man with gray hair, a gentle smile, and a round belly. He had kind eyes, too. Jade acknowledged the introduction by making a perfect curtsy.

She then turned to greet Lyon. When he stood to his full height, he fairly towered over her. "It is good

to see you again, Lyon," she whispered, her voice little more than a faint shiver.

Lyon raised an eyebrow in reaction. He knew she was a timid creature, but he thought that she had

gotten over her initial reaction to him the first time they'd met. Now, however, she acted afraid again.

The contradiction puzzled him.

Caine was sitting behind his desk. His chair was tilted back against the wall. Jade sat down on the edge

of the chair adjacent to the desk, her back ramrod straight. Her hands were clenched in her lap.

Richards and Lyon both resumed their chairs across from her.

Caine was watching Jade. She appeared to be terribly frightened. He wasn't buying it for a minute. She was up to something, he decided, but he would have to wait until later to question her.

Richards cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. His gaze was centered on Jade when he said, "I cannot help but notice, my dear, how worried you seem to be. I've read the letters your father saved,

but before I ask you my questions, I want to make it perfectly clear that I don't hold you in less esteem because of your father's transgressions."

She still looked like a trapped doe, but she managed a timid nod.

"Thank you, Sir Richards," she replied in a bare whisper. "It is kind of you not to blame me. I was worried that you might condemn me."

Caine rolled his eyes heavenward. Richards, a man rarely given to showing any affection, was now clasping Jade's hands. The director looked like he wanted to take her into his arms and offer her solace.

She did appear to be very vulnerable. Caine suddenly remembered that that same expression had been

on her face when she'd stared at him in the tavern. She'd appeared vulnerable then, too.

What was her game?

"Neither one of us condemns you," Lyon interjected. He, too, leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "You have had a difficult time of it, Jade."

"Yes, she has," Sir Richards agreed.

Caine forced himself not to smile. Both his superior and his friend were falling under Jade's spell. He thought Lyon should have known better. After all, he'd met Jade before. Still, her manner now, added

to his earlier thought that she was terribly timid, obviously convinced Lyon that she was sincere.

"Are you up to answering a few questions now?" Richards asked.

Jade nodded. "Would it not be better to have Nathan answer your questions? Men are so much more logical. I'll probably make a muddle out of it."

"Jade." Caine said her name as a warning.

She turned to give him a tremulous smile. "Yes, Caine?" she asked.

"Behave yourself."

Richards turned to frown at Caine. Then he returned his attention to Jade.

"We'll ask Nathan our questions later. If it isn't too painful to recount, please tell us exactly what happened to you from the moment you arrived in London."

Jade nodded. "Certainly," she agreed. "You see, this all begins with the letters. My Uncle Harry was