"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
given a packet of letters by my father. Just two days later, Father was killed. Harry took me away on his ship then. He saved the letters, and when he felt the time was right, he gave them to me. I read them of course, then showed them to Nathan. My brother was working with Colin at the time, and he confided in him. Now then," she continued in a brisker tone. "As Caine has probably told you, both Colin and Nathan were… attacked. The villains thought they'd done them in, and… Pagan decided to let the hired thugs return to London to report their success."
"A sound decision," Richards interjected.
"Yes," Jade said. She turned to frown at Caine. "The plan was very simple. Pagan snatched a physician
to take care of the injuries, and it had been decided that when Colin was well enough to travel, he would tell his brother, Caine, about the letters and ask his assistance."
"What happened to sour this plan?" Richards asked.
Jade frowned at Caine again. "He soured it," she announced. "Pagan had been made the scapegoat for Nathan and Colin's deaths, as you know, and Caine decided to seek vengeance. His timing couldn't have been worse. The remaining members of the Tribunal couldn't take the risk of Caine finding the pirate
and having a talk with him. So Caine had inadvertently put himself in danger."
"It wasn't inadvertent," Caine interjected.
She shrugged. "Colin had made Pagan promise not to tell Caine anything. His brother knew Caine
would… charge right in, you see, and Colin wanted to explain everything. In truth, I do believe Colin wasn't thinking the thing through, but he was in terrible pain at the time and he seemed obsessed with protecting Caine. Pagan agreed, just to placate Colin."
"And where do you fit into this scheme?" Lyon asked.
"Nathan is my brother," Jade answered. "I returned to England and went to stay at his country estate. There were several of Pagan's men with me. They took turns watching out for Caine. Several attempts were made to get him, and it was then decided that I would find a way to get Caine away from his hunt. Two days before I was supposed to leave, a series of incidents took place. On the first morning, when I was taking my usual walk, I came upon three men digging up my parents' graves. I shouted, for I was in
a rage, you see, over what they were doing. I drew their notice, of course. One of the villains shot at me. I ran back to Nathan's house to get help."