"What do they have to talk about?" Jade asked Black Harry. "They don't even know each other."

The crash cleared up her confusion. "My God, they're going to kill each other," she cried out. "Harry,

do something."

Jade gave that command while she tried to push Sterns out of her way. Harry rushed over and put his arm around her shoulders. "Now, girl, they've been itching to get at each other since the moment they met. Let them alone. Come along with me back to the dining room. Cook's about to do us with dessert."

"Harry, please!"

"Come along," Harry soothed. "Me men are waiting on me."

Her uncle gave up trying to persuade her to join him when she started in shouting. The sound didn't bother him much at all, considering all the noise coming from the drawing room. "You always were a

mite stubborn, girl," he muttered as he moved back to the dining room. The cherished silver bowl was tucked under his arm.

A pounding began at the front door just as the dining room doors shut behind Harry. Sterns was immediately torn between duties.

"Will mi'lady please see who's come calling," he shouted; so she could hear him above the noise.

Sterns' arms were folded across his chest. His back rested against the doors. Jade moved to stand

beside him, then imitated his stance. "Mi'lady will guard these doors while you go see who it is."

The butler shook his head. "You cannot trick me, Lady Jade. You're wanting to get inside with the Marquess."

"Of course I want to go inside," she argued. "Caine's fighting with my brother. One's bound to kill the other."

Another loud crash shook the walls. Sterns decided one of the two men had thrown the settee against

the wall. He mentioned that possibility to Jade. She shook her head. "Sounds more like a body hitting

the wall, Sterns. Oh, please…"

She didn't bother to continue pleading with him when he shook his head.

The front door suddenly opened. Both Jade and Sterns turned their attention to the two guests who just walked inside.

"It's the Duke and Duchess of Williamshire," Sterns whispered, appalled.

Jade's manner immediately changed. "Don't you dare move away from these doors, Sterns."

She rushed across the foyer and made a curtsy in front of Caine's parents. The Duke of Williamshire smiled at her. The Duchess was barely paying her any notice, for her attention was centered on the entrance to the drawing room. Another loud blasphemy radiated through the doors. Caine's stepmother

let out a small gasp.

"You took her innocence, you bastard."

Nathan's bellowed accusation echoed throughout the foyer. Jade felt like screaming. She suddenly hoped Caine would kill her brother.

Then she remembered their guests. "Good day," she blurted out. She had to shout so the Duke and Duchess would hear her. She felt like a simpleton.

"What is going on here?" the Duchess demanded. "Sterns, who is this lady?"

"My name is Lady Jade," she blurted out. "My brother and I are friends of Caine's," she added.

"But what is going on inside the drawing room?" the Duchess asked.

"A little dispute," she said. "Caine and Nathan, my brother, you see, are having a rather spirited debate about…"

She looked over at Sterns for help while she frantically tried to think of a plausible explanation. "Crops," Sterns shouted.

"Crops?" The Duke of Williamshire asked, looking thoroughly puzzled.

"That's ridiculous," the Duchess announced. Her short blond curls bobbed when she shook her head.

"Yes, crops," Jade stated. "Caine believes the barley and wheat should be planted only every other year. Nathan, on the other hand, doesn't believe a field should go fallow. Isn't that right, Sterns?"

"Yes, mi'lady," Sterns shouted. He grimaced when the sound of glass shattering pierced the air, then said, "My lord feels quite strongly about this issue."

"Yes," Jade agreed. "Quite strongly." The Duke and Duchess were staring at her with incredulous expressions. They thought she was crazed. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. "Upstairs, if you please."

"I beg your pardon?" the Duchess asked.

"Please come upstairs," Jade repeated.

"You want us to go upstairs?" the Duchess asked.

"Yes," Jade answered. "There's someone waiting to see you. I believe he's in the second room on the right, though I can't be certain."

She had to shout the end of her explanation as the noise had once again risen to ear-piercing dimensions.

The Duke of Williamshire came out of his stupor. He clasped Jade's hands. "Bless you, my dear," he said. "It's so good to see you again," he added. "You kept your word. I never doubted," he added. He realized he was rambling and immediately forced himself to calm down. "Come along, Gweneth. Jade wants us to go upstairs now."

"You know this woman, Henry?"

"Oh, dear, have I given myself away?" Henry asked Jade.

She shook her head. "I've already told Caine I came to see you," she said.

Henry nodded, then turned back to his wife. "I met this lovely young lady early this morning."

"Where?" Gweneth asked, refusing to let him tug her toward the steps. "I'll hear your explanation now, Henry."

"She came to see me in my study," Henry said. "You were still sleeping. Now come along, sweet.

You'll understand after you've…"

"Henry, she has red hair!"

"Yes, dear," Henry agreed as he prodded her up the stairs.

Gweneth started to laugh. "And green eyes, Henry," she shouted in order for her husband to hear her.

"I noticed her green eyes right off, Henry."

"How very astute of you, Gweneth."

Jade stared after Caine's parents until they'd reached the hallway above the stairs. "The fat's in the fire now, isn't it, Sterns?"

"I do believe that is a most accurate evaluation, mi'lady," Sterns agreed. "But have you noticed the blessed lack of noise?"

"I have," she replied. "They've killed each other."

Sterns shook his head. "My employer would not kill your brother," he said. "I believe I shall fetch the decanter of brandy for the two gentlemen. I imagine they're quite parched by now."