“The kitchen spotless?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. Except for the light fixtures. I’ll need a step ladder to clean them, maybe sometime you could show me where one is?”
Brushing aside her concern, he focused on the bamboo rod. “Where’d you get the cane?” he asked.
She gulped guiltily. “From your closet, sir.”
“Were you given permission to enter my room?”
“No, sir. I-I—”
“Did you have permission to rummage through my things?”
“No, sir. But I—”
He cut her off again. “I recall telling you when you came there that I’m a master in my home, the same way the Baron was in his. It’s a term I assumed you would respect.”
“Oh, but I do, sir!”
“Really? You’ve been in this house nearly two weeks, Lisle. You’ve watched me as much as I’ve watched you. Do you think I’m the kind of man who’s going to be
