Page 52 of The Trouble with Tigers
Zeke plucked at a nonexistent bit of lint on his trousers. Truth be told, he still marveled at his own unexpected and violent burst of anger. Guardian or no, the man had come close to having the stuffing knocked out of him when he rounded on Kitty. Only Aunt Lillian’s timely decision to step in front of Zeke saved James.
“It was quite entertaining, actually, watching Aunt Lillian take on the bugger.”
James did eventually make it past Aunt Lillian. Then he must’ve gleaned Zeke’s desire to rip him to shreds, because he clamped his mouth shut and scurried back several feet to allow the trio to pass.
“Good ol’ Lill,” the earl said with a chuckle, and leaned back, his well-used leather chair creaking in protest. “Yesterday, James all but accused me of secreting her out of the country.”
“Probably because he came up with the idea first.”
The earl lifted a querulous brow.
“Suffice it to say our showing up in Albemarle at the break of dawn proved timely. Five minutes later and they’d have been gone.”
“It was that close?”
“Yes. The lying bastard’s rented coach arrived directly after ours. James and Kitty were waiting at the curb. Our girl looked downright forlorn before she realized what was happening.”
The earl’s expression turned wily. “Our girl? Do I detect a degree of softening toward the damsel?”
Zeke snorted. “I’m not an ogre. Of course I don’t want to see any harm befall your tiger. Doesn’t mean I plan on actually marrying the chit.”Anymore.
“Speaking of your marriage”—the earl clapped his hands once—“the engagement announcements are due to hit the papers tomorrow.”
Chapter Twelve
Zeke’s brows shot up. “My. Someone’s been busy.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and regarded the earl across the massive desk. “I'll admit the wedding announcement ought to give James pause. As a newly titled baron of common origin, he’ll think long and hard before pitting himself against us once we’ve gone public.”
The earl nodded and cleared his throat. “Announcements, by the by.”
“Beg pardon?”
“Announcements. Plural. As in theTimes, and theChronicle.”
“How thorough of you,” Zeke said dryly.
“I thought so, too. Eh, Zeke, I’m curious…” His grandfather paused. Picked up a crystal paperweight sitting atop his desktop and examined it. “Did the two of you have a chance to get better acquainted over the last few days?”
Zeke’s mind shot to the moment he’d bounded into her chamber to save her from certain abduction only to find heralone, shrouded in moonlight, hair tumbling down to her waist. Tempting beyond measure.
“Eh, yes. A bit. She’s…no lad.” He drummed his fingers on his thigh.
The earl hooted with laughter. “I’ll say. I still marvel you couldn’t see through her disguise.”
“Yes.” He was getting damned tired of people saying that.
“In any case, I’m counting on your help with a plan I concocted during your absence. A more intimate knowledge of our Kitty will enable you to help me.”
Intimate. The word brought all sorts of ideas to mind. “Oh?”
The earl lowered his voice. “The thing is, I rather hoped, since the two of you aren’t really going to marry—”
“Definitely not,” Zeke interjected, her abject refusal to do so ringing in his mind.
The earl scowled a little at the interruption. “And as she is of an eminently marriageable age…”
“Eminent, eh? How old is she?”
