Page 69 of The Trouble with Tigers
“As I recall, we met Lord James, Baron of Maidstone at White’s the afternoon our paths crossed. Maidstone. Say, isn’t he the guardian of your betrothed? Or did I misread your announcement? Oh, excuse me. Announcements,”
Zeke met Randall’s eyes. “Quite right.”
Randall gave a satisfied smile.
Caden glanced from Zeke to Randall, and back again. “Right, then. Zeke, do you want to tell us what the devil is going on here?”
Zeke very deliberately shut the parlor door and leaned against it. Propping one booted foot behind him, he crossed his arms over his chest and asked, “Where shall I begin?”
“At the beginning, naturally.” Caden dropped over the back of the sofa, long legs extended over the cushions.
“A perfect starting place,” Randall quipped, fitting his back against the frame of the window seat.
“I may as well make myself comfortable, too.” Zeke went to a row of wooden chairs lining the wall, grabbed one and set it equidistant between Caden and Randall. Flipping it around, he straddled the seat.
He spent the next half hour giving them the breakdown. Detailing how Kitty had come to the earl for assistance. Her subsequent role as the earl’s tiger. James’s discovery of her—thanks to him.
“Once she’d been found out, Grandfather and I worked out a plan whereby she and I would get engaged. And that, gentlemen, is that.”
Silence descended as Caden and Randall digested his truncated summation.
“I see.” Caden finally said, steepling his fingers. “I just have one question.”
Zeke raised his brows inquiringly.
“How long is this so-called engagement to last?”
Zeke began a study of his upturned boot tips. “I’d have thought you’d know by now how it works. But, for your edification, the engagement typically concludes at the wedding ceremony.”
“You seriously expect us to believe the engagement’s not a sham?” Caden pressed.
Zeke inclined his head at his brother. “Why would you think otherwise?”
“Because we’re talking about you, dear fellow,” Randall said, entering the fray.
“Oh, ye of little faith,” Zeke rejoined.
“Never say you plan on marrying the chit?” Caden pressed.
Zeke arched a brow. “I have to marry sometime, don’t I?”
“That’s not an answer,” Caden accused, aiming his pointer finger at Zeke.
“I’ll wager it’s the only answer we’re going to get,” Randall put in.
Zeke rose, replaced the chair against the wall. “If only I’d known it would take nothing more grand than my engagement announcement to shake you loose from the woodwork, Caden. I half feared I wouldn’t see you before my next trip abroad.”
“Actually, it took two,” Caden muttered.
“Two?” Zeke asked.
“Wedding announcements,” Caden clarified.
Randall threw his head back and roared with laughter.
Both brothers looked at him as if he’d grown two heads.
“You Thurgoods slay me. Quibbling over the minutiae while totally missing the big picture.”
