Page 131 of If the Slipper Fits
Acid burned in her stomach and she swallowed convulsively. Lucky for her she’d eaten nothing today. Any food would surely have come back up.
“Well,” Lady Kitty began, anticipation lighting her eyes, “What is it you wanted to share?”
Caden sent Anna a bland smile. “Would you like to do the honors, or shall I?”
Anna attempted a smile in return, but her cheeks trembled with the effort. “Y-you.”
She cursed the stammer in her voice and lifted her gaze to the one person who, she assumed, guessed what was coming. Her grandmother.
Lady Wentworth’s eyes held hers, compassion, encouragement, and love in their depths. Anna grasped the connection like a life line.
“You all understood, I’m certain, the grounds of Miss Masters’ and my recent betrothal.” He paused. “As she is no longer in danger of being absconded with by her previously held husband, the need for her to…to…” His words died a painfully slow death.
Anna could bear the concerned stares—or glare in Lord Thurgood’s case, aimed directly at her—no longer.
“We’ve decided to call of the fake engagement,” she blurted.
A deafening silence greeted her pronouncement. For a full two seconds.
“What of Lady Wentworth’s claim that my brother stole your virtue?” Zeke demanded, his glare bordering on menacing. The knuckles of his hands, gripping his wife’s seat back, had gone white.
To Anna’s great relief, Lady Wentworth answered on her own behalf.
“I spoke out of turn, out of concern for my granddaughter. I apologize. I withdraw my statement.”
“Withdraw?” Lady Kitty burst out. “You can’t simply withdraw your statement. Not if it’s true.”
The older lady sniffed and lied through her teeth—for Anna. “That’s just it. I made it up.”
“I see,” the earl said. He and Lady Lillian exchanged matching, disgruntled looks.
Lady Kitty’s eyes turned pleading. “But…Caden? Anna? Is this truly what the two of you wish?”
Unwilling to outright lie, Anna turned to Caden, brows lifted. In truth, she wondered how he might answer.
He tunneled a hand through his hair, still, evidently, at a loss for words.
Please,she thought.If you care for me, say so.
Abruptly, he slapped his hands on his thighs and rose. “It is what’s best for all involved. We discussed matters, and came to a mutually agreed upon decision that Anna is best off with her grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Wentworth. They plan to depart immediately.”
Best for all involved? Bah. He wanted to rid himself of her, and his last statement made that glaringly obvious. Her cheeks throbbed with heat. She lowered her gaze to her hands, fisted in her lap
He made his way around to the back of the sofa, planting himself directly behind her. “Isn’t that right, Miss Masters?”
She itched to shift around, to search his eyes for any sign he wanted her to stay. Absurd. He’d had ample opportunity to tell her he cared.
She stared straight ahead. “Of course.”
An odd crunching sound came from behind her, and she lost the battle with herself. She turned to look over her shoulder, and saw Caden crossing away from her, making for the door. What on earth?
“As for me,” he began, “I have much work ahead of me at the quarry. Now that all is resolved as concerns Miss Masters’ safety, I…” He broke off when he reached the threshold. Without turning around he said, “Lady Wentworth, Miss Masters, I wish you a safe journey and godspeed.”
With that, he left. Heleft.
***
It was well on night by the time Caden returned to Chissington Hall—by design. He could not chance witnessing Anna and Lady Wentworth’s egress. A quick check at the stables verified they had departed this afternoon, soon after he left for the quarry.
