Page 139 of If the Slipper Fits
She took a bracing breath and straightened in her seat, fighting off a wave of nausea the shift heralded. When it passed, she peered around her, freezing in place as a shock of recognition jolted through her.
Angelique sat across from her, eyes glittering with malice. Her dark hair was sleeked back into a ruthlessly tight bun, pinned at her nape. She wore a chambermaid’s uniform, down to the white apron. Only the cap was missing.And the mussy, red hair.
At once Anna understood. Angelique and the stooped, wild-haired maid were one and the same.
“Ah. She’s awake,” came the woman’s caustic voice.
Gooseflesh spread over her limbs. She closed her eyes briefly and repressed a shudder. Angelique had found her, drugged her and somehow taken her from the inn. But why?
A more urgent question surged to the forefront of her mind, bursting from her lips with a croak. “Where is my grandmother?”
A malevolent grin spread over the woman’s face, chilling Anna to the bone.
“Where is my grandmother?” She aped. “Look at you, in your fine clothes, your wealthy grandmother in tow, staying at the best inn money can buy. You must think yourself very clever, indeed.” Rage infused every word.
Anna’s pulse raced at the venom directed at her. She concentrated on schooling her breathing and remaining calm. She needed answers and to get those, she sensed she must do nothing to inflame Angelique further.
“Not particularly, no. I have no idea what you want with me. I never did.”
Her meek tone appeared to mollify Angelique, slightly.
She leaned back as if preparing to share a long tale. “No, you wouldn’t, would you? Stupid child. I had it all planned, every detail worked out to the letter. All I had to do was get you married off to Bolton—which I did,” she hissed and one of her hands fisted before her.
“I was so close. Then he let you slip away, the fool. After all I did, all I sacrificed, putting up with your father, pawing at me, putting up with you underfoot, nearly two years of playing the perfect little wife. I didn’t even realize how much money was on the table ’til he died and I uncovered a virtual treasure.”
As she and Caden had surmised, Angelique had, indeed, discovered Anna’s inheritance after her father’s death.
“Then Bolton, in his altitudes as usual, let you slip away. We looked for you. Two more years passed! Finally we find you and your dear sweet Grandmother thinks to make a deal with Bolton and take everything I worked for from me. Well, she can think again. Bolton does what I say. We’ll take her money and yours.”
Anna swallowed and risked posing the question burning through her again. “She’s…she’s all right, isn’t she?”
Angelique gave Anna a sly look. “She’s fine. For now. I left her sleeping like a baby, watched over by my very good friend. You remember Brutus?”
Anna did. He’d been one of Bolton’s so-called footmen. Not only had the man looked ridiculous in livery, with his massive chest and boxers’ hands, Anna had never seen him accomplish any task save for keeping a watch over her. She’d known even then he was hired muscle.
“What do you mean, for now?”
Angelique smiled, seeming pleased by Anna’s grasp of the pertinent facts. “Since Bolton can’t be trusted to manage this thing, I decided to take charge. We’re going to meet up with him shortly, and the two of youwillconsummate your marriage. You’ll do it, or the old lady falls asleep and never wakes up.Just like your father,” she finished, her tone low and menacing.
Just like her father? Dear God, had the woman murdered her father? Her sweet, gentle father? For what? For money? And now she threatened to do the same to her grandmother.
Fear unlike anything she’d ever known washed through her—and beneath that, a deep, simmering anger ignited.
“Do we have an agreement?”
Anna stared.
“Do we?” Angelique screeched.
“Assuming I do what you say, how do I know you’ll keep your word?”
She pursed her lips. “You’ll have to trust me. And, if you can’t do that, there’s also this.” She slipped her hand into the pocket of her apron, and pulled out a small pistol, which she aimed directly at Anna.
***
Caden had anticipated many scenarios. In one, Anna welcomed him with open arms. In another, she slapped his face and told him she never wanted to see him again. Another still, she listened to him with cool disdain and sent him packing.
In none of his visions did she outright ignore him. And yet, he’d been standing outside her guest chamber knocking for several minutes. She refused to utter a simple “Go away,” much less open the door. He had attracted many a stare. Soon, management would probably demand he leave.
