Page 5 of If the Slipper Fits
He was fine. She could put the entire incident—and him—out of her mind.
With only a modicum of reluctance, she adjusted her lounger, turning her back on the throng of people—and Caden Thurgood.
With a sigh, she pushed the rim of her bonnet back and reclined, eyes closed, savoring the warmth of the sun on her upturned face.
“I fancy another scone.”
Anna sat up, yanking her bonnet down. “I’ll fetch one for you.” The possibility of encountering Caden had nothing to do with her leaping to do Lady Wentworth’s bidding. Nothing whatsoever.
“Continue your sunbathing. I need to stretch my legs.”
“I should at least accompany you, my lady. You might turn your ankle traversing the uneven lawn.”
“Bah.” Lady Wentworth, already on the move, waved her off.
Anna sank back onto her chair, relieved and disappointed all at once. But, no. This was definitely for the best.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself, for just a moment, to marvel over the coincidence. Of all the people in all of England, how had he ended up here, at the very same house party as she?
She had not laid eyes on him for too many years to count, enough that he rarely crossed her mind. But there had been a time whenCaden, with his mischief-filled sky-blue eyes and breath-catching smile, occupied center stage in her thoughts, back when she was young and blessedly unaware of how complicated life could be.
How old had she been that last Summer? Going on fourteen? Which would put him at fifteen or sixteen. Not quite a man, but no longer a boy willing to act out her favorite pastime,Prince Charming rescues his Princess.
Except on that last day, when he’d offered. Obviously put-upon, he said he knew of no other way to shake her out of her dour mood.
She hadn't the will to tell him to stuff it as she ought. She’d been too aware she and her family would quit the country in a matter of days, and the lure of his attention focused entirely upon her proved too tempting to resist.
She’d lived on the memory of that last day for…far too long.
She hadn’t laid eyes on him since. 'Til today.
In her mind’s eye, Caden, the boy, faded, and she saw him as she had that morning,aftershe turned him over and felt his warm breath on her cheek. Lying there, half conscious, he’d smiled up at her and her wits threatened to scatter to the wind. Only through an effort of sheer will had she kept her head on straight.
She couldn’t risk seeing him again. She certainly couldn’t risk interacting with him. Still. Knowing he was here, so close and yet so far, was going to make for an infernally long weekend.
Chapter Two
“Harrison, introduce me to your friend.”
Caden turned at the authoritative voice. He recognized it immediately as belonging to the woman who’d called to his mystery-nurse while he lay flat-out, lakeside.
Silver-gray hair and fine lines on her face marked her as of an age with the earl. She held herself like a queen as she eyed him up and down, clearly taking his measure. Interesting.
He flashed her his most engaging smile.
Her cheeks went pink, as most women’s did.
Harrison hustled to her side, offering his arm. “Lady Wentworth, an unexpected pleasure. I distinctly recall my mother informing Sterling and myself you’d declined the invitation, as expected.”
The lady arched her brows at him.
Harrison hesitated, seeming to recognize he’d committed a faux-pas, while also having no notion where he’d gone wrong.
He turned to Caden, a fresh sheen of perspiration dampening his forehead. “Thurgood, would you believe this great lady, the dowager duchess of Wentworth, is my grandmother’s sister’s sister-in-law?”
“You don’t say?” Caden leaned down to Harrison, offering in a discreet tone, “You still haven’t introduced us.”
Harrison’s face went ruddy. “Yes, of course. Thurgood, meet the Dowager Duchess of Wentworth, my great aunt by marriage. My lady, Mr Caden Thurgood, brother to Lord Ezekiel Thurgood, future Earl of Claybourne. ”
