Page 101 of If the Slipper Fits
“Nonsense. What could be more important than getting to know my future sister-in-law?” Lady Thurgood faced Anna, arms clasped loosely behind her back. “I do wish we’d had some notice of your arrival, but then Caden assumed we knew of his return as he believed himself summoned by Zeke. How very odd.”
Anna flushed. “It is odd.” She ducked her head. “I’m very sorry for any inconvenience my presence has caused, my lady.”
She had no notion of the true inconvenience Anna would cause them. Not yet.
The future countess waved her apology aside, smiling warmly. “He and Zeke will sort out the conundrum of the messenger. The important thing is you’re here—and you’ve brought our Caden home. Would you like to sit? Let’s sit.”
With that, Lady Thurgood took one of two plush looking velvet armchairs in the sitting area. She arranged her skirts with efficient flicks of her fingers then fixed Anna with an expectant eye.
Feeling a bit like a cornered fox under that frosty green stare, Anna had no choice but to follow suit.
“I have so many questions. You don’t mind if I ask just a few? While we wait?”
Anna swallowed. “Er…I believe Caden wanted to—”
“Where did the two of you meet? Of course, I myself have known Caden only a little while in the grand scheme of things. Have you known each other many years, or are you more recently acquainted?”
After a moment’s consideration, one of her father’s adages came to her.Whenever possible, stick to the truth.
“As it happens, Caden and I were acquainted as children. We met again, quite by accident, at a house party hosted by Lord and Lady Fenton.”
The raven-haired beauty nodded, a satisfied expression on her face. “We knew Caden accompanied Viscount Randall’s younger brother, Mr. Harrison Randall, to the party. A happy coincidence, then. You say you knew each other as children?”
“Yes.”
A pregnant silence passed.
Anna held herself very still though inwardly she squirmed under the lady’s watchful gaze.
“It’s the most extraordinary thing, perhaps unrelated, but only recently Zeke told me of a family who spent many a summer nearby, in a quaint little cottage on the river, not a five minute carriage ride from Chissington Hall. He mentioned a young girl who was a particular friend of Caden’s. That young girl wouldn’t happen to have been you?”
Anna shrugged clumsily as her pulse raced. “It seems likely, my lady. My family did summer not far from here, and Caden and I were friends, as I mentioned.”
Lady Kitty’s green eyes softened. A small smile played at her lips. “Zeke said Caden had a terrible crush on you.”
Anna barked out a laugh, then immediately covered her mouth with one hand as the mortifying sound reached her own ears.
She cleared her throat. “I beg your pardon, my lady. I can assure you, Caden didnothave a crush on me.”
Amusement glinted in the future countess’s feline eyes.
Yes, that was what her eyes brought to Anna’s mind. A graceful, watchful cat.
“You sound very sure of that, Mrs. Jones. I shall have to put the question to Caden, to see if he gives a similar response.”
Anna’s cheeks went hot. She peered over her shoulder at the door. Would the tea tray never arrive?
“Widowed, and at such a young age. Do you mind if I ask for how long?”
She plucked at her skirts. The surprising change of subject caught her off guard, not to mention she did not want to lie to this woman. She’d never been particularly good at it, and she had the distinct impression the lady would see right through her.
A soft knock sounded just before the antechamber door opened. A fresh-faced, white-capped maid pushed a rolling cart laden with a gold tea service and a two-tier plate laden with fruit, scones and finger sandwiches.
Making no move to rise, Lady Thurgood smiled her thanks as the young woman parked the cart and departed. The door closed behind her with a soft click.
She picked up the ceramic teapot, filling two delicate looking tea cups. “Sugar? Milk? You were saying?”
“One sugar, please.” Anna hated the tremor in her voice. When next she saw Caden, she intended to brain him for the third time this week.
