Page 115 of If the Slipper Fits
Zeke dragged him in for a rare, warm embrace. “You have my trust, along with my thanks, and, my apologies. You were right. I should not have given up on you and I should have asked why you needed the funds. It goes without saying you’ll be reimbursed.”
He pulled back and met Caden’s eyes. “You grew up while I was away, chasing my mines and running from my life. I should have noticed. Kitty did.”
“Did she?”
“She told me I’d underestimated you. Said I shouldn’t make assumptions about why you needed the money and”—He shook his head ruefully—“said I should ask you about your future plans. One thing’s certain.”
“What’s that?”
“HerI told you sois going to be of epic proportions.”
Caden, the earl, and Zeke all burst out laughing. They roared until tears leaked out of their eyes, because they knew what he’d said was nothing short of the truth.
***
Anna awoke early for her walk as planned. She doubted she could have slept late even had she wanted to. She laced up her boots and silently admitted the truth: She didn’t want to miss a single moment of what currently comprised her life, here and now in Chissington Hall. She felt just like the princess in the fantasies she’d created in her head as a child.
She even had her Prince Charming.
She paused, and gave her waist a little pinch. Sure enough, it hurt.
A helpless smile splitting her face, she reached for the bell pull above her bed. She hated to pester one of the servants who surely had tasks aplenty, but she dare not try to find her way out of the sprawling manse on her own.
Less than a minute later, a soft knock sounded on her antechamber door. Awed by the household’s efficiency, she hurried forward swung the door open wide, and found herself face to face with Caden.
Freshly shaven, hair damp and combed back, dressed in tweed and smelling divine, he stole her breath.
He flashed her a brilliant smile. “Good morning.”
“What are you doing here?” she hissed in answer, and grabbed his sleeve to pull him inside. An image of him kissing her breathless filled her with giddy anticipation despite her chastising tone.
He didn’t budge from his wide-legged stance in the hallway. He waggled one finger at her. “Best if we maintain a modicum of decorum, darling.”
She scowled at him. He had nerve, showing up on her doorstep uninvited, and then rebuking her.
It was like he’d read her mind.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Perhaps you’ll answer my question, then?”
He gave a mock, long-suffering sigh. “I came to escort you on your walk. I thought you might enjoy a guided tour.”
Her heart swelled at his thoughtfulness. “I would like that very much.”
To her utter delight, his tour started inside the castle. He revealed hidden treasures she never would have noticed on her own, and shared snippets from his childhood that warmed her heart.
Here, the schoolroom where he and Zeke and countless Claybourne children before them practiced their letters and, according to Caden, drove their nan’s, governesses, and tutors to distraction. There, the music room, the billiard room, the men’s wing.
And now, the formal ballroom.
“I’ve never seen a real ballroom,Caden.”
“No? Can’t say you’re missing much.”
She disagreed. She clasped her arms behind her, tilted back her head and executed a slow pivot. A real, glittering ballroom, with high-high ceilings and massive crystal chandeliers.
She gazed across the expanse of polished marble-tiled floors at artful alcoves, strategically staggered, where couples might find a modicum of privacy for a quiettète-a-tètebetween dances, out of listening range of young ladies’ ever present chaperones, or so she imagined.
She glanced up at the balcony which would house the musical quartet. She could practically hear a waltz playing now, could see a crush of dancers sweeping over the floors.
