Page 123 of If the Slipper Fits
As their presence became known by one and all, all conversation ceased. Five sets of eyes turned in their direction.
The earl and Zeke stood before the massive, marble mantle. A low burning fire glowed in the grate. Lady Lillian and Lady Kitty shared a sofa situated near an oriel window overlooking a formal garden. LadyWentworth held herself ramrod straight before said window, her back to the view. Sunlight streamed in behind her.
A knife could cut the tension in the room.
“Good morning,” Anna said, a tentative smile on her face. “Lady Wentworth, it is so very good to see you.”
She spoke the truth. Her odd feeling of dis-ease not withstanding, she had missed her employer, with her sharp tongue and dry wit. She hastened toward the older woman whose entire frame seemed to sag with unabashed relief at the sight of her.
“There, you see? Hale and hardy as promised,” Lady Kitty said in her melodic, soothing voice.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Lady Wentworth replied, though her tone held no real heat.
She reached for Anna’s hands with both of hers as if they were dear old friends, reuniting after a long time apart, rather than an employer and employee. It probably seemed strange to Caden’s family. To Anna, the greeting felt somehow right.
“Let me have a look at you.” Lady Wentworth eyed her head to toe. “How do you fare, my dear?”
Anna’s eyes burned for no good reason. “Very well, thanks to you.” She smiled at Caden. “And Mr. Thurgood, of course. I didn’t expect to see you quite so soon. It seems a lot of trouble for you to go to—again.”
Lady Wentworth’s expression sobered. “I had to come immediately. I bring news that you will want to hear.”
A fresh wave of dread rolled through her. “You saw him. Lord Bolton.” It was a statement more than a question.
“I more than saw him, I dealt with the blackguard. That’s what I need to tell you. I’ve handled everything. You’re free of the man.”
Anna blinked. “You handled everything?”
Caden appeared at her side. “How so?”
Across the room, she heard the earl’s low voice. “By George, I knew she looked familiar. Lill?”
“You know, I think you’re right, Horace,” Lady Lillian murmured in response.
“What is this about Bolton no longer being a problem?” Zeke demanded, crossing the room toward them.
Lady Wentworth drew herself up like a general facing down troops. “As you all apparently know the relevance of the name, I’ll cut to the chase. He has agreed to have the marriage annulled. All it took was some persuasion of the fiscal variety.”
“Well, that’s bloody fabulous,” Caden burst out. “The man kidnaps Anna, forces her to wed him, stalks her, then makes out like a road bandit.”
“You’d rather a drawn-out legal battle, Thurgood? Be glad I’ve taken care of the problem.” Her eyes narrowed on him. “Just in time to deal with the next.”
“The next? And what might that be?” Caden sounded more curios than indignant.
“Yes, do tell,” Zeke said. He crossed his arms over his broad chest.
“As if you don’t know, Caden Thurgood,” Lady Wentworth admonished.
“Oh, dear.” Zeke sounded resigned, and very much as if he knew the so-called problem to which Lady Wentworth alluded—which was more than Anna could say for herself.
Her gaze shifted between Lady Wentworth, Caden, and Zeke. “Excuse me, gentlemen, Lady Wentworth. Before we move on to the next subject, I have a question.” She met Lady Wentworth’s eyes. “Why?”
“Why?” she aped.
“Why have you done,” she opened her arms in an all encompassing gesture, “any of this? Helping to secret me away, rectifying myappalling marital status…For that matter, how did you know of my situation? At Femsworth Manor, you knew I needed to depart before I did. You worked out my escape to the letter. Clothing, funds, transportation. My God,” she exclaimed with sudden insight. “You made up the earl’s supposed illness, did you not? To make certain Caden would leave, straight away, thereby securing my escape?”
“Clever girl,” Lady Wentworth said, a fond light in her dark eyes.
Anna scoffed at that. “Not clever enough by half. I don’t understand any of this. I’ll ask you again: Why have you gone to so much trouble on my behalf? Surely not out of loyalty for my service?”
