Page 35 of If the Slipper Fits
“Shall we go on?” he asked as if he hadn’t just given her the nicest compliment she could remember receiving, ever.
“I take it you have a destination in mind?” she asked, mostly to fill the silence.
He grasped her hand, once more folding it into his elbow. “I haven’t any notion of the layout of this sprawling manse, but I do have some experience finding my way around meandering architecture. The earl’s estate in Derby. You remember.”
“I…recall you mentioning it this morning.”
He flicked the briefest glance her way. “I propose we begin our search at the furthest reaches of the manor then work our way back. Any objection?”
“None.” Not because it meant she’d spend more time alone with Caden, she told herself. She merely appreciated relaxing her vigil against the unwanted notice of other guests.
“Excellent. We’re of a like mind—for once.”
“How better to outpace the competition than choose a less traveled path?”
He barked out a laugh. He tucked the card under one arm, freeing his hand to cover hers. His fingertips skimmed her gloved knuckles in a light caress she felt all the way to her toes. “I’m all for weeding out the competition. I have a question, by the by.”
“Oh?” Inwardly, she groaned. They were approaching two open doorways. A dim glow of light shone from within the rooms. Anna scanned the first rooms’s interior searching for possible game items, or anything that might distract him from resuming his interrogations.
“Mrs. Jones, are you,” he cleared his throat, “as glad as I am to find us partnered this afternoon?”
“That’s rather forward, sir.” The answer was an emphaticyes,but she did not want it to be so, and, in any case, she could hardly say so without seeming forward herself.
He shifted to face her, heaving an exasperated sigh. “You are correct. I apologize. My only excuse is finding myself in the unusual circumstance of”—He huffed out a bemused laugh—“begging for scraps.”
She blinked. “I don’t follow.”
He rubbed a gloved hand over his jaw. “I suppose I’m looking for some sign I’m not alone in this…” He broke off, grunting in evident frustration. “…fascination? For my part, at least, finding you has quite elevated this entire affair.”
The sincerity in his words sent a dangerous burst of warmth through her, leaving her breathless and utterly speechless.
He enthralled her. The sight of him, the timber of his voice. A mere five minutes in his presence led her to make brainless decisions, like agreeing to walk with him this morning, and then allowing him to kiss her.
Oh, all right, and kissing him back.
He also made her feel safe and protected, like Prince Charming incarnate, come to rescue her. Butwasshe actually safe with him? Or had her past with Caden, the boy, blinded her to the potential perils of Caden the man? In truth, she didn’t know him at all. Not anymore.
“Why?” The one-word question spilled out, without her having made a conscious decision to ask.
“Why?”
In for a penny, in for a pound, her father always said. “What about my company do you enjoy?”
His eyes locked with hers. “Isn’t it obvious?”
She shook her head, unable to speak.
“Damn,” he uttered softly. “You’re not lying. How is it you’re widowed and still so innocent?”
“I don’t follow,” she said for the second time in as many minutes.
“Forget it, Jones.”
“Oh, no you don’t. You can’t say what you did and not explain yourself, sir. What does my supposed innocence have to do with anything? For that matter, you said,you’re not lying,as if you knew for certain.Are you claiming to read minds now?”
He gave her a considering look. “You have a tell.”
She laughed. “That’s preposterous.”
