Page 90 of If the Slipper Fits
She looked down at herself. The traveling dress, fashioned of fine royal blue linen, fit her perfectly—and was cut in the first stare of fashion, unless she missed her mark. She might be mistaken. She hadn’t had occasion to shop for anything other than footwear in an age.
“You don’t like it?”
“It looks…” He broke off blowing air out his cheeks. He slumped into the corner, one long leg stretched out, the other bent at the knee and allowed his gaze to roam over her in a leisurely manner “…very nice,” he finished softly.
Her stomach did a slow somersault.
“Oh.” She cleared her throat and fought the urge to grin like a dolt. “This bothers you because…?”
He sat upright and crossed his arms over his chest. “Because the gown fits you as if made for you and, based on the size and weight of your trunk, appears to be one of many.”
“No mystery there. Lady Wentworth asked Lady Fenton to procure several of her daughter’s cast-offs for my use. In truth, I can’t imagine why Lady Bernadette wished to part with them, especially as none show the least sign of wear.”
She didn’t voice her suspicion that Lady Wentworth had not so much requested as demanded the frocks. What had inspiredher to do so? Anna had many questions for Lady Wentworth, and the clothing she now possessed did not begin to top the list.
“Lady Bernadette’s cast-offs you say? She’s heaps taller than you, and a good deal more…”
“More what?” She recounted the lady’s ample bosom, especially as compared to her own. “And she’s not heaps taller.”
His lips twitched and a gleam of wicked amusement sparkled in his blue eyes. Oh, but the man was too clever by half.
“I wasn’t complaining. You’re perfect as you are.”
Pleasure bloomed within her at the softly spoken praise.
Her gaze dropped helplessly to his mouth. He hadn’t even kissed her this morning. He’d been up and dressed and ready to depart before she opened her eyes.
“My point is, Lady Wentworth went to a lot of trouble for you. Granted, she displayed an unapologetic fondness for you before all and sundry. Still. Stowing you away in Harrison’s vehicle and furnishing you with a posh wardrobe…”
And a tidy sum of pounds. And mother’s ruby.
“Seems like a monumental effort for a mere paid companion. And how about the fact she seemingly knew of your marriage to Bolton, and your distaste for same?”
“She obviously knew more than she let on. There’s something else, too.”
He met her gaze, his blue eyes alert. “Go on.”
“She…er…” She hadn’t broached either the large sum of money or the ruby she’d found inside her trunk, and not because she wanted to withhold the information from him, per se. She’d simply been preoccupied with other things last night—mainly with him.
Telling him now, however, felt awkward, as if she had been once again keeping secrets.
“Hello?”
She owed him the truth.
“She tucked funds and, I believe, though I can’t be certain, my mother’s ruby into the trunk she packed for me.”
Caden launched upright, hoisting himself across the narrow divide to sit beside her.“What on earth? The one you pawned?”
She nodded.
“It can’t be. How would she come to have it? How would she even know you’d pawned the thing? It must be another stone. But even so, ruby’s are more costly than diamonds. None of this makes sense.” He slanted her a glance. “Unless you and shewerein cahoots.”
Her cheeks heated. He doubted her. She couldn’t blame him.
“Caden, I’ve told you everything. No one could have been more stunned than me when she spoke Bolton’s name last night.”
He appeared to weigh her words, finally looking more intrigued than accusatory. “What, precisely, did she say?”
