Page 100 of If the Slipper Fits
Zeke grinned. “You mean to say a woman exists immune to Caden Thurgood’s infamous charm?”
Caden smirked. “I did mention she’s now my fiancé?”
Zeke hooted with laughter. “So you did.”
“How did you go from stranger to fiancé?”
Caden propped his chin in his hand and considered which details to share. “Suffice it to say I did, eventually, recognize her.”
He rose from the chair and paced to the open terrace-doors, buying time. “I told her the ruse was up, we became reacquainted, and I…I proposed. The thing is…”
Neither Zeke nor the earl said a word as seconds ticked by, but Caden felt their eyes boring into his back.
He executed an about face. “The problem we have is how to get her out of the damned marriage. While she managed to escape hours after the so-called vows were spoken, Bolton’s been searching for her. He means to have her back, and we know he traced her to the Fenton’s party.”
“Know, how?” Zeke asked.
“I saw him at the inn where we rode out the storm.”
“I see,” the earl said.
“It won’t take much digging on his part to discover she and I spent a great deal of time together prior to my departure and her disappearance. We can assume he’ll wind up here sooner than later.”
The earl crossed his arms over his chest, looking resolute. “We’ll have to get the marriage annulled quickly, then.”
Zeke eyed Caden. “There’s only one sure way to achieve that. As you stated, Cade, she ran away after the ceremony. It’ll be uncomfortable for her, but a quick examination by a physician and—”
“—No, no, no,” Caden interrupted, knowing all too well where Zeke was going. “She won’t want to submit to anything like that.Too…er…undignified. Too…public.”
God’s teeth. His cheeks throbbed with scalding heat. It wouldn’t take a genius to glean why Caden wouldn’t want Anna examined for proof of virginity.
The earl glanced up to the ceiling as if seeking divine guidance.
Zeke coughed into his fist. “Of course. Do you have any other ideas for a moredignifiedbasis of annulment?” He pressed his lips together.
The bastard was laughing. Caden feigned ignorance. “We investigate the cur, then use something we find to scare him off.”
The earl nodded. “Good thinking. We can leverage the information to get him to agree to the annulment, and then,” the earl met Caden’s eyes, “get the two of you to the alter.Quickly.”
Caden inclined his head, taking his medicine in stride. At least he’d beaten them to the punch announcing his engagement. Now all he had to do was convince Anna to accept his proposal.
***
“Here we are.” Lady Thurgood pushed open the heavy paneled door and crossed the threshold into the large, sunlit chamber.
Anna followed, gazing about the high-ceilinged antechamber. “How lovely.”
“I’m so glad you like it. It’s one of my favorite suites. I do hope you’ll find the rooms comfortable for the length of your stay.”
She felt like a princess out of a fairytale. Silver and blue silk papered the walls. Two large oriel windows afforded a clear view of the Derwent. Their shutters were open wide, allowing for a soft, fragrant breeze which riffled the sheer drapes and caught at Anna’s hair. She could well imagine lounging in the inviting sitting area, taking tea or reading.
Through an open double doorway, she spied a large canopied bed with a beautiful blue brocade coverlet along with the usual accompaniments—a dresser, side tables. And there, on a chest beside the wardrobe, her unopened luggage.
The future countess moved through the chamber, examining surfaces, the vase of fresh cut flowers beside the bed, the wicks in the oil lamps. She was beauty and vitality incarnate, and she made Anna feel positively dowdy.
“A tray of tea and biscuits is coming directly. I’ll just wait on that if you don’t mind?”
“Of course, though you need not trouble yourself if you’ve other things to do?” She finished on a hopeful note.
