Page 4

Chapter Three

A nna pressed the ice-cold, crystal glass into Caden's hands.

Eyes on her task, she still somehow felt his blue stare locked on her face. Drawing a full breath seemed nigh on impossible.

“Thank you, again, Mrs. Jones. It seems I am once again in your debt.”

His silken-toned voice flowed over her like a soft breeze, heightening her awareness and threatening to bring on a Caden-induced stupor. Out of nowhere, her mother’s oft repeated litany from long ago slammed into her consciousness.

Don't be fooled by his easy smile and charming ways, Gloriana. Never trust the blue-bloods.

“Nonsense. It’s a simple matter of taking a glass from a tray. It’s not as if I squeezed the lemons.”

She almost regretted her waspish tone. Almost. Better he find her abrasive than guess the rich timber of his voice, the sky-blue of his eyes, the flash of his smile stole her ability to think .

She braced for his retort. The Caden of her youth would have sniped back—or stormed off. Apparently not Caden the man, however.

He grinned, apparently unfazed. “Didn’t you?” he asked, a smile evident in his voice.

“Didn’t I?” she repeated.

“Squeeze the lemons.”

Helpless laughter spilled from her lips, that fast. Damn the man and his innate charm.

“Lady Claudine and Bernadette are making the rounds with her intended and his family,” the Dowager Duchess announced, stressing the bride’s Christian name. “I may as well join them and get the introductions over-with. It may lessen tonight’s onslaught.”

Anna watched, bewildered, as Lady Wentworth marched into the lion’s den for a second time in less than an hour.

“I agreed to sit only because I assumed you would follow suit,” Caden murmured.

Face blooming with heat for no good reason, Anna lowered herself into the lawn chair opposite his. She took a moment to right her skirts, inwardly schooling herself to stop letting Caden’s… Caden-ness addle her brain. She felt his eyes on her all the while, which helped not one iota.

Bracing herself, she lifted her chin intending to fight fire with fire. Let him squirm under the weight of her stare.

He appeared wholly unfazed by her appraisal. Meanwhile, the sight of him, sprawled in his lounger, somehow looking both decadent and elegant was doing funny things to her insides.

His focus shifted to the lawn behind her.

“Funny. I heard your employer described as decidedly anti-social. Perhaps the upcoming nuptials tapped a hidden wellspring of sentimentality in her. It happened in my family. The mere possibility of a betrothal turned the earl into one of cupid’s most avid assistants. ”

Her stomach sunk. Somehow she hadn't considered the possibility Caden might be betrothed. Or worse. “Have you recently married, then?” She could bite out her own tongue for asking such a personal question—except she did want an answer.

Caden shuddered in mock horror. “Me? No. I refer to my brother. The earl’s finally achieved his fondest wish—the heir has settled down, in England of all places.” A tight smile curved his lips. “I’ve never seen Zeke happier. Not that his wedded bliss did anything to improve his attitude.”

Relieved beyond measure, and unsure how to respond to his latter statement, she commented on the former.“Lady Wentworth mentioned his recent nuptials.”

He studied her, his stare direct to the point of rude.

Had a bug landed on her bonnet? Heat blooming over her body, she craned her neck, searching the thinning crowd for Lady Wentworth.

“Mrs. Jones, have we met?”

Her gaze shot to his face. “No. We’ve never had occasion to meet, Mr. Thurgood.”

"You're certain?"

"Quite certain."

He dropped his chin in his hand, eyes narrowing. “Yet you seem so familiar.”

“I have never set eyes on you before today. Never.” She sucked her lower lip between her teeth and nibbled, hoping he believed her and would let the matter drop.

His taken aback expression told her she’d spoken with too much vehemence.

She forced a lighter tone. “One of those faces, I’m afraid. ”

“As to that, I couldn’t disagree more.” He crossed his arms over his chest and tapped a finger to his chin. “By your accent, I deduce you don’t hail from Northumberland. Somewhere closer to London-town, perhaps, where I may have caught a glimpse of you at the park or an event?”

She blinked. Had he always been this tenacious? “Are you feeling better after your respite, Mr. Thurgood?”

He scowled, looking so much like the boy she once knew she would laugh were she not so alarmed.

“Why do you ask?” he drawled suspiciously.

She sent him what she hoped passed for a regretful smile. “I do have my employer to think of.”

“In what regard?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to call out the presumptuous cur. Then she reminded herself they were not two old friends bantering. She was a servant. A step removed. Women in her station did not correct esteemed guests.

She lowered her eyes in what she hoped passed for a demure fashion. “She may require my arm, sir. She is rather advanced in years.”

Caden laughed aloud. “In need of an arm? My dear Mrs. Jones, what would your employer say if she heard your summation of her, I wonder?”

“I said nothing derogatory.” She’d never realized how very difficult it was to smile through gritted teeth.

“Merely that she’s decrepit and incapable of moving around on her own volition.” His eyes gleamed with devilry.

She meant to defend herself. Instead, her lips trembled with the effort it took not to smile.

“You have the most extraordinary eyes, Mrs. Anna Jones. ”

A thrall of heat suffused her entire body at the unexpected compliment. She ought to be offended by his unabashed forwardness, not knocked breathless. Certainly she had no idea how to respond.

A female’s voice raised in triumph sounded from behind, and altogether too near, Anna’s chair.

“Mr. Randall, I’ve found your missing friend loitering on the outskirts of the party.”

Anna lowered the brim of her bonnet and tucked her chin as Caden slid his long legs over the side of the chair and stood. “Miss Egerton, Miss Applegate, Randall.”

A ready made foursome, it seemed. With any luck, they would take Caden and leave without paying her any notice.

Caden’s next words destroyed any hope of that. “I discovered the identity of my rescuer. Mrs. Jones?” He offered her his hand to help her up.

He meant to introduce her. Her, a lady's companion. Anna stifled a groan of frustration and placed her hand in his solid, warm grasp.

“Mrs. Jones, meet Mr. Harrison Randall. You may or may not know Mr. Randall is a distant relation of your employer’s. The lovely ladies accompanying him are the Misses Applegate and Egerton.”

Addressing the three newcomers, he said, “Mrs. Jones is Lady Wentworth’s companion.”

One of the young ladies flanking Mr. Randall sniffed, her message clear: She did not fraternize with the help.

Displaying none of his lady friend’s reticence, Mr. Randall took her hand.

“Very pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Jones. I half feared you were a figment of Thurgood’s imagination, conjured after I—after our slight mishap this morning.

He asked after you immediately upon coming-to in Lady Fenton’s parlor.

He was quite vexed when I admitted I hadn’t a clue as to your identity.

Indeed, Lady Wentworth solved the mystery for us. ”

“And stole Mr. Thurgood clean away,” one of the misses whined.

The other miss spoke up next. “Harrison promised to take us through the maze, and he avowed you’d make up our fourth, Mr. Thurgood.”

Caden’s glance shifted between Anna and his friends. “But why not five? Mrs. Jones, would you care to join us?”

“Do come, Mrs. Jones,” Mr. Randall seconded.

The women scowled at each other in unspoken accord. They needn’t worry their simpering little heads.

Anna silently chided herself for the uncharitable thought. Rather than fault them, she should seize the opportunity to rid herself of Caden Thurgood.

“I appreciate your kind offer, but my obligation lies here.”

Frowning, Caden looked prepared to argue.

“Mr. Thurgood, we must go now , or we’ll risk getting back to the manse too late for Lady Claudine’s next event,” one of the young ladies pressed.

“I’m ever so anxious to see the maze,” the other added.

“Of course.” Caden proffered one arm. Both ladies leapt forward, but one, quicker by half, won out. A moment later the foursome departed.

Helpless to resist, Anna’s eyes followed their egress, as if drawn to Caden’s shining tawny waves by an invisible hook.

An odd ache filled her chest. Nostalgia, she supposed, owing to crossing paths with her long ago childhood friend who’d stolen her heart no matter how sternly her mother had warned her off of him.

Once was more than enough .

Abruptly, he glanced behind him, brows furrowed, a frown dragging down the corners of his broad mouth.

Perhaps he’s disgruntled over being pulled away from me.

She scoffed inwardly. Why would he care if—

Her mind went blank as his gaze found hers. In the span of a heartbeat his entire demeanor changed, lips splitting in a brilliant, devastating smile.

Heat suffused her from head to toe as an answering smile she couldn’t quell spread over her face.

Caden tipped an imaginary hat.

Anna’s hand lifted as if of its own accord.

Briefly, he looked down toward the woman at his side who appeared to have his jacket sleeve in her fist. He patted her hand, before sliding his gaze once more to Anna. He sent her a quick wink and shifted his attentions forward.

A wink . Spine stiffening, Anna turned her back on his party lest he look her way and catch her mooning over him again.

She sighed and silently, grudgingly admitted Lady Wentworth had the right of it. Caden Thurgood of Claybourne was magnificent.

Lethal good looks aside, his mere presence stirred dangerous currents inside her, drawing her to him like magnet to steel. She must resist the pull. Besides, turning into a goose around him as she always had, Caden might recognize her yet.