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She’d wanted to escape, but his agreement rankled. Especially since he looked so bloody marvelous. How was it possible? He wasn’t even dressed properly, yet he still exuded masculine elegance. He’d nearly gotten into fisticuffs with Garrick, yet he still smelled of…that lovely Zeke smell.

He returned with a footman. “He’ll escort you to your chambers.”

The footman looked at her expectantly.

A dismissal if ever their was one. She stuck her nose in the air and started for the doors.

“Kitty?”

She tossed Zeke a withering look.

“Try not to get into any trouble between here and your bedchamber, hmm?”

She decided not to dignify his question with an answer.

Zeke watched her flounce away, head held high, hips swaying in an entirely too appealing fashion. He shook his head and started for the private parlor.

***

He hadn’t intended to insult her. Had, in fact, wanted Caden to meet her. But then he’d considered the possible ramifications of Randall’s presence.

He reached the parlor, and poked his head through the doorway. “Gentlemen.”

Caden, standing with one hip propped on the back of the sofa, jumped up, an expectant look on his face. He craned his head to peer past Zeke. “Where is she?”

“She?”

Caden crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. “Very poorly done, mate.”

His brother looked good. He’d filled out during Zeke’s absence, and his complexion had a healthy cast—the product of a sport-filled summer, no doubt.

A flash of movement drew Zeke’s attention to the window.

Viscount Sterling Randall uncoiled his body from the window seat to fix Zeke with a mocking accusatory stare.

“Come now, Thurgood, don’t play dumb. Where is this fiancée the papers claim you’ve acquired?

Surely she’s the lovely creature in whose company we just caught you.

” He shook his head, making a tsk-tsk sound even as his eyes gleamed with amusement.

Zeke sauntered into the room, hands tucked into his trouser pockets. “The lady sends her apologies. She’s looking forward to meeting both of you at pre-dinner cocktails.”

“Riddle me this: Where the devil did she come from? By God, you’ve only just returned from halfway ’round the world.” Caden spread his arms.

“It’s good to see you, too, brother.”

With a huff of laughter, Caden wrapped his arms around Zeke’s shoulders to thump him on the back. “Welcome home.”

He returned to his perch on the sofa and crossed his arms over his chest. “Randall tells me you’ve been in town several weeks. Nice of you to send word.”

“I would’ve gotten ’round to it once I discovered your whereabouts. Been a bit busy. But now you’ve saved me the trouble by showing up.” He flashed Caden a smile, then slanted Randall a glance. “Randall. Rather surprised to see you here. Last we spoke, you had pressing business in town.”

“As did you,” Randall replied, not missing a beat.

“Curiosity compels me to ask how the two of you joined forces.” Zeke’s gaze flicked from one man to the other.

Caden spoke up. “One minute I’m breakfasting with Prinney, the next I’m reading about my brother’s engagement.

Naturally I made haste to London, only to find you and the earl had quit the city for Derby.

At the club I ran into Randall, who informed me he’d seen you only last week.

We both found it extremely interesting you’d made no mention of an imminent engagement at the time. ”

Randall grinned. “I do recall you being in a bit of a snit over the identity of your grandfather’s servant.” He paused briefly to study his nails. “Kit, wasn’t it?”

Zeke nodded slowly. So Randall had reasoned out his fiancé and Kit were one and the same. Too smart for his own good.

“Kit’s short for Christian, isn’t it?” Caden asked in a too-innocent tone.

Zeke concentrated on unfurling his shirtsleeves as two sets of unblinking eyes honed in on him.

“As I recall, we met Lord James, Baron of Maidstone at White’s the afternoon our paths crossed. Maidstone. Say, isn’t he the guardian of your betrothed? Or did I misread your announcement? Oh, excuse me. Announcements,”

Zeke met Randall’s eyes. “Quite right.”

Randall gave a satisfied smile.

Caden glanced from Zeke to Randall, and back again. “Right, then. Zeke, do you want to tell us what the devil is going on here?”

Zeke very deliberately shut the parlor door and leaned against it. Propping one booted foot behind him, he crossed his arms over his chest and asked, “Where shall I begin?”

“At the beginning, naturally.” Caden dropped over the back of the sofa, long legs extended over the cushions.

“A perfect starting place,” Randall quipped, fitting his back against the frame of the window seat.

“I may as well make myself comfortable, too.” Zeke went to a row of wooden chairs lining the wall, grabbed one and set it equidistant between Caden and Randall. Flipping it around, he straddled the seat.

He spent the next half hour giving them the breakdown. Detailing how Kitty had come to the earl for assistance. Her subsequent role as the earl’s tiger. James’s discovery of her—thanks to him.

“Once she’d been found out, Grandfather and I worked out a plan whereby she and I would get engaged. And that, gentlemen, is that.”

Silence descended as Caden and Randall digested his truncated summation.

“I see.” Caden finally said, steepling his fingers. “I just have one question.”

Zeke raised his brows inquiringly.

“How long is this so-called engagement to last?”

Zeke began a study of his upturned boot tips. “I’d have thought you’d know by now how it works. But, for your edification, the engagement typically concludes at the wedding ceremony.”

“You seriously expect us to believe the engagement’s not a sham?” Caden pressed.

Zeke inclined his head at his brother. “Why would you think otherwise?”

“Because we’re talking about you, dear fellow,” Randall said, entering the fray.

“Oh, ye of little faith,” Zeke rejoined.

“Never say you plan on marrying the chit?” Caden pressed.

Zeke arched a brow. “I have to marry sometime, don’t I?”

“That’s not an answer,” Caden accused, aiming his pointer finger at Zeke.

“I’ll wager it’s the only answer we’re going to get,” Randall put in.

Zeke rose, replaced the chair against the wall. “If only I’d known it would take nothing more grand than my engagement announcement to shake you loose from the woodwork, Caden. I half feared I wouldn’t see you before my next trip abroad.”

“Actually, it took two,” Caden muttered.

“Two?” Zeke asked.

“Wedding announcements,” Caden clarified.

Randall threw his head back and roared with laughter.

Both brothers looked at him as if he’d grown two heads.

“You Thurgoods slay me. Quibbling over the minutiae while totally missing the big picture.”

Zeke glanced at Caden, a silent query in his eyes.

Caden shrugged.

Randall sighed. “Clearly, it’s no love match. Zeke, you haven’t yet married your bride and already you’re planning your next foray from England.” He laughed anew and wiped at the corners of his eyes. “I really can’t wait.”

“For what?” Zeke and Caden asked in unison.

“Why, to meet the future Countess of Claybourne, of course.”