Seducing an Heiress (25 page)

They trekked across the marble floor behind the shuffling butler, through the grand salon, took a right into the billiard room, and finally emerged into the vaulted splendor of the library. She barely noticed the collections of war memorabilia and antiques that stuffed her grandfather's mansion, but Ryan seemed openly fascinated by the vastness of it all. For someone who had never been there, she supposed the cases of rare items from all over the world and original paintings might be quite remarkable. To her it was just another twenty minutes of light exercise.

Winston reached the row of glass doors that led out onto the terrace and the labyrinth of gardens beyond. He gazed at CK with sad eyes, and the worry gnawing at her belly took an extra big chomp.

"May I say, miss, that I'm extremely sorry for what your grandfather is about to do to you."

"It's bad?" Ryan asked in the tone of voice people usually reserved for funerals.

"Oh, the worst, sir."

CK swallowed the tiny amount of spit left in her dry mouth. "Didn't the Napoleon thing clue you in, Anderson?" she gritted out, straightening her shoulders. She would not let him do this to her. She was twenty-seven and had managed Kazners on her own for nearly three years. He wasn't the boss of her anymore. She could do this.

As Winston swung open the doors, CK lifted her chin defiantly and stepped outside. 

"Anderson?" she said, sharply when Ryan didn't follow her.

"Are those
winged
lions?" He focused on the life-sized statues on either side of the stairs.

"Where did you say he was, Winston?" she asked.

"Third elephant on the left," the butler provided.

Reaching back, she grabbed Ryan's thick wrist and pulled him up beside her. The warmth of him soaked into her palm and skated up her arm in a comforting buzz of energy. 

Standing on the edge of the doorway, Winston brought himself to attention and cleared his throat. "Your good-for-nothing, blight on the family name granddaughter has arrived!" he shouted. His voice flowed down the terraced lawn and into the greenery beyond with surprising force. "And Mr. Anderson!"

"Wow," Ryan muttered.

"My apologies. It was required of me." He gave them a short bow and backed away. 

The doors swung shut and Winston's shadowed form disappeared back into the depths of the house. CK's stomach gave a lurch and she had to push down the urge to throw up and run. Maybe all those years ago, Tim had the right idea.

From the far corner of the garden rolled a booming voice. "Front and center, Seaman. Front and center!"

* * *

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