Page 5 of The Marriage Method

“But an apt one, I discern. You’re the heavy artillery.”

She didn’t smile this time, but a dimple formed to the right of her mouth. “Me?”

“You,” he said.

As they spoke, Shadow emerged from her hiding place, step by cautious step. Encouraged by Miss Trewlove’s stillness, she slowly crossed the carpet to inspect the edge of her skirts.

“If it’s a case study you’re after,” Miss Trewlove said, “I must surely be the least interesting subject of all our graduates. Unlike the other girls, I chose to remain.”

“You had no desire to strike out on your own as a governess or secretary?”

“None at all.”

“Teaching is your prevailing passion?”

“It is, though I wouldn’t describe it in such lofty terms. I—” She broke off, her attention caught by the sight of the little tabby bestowing a delicate sniff to her hem. Her face lit with genuine pleasure. “Why, hello, little one,” she said. “I was beginning to doubt your existence.” She glanced at Miles. “Does she have a name?”

Miles required a full three seconds to recollect it. The look Miss Trewlove had given the cat had knocked him off his axis. It was so frank. So authentic. The whole of her countenance was transformed by it. A strange sort of alchemy, but in that moment, she changed from an untouchable goddess into an infinitely more desirable human girl.

He swallowed hard. “I’ve, uh, been calling her Shadow.”

“How appropriate.” Miss Trewlove stretched her gloved hand down as if to administer a pet.

Shadow’s eyes widened to the size of twin saucers. The sofa being too far away, she darted for cover under the only shelter available—the billowing expanse of Miss Trewlove’s skirts.

A rosy blush seeped into Miss Trewlove’s cheeks as the cat disappeared beneath her hem. “Goodness,” she said. “This is rather alarming.”

“She means no offense,” Miles said. “She’s attempting to hide, that’s all. She’s still quite wild. You’ll have to shake your—”

Before he could finish advising her, Miss Trewlove reached under her skirts to remove the cat herself. She jerked back her fingers with a cry of pain.

Miles was up from behind his desk in a flash. He strode around it. “If you would permit me—”

“Heavens!” Miss Trewlove leapt from her chair before he could reach her. She staggered backward. Shadow’s small form was visible beneath the swell of her skirts, thrashing wildly. “I think she’s caught!”

He closed the distance between them. “Caught in what?”

Miss Trewlove’s face flamed. “In my crinoline.” She took another stumbling step back, losing her balance.

Miles extended a hand to steady her, but he was a split second too late. Miss Trewlove’s left leg inexplicably gave way. He caught her an instant before she dropped to the floor, breaking her fall with his body as the two of them landed with a thud on the office carpet.

She struggled up on her elbows. Her veiled hat had been knocked askew and a stray lock of blond hair had come loose from its pins to curl around her face. “She’s still tangled up in it!” she gasped. “And her claws are quite sharp!”

Miles grasped a handful of Miss Trewlove’s skirts, hesitating only long enough to ask permission to inflict what would, in other circumstances, be a reputation-ruining indignity. “May I—”

“Yes, yes,” she said breathlessly. “Anything. Only remove her!”

Miles hoisted up the layers of black silk and starched petticoats, revealing the enormous cage crinoline Miss Trewlove wore underneath (and a pair of shapely, stocking-clad legs he pretended not to notice). Shadow had woven herself through the wire and fabric tapes of the undergarment’s frame. The little cat looked at him, panicked, her chest vibrating on a low, continuous growl.

“Easy,” Miles said to her. “I won’t hurt you.” He covered the cat’s body with his hand. She responded by sinking her teeth into his finger. He sucked in a breath. “Bloody hell.”

“Did she—”

“She’s fine.”

“I didn’t mean the cat,” Miss Trewlove said in a strained voice. “I meant you.”

“I’ll live.” He slowly untangled Shadow’s legs from the wires, ignoring her continued hissing and spitting. Extracting her from the crinoline, he set her down on the carpet. The little cat tore free of his grasp the instant she was able. Streaking across the office, she plunged under the sofa.