Page 24 of The Rented Bride

“What happened?” Trent demanded in a low voice when he reached them.

“Nothing, lad,” his grandfather said.

“Have you been drinking?” Trent demanded.

“A wee bit. Nothing more. It’s my birthday after all. Let me have some fun. I promise, just a little longer.”

“You know a little longer might be all it takes, Granddad. Come on, we’re going upstairs.”

“Is this your girl?” his grandfather asked.

Trent looked over shoulder to see Lindsey standing beside him. Damn her. He faced his grandfather. “She’s an acquaintance.” He glanced to Celina. “We should get him upstairs.”

“I will not go upstairs until I meet your special lass.”

Lindsey stepped closer.

“Not now,” Trent said in a consoling voice. “Please. I’m worried about you. I’ll…I’ll come upstairs in a few minutes. You’re overdoing it.” Trent looked at Celina. “Will you go with him, please?”

She nodded. “Sure, but maybe we shouldn’t. We have a little issue.”

“Whatever it is, I have bigger issues. Please, just take him upstairs.”

“Trent,” his grandfather growled, but Trent gripped Lindsey’s arm and started away so quickly she nearly ran to keep up.

“Trent,” she cried, “slow down.”

He ignored her and exited through the door into the corridor leading to the kitchen. They passed through the kitchen and entered the hallway where Ms. Adams had flipped him over her shoulder. This had been one shitty day. The party and everything it represented was a mistake.

Lindsey jerked her arm from his grasp. “Trent, stop it. You’re going to hurt me.”

“I’m not remotely close to hurting you, Lindsey.” He led her through the labyrinth of hallways to the courtyard entrance where she’d entered. “Where is your driver?” he demanded.

“I don’t have one,” she said. “I assumed I’d be staying.”

“You assumed a great deal,” he said.

“We’re engaged. Remember?”

“Not anymore. I don’t want you here. I want you out of my home, off my property and out of my life.” He was being unreasonable, and knew it, but didn’t give a damn. “In fact, I don’t ever want to see you again.”

They reached the foyer where Henry searched a closet with a flashlight. He glanced at them, then thrust the flashlight behind his back.

“I’m sorry, sir,” he said. “I didn’t expect anyone to use that corridor.”

“That’s all right, Henry. Would you please bring a car around and take Ms. Fremont to a hotel, immediately?”

“Most certainly, Sir.” Henry turned and hurried away.

“I don’t have a hotel,” she told Trent.

He glared at her. “No car. No hotel. No baby. And now no marriage. I guess you didn’t really have your plan worked out as well as you thought you did.”

“You told me we’d make our home here.”

“I didn’t tell you that you would be moving into Brettonwood tonight,” he said.

“You would have sent me to a hotel after our engagement party?”