For a long moment, she didn’t say anything. “You’re forgetting something,” she said at last.

“Oh?”

“I’m promised to Mr. Garvey.”

He rubbed his upper lip. “Under the circumstances, I doubt that Garvey harbors any illusions of you keepin’ that promise.”

She stiffened. “That’s for him to decide.”

He sat back in his chair and studied her. “Are you sayin’ that you still intend to follow through with your promise to him?”

“If he’ll still have me.”

“He’s as much a stranger to you as I am.”

“That’s not true,” she said. “I got to know him quite well through his letters.”

“Apparently not well enough. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have mistaken me for him.” He bit his tongue, but it was too late. Judging by the closed look on her face, his glib comment had defeated his cause.

“My mind is made up,” she said, her voice cool. “I’m asking the judge for an annulment.”

“On what grounds?”

“On the grounds that I was coerced.”

He rubbed the side of his still-sore face. The lady might be small, but she could sure deliver a punch. “If you were coerced, why am I the one who got hit?”

She looked momentarily unnerved but quickly recovered. “I was referring to your uncle,” she said. “He threatened me.”

“Threatened you?”

“Not in so many words. But his meaning was quite clear. Or at least it seemed so at the time.”

“My uncle thought you were someone else. We both did, and for that, I apologize. But I can assure you my uncle’s bark is worse than his bite.”

She regarded him with eyes as cool as a wintry day. “Either I claim coercion or”—she lifted her chin—“I tell the judge our marriage was not…consummated. Those are our only two options.”

His eyebrows shot up. The lady sure didn’t mince words. “The judge is more likely to believe that my uncle threatened you than me bein’ unable to perform my husbandly duties.”

Something flickered across her face, but he couldn’t decide if it was disdain, reproach, or curiosity. “Very well,” she said. “Then it’s settled.”

Maybe in her mind, but not his. He cleared his throat. “I’d be mighty obliged if’n you would leave things as they now stand. At least temporarily.” He hated begging, but she gave him little choice. “Like I said, I’ll make it worth your while. Moneywise, that is.”

“Sorry,” she said, and she actually sounded like she meant it. “But I’m already promised to another.” The eyes meeting his begged him to understand.

“I guess our business is complete then,” he said, his voice ringing with a note of finality.

She arched an eyebrow. “So, you agree to the annulment?”

He shrugged. “It’s not like you’re givin’ me a choice.”

She looked uncertain. “Don’t you have to sign or something?”

“I’ll stop by the courthouse later.”

Relief crossed her face, but still, she lingered.

“Is there somethin’ else?” he asked.

She hesitated, and two red spots colored her cheeks. “About the mouse…”