by Meghan Sloan
They just saw the awkwardness and the lack of charm Percy seemed to have when he initially attempted to start a conversation. Once that stumbling block was gone, he relaxed and he was just a completely soft-hearted man with good intentions, and a kind smile and a gentleness that would make any man pale in comparison. Any woman who saw that could fall for him.
But he wasn’t Gabriel. Gabriel wasn’t soft, or gentle. He was anything but, and yet he was the one who made Cassandra’s pulse race and those smiles of his were enough to make Cassandra feel lightheaded.
Why couldn’t she have this attraction for Percy? It would make things so much simpler. He was just the perfect man for her, in her father’s eyes. Ernest would certainly approve. He wouldn’t approve of Gabriel.
And yet…
You should be focusing on Percy, the man before you. Not the man who knows how to kiss a woman and leave her wanting more.
“What’s on your mind, then?” Percy’s hand lowered from her shoulder. He was still watching her closely. “You’ve been very distant tonight. I was getting worried about you.”
“Oh. It’s nothing, really. Just...female troubles.” Cassandra saw Percy arch an eyebrow. He was skeptical already. “Nothing to concern yourself about, Mr. Tattershall.”
“Are you sure about that? I can be a very good listener if you need to talk.”
“I’m sure. But there are some things that women should not share with men.” Like the fact I kissed your brother and I want to do it again. “Men have blanched over the very simple things, or they get incredibly bored. I don’t want to do either with you.”
If it had been anyone else, they would have accepted this and walked away long before. But Percy was still there. He was like his brother in that aspect; stubborn. Cassandra didn’t want to be harsh to him, but she wanted to get away from him. She wanted to be left alone until it was time to head home. Maybe she could feign being unwell and would have to go home. But Cassandra didn’t want to ruin Percy’s evening, and he seemed to be having a good time now he had his nerves out of the way.
She was stuck, and Cassandra had no idea what to do without upsetting someone. She certainly didn’t want to upset the man before her.
“You’re normally a rather secretive person, aren’t you?” Percy said.
Cassandra shrugged.
“I would say that yes, there are times when I am. It’s not often that we can keep secrets because people like to share a little too much nowadays. When we can, those secrets are treasured.”
“I will not argue with that. It is difficult to keep things quiet from anyone nowadays,” Percy sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I hope you let me in on those secrets one day, Miss Seton. If we’re going to be...well, I’d like to think you can come to me.”
Cassandra touched his arm and gave him a smile.
“Thank you, Mr. Tattershall. You’re very kind.”
“I like to think so.” Percy gestured over his shoulder towards the open terrace doors, the sound of orchestral music floating through the air. “Are you coming back in? I don’t think we should stay out here alone for too much longer. People are going to talk.”
Talk. If they knew what Cassandra had done, there would certainly be a lot of talk. Cassandra shook her head and straightened up.
“I’ll stay out here a moment more. I’m still feeling a little faint.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. It’s a little too warm in there,” Cassandra managed another smile. “Besides, people really would talk if you and I went in at the same time. Even if it’s innocent, you know how people react.”
“I know. It’s like they have nothing better to do,” Percy sighed. “Very well, I’ll take my leave for now. When you’re ready inside, you’ll find me in the dining hall.”
“All right. And thank you, Mr. Tattershall.”
Percy’s eyes twinkled as he reached for Cassandra’s hand, raising to his mouth for a kiss. His lips were soft and warm, Cassandra feeling the heat through her gloves. But that was it. She felt the warmth, but it didn’t do anything. No shot of attraction through her body, no shiver of anticipation. Cassandra felt nothing.
She managed to keep the smile on her face as Percy went inside, and then she slumped down and buried her face in her hands. This would be so much easier if she was attracted to him. Percy was such a dear man. For all of his awkward faults, he was the sort of man any woman would want to be married to. The awkwardness could make it hard, and Percy withdrew as a result, but there was no reason why he couldn’t have a wife who could love him for him.
It just wasn’t going to be her. And Cassandra was really trying. She wanted to love Percy, and she did. Just a few meetings with Percy Tattershall, and she liked him. But she couldn’t love him as he deserved. That love couldn’t turn into something deeper. Cassandra so wanted it to, but it was like her heart wasn’t in it.
Because you’ve already given it to someone else.
“That was such a sweet sight.”
Cassandra jumped and spun around. She hadn’t realised that someone had joined her. But there was no one there. Cassandra peered into the darkness.
“Is someone there?”
There was a rustling of clothes and then a dark-haired woman stepped onto the terrace. She was dressed in a gorgeous dark red dress that fitted to her body, and her hair was gathered up on her head, revealing her long, swan-like neck. There was a glass of something in her hand.
Cassandra hadn’t realised that she was around. She frowned.
“Miss Gibson?”
“Who else?” Jessica took a sip of her drink, fixing Cassandra with a sneer. “You don’t think one Tattershall son is enough? You have to seduce the other one?”
From the way she was holding herself and the slightly slurred words, this drink wasn’t her first one. It was very bad form and embarrassing for a woman to get drunk at these engagements, and Cassandra knew that the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk kept a close eye on the alcohol.
They weren’t keen on it themselves, but always put a small amount out when hosting. It was odd, but nobody seemed to mind. Each to their own. If they knew one of their guests had somehow swiped more alcohol than she was supposed to, then the Duke and Duchess weren’t going to be too impressed.
“I thought you were going to live on the south coast.”
“I asked to attend this ball before I left,” Jessica gestured towards the ballroom with her glass. “I’m a friend of the duchess.”
Cassandra doubted that. But this was Jessica Gibson. She seemed to be stuck in a world where she thought everyone owed her a favour and that she was the one with all the connections. Cassandra wondered if the Duchess of Suffolk even knew what Jessica looked like.
“You were supposed to have left a while ago. You’re just delaying the inevitable.”
Jessica’s lip curled.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Just like the Tattershall family is none of your business. I’m not cavorting around with Gabriel, so you can stop with that.” Cassandra hoped that it was dark enough that Jessica couldn’t see how flushed she was. “Percy Tattershall and I are in the process of courting.”
Even that sounded hollow to her ears. Jessica looked disbelieving.
“I see. Does he know that you’re involved with his brother as well? With my man?”
If it had been anyone else, Cassandra would have simply walked away. But with her mood, and the fact this woman had already embarrassed her in public once before, she was not interested in having a civil conversation. She stepped towards Jessica, feeling a flush of pleasure when the other woman stepped back with a flicker of worry passing across her face. She was a woman of sharp, cruel words, but she couldn’t deal with the backlash.
And there would be a lot of backlash from Cassandra. She wasn’t in the mood for this.
“Your man? Did you just describe your former lover as your man?” Cassandra snorted. “Don’t be pathetic. Every
one knows that Gabriel Tattershall doesn’t want anything to do with you. That you were just a passing token of affection. And there is no ‘involvement’ with him, either.” She was too annoyed to be embarrassed at the images flying around in her head. “He and I are acquainted, and that’s it. I don’t socialise with men like Gabriel Tattershall.”
No, you just kiss them until you can’t think straight anymore.
Not now. Stop.
Jessica’s eyes narrowed. She was starting to get some of her bravado back.
“Keep it that way. My move to the south coast is merely a temporary thing. When I come back to Ipswich, Gabriel and I will be together. We both know it.” She patted her hair, preening herself. “We’ll be married, and then I’ll make sure you keep away from him.”
Cassandra wanted to throttle her. There were people who needed their heads knocked against something hard in the hope common sense would return, and then there were people who were simply delusional. Jessica Gibson fit firmly in the second category.
Cassandra growled, which had Jessica jumping and almost spilling her drink. Cassandra folded her arms and watched her with a glare.
“First, considering Mr. Tattershall openly despises you, I don’t think you’ll be Mrs. Tattershall anytime soon. Second, you don’t need to make me keep away, as I’ll be doing that on my own. Third, what makes you think your move out of Ipswich is a temporary thing? I hear it’s going to be on a more permanent basis after harassing people in the middle of the street.”
“I’ll talk my father round,” Jessica lifted her chin. “I’m good at that.”
She was faltering, Cassandra could see. Cassandra wasn’t about to stand for this chit talking down to her, thinking that she had a higher standing. No one had a higher standing if they treated others in such a foul way.
“Hopefully, your father will stand firm against that. I know your brothers have been highly ashamed of your behaviour. And I hope your father tells you that your open desire for a man who was cast out because of actions that you helped with is pathetic. He’ll have you carted away from Suffolk for good if you keep on fighting.”
As she talked, Cassandra was aware of the anger building in Jessica. The other woman’s nostrils flared and her lip curled in a snarl. She was clearly not used to being talked to in such a way. More than likely she thought her steadfast opinions meant more than anything else and that people would have to accept it. Cassandra wondered how long she had managed to get away with it regarding her own family.
“If only I could get rid of you like that,” Jessica hissed.
“Don’t threaten people, Miss Gibson. Someone might turn it around you on you.”
“That sounded more of a threat.”
Cassandra stepped towards her, Jessica stepping back. Another step and she would be toppling off the terrace. She was teetering on the edge. Cassandra stared her down. It was like dealing with one of her father’s patrons at Seton’s, only none of them had behaved like petulant children who didn’t seem to realise that their desires were not coming back because they snapped their fingers.
“I don’t stand for childish little girls who think they’re better than everyone else, Miss Gibson. Now, you leave me alone, or I’ll be mentioning to your parents what you’ve just said to me. I’m going back inside. Do not follow me or approach me, or I’ll seek out whoever brought you here. I’m sure they’d be delighted to hear what I have to say.”
Even in the dark, Cassandra could see Jessica’s cheeks darkening as red as her dress.
“They won’t believe you.”
Cassandra gave her sickly sweet smile, one where others knew they were close to pushing her too far. Once that was crossed once, nobody wanted to experience it again.
“Do you want to test that out, Miss Gibson? I dare you.”
Then she turned and walked back inside. She had taken more than enough air. The hot press of people was going to be preferable to being outside with Jessica Gibson.
Chapter 16
“Look, Father, just go home,” Cassandra huffed, scowling at her father as he slumped behind his desk.
Ernest glared at her even as he mopped his brow.
“I’m fine, Cassie. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Then he started coughing. Cassie’s heart tightened. They had been to Thomas Montgomery’s funeral and it had started to rain. Ernest had been looking pale before, but now he was white as a sheet, coughing like mad and sweating. He was clearly unwell, but Ernest refused to go home. He hadn’t even changed out of his mourning clothes.
Cassandra was in despair. She had headed home and then to Seton’s while she did her errands, only to find the staff concerned about their employer and her father slumped in his chair looking like he had just passed out.
“Of course I need to worry about you,” she protested. “You’ve been coughing like mad and you look like you’re about to collapse.”
“It’s just a slight chill from the rain. Nothing more.”
Cassandra glanced at Alice, her aunt standing near the door. She was just as worried, but she was letting Cassandra lead this. Ernest could make his meek sister back down, but not his daughter.
“It’s more than that and you know it. You need to go home and rest, Father. I don’t want to have you passing out here.”
Ernest grunted and reached for his glass. His hand was shaking as he picked it up.
“You worry too much,” he muttered.
“With good reason,” Cassandra shot back. “Your health hasn’t been good lately. I don’t want to see you here when you’re clearly not well enough to deal with your own affairs.”
“Cassie’s right, Ernest,” Alice added. “You do need to rest.”
Ernest growled and glared at his sister before turning the angry look onto Cassandra.
“I’m not about to be told what to do by two women.”
“Father, why are you fighting this?”
“Because there’s nothing wrong with me. You’re just fussing over me too much.” Ernest’s body shook, “Women always get hysterical around funerals.”
Then he started coughing violently, almost hitting his head on the desk as he bent over clutching at his chest. Cassandra almost burst into tears. Her father’s health really hadn’t been good since they’d heard the news of the senior Montgomery. It was as if he was refusing to pay attention to his health.
“Oh, for goodness sake.” Cassandra went to the door and looked out into the hall where Lewis was waiting. “Lewis, get the carriage ready. Then help Mr. Seton home. He needs to go straight to bed.”
“Yes, Miss Seton.”
Lewis hurried off. Ernest growled.
“Cassie, you’re not my mother. I know my limitations. Stop fussing so much.”
That resulted in another bout of coughing, one that left Ernest red and breathless. This was more than just a simple cold. It didn’t help that his clothes were barely dry, either. Cassandra beckoned her aunt to join her and they rounded the desk on either side of Ernest.
“Would you like to say that again without coughing up your lungs?” Cassandra said snidely.
Ernest glared at her, his face blotching red, white and green. Then he looked away and sighed heavily.