by Stella Riley
‘Now that is a good idea. It would make a nice finishing touch. ’ Sebastian stood up. ‘I ought to go. I’ll send word once I’ve spoken to Adrian about Ansford and --’
‘You will not send word – you’ll come yourself. I will tell Cassie she may expect you.’
‘You will? Oh. That’s – thank you, sir.’
‘There’s no need to look so surprised, Sebastian. What else would I do?’
The door opened upon Lady Delahaye. Her hair not quite tidy and her eyes suspiciously bright, she walked quickly across to put her arms about Sebastian and kiss his cheek.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘Thank you. And don’t say there’s no need for thanks or any other such nonsense because there is. Without you, this whole ordeal might have lasted a lot longer and have ended very badly. Of course, Cassie wanted to come down and thank you herself but she’s exhausted, so I forbade it.’ Releasing him, she turned to her husband and said, ‘She left the Lintons’ in response to a plea from Olivia who was supposedly stranded alone outside the Theatre Royal.’
‘What?’ snapped Charles.
‘Quite. It wasn’t true, of course – but it might have been. Olivia and Margot Claydon had been hatching a scheme to see The School for Scandal and the pair of them had been planning it in any number of places where they might easily have been overheard.’
‘And with that mystery explained,’ remarked Sebastian, ‘I’ll take my leave.’
Serena patted his arm and looked expectantly at her husband.
‘Have you told him what we discussed?’
‘I have told him to call,’ Charles replied firmly. ‘And that will do for tonight. Go home, Sebastian. We’ll see you tomorrow at whatever hour is convenient to you.’ He held out his hand. ‘And I echo Serena’s sentiment. We are in your debt.’
~ * * ~ * * ~
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Over a very late breakfast, Adrian told Sebastian that he and Richard Penhaligon had frightened Viscount Ansford into silence merely by pointing out that he really didn’t want to make Mr Audley any angrier than he already was.
‘The fellow has three yards of tongue and a spine made of jelly,’ he added trenchantly. ‘As for Dudley, he was still out cold when we dumped him in his own hallway. Neither of them need concern you.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Don’t thank me. Just stop pushing food around your plate and go and ask Cassie to marry you.’
‘It’s not that simple.’
‘Yes, it is. After last night, Charles isn’t going to stand in your way, is he?’
‘He’s relieved and grateful. What he isn’t is either stupid or careless of his daughter’s future.’ Sebastian pushed back his chair and stood up. ‘He hasn’t mentioned hearing from my father, so presumably he hasn’t – which means the problem is the same as it’s always been. But he invited me to call and said Cassandra would expect me … so that’s better than nothing.’
‘And the thorny question of Miranda?’
‘She should be under arrest by now,’ replied Sebastian and briefly explained what he and Sir Charles had decided. Then, ‘I imagine you’re eager to go home.’
‘Always,’ agreed Adrian, smiling. ‘But in fact, I was considering suggesting that Caroline join me. She probably needs a new hat. What do you think?’
‘By all means. And if she’d prefer I lodged elsewhere --’
‘Don’t be a bigger idiot than you can help, Sebastian. Just take yourself off to Conduit Street. And only think! If Charles lets you pay your addresses to Cassie, you’ll have won our wager.’ He grinned. ‘Yes. I can see that’s been foremost in your mind all along.’
* * *
On Mama’s instructions, Cassie had tried to take her breakfast in bed but was far too restless to do more than drink a cup of chocolate before summoning her maid and embarking on the all-important task of choosing a gown. This took some time but she eventually settled on a simple dress of leaf-green tiffany, trimmed with narrow blonde lace; then she told Susan to dress her hair equally simply. If Sebastian wanted to kiss her – and she hoped very much that he would – she didn’t want either of them to have to be careful.
She was just dabbing a hint of bergamot scent here and there when Olivia knocked, put her head round the door and, for the first time ever, said, ‘May I come in?’
‘So long as you don’t ask endless questions – yes.’
Olivia slid inside but remained standing by the door, looking subdued. She said, ‘I came to say I was sorry. Last night was my fault, wasn’t it?’
Cassie swivelled round and looked at her sister.
‘No. If the woman hadn’t used you to lure me out of Linton House, she’d have found some other way.’
‘Perhaps. But Mama said it wasn’t so much the note itself as the fact that you believed I might actually do something as silly as that.’
Turning back to the mirror, Cassie picked up a single strand of pearls to match the ones already in her ears. She said, ‘That’s an entirely different matter, isn’t it? But I shan’t echo what I imagine Mama has already said.’
Olivia toyed with the ribbons on her bodice. ‘She’s angry with me.’
‘Then, it’s fortunate that I’m not, isn’t it?’
‘You’re not? Really? I – I thought you’d be furious.’
‘No.’ Cassie smiled to herself, knowing better than to tell her sister that she was too happy to be furious. ‘Though it was frightening at the time, no real harm has been done.’
‘Mama said Mr Audley and Lord Sarre rescued you. That must have been quite exciting and – and romantic, I should think.’ Olivia waited and when no reply was forthcoming, said carefully, ‘Can I ask just one tiny question?’
Cassie sighed, met her sister’s eyes in the mirror and said, ‘No.’
‘But you don’t know what --’
‘I do. And I’m not answering it. Yet.’
* * *
Having sent a note asking the Duke of Rockliffe to receive him later in the day, Sebastian dressed even more carefully than usual before driving to Conduit Street. He could have walked … but the sun was shining and even if Sir Charles didn’t allow him to propose to Cassandra, he might at least permit him to take her for a drive. And that was more than he could have hoped for this time yesterday – which only went to show that there was always a silver lining somewhere.
With an oddly benevolent smile, the butler showed him immediately to Sir Charles’s study despite the fact that Mr Audley could now walk there blindfold. Then Charles was holding out his hand, saying, ‘You look better than you did last night. But then, I suppose I do, too.’
‘Yes.’ Sebastian took the chair he was offered. ‘It’s odd, isn’t it? I’ve risked my neck a number of times with little more than a qualm. But I’ve only experienced true fear twice; those last days while Theo was ill … and last night while I didn’t know where Cassandra was or what might be happening to her.’
‘It’s always harder when the thing you’re facing is outside your control. If you marry and have children, you’ll know that feeling on a regular basis.’
Sebastian coloured a little, wondering if there might be an underlying meaning in that remark but knowing better than to ask. Instead he said, ‘I’ve drafted a piece for The Whisperer and am hoping Rockliffe’s man-of-law will put an official gloss on it. Adrian says Ansford will keep his mouth shut and Dudley won’t remember anything.’
‘Good. You are very fortunate in your friends.’
‘Yes. I am. Have you heard from Sir John Fielding?’
Charles nodded. ‘Lady Silvarez was arrested when she returned to Half Moon Street this morning and has been lodged in prison. John felt a day or two of incarceration prior to being questioned wouldn’t do any harm. Eventually he’ll make it plain to her that Bow Street will be keeping an eye on her and that if her name comes to his attention again, she’ll face the full weight of the law for the crime of abduction. So I think we may regard the matt
er as closed … unless you feel the need to confront her personally.’
‘I don’t. When I terminated our affair in Lisbon, she refused to accept it. I couldn’t stir a step without finding her there. So I moved on – but her letters still found me and I began to realise she had someone tracking me. It was impossible to vanish without trace because I had to make sure the family could find me if necessary – but God knows I tried. I’d got as far as Prague when I first hoped I’d shaken her off and moved on to Buda to make sure of it.’ He paused frowning down at his hands and then said bluntly, ‘You might say I learned some sort of lesson or was merely frightened. It could be either. But since then and despite my blasted reputation, there hasn’t been … I haven’t indulged in any similar liaisons.’
There was a long silence. Finally, Sir Charles said, ‘If you’re telling me you are capable of fidelity, it’s unnecessary. Neither, after last night, do you need to prove yourself.’
‘Last night?’ Sebastian shrugged. ‘As it turned out, I didn’t do very much at all. If I’d caught up with Cassandra while Miranda had her, that would have been different. But she was in no danger from Penhaligon.’
‘No. As we are all well aware, the danger at that point was his brother’s desire to see the two of them at the altar.’ Raising one quizzical brow, Charles said, ‘I’m surprised you haven’t asked me how I’d have dealt with that eventuality.’
Sebastian hadn’t asked because he wasn’t sure he’d like the answer.
‘And how would you?’
‘I’d have told him that my consent wouldn’t be of the least use – since Cassie was never going to give hers. And I might have mentioned that I’d already given tacit approval to a previous applicant.’
This was not merely better than he’d dared hope. It was astonishing. On the other hand, it didn’t fundamentally change anything so Sebastian said flatly, ‘That is very generous of you, sir – considering that my financial position remains unchanged. At least, I assume it does, having heard nothing to the contrary.’
‘Ah – did I not say? No. I probably didn’t. It was the day after the Drury Lane debacle. Lord Wingham acknowledged my letter and said he would look into the situation.’
‘But nothing since then?’
‘No. So Serena and I have decided not to wait upon his lordship’s pleasure.’
Something lurched inside Sebastian’s chest.
‘I’m not sure I understand you, sir.’
‘It’s very simple. When you are married, your father will have no option but to fulfil his responsibilities towards you; but if interim measures are required, I will take care of them. In short, I see no reason to allow this stalemate to continue.’ Charles stood up. ‘You’ll find Cassie in the drawing-room, Sebastian. Go and say whatever you wish to her and take as long to do it as is necessary.’
Finding himself on his feet without knowing how he got there, Sebastian said, ‘Forgive me if I seem a trifle slow … but you are saying that if Cassandra accepts me, you will permit a betrothal?’
‘If she accepts you?’ Charles laughed. ‘Oh – for the Lord’s sake, just go and ask her!’
Alone in the drawing-room since being told of Mr Audley’s arrival, Cassie had checked her appearance in the mirror five times and begun to wear a trail in the carpet. Then the door opened and he was there … standing just inside the room, looking at her.
Her immediate impulse was to behave exactly as he had last night and run straight into his arms. But sudden ridiculous shyness caused by a renewed awareness of all that extraordinary male beauty rooted her feet to the floor and made it hard to breathe.
He always dressed well and he was never less than handsome … but today everything about him seemed enhanced. He wore a brocade coat of the very darkest shade of green over a pale grey embroidered silk vest and the burgundy hair had been brushed till it shone and was tied with long sable ribbons. But it was the bone-melting smile lurking in those twilight eyes that stopped her breath and made her realise more clearly than she had ever done before just how much she wanted this man; and just how miraculous it was that he wanted her in return.
Finally, when the thread between them had tightened to an excruciating degree, Sebastian walked towards her saying softly, ‘I would have asked if you have recovered from last night’s ordeal … but you look so beautiful I can see there is no need.’
Smiling, Cassie shook her head slightly. ‘I don’t believe I thanked you --’
‘Don’t.’ He stopped a mere two steps away. ‘You have nothing to thank me for – neither should there be any question of gratitude. You must know there is nothing I wouldn’t gladly do for you.’ He paused, uneasily aware that the moment had caught him unprepared; that he had no words ready. But perhaps it was always this difficult; perhaps every fellow who’d ever proposed marriage felt as clumsy and unsure as he did right now. He said slowly, ‘I’ve just had a rather unexpected interview with your father and am still a little unbalanced. I don’t suppose he gave you any clue about what he intended to say to me?’
‘Papa doesn’t deal in clues. He says things straight out or not at all.’
‘Ah. So that’s where you get it from.’ Her laughter made him feel better; as if the ground had regained some of its customary solidity. Reaching out, he took her hands in his and dropped smoothly to one knee. He saw her lips part, heard her breath catch and all but drowned in the look that glowed in her eyes. Suddenly it wasn’t difficult at all. He said, ‘I love you, Cassandra. So much and for so many reasons I can’t begin to put it into words. All I can say is that you fill my heart and I can’t imagine a life without you. Will you --?’
‘Yes.’ Laughing and crying at the same time, Cassie tugged at his hands. ‘Yes and yes and yes!’
Answering laughter lit Sebastian’s eyes but he continued to kneel and said reprovingly, ‘If you knew how much courage it takes to do this, you’d let me struggle on to the end.’
Distantly, she wondered if there was another man in the entire world who could melt a girl’s heart in one breath and tease her with the next. She said demurely, ‘I beg your pardon, sir. Please go on.’
‘Cassandra Delahaye … will you do me the very great honour of accepting my hand in marriage? On the clear understanding,’ he continued firmly, as she opened her mouth to speak, ‘that agreeing to be my wife is likely to entail putting up with me for a very long time.’ Then, rising and pulling her into his arms, he murmured wickedly, ‘Now you can say it.’
‘Now I wonder if I ought not to reconsider. However …’ Her hands slid about his neck and she smiled tremulously back at him. ‘I think I might just manage to put up with you – even for a very long time. So yes, Mr Audley. Yes and yes and --’
‘Good,’ said Mr Audley. And captured her mouth with his.
He had hungered for this moment but the gift was too precious and too new to be squandered in haste. From her mouth, his lips made a lazy voyage of discovery along her cheekbone and jaw to the tender skin beneath her ear and then on down her creamy column of her throat. Pressing closer, Cassie threaded her fingers into his hair. Taking this as both invitation and encouragement, he possessed her mouth again, teasing and caressing until she offered what he wanted. Then he took the kiss deeper and deeper until his blood was on fire and his body was getting the kind of ideas his brain was struggling to veto.
Time to pull back, he told himself. But she tasted of strawberries and her hair smelled of summer flowers … and if he gave that ribbon just one tiny tug …
The ribbon floated to the carpet and Cassie’s hair fell in a soft torrent over his hands and down her back. Sebastian groaned and buried his face in it for a second. Then, with a huge effort, he allowed himself one last lingering kiss of incredible sweetness before creating a small, very necessary space between them. It was ironic, he reflected vaguely, that you wanted a woman to know you desired her but instinctively hid the evidence of it.
He said huskily, ‘It shall be as you want, of course �
�� but it’s only fair to warn you that a long betrothal may well kill me.’
Her breathing as disrupted as his, Cassie let her hands slip from his shoulders to his chest. Colour blossomed in her cheeks as she said shyly, ‘As soon as we can, then.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Yes. I don’t want to wait either.’ She cupped his cheek with tender fingers and said, ‘I love you, Sebastian. One look at you and nothing else exists because there is no room for it – nor need either. You are everything.’
‘Oh God, sweetheart. I’m not worth that much … but I’ll try to be. I promise I’ll try.’
Later, when she was sitting curled up at his side and toying contentedly with his hair, she said, ‘Is making an offer of marriage really so very difficult?’
‘Difficult? Have you ever thought what we poor fellows have to go through? After assiduously courting the lady, we have to jump through hoops for her father, all the time hoping that he’ll either overlook or be unaware of the many times we made asses of ourselves. Then we have to rescue the lady from a fate worse than death – or in your case, marriage to Richard Penhaligon – and --’
‘That wouldn’t ever have happened,’ she said, teasing the edge of his jaw with kisses.
‘I know that but it sounds more heroic than the reality.’ The kisses were becoming a serious distraction. ‘Where was I? Ah yes. Then, once we have Papa’s permission, we have to pray that we’ve somehow managed to charm the lady into liking us enough to say yes when we’re on our knees and laying our heart at her feet. The possibility that she might say no is sufficient to send strong men gibbering in a coal cellar.’
‘You are so absurd,’ she laughed. ‘You knew I wouldn’t say no.’
‘I hoped you wouldn’t say no.’ Sebastian kissed the top of her head. ‘Only a conceited idiot would take something like that for granted.’