Man Who Loved Pride and Prejudice

by Abigail Reynolds

  She had to tell herself to slow down on the drive home. The road was empty, but it had too many twists and turns to go over the speed limit in the dark. But she bumped over the potholes of the dirt road to their house with unusual disregard for the car's struts.

  She tried to be quiet going into the house. Calder would probably be asleep already. She wouldn't wake him. It would be enough to sit by the bed and watch him sleep. She didn't know what to tell him, anyway.

  Clattering sounds in the kitchen drew her attention. She peeked over the breakfast bar. A rumpled Calder, wearing his bathrobe, was slicing bread, with Nobska at his feet, hoping for any crumb that might fall. A halfempty glass stood on the counter.

  Cassie felt oddly shy, as if she had been away for months and not just for the evening, and tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. Sometimes she still couldn't believe that, of all the women in the world, he had chosen her. She spoke his name quietly.

  He stiffened and then turned toward her, a slow smile warming his face. "You're back. I didn't expect you until later."

  The sound of his voice was all it took. She ran to him, her force making him take a step back as his arms closed tightly around her. She buried her face in his shoulder and let the tears she'd been fighting flow.

  He tightened his grip on her. "It's all right, love. Everything's all right."

  She shook her head without looking up. "Where's your mother?"

  "She's upstairs in bed. What's wrong?" His hand stroked her back soothingly.

  She sniffed. "I can't tell you." Her words were muffled by his robe. For a minute she thought he would accept it as he took her by the hand and led her to the couch. She took a tissue and mopped her eyes.

  He stroked her hand, and she could feel his concerned gaze on her, even though she wouldn't look up. "Now tell me what happened."

  "Just hold me. That's all I need."

  He gathered her to him, gently smoothing her hair back. "I'll always do that. But you still have to tell me what's upsetting you. Did my father do something?"

  "How did you know?"

  His jaw tightened. "Anytime somebody's this upset, it's usually because he's done something. What's his dirty trick this time?"

  She didn't want to tell him any more than she had to. "He wants me to get your mother to go back to him. I don't know why he thinks I can."

  Calder frowned. "I don't know either, but that isn't enough to put you in a tailspin. No more stalling. Out with it."

  There wasn't any way around it. "He says he'll make Ryan's life miserable if I don't. Solitary confinement. No parole." The picture of Ryan alone in an empty cell came back to her. She put her head in her hands and started to cry again.

  "Damn him. But just because he says it doesn't mean it's going to happen."

  "How can I stop him? There's nothing I can do."

  "Maybe so, but I have a few ideas stored away." His fingers massaged the back of her neck.

  Caro's elegant voice floated across the room. "There are a few things I can do, as well."

  Cassie stopped in mid-sob and turned to see her mother-in-law standing at the bottom of the stairs. Calder, sounding unsurprised, asked, "How much of that did you hear?"

  "Enough. If you'll excuse me, I need to make a call." She crossed the room and picked up the telephone, dialing a number from memory. For a moment she looked uncertain, but then she squared her shoulders and put the receiver to her ear. "Joseph?" she said in a firm voice. "This is Carolyn." She paused. "Yes, I know what time it is."

  "I'm very well, and you?" Caro sounded completely poised, her voice evenly modulated.

  She was silent for a moment. "I'm glad to hear it. Now, I want you to stop this nonsense with Cassie's brother. It's beneath you."

  Another pause. "I don't believe you for a second. You're nothing but a big baby, Joseph, having a tantrum because you can't have what you want. Well, that's exactly why I left you, and I'll tell you one thing: the only way I'll ever think about coming back is if you show me you've changed."

  Cassie couldn't believe it was Caro talking this way, tapping her foot as she listened to his response.

  "I'll put it another way, then. It's either a no-holdsbarred interview on television, and I've had plenty of invitations for those, or a cordial joint appearance with you at a campaign event next fall. Your choice, Joseph. I am not going to stand by while you act in this ridiculous manner."

  "Well, you think it over, and I'm sure you know how to reach me, whether I like it or not. If I hear that Cassie's brother has so much as a bad day, I'll know what to do."

  "Yes, I'm sure people do have bad days in prison. I guess you should make certain he doesn't. Good-bye, Joseph." She hung up and set the phone down, suddenly looking weary. But she looked straight at Calder as she said, "I've bought you some time there. But it won't last forever."

  Calder nodded, leaving Cassie with the feeling they were somehow communicating silently.

  Cassie blotted her eyes. "Thank you," she said shakily.

  "Don't mention it, dear. He knows the power of hurting someone you care for, but I don't intend to watch him do it any longer." Although she was speaking to Cassie, Caro's eyes rested on her son. "But it's very late. I'll see you in the morning." She headed slowly up the stairs.

  Cassie waited until the footsteps had stopped and she heard the bedroom door closing. "That was a surprise."

  "You're telling me. I can't believe she called him a big baby." Calder sounded admiring.

  "Well, he is a big baby, just one with way too much clout." The sick feeling returned to her stomach.

  "Ryan will be okay. I'll make sure of it."

  Cassie's throat was tight. "Maybe."

  Calder frowned. "Something happens to you whenever Ryan's name comes up. You get tense and panicky. Why?"

  "Because I abandoned him when he needed me, and I didn't help him when he asked." Her heart was pounding in her ears. "I was selfish, and Ryan's paying the price."

  "You weren't selfish. You were young."

  Cassie squeezed her eyes shut. "You don't understand. I was twenty-four and in love for the first time. What happened in high school turned me off men for a long time. I was so happy with Rob, and I knew he wouldn't like having a teenager around. Plus he'd find out all the things I'd hidden from him, and he wouldn't want me anymore. I was terrified of losing him."

  "So you chose Rob over Ryan."

  "Yes." She sank her teeth into her lower lip until she tasted blood.

  Calder was silent. "You don't have to choose between Ryan and me."

  "Not now, maybe, but sooner or later I will. Your father knows my weak spot now. I can't spend my life waiting for the axe to fall."

  "Cassie, love." His voice was as quiet and tender as his hands. "Relax. Take a deep breath. We can beat this."

  "How can you be so sure?" Tears of despair leaked out despite her best efforts to contain them.

  "You'll see. Trust me. I've dealt with him all my life, and I've never given in on something truly important to me. Not going into politics. Writing my books and publishing them. Marrying you. I'm not going to let him chase you away."

  She hadn't realized how badly she needed the reassurance that Joe could be beaten. "I can't even trust myself."

  "When Ryan wrote to you, when you were twentyfour, what did he say?"

  She remembered it clearly, because she had been surprised and pleased to get a letter from him, at least until she read it. "That he wanted to get out of Chicago."

  "If he'd told you he was on the verge of joining a gang, using drugs, getting beaten up, and dropping out, would it have changed your mind?"

  Cassie sniffled. Calder's shirt was getting damp. "Of course it would."

  "You would have risked losing Rob?"

  "Yes, but I didn't think. I should have realized there was trouble. I'd convinced myself by then it was just a poor neighborhood with a lousy school, because I didn't want to remember what it was really like. If I'd thought, I would ha
ve known." The confession broke down her last reserves, and she held onto him as if he were her only surety.

  "You can't take responsibility for the entire universe, love. Does Ryan blame you?"

  "I don't know. I didn't ask. But it doesn't matter." Suddenly she remembered his words. At least one of us got out. He didn't want her to feel trapped. "Do you really think you can stop your father?"

  "I have some pretty good cards up my sleeve. I can convince him it isn't worth the price."

  "How?" She wanted to believe him.

  "Give me a few days to see what I can do. But right now it's time to get some sleep."

  She nestled in against him. It went against the grain to turn her problems over to him, but it was such a relief to share the burden. "I'm surprised you were still up."

  Calder flushed. "I was asleep, but I woke up."

  That wasn't like him. Calder was a sound sleeper. "Something the matter?"

  "I got a phone call."

  "Who'd call at this hour?" She could tell he was avoiding the question.

  "If you must know, it was Rob."

  "Rob called you?" That was the last thing she expected of him. "Was he worried I wouldn't make it home safely?"

  Calder rubbed his hand over his mouth. "Not exactly. He wanted to talk to me."

  "Oh, God. What did he say?"

  "That you were really upset about something, and weren't planning to tell me what it was, and if I wanted to know why I was going to have to push hard, because you had all your walls up."

  Cassie's jaw dropped. "And you did it, too. You kept pushing until I gave in, didn't you? Because Rob said so?"

  He shrugged. "Well, I never had much luck before when you were determined to keep me out. I thought I might as well try his method. And Jim told me I should listen to him."

  Cassie put her hands on her hips. "Jim was in on this, too?"

  "He's the one who gave Rob my number."

  She laughed sardonically. "Well, if I have to be awake half the night, I'm glad to know I'm not alone. You, Rob, Jim, your mother, your father, not to mention all the king's horses and all the king's men."

  "But did we manage to put Humpty Dumpty back together again?"

  She shook her head. "Humpty's not going to be in great shape until I'm sure Ryan's safe. At least from your father." She paused. "I'm scared. What if you can't stop him?"

  "He taught me everything he knew. I can beat him at his own game. There are some ways I'm like him. I'm not going to let him hurt you."

  "You're nothing like your father."

  Calder held her close, letting himself relax in her love. But if she thought he wasn't like his father, she might be in for a surprise.

  Chapter 26

  ON THE LAST DAY of Caro's visit, she seemed content just staying at the house. She didn't mention her phone call to her husband the previous night. Instead, to the surprise of all, she spent the morning on dog training, first observing Cassie putting Nobska through his sit and stay drills, and then hesitantly volunteering to take over for her.

  She had infinite patience for it, as did Nobska, who couldn't imagine anything finer than performing for treats and praise. Cassie watched from a distance, and when a surprised-looking Calder came by, she said to him, "Frankly, I think it's doing her a world of good to order someone around and have him listen. He loves it, too." She didn't add her thoughts on why Caro, normally so restrained, was lavishing the dog with uncharacteristic affection.

  Later, Caro volunteered to take the dog for a walk, and surprised Calder by saying she would rather go alone. "It'll be a nice change," she said. "It's not safe for me to be out by myself in Pennsylvania, with Joe's detectives looking for me. But he already knows I'm here, and Nobska will take care of me."

  Although dubious Nobska would do any harm to a potential assailant apart from jumping up on him enthusiastically, Cassie said nothing. Once Caro had left with the dog, though, she turned to Calder with a look of amusement. "Do you think I should give her your secretary's phone number so she can get in on the next batch of puppies?" she asked. "If she comes back for another visit, I'm not sure if she'll be coming to see us or the dog."

  "I'd go with a breeder," said Calder. "I think she'll definitely need a purebred."

  Cassie was leaving for work when Calder stopped her for one last hug. "Can I take you out tonight?" he asked.

  Even after two days, Cassie could hardly bear to leave him, even for the lab. Ryan's situation never left her mind for long. "If you'd like. Where should we go?"

  "It's a surprise. Dressy. Sorry about that."

  Cassie touched his cheek. "I think I can manage not to embarrass you."

  He smiled. "Who knows? Maybe I'll embarrass you."

  She didn't give the remark a second thought until that evening when they arrived at a large resort. A hotel restaurant didn't seem like Calder's idea of a night out, but there wasn't anything nearby. "Why are we stopping here?"

  Calder opened her car door for her. "It's a fundraiser for Gina Obermayer. Dinner, a few speeches."

  Was he joking? "A fundraiser? For who?"

  "Gina Obermayer. She's running for re-election to the State Senate."

  "I know who she is. I contributed to her campaign. But she's a Democrat. And you hate this kind of thing."

  "That's true."

  "Calder, if this gets back to your father, he'll be livid."

  "Livid enough to make a deal to keep me from doing it again?"

  Cassie's lips formed a silent O. "This is what you've been working on?"

  Calder looked proud of himself. "Right in one. But we should go in. Dinner's starting soon."

  He led the way into a banquet room packed with elegantly clad men and women. As Cassie followed, she wondered how he did it. She was nervous herself, out of her depth among the women who looked as if they had groomed themselves all day for the event. She was probably the only woman in the room without a manicure. But Calder never faltered, even though the crowd must have made him edgy. He went straight to the candidate's side and introduced Cassie to her. She must have known they were coming; the state senator showed no surprise at the appearance of one of the enemy.

  A waiter showed them to the front of the room. "The VIP section?" Cassie asked under her breath.

  "The whole point is to be noticed." Calder touched her arm lightly, as if to reassure her.

  She supposed it would be good practice for dealing with his family, but it was intimidating to find herself among the political and financial elite. Calder seemed to have no problems, chatting with their tablemates as dinner was served. Cassie was relieved when the speeches started and she didn't have to socialize. She let her mind drift as the first guest of honor, a current congressman, spoke.

  The then it was the candidate's turn. Senator Obermayer spoke to enthusiastic applause. Cassie wondered how much longer this would go on. It had been a long day, and she wanted to go home. She was disappointed when the senator announced there would be an additional speaker.

  "I have a surprise guest tonight who would like to say a few words. And I mean surprise. It certainly astonished me when I received a phone call from him saying he wanted to support my re-election campaign. So you might want to put down your coffee cups before I welcome our next speaker. Ladies and gentlemen, Calder Westing, son of Senator Joseph Westing."

  Stunned, Cassie turned to Calder, expecting to see a look of horror, but instead he rose gracefully to his feet and approached the podium amid dead silence. Finally there was polite applause, led by the candidate and her staffers. To all appearances, it didn't bother Calder, who addressed the crowd with an engaging smile.

  "Thank you, Senator. I can't blame the rest of you for doubting me. After all, my name spells 'die-hard Republican.' And what could I tell you about Senator Obermayer that you don't already know? Not a thing. But she wanted me to speak anyway. Not about her, and not about this campaign. She asked me to tell you why I'll be voting Democratic on November fourth."


  Cassie's mouth dropped open as a flurry of whispers ran around the room. Joe was going to kill him. Maybe she'd better start thinking about those job opportunities in Ecuador. One starting tomorrow, preferably.

  "The easy answer is that my wife is an environmentalist, and I want her to be speaking to me on November fifth." There was a light scattering of laughter. "But that's not the real reason."

  Calder rested one hand on the podium, his voice taking on a more intimate tone. "I'm Joe Westing's son. You know what that means. I grew up on deals being cut over the dining room table. I knew what quid pro quo meant before I could read. I heard my father make promises, and I knew which ones he intended to break.