An Agreeable Arrangement

by Shirley Marks

  “It has been quite a while since I’ve ridden,” he admitted to her, as more of a humble apology than excuse. “Although my brain may remember what to do, my limbs may not be up to the task.”

  “Then we shall not overtax you,” Cassie offered. “May I suggest we keep today’s excursion to a minimum?”

  “A splendid idea. I thank you for your kind understanding and consideration.” With an incline of his head he accepted her proposal. He led the way out of the stable area and onto the road. “Would it be permissible to have Romeo come along? I dare say he’d enjoy himself immensely.”

  “I don’t think so. Father and I would leave Romeo behind when taking afternoon rides in the country, fearing he might be lost or trampled upon by the horses’ hooves”

  “Perhaps we could find a way to provide him with a saddle of his own or a perch of some sort.”

  How kind of the squire to consider her pet. Cassie had never thought him capable of any type of benevolent feelings. She’d been wrong.

  “I think I am ready to post, but I should warn you it may not last for long” He urged his mount into a trot and Cassie kept her horse next to his.

  They rode into town and once around the park at a leisurely canter before returning to Stewart Hall.

  They met in the breakfast room after their outing. Julian’s legs felt more like jelly and he wasn’t sure if descending the stairs would be his undoing. He might have landed in a heap on the ground floor. That would have been more embarrassing than the three attempts at mounting his horse that morning.

  To his relief, Lady Cassandra had been the first to visit the sideboard and she was already seated by the time he arrived. Thank goodness. He did not know how he would have managed to rise when she entered the room. As it was, how he would manage to stand and leave in a half hour’s time, he had no idea.

  “I would like to thank you for this morning,” she said to him. “It was nice to be out in the fresh air and I had forgotten how much I missed riding.”

  “Even with me as an escort? I am woefully underskilled as an equestrian.” He noticed she had added a plate of eggs to her usual solitary slice of toast.

  “You are sure to improve, especially if we make it a daily habit.” She glanced over the rim of her cup at him.

  “It is my sincerest hope I can regain my strength by tomorrow so we might venture out again.” Without feeling self-conscious, Julian felt encouraged at her words. “I would be quite ashamed to be held to Edward’s standards. He is accomplished at every endeavor he attempts”

  Cassie could hear the pain and vulnerability in his voice. She couldn’t imagine what caused him to continue.

  “I’ve never been good on my feet. It’s not a well known fact,” he went on to say, “but I don’t know how to dance” He didn’t seem to express any shame. “Right now I suppose I do harbor some regrets.” His soft, kind hazel eyes met Cassie’s. “I know Lorna wanted her first waltz to be with Edward. I’m afraid I will not be able to accommodate her.”

  Was he truly admitting his weakness to her? “I could instruct you,” she offered and then wondered why she’d said those words. She could read the uncertainty in his eyes. “For Lorna’s sake. I believe there is more than enough time for you to learn, to perfect the steps, if you are willing.”

  The squire remained quiet.

  Cassie did not know what to think. Was he angry? Embarrassed at his situation? Of his confession? Or perhaps that she knew of it at all?

  Taking advantage of the silence, she left her seat and moved to his side, holding her hand out to him. He stood, although hesitantly, almost as if his legs would not propel him forward.

  “Here, let me show you the basic step.” She took him by the arm and drew him to a corner that permitted movement.

  Lifting her skirt to allow her feet to be seen, she stood across from him. Slowly, she talked him through the steps.

  “On the first beat, you step out here.” He followed. “On the second, you bring your other foot near. And on the third beat, shift your weight back on the first foot.” The squire continued to follow her lead. “It isn’t difficult in the least.”

  “One, two, three … one, two, three … one, two, three …” he said just above a whisper and mirrored her feet.

  “It’s best not to count aloud.” Cassie smiled. “There … I think you’ve got it.”

  She gazed up into his face. He was smiling too. He was smiling at her. Cassie felt quite self-conscious at his extended gaze and quickly averted her eyes.

  “Of course, this is not the correct position to dance.” She was quick to clarify.

  “Yes, I am well aware of that aspect,” he added softly and cleared his throat. “I have seen the waltz performed many times.”

  The squire took Cassie’s right hand in his left. She brushed against the smooth metal of his signet ring. He moved closer and slipped his other hand around her waist. All hint of expression fell from his face. A long bout of silence followed. She swallowed hard.

  Squire Stewart held her in his arms, dance position. With a brave upward tilt of her chin, she slowly turned her head, displaying a cool, seemingly detached profile.

  In reality, Cassie felt the panic rise through her. Her pulse raced and she could feel her heart pound hard. She wondered if he could hear it too. Her first reaction was to flee but she managed to keep her head.

  “There doesn’t seem to be enough room in here to turn.” Moving away from him, she nervously smiled. “Perhaps this is enough for today. Shall we continue tomorrow?”

  He met his instructor’s eyes and nodded. “If it is not too much of an inconvenience.”

  “Until tomorrow then” Cassie inclined her head and took her leave. She moved down the hall and slipped into a side parlor, closing the solid door behind her. Leaning her head onto the cool surface, she inhaled slowly to calm her wildly beating heart.

  What was happening to her? What was this feeling bubbling up inside her? While the squire held her close, she thought she felt as if she would faint. She wanted to be as far away from him as possible.

  Cassie vividly recalled the warmth of his hand and his firm grip on her waist. It was horrifying and comforting all at the same time and she wondered why she had not felt this way when Edward took her in his arms.

  Julian looked forward to every morning when he could spend time alone with Lady Cassandra. After their ride, he sat across the breakfast table for coffee. Some evenings, he escorted her to various parties in Edward’s absence. When working at home, he often walked by the side parlor, where the women sat after supper, to see her in animated conversation with Lorna or enjoying a book by the fireside.

  This afternoon Mrs. Green wheeled the clattering tea cart into the library. Julian redirected her to the front parlor, thinking the brightly lit room conducive to a more enjoyable afternoon tea.

  He pulled on his jacket before venturing out of the house to call the ladies in. The squire imagined that Lady Cassandra had lost all sense of time. He knew he could find her with Romeo, with or without Lorna depending on his sister’s social schedule, far beyond in the rear gardens.

  During the precious few minutes it took Julian to walk the path from the manor to the lawn, he shortened his stride and slowed his pace to delay his arrival. Although Romeo would always be the first to notice his unannounced approach, his presence would soon be detected by the ladies as well.

  The squire allowed himself to witness the expression of delight on their faces when they first spotted him. He found himself envying Edward. With all the talents and advantages his younger brother had, it was the first and only time Julian ever remembered feeling this way.

  However, his life would not be at all bad. He and Lady Cassandra would be in-laws and that would ensure their continual contact through the years. He could share in her pleasant company and he felt that would be sufficient.

  Julian took his time walking to the clearing beyond the topiary, feeling the soft crunch of gravel beneath his feet.
The sound itself was soothing and strangely satisfying. Once he was spotted, Romeo would wag his tail and the ladies would wave to greet him.

  Romeo barked, sounding the alarm at his approach. Julian waved, only … Loma was not there. Lady Cassandra returned his wave. She and Romeo headed in the squire’s direction.

  “This is becoming quite a habit.” A smile graced his normally staid face.

  “I suppose it is, isn’t it?” Lady Cassandra’s beaming face made him wish he could prolong this moment together. “Shall we have tea in the library?”

  “No, I thought it too nice to pass up this delightful afternoon. The view of the front gardens is quite breathtaking from the front parlor.”

  With a nod, she turned to start for the house.

  “I shall ask your indulgence before we go in for tea, if I may”

  She turned back to face the squire.

  “There is plenty of room out here” He gestured holding his arms open wide. “Shall we take a moment and continue my waltz instruction?”

  Cassie looked around. “This is a most unorthodox place to dance.” She looked back at him and narrowed her eyes. “I suppose it will suffice”

  “Lorna’s first waltz at Almack’s is only a few days away. I do not want to disappoint her.”

  Cassie believed that. She had seen both brothers display devotion for their sister. And there was probably nothing he would not do to please her.

  “Here Romeo!” Lady Cassandra called. The terrier bounded to her. “Sit right there. Stay!” Romeo promptly obeyed.

  The squire stepped closer and took his position in front of Cassie. She looked into his lean, handsome face.

  Handsome? Exactly when did she think of his face as being handsome?

  “Lady Cassandra? Are you ready to begin?”

  Cassie could feel the warmth of his hand on her back. Her hand in his, held motionless. Now acutely aware that only inches separated his body from hers, she thought it best to start instead of dwelling on him.

  “The music will begin.” Cassie begun to hum a nondescript tune in three-quarters time. Her head dipped in deliberate motion with every passing beat.

  The squire’s mouth formed the count of the beat. One, two, three … one, two, three … one, two, three … Growing accustomed to her tune, he began to step side to side with the music.

  “You are not supposed to move your mouth,” she reminded him, and what a nice-looking mouth it was. It could form the kindest, most tender smile.

  Cassie had to admit, he was very handsome. His high cheekbones led to the gentle arch of his dark brow. Following the line of his face, his jaw squared off at his chin. There she detected a slight dimple. She hadn’t noticed that before nor had she ever been this close to him for such an extended period of time.

  Romeo stayed where he was told. His head, however, dipped and turned, following the couple as he continued to watch their dance progress.

  The squire took a step, Cassie followed his lead. He turned her slowly in time to the a cappella music, then another turn and another. Each turn became tighter and faster than the one before, spinning round and round until the squire’s toe caught a tuft of unevenly growing grass. He stumbled, plunging toward the ground, bringing Cassie down with him.

  Cassie let out a cry, then grunted when she hit the ground.

  “I do beg your pardon!” Squire Stewart landed on his left hand, sparing his partner from taking his crushing weight. “Are you quite all right?”

  Romeo bounded toward the collapsed bodies barking with concern.

  “I do beg your pardon!” the squire repeated. “Have you been injured?”

  Romeo leaped at Cassie trying to lick her face, as if it would help. The pet then leaped at the squire and sniffed at him as well, checking his well-being.

  Sitting up, Cassie found herself stunned but unharmed. Looking at the squire’s disheveled hair and grass-stained cuff, not to mention his cravat which sat askew, she broke into unrestrained laughter.

  “Lady Cassandra?” the squire sounded concerned. He must have thought she had bumped her head in the fall or perhaps was having a hysterical reaction.

  Her laughing continued.

  “I’m afraid I’m quite the clumsy clod,” he uttered, trying to take the entire blame. “I just hope that it’s not contagious.”

  “It serves us right for dancing in such an inappropriate place”

  The squire took another look around and must have noticed as she had that the footing was poor. They were lucky that one of them did not twist an ankle or break a leg.

  “You are right of course” She certainly would not have placed the blame on him.

  He stood and finished brushing off his pantaloons then reached out his hand to help her up off the ground. “Are you sure you are not hurt?” He watched her move, looking for a twinge of pain.

  “You are a mother hen!” Cassie brushed herself off. “Let’s go in for tea, shall we?” The squire watched her head for the house, her grass-stained skirts swaying side to side. “Come, Romeo!”

  Lorna insisted that Lady Cassandra join them at the Stoddards’ ball that night. Julian did not express an opinion and left the decision entirely to the ladies.

  The three of them rode in the coach. Julian dared not look at Lady Cassandra to avoid any speculation on his sister’s part that something other than civility might be going on between them. It would be like her to misinterpret and exaggerate the tentative association he and Lady Cassandra had managed.

  Once they’d arrived at Lord and Lady Stoddard’s, Lorna entered the room followed by Lady Cassandra. Julian’s breath caught. Lovely Lady Cassandra in an azure-blue gown. The drop shoulder sleeves gave the gown a dramatic line. The low decolletage might have been too daring without an added sheer mull. The material was softly gathered at the neck by a ribbon that enchantingly trailed down her back.

  Julian ran his fingers over the folds in his not-sointricately tied cravat and tugged down on his burgundy waistcoat. All of a sudden he felt self-conscious and wholly inadequate standing next to her. He noticed the small fragrant rosebuds she wore in a headband, lending a delicate scent to her hair.

  Julian had the good fortune to meet up with his friend and occasional business associate Sir Horace Boyer. He managed to beg him for a dance-not for himself, mind, but for a Lady Cassandra. Once setting his eyes upon the lady, Horace was not bothered in the least to do his friend a favor. Julian made the introductions and Horace led Lady Cassandra away.

  During the dainty measures of the dance, the squire noticed Lord Nathan Ellerby paying particular attention to the couple. Ellerby, the third son of an earl, was a friend of Edward’s. Edward had frequently referred to his friend as `Nefarious Nathan.’

  Ellerby crossed the room and oiled his way to Sir Horace after he had left the dance floor. “Good evening to you, sir,” Ellerby said, making his presence known to Horace.

  “Lord Ellerby . . ” Horace turned to face him.

  “May I impose upon you for an introduction”Ellerby hadn’t waited for Horace to respond and continued-“to that lovely creature in blue you’ve abandoned on the other side of the room”

  Horace looked at his recent dance partner in her azure gown. “Ah … that would be the Lady Cassandra Phillips.”

  Even from where he stood, Julian caught a gleam in Ellerby’s dark eyes suggesting he had an ulterior motive.

  “I suppose it couldn’t do any harm. . ” Sir Horace flustered. Somehow the significance of an introduction escaped him. Julian had wanted to stop him-shout across the room if need be-but his good manners prevented him.

  Ellerby’s well-known reputation as a ladies’ man only exceeded Edward’s, and Julian wondered what Nefarious Nathan could possibly want with Lady Cassandra.

  “Ah, Lady Cassandra … may I, may I present, ah … Lord Nathan Ellerby.”

  Lord Nathan performed a grand sweeping bow.

  “How do you do,” Cassie replied.

  In rising, he steppe
d toward her, taking her hand. “Lady Cassandra, the pleasure is all mine, I assure you. “

  Not wasting another moment, he ushered her to one side, away from Sir Horace. A string of exorbitant compliments sprang superfluously from the newly introduced gentleman.

  “You waste your words on me, sir.” Quick to put him in his place, she added, “I am engaged to Mr. Edward Stewart.”

  “Tender to beauty is never wasted.” Lord Nathan placed a light kiss on the back of her hand. “I can appreciate your company as well as Mr. Stewart”

  She could feel her cheek warm at the thought that he might appreciate her company.

  “Would you care to share the next set?” Lord Ellerby seemed to sense her trepidation and continued. “I loathe to allow such loveliness to sit by the wayside. It would be such a shame for you not to enjoy yourself because of your betrothed’s absence” His well-practiced smile showed a row of perfectly shaped white teeth, much like that of a shark.

  Cassie looked for the squire. Perhaps he would come to her aid. But she could not see him in the crowd. Finding it impossible to refuse Lord Nathan’s request, she agreed. A minute later he took her to the floor for a waltz.

  Julian managed to make it across the room to Horace but not before he’d made the introductions and far too late to stop Ellerby from escorting Lady Cassandra to the dance floor.

  Julian watched the villain gather Lady Cassandra into his arms. A protective feeling began to grow. He felt certain Edward would never allow such an event to take place. However, she was not the squire’s intended therefore he felt it was not his place to object.

  “Horace?” The squire, feeling both displeasure and a need for an expeditious explanation, clapped his friend on the shoulder, preventing him from moving forward. “Whatever possessed you to introduce that devil to Lady Cassandra?”

  “I didn’t think there was any harm, really” Horace shrugged. “He was rather insistent, you know, Julian.”

  “As I can well imagine.” How well he knew Ellerby’s persuasive nature. The squire didn’t like associating with him in business and certainly didn’t want to deal with him on a personal level. “Do me a favor, will you?”