An Agreeable Arrangement

by Shirley Marks

  “Another? All you need do is ask. You know that”

  “Escort Lady Cassandra away as soon as she returns. I don’t want her to be exposed to Ellerby any longer than need be”

  “Don’t blame you at all. I shall be more than happy to oblige.”

  Lady Cassandra and Ellerby twirled amongst the crowd. Horace’s gaze stayed fixed upon them. After the dance ended, Julian watched her and nodded to his friend to make his move. After this next set the squire would see that he and Lady Cassandra made their exit, leaving Nefarious Nathan behind.

  The next morning, Maxwell stared out the front window, watching a transport race down the road toward Stewart Hall. Moments after the hansom rolled to a stop, the door flew open. Sir Horace Boyer took a passing glance at his surroundings before disembarking and stepping toward the front door.

  Maxwell pulled the door open directly. Sir Horace stepped inside handing over his hat, cane, and gloves.

  “Where’s Julian? I must speak to him at once!” Sir Horace’s voice held an unmistakable sense of urgency.

  “The squire is in the library, sir.” Maxwell draped the guest’s coat over his arm and took hold of the hat and cane.

  “I’ll announce myself.” Sir Horace walked toward the library with weighted purpose. Boldly stepping through the open door, he came to an abrupt halt when he spotted Squire Stewart.

  Julian sat comfortably with his fingers steepled, next to the large paned window that overlooked the side garden. His eyes stared aimlessly out into the box-hedged garden. He heard a light knock on the door.

  “Horace, how good it is to see you! Come in! Come in!” Even though his friend had caused some trouble by introducing Lady Cassandra to Ellerby, he had also allowed them to escape without alarm.

  Horace stepped into the library and moved toward the window as if he wanted to see what Julian was watching.

  “What, may I ask, is the reason for this unexpected pleasure?” Julian shook Horace’s hand and motioned for his guest to take the seat opposite his desk. “Another potential profitable business opportunity, perhaps?” Julian noticed Horace’s grim response. If he were here on business, the news would not be pleasant.

  By his manner, it must have been grave, very grave indeed.

  Horace sunk into the chair very slowly and spoke in a low, serious voice. “You’d best have a seat as well.”

  “Why Horace, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you in such a state. Good Gad, Horace, what is it?”

  “Very bad news I fear.” He sighed. Horace obviously didn’t know where to begin. “News of the King’s Quest has just arrived. It departed the continent two days ago for Dover. She’s been reported missing.”

  “Missing? The King’s Quest?” Julian’s voice sounded hollow. He stared into the center of the room, focusing on nothing in particular, just staring, feeling numb. “It isn’t possible. There must be some sort of mistake.” Julian looked back at Horace. “Edward is scheduled to return on that ship.”

  “I know. That’s why I’ve come. I didn’t want you to read it in the Gazette.”

  Could it be that Edward was … Julian rubbed his throbbing forehead. His mind tried to put all the pieces together. He tried to fathom the thought of never seeing his brother again.

  “They’ve already sent several rescue ships. They reported finding only debris. No survivors, no bodies recovered. Not yet.” Horace watched Julian for a reaction. “Shall I get you a brandy?”

  “No.” Julian turned toward his guest. “I must tell Lorna, she’ll be quite upset. She and Edward have always been very close.”

  “And Lady Cassandra,” Horace added. “He is, after all … they were to be wed”

  “Yes, and Lady Cassandra” How would she take this news? It would certainly be better if she heard this from him rather than a stranger or through the rumor mill.

  Horace followed the squire out of the house. They found the ladies in the back garden. Lorna and Cassie were busy playing with Romeo on the grassy area. The ladies tossed the ball between them and laughed with delight.

  When Romeo abandoned his game to greet the squire properly, the ladies noticed the gentlemen approaching and headed toward them. Cassie glanced at Lorna who apparently also sensed the grim climate.

  “What is it? What’s happened?” Lorna spoke first. The men exchanged staid glances. “Julian?”

  “I think we should all go inside and sit down,” the squire suggested. Lorna nodded and began to walk slowly to the house with Sir Horace.

  “No, I want to know now.” Cassie stood her ground and refused to move until she got her answer.

  Lorna and Sir Horace continued, increasing their lead.

  “What has happened?” Cassie demanded to know.

  After nearly a minute of silence, he blurted out, “I’m afraid Edward is dead.”

  “What?” Cassandra gasped. The color drained from her face. Julian thought she might faint dead away.

  He felt like a gudgeon for blurting out the news. Subtlety had never been one of his strengths. This would have been a perfect opportunity to have exercised any that he might have possessed.

  “Well, perhaps not dead, but certainly presumed dead. Horace can give us further details once we are inside.”

  Without a word, she nodded. The squire offered his arm and she took it. Silence surrounded them and in no time they were entering through the back door. Romeo dashed ahead into the house.

  “Lorna is waiting with Mrs. Upton in the parlor,” Horace told Julian in the hallway. Julian acknowledged with a curt nod before the three of them entered.

  Lorna took one look at Cassie and gasped, clearly frightened. “Cassie! Cassie? What’s happened? Julian?” She clasped Mrs. Upton’s hands and held tight as if she were still a small child.

  Cassandra said nothing and made no action to indicate she had heard what anyone had said.

  “Lorna,” Julian began and took hold of her free hand. “I want to assure you that we will do everything we can, utilize every resource possible to ensure we are successful”

  “With what?” She stared at her brother wide-eyed and confused. “What are you talking about?”

  “The ship … your brother Edward-” Horace sounded equally as tactful as Julian. “I’m afraid it is lost at sea”

  “What?” Lorna cried, her eyes filled with tears.

  “This cannot be” Mrs. Upton pressed her handkerchief to her nose.

  “His ship has gone missing,” Horace stated directly.

  “Does this mean he’s … is he … d-dead?” Lorna forced the words out.

  “No!” Julian nearly shouted. “As I said, we will employ every means available to find him. He is … missing. We will find him.”

  “Yes, yes, we’ll find him.” Lorna nodded and swiped away her tears.

  “He’s just missing. He’ll be fine when we find him,” Mrs. Upton repeated, seemingly to calm herself and Lorna.

  “Perhaps you should go to your room and lie down for a bit,” Horace suggested.

  “That is an excellent idea for both the ladies,” Julian replied. “Maxwell, send for Lady Cassandra’s maid, would you?”

  Maxwell, who seemed to have appeared out of the woodwork, acknowledged and stepped away.

  “Mrs. Upton, please see Lorna to her room,” the squire ordered. He helped Lorna to her feet and her governess took her by the arm.

  Julian and Horace flanked Cassandra, helped her stand and walked her to the door. Moving into the great hall, Layette met the advancing trio.

  “Ma pauvre petite.” Layette sighed at the first look of her mistress. She led Cassandra up the stairs and away to her room.

  Horace followed the squire into the library. Moving to his desk, Julian began searching through his drawers. He retrieved a document which had an unmistakable legal appearance to it.

  “Gad! That’s not Edward’s will is it?”

  “Do you think me totally heartless? This is the will of the late Earl of Thadburry, Lady Cassandra
’s father. The earl has set up certain terms for her inheritance. I’m looking for the new clause since it appears that the circumstances have altered” He sat behind his desk and put on his spectacles to review the document. “Besides, I doubt Edward ever bothered to have a will drawn up.”

  “But you just said you were going to find him.” Horace pointed toward the parlor where they sat and broke the news just moments ago.

  “I know what I said and we will try to find him. But Lady Cassandra does not have the luxury of waiting. If it turns out Edward is … we will all deal with that when the time comes. For now, we don’t know his fate, do we?”

  Horace busied himself by pouring two glasses of sherry and setting one for the squire on the desk.

  “Drink up, Julian, you need it.” Horace motioned with his own glass. “You’ve had quite a shock. Trust me, it’ll do you good”

  The squire took the glass and peered over the top of his glasses at his friend.

  Horace finished his sherry in a single swallow.

  Julian took a sip and set the remainder aside. Horace refilled his glass and took a seat next to the squire.

  After several minutes of paging through the document and rereading potentially pertinent clauses, he laid the paper down and pulled off his spectacles. Reaching for his sherry, Julian took another sip. What he had to do, what he had to inform Lady Cassandra she must do …

  No, he was not looking forward to such a callous, unfeeling maneuver, but it had to be done. With a final swallow, Julian drained his glass.

  Life continued at Stewart Hall, accompanied by a gloomy veneer. Julian had hired his own men to investigate his brother’s possible whereabouts but there was still no further news of Edward by the end of the week.

  The squire feared that although his brother was not dead, only missing at this point, it would be impossible for Lady Cassandra to fulfill the terms of her father’s will. It was far too soon to consider a memorial service and proclaim Edward dead, but would it be too late for her to comply with the clause enacted by his absence?

  To give her every chance of retaining her inheritance, Julian had to be the bearer of additional bad news. He realized she would have no time for mourning, no time for acceptance, no time at all.

  Here he stood, his arm stretched over the mantle. He turned his gaze from the flames on the log that held no answers.

  Lady Cassandra’s hands were neatly folded on her lap. Her perfectly oval face tilted in his direction. Her eyes focused on him, waiting for him to speak.

  Julian did not know how he was going to tell her. Again, he felt his inadequacy to relay her father’s request with the tact he thought necessary. However, with no alternative, he had to continue best he could.

  “You must marry before your upcoming birthday,” he said.

  Cassandra burst into tears and covered her face.

  Julian knew she would be upset. She must have been more in love with Edward than he thought.

  He wanted to comfort her. Inappropriate perhaps, but he could not sit by and watch the effect of his brother’s absence-the man she must have cared for a great deal-and how she must marry another, take its toll on her.

  Julian reached out, his hand hovering barely an inch from her quivering shoulder. He turned her shoulder toward him. She let her head fall against his chest. A heartbeat later, his arms enveloped her into a comforting embrace. His platonic feeling soon gave way to something entirely new.

  Cassandra’s tear-stained face turned up at him. With her eyes open wide, she looked deeply into his. Julian leaned back, releasing his hold while he still had control.

  “Please, sir, I am well.” Her stare was momentarily interrupted by her dark lashes as she blinked.

  The squire pulled a silk kerchief from his breast pocket and offered it from the palm of his hand. “I am sorry for you,” he whispered in an unfamiliar, tender tone. “But it is stated in your father’s will.”

  “I don’t see how you can ask such a thing of me” Cassandra lifted the silk kerchief from his hand and allowed it to tumble open, cascading to its full length. She sniffed and blotted the moisture from her eyes.

  Julian could not pull his gaze from her, no matter how hard he tried. “Your father’s will states that since marriage to Edward is impossible that you must marry before you reach the age of twenty.”

  “That is only three weeks away! I can’t possibly … how am I to find a husband … it is impossible!”

  “I’m certain you can easily find another suitor.” He felt odd and immediately regretted the words as they escaped from his lips.

  “That is scandalous !” she gasped. “I should be in mourning.”

  “But he is not, has not been proclaimed dead” The squire regarded her. “This is the first I’ve seen you shed a tear over Edward. Even as you received the news you never cried.”

  “These are not tears for Edward,” she whispered. “I’m very truly sorry to hear of your brother’s fate. I do not wish him ill but I do not regard his absence as a personal loss on my part”

  “I thought you were in love with him.” Julian hesitated for the briefest moment. He’d never even considered that. “Is there someone else you care for?”

  “I admit, I was never in love with Edward. He iswas-a fine man; thoughtful, kind, perhaps I thought him too immature and compulsive for my taste. However, if I admit my affection for another, you may think me forward.”

  “No, please. I believe this is the time to be honest. If there is … someone you wish to … well, you must marry and if you can find true happiness..

  “Very well.” Cassandra glanced away and took a deep breath, gathering courage. “It’s true. I do have feelings for another. He is a widower, a little older than I”

  Again, her beautiful eyes lifted to meet his.

  A spark of hope sprang into Julian’s heart. Was it not morbid to be glad of his brother’s absence, perhaps his demise, and wish his bride for himself? Did he have a chance with this lovely angel? For her to reveal feelings for him was more than he could hope for. Pure fantasy.

  And yet … Julian felt his insides melt at her gaze-the deep liquid pools of her dark blue eyes. He was lost. He gasped for air, only to realize that his mouth was upon hers in a tender kiss.

  “No!” The squire moved away from her and shook his head. “I cannot allow this to happen. This is not acceptable!”

  “By that kiss, I gather that you harbor the same feelings for me, or am I mistaken?”

  “Well … I … no! It is inappropriate!” Bewildered by his action, he wondered how his control had managed to slip. It was not like him.

  Gaining some distance, his head began to clear and his priorities returned. His blood began to cool, he regained his composure and he felt ready to recite his arguments. “I am the executor of your father’s will. I am legally and morally bound to make sure his wishes are carried out. I cannot-”

  “Did that kiss mean nothing?” Her eyes still burned with the intensity he had felt in her lips.

  “It was something that should not have happened. It was a mistake, clear and simple.” He straightened, smoothed his hair and adjusted his waistcoat.

  “We shall see, sir.” Cassie would make him take back every word.

  That kiss was much, much more than the meeting of lips. Only moments before, her heart had pounded fiercely in her chest, then came to a stop as he neared. In his eyes, she saw the same passion and longing that was inside of her.

  She felt the warmth of his breath upon her cheek. He was going to kiss her and she very much wanted him to. Her lips ached in anticipation.

  Then he pulled her toward him, causing her to abandon any thought as to what was proper, and kissed her. She knew with each short, stolen breath that she loved him.

  Certain as she was about her feelings, Cassie knew he must share them. She had sensed the desire and the passion in those few fleeting moments. He could try to deny it but that would have been a lie.

  “You will dress
in your most attractive gown and I shall escort you to Almack’s tomorrow night myself. You will begin circulating. If you wish to keep Hedgeway Park you will need to find a husband” His voice regained its normal authoritative bearing, ordering her about again. “Furthermore, you will remove that mourning gown for a more suitable dress, is that understood?”

  “I supposed this old frock could not attract any gentleman.” It hadn’t deterred him one bit. “I will do as you ask and dress as alluring and enchanting as I can manage.” If he wanted her to lure a husband, she would oblige him. “I suppose any man will do?”

  Silence momentarily encompassed them as he considered her words. “I would hope that you might find him agreeable. I would not wish you to wed a monster.”

  She curtsied, inclining her head only slightly in submission. “As you wish, Squire.” It was only then a plan began to form.

  Later that evening, Cassie entered the drawing room and eased into her favorite, comfortable, overstuffed chair with a novel. She opened the book to the page where she had left off. Her eyes scanned over the words without comprehension. She stared blankly at the page while her mind reflected to that afternoon with the squire in his study and that unforgettable kiss.

  Romeo sprang onto the chair and into Cassie’s lap. She patted him welcome with a smile and Lorna swept into the room.

  “Julian told me you were teaching him how to waltz so he won’t look like a simpleton at Almack’s.”

  “He told you?” Cassie found herself shocked that the squire would admit to his younger sister his shortcoming and his indebtedness to another, especially a woman.

  “I thought it might help if you had music to practice.” She held out an ornately decorated box.

  “I don’t really think this is a good time,” Cassie replied. The squire had spent most of that day in the library, clearly avoiding her.

  “Edward brought this back from Austria last year.” Lorna sounded a bit sad at the mention of her brother. She glanced at the precious possession and ran her hand over the smooth lid. “I’m sure he’ll have something just as exceptional when he finally returns from this trip.” She brightened, obviously hoping for the best outcome.