She leaned up against the wall, pulling her skirt back in an attempt to remain undetected. However, Miss Lorna’s eyes lit up. A broad smile crossed her lips. She must have guessed why Lord Nathan would want to speak to her brother, as had Maxwell.
Lord Nathan was here to offer for Lady Cassandra. Miss Lorna called Romeo and ran for the stairs, no doubt to find Lady Cassandra and tell her the news. Romeo sprinted up the stairs behind the young girl, heading for his mistress’ room.
“This is preposterous!” Julian bellowed. “You’ve only been courting Lady Cassandra for a week! How could you make such an impulsive decision?”
There wasn’t much formality in Ellerby’s visit. However, it did seem he wanted to proceed through the proper channels in asking permission for Cassandra’s hand.
“We can’t be taking our time at our age, can we, Stewart?” Ellerby strolled to the side table and perused the liquor bottles. “The young bucks will beat us out, don’t you know?” He helped himself to the brandy. “Do you mind?” He didn’t wait for an answer before filling a glass.
He eased into a chair and leaned back, placing his booted feet atop the desk and crossing them at the ankles. A most disgusting habit of Edward’s. Julian liked it even less when Ellerby did it.
“You know, Cassandra is quite a fetching thing. Thought so the first time I laid eyes on her. I instantly regretted that she was attached to your brother.” Ellerby regarded the liquid in the glass, swirling the contents. “Circumstances being what they are, I don’t intend to waste any more time than need be”
Ellerby looked so sure and smug, as if he knew all the facts, which, of course, he didn’t. Julian couldn’t imagine Cassandra confiding in this scoundrel.
“Your brother is gone, leaving Lady Cassandra quite free, not without a hint of scandal, I might add” Ellerby punctuated his remark with a jab of his index finger. “There must have been a reason for the hasty engagement. All of which brings me here. I know exactly what I want in a wife and I am more than willing to fill Edward’s shoes”
“Does Lady Cassandra fall into that category?”
“Surprisingly enough, she does. That’s why I’m here to ask for her hand. Not that it’s really necessary.”
Julian felt his blood begin to boil. He would never allow Cassandra to marry this blackguard. Ellerby was a lying scoundrel-so arrogant and ruthless, so bloody sure of himself.
“I believe that will be enough!” the squire spat. He snatched the glass from Ellerby’s hand and pushed his feet off the desk. “Get out!”
“I beg your pardon?” Ellerby protested this discourteous treatment with a tinge of surprise in his voice.
Julian became incensed. He had told himself all along he would not interfere with Lady Cassandra’s choice of men. But he just could not stand by and watch-Ellerby would not have her.
“I would never consent to Lady Cassandra marrying a rogue such as you!”
“I’m no worse than your brother,” he returned, leveling an equally hurtful insult.
“Get out of my house!” Julian threw the glass at the grate in anger. The glass shattered. The alcohol caused the flame to flare. “I don’t want to catch you looking in Lady Cassandra’s direction!”
“You sound like the jealous beau, Stewart!” Ellerby snickered and moved toward the door.
The squire roared again, “Get out!”
The squire could see Cassandra was eagerly awaiting Ellerby’s arrival that next evening at the Assembly Rooms. She might find herself facing a disappointment. Julian did not expect his presence at all.
If the scoundrel had the bad judgment to attend, it would be to his advantage not to impose himself on Lady Cassandra. Julian would make certain of it.
Lord Nathan did arrive-finally. Cassie watched him enter. However, his less than warm greeting from across the room consisted of the smallest incline of his head while sporting a positively evil, distant smile.
But was that expression meant for her? Cassie wondered. She did not believe so but she had her suspicions. She turned to catch the squire’s reaction. His face was unreadable, simply impenetrable.
Lord Nathan did not even show an ounce of courtesy by asking her for a dance. Cassie thought it a bit odd that he should ignore her now since he’d called nearly every day for a week. This was very strange indeed.
As it turned out, Sir Horace and Squire Stewart were the only men who asked Cassie for a dance. During the course of the evening, whenever Cassie glanced at Lord Nathan, she found him not looking in her direction but glaring at the squire.
She inclined her head toward Sir Horace when the quadrille came to an end. He escorted her off the floor and graciously thanked her for the dance.
The squire made his approach toward the couple. Sir Horace politely excused himself. Cassie felt the squire’s blaring presence. His mostly hazel eyes had sharpened to a vivid green. He had tracked her every movement on the dance floor and stood watch over her.
“Did you enjoy your dance?” the squire asked.
“Very much.” She stared at him with uncertainty.
“Our waltz is next,” he reminded her. An uncomfortable silence hung heavy in the air. She waited for a confession from him. But she found none forthcoming.
Something had happened between the squire and Lord Nathan. The series of events this evening left her with little doubt.
When the squire caught Cassie gazing in Lord Nathan’s direction, he said, “I don’t think it wise to approach Ellerby, Lady Cassandra”
“And exactly why is that, may I ask?”
“I believe the association with that fellow is at an end. You will find his interest in you has cooled.”
“Has it?” she replied thoughtfully. “Will you explain why?”
“None that I care to discuss in public.” A selfassured smile crossed his face.
“I suppose there is nothing to be done” Cassie gave the pretense that she had taken the squire at his word. “Would you”-she looked at him with the most sincere expression she could manage-“could you … if you would be so kind as to fetch me some refreshment? I find that I am ever so parched” Then she gave him a small smile.
He glanced around as if he could discover her deception. No, she was merely thirsty and she wanted to be rid of him, if only for a minute or two.
“Your servant” He acquiesced, and with a shallow bow of his head he left.
My prison guard, more like. Cassie could not imagine what had come over him or over Lord Nathan. What had happened to the men around her?
It took only a minute for the squire to return. He wasn’t gone nearly as long as she would have liked. He handed her a glass of punch and, in keeping with her desperate need for liquid, she profusely thanked him.
“Cassie? Is that really you? Lady Cassandra Phillips?” The tall, dark, and handsome man called out from across the room.
She turned toward the familiar voice. “Roger Shelby!” A cheerful expression graced Cassie’s face when she recognized her old friend as she passed her empty glass to the squire.
“What a most delightful surprise! Had I known of your presence, I would have dashed immediately to your side. I fear by now I must have missed my chance to stand up with you.”
“Squire Stewart is promised the next dance.” She threw a fleeting glance in his direction. “I’m sure he won’t mind at all if you take his place.” She followed the expression with a tenuous smile.
The squire nodded and bowed in resignation.
Cassandra moved to Shelby and wrapped her arm through his. Their smiles of joy made Julian all the more dismal. In her discovery of an old friend, she found a kindred heart. One that could be, he feared, more of a threat than Ellerby had been.
With his eyes glued on the retreating couple, Julian passed Cassandra’s glass to Horace as he followed the couple. Unprepared to take the glass, Horace performed a minor juggling act, bouncing the fragile piece precariously from hand to hand, trying to capture the airborne culprit.
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br /> Only moments earlier, the squire had secretly praised himself for his clever work in extinguishing Ellerby’s flame. Now some old friend showed up, partnered Cassandra and stole his dance.
Julian lightly harrumphed. As if she would take notice of this country bumpkin.
The squire continued to watch. Cassandra’s smiling eyes gazed into the simpleton’s face. This … Roger may have reflected the same sentiment, although Julian would describe the expression on Cassandra’s partner’s face more as a dog drooling over a savory tidbit.
Julian would make certain the friend would not share a single minute alone with her.
That cad dare not get close enough to stroke the smooth skin of her cheek. The memory of her exquisite scent warmed him. No, Julian would not allow this stranger, no matter how familiar Cassandra made him, those exclusive liberties. The squire approached the couple.
After the dance ended, Roger silently suggested they step out on the side landing with a quick movement of his head. Cassandra smiled and nodded. She laid her hand upon Roger’s arm. He placed his hand atop hers to assure safe passage off the dance floor through the French doors that led outside.
As soon as they stepped onto the terrace, Shelby half-swung Cassandra out in front of him. “How good it is to see you again!” he exclaimed.
“It has been a long time, Roger.” She was glad to see a familiar, friendly face. “You must come out to Stewart Hall tomorrow to see Romeo. He’s grown so”
“I don’t think he could possibly stay as small as he was, considering he was the runt of the litter.” Shelby laughed. “I have an appointment in the morning but I’ll cancel it.”
Just on the far side of the wide landing, the squire edged around the corner discreetly and remained in the shadows, eavesdropping.
Shelby drew Cassandra’s hands together and planted an affectionate kiss on each.
“That will be quite enough!” Julian called out, interrupting them.
Squire Stewart stepped out into full view and shoved Roger against the balustrade, away from Cassie, and advanced toward him. Roger raised his leg, pulling his knee close to his chest, and kicked the squire across the landing, sending him to collide into one of the large potted plants that flanked the double glass doors.
The defensive maneuver compromised Roger’s balance on the wide railing. He toppled over the edge, dropping onto the pathway below. Luckily, it was not far.
Cassie dashed to the balustrade and leaned over, peering down into the darkness. “Roger, dear … Roger, are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” his weakened voice responded.
“Nothing’s broken as far as I can tell” But it sounded as if the wind had been knocked out of him.
Cassie spun toward the sound of the squire’s approaching footfalls.
“I hope you’re proud of yourself!”
“He’ll soon recover, if he’s any kind of a man” The squire brushed the dust from his trousers. “Now, you will come with me” He took her hand and slipped his arm around her waist, making sure she moved forward with him.
The couple stepped into the Assembly Rooms from the terrace. Their entrance drew several stares and piqued interest as they emerged from the direction where various strange sounds had originated.
With a gentle but firm guiding hand, he led Cassie through the ballroom. Their superficial smiles masked the hostility they each suppressed inside. They continued out the side doors, down the hall to a small side room. The squire closed the doors after they entered.
“How dare you drag me away!” Cassie scolded.
“I was merely providing protection. He had you quite secure in his arms. No telling what would have happened had I not intruded.”
“He held my hand,” Cassie corrected. “And how dare you leave him out there. He could be seriously hurt”
“He said himself that he was not injured. I’m sure some good Samaritan will hear his groans and lend him aid.” The squire cleared his throat. “I had to intervene. It is not proper for you to display such intimacy with a stranger!”
“Roger Shelby is not a stranger.”
“No matter, for propriety’s sake you should not have been alone with him;” Squire Stewart’s voice grew in volume. “And you should not have invited him to Stewart Hall without consulting me first.”
Cassie moved to the liquor decanters on a credenza. “It seems Roger and I weren’t alone at all, then. You were there the entire time-listening.” She lifted the large crystal decanter and poured the contents into a short wide-mouthed glass.
“You do not intend to drink that, do you?” The squire gasped, disturbed that she might imbibe.
“Certainly not. It is for you. I believe you need it to calm you” She replaced the heavy crystal stopper.
“I don’t want it!”
“I must insist,” she said calmly. With one quick movement of her wrist, she launched the spirit into his face.
The squire froze. He kept his eyes closed, the odorous liquid ran down and dripped from his face onto his shirt, vest, and jacket then finally onto the carpet.
“There”-she paused, reveling in the moment of silence she’d created-“I do believe it has helped.”
The drenched squire reached into his jacket and she spotted a flash of gold from his signet ring. He drew out a pristine white silk handkerchief and proceeded to blot the remaining moisture from his face.
Cassie’s voice softened as she addressed him. “I think you need to get your priorities straight. Do you or do you not wish me to marry?”
She paused to give him a moment to think.
“Do you or do you not want me to marry? If you will not do the honor yourself, then it must be some other gentleman. It’s as simple as that. I know Lord Nathan came by yesterday. I know he’s already offered for me and you’ve said no”
She paused again, just to allow time to let her words sink into his thick skull.
“When you have regained your manners, we can discuss this further. Until that time, I suggest you enjoy your drink.” She set the empty glass on the table. Turning on her heel, Cassie made a swift exit.
Julian mopped his face with his silk kerchief. As he finished, he began to think over Cassandra’s words.
I did instruct her to marry. Am I standing in her way of making any match at all? And why would I do such a thing? What is it I want?
“What about me?” he murmured to himself. “Do my feelings not matter?”
Cassandra loves me. She’s told me as much. Why can I not act on my feelings for her? But what were they exactly … he wasn’t quite sure.
There was also that kiss. He could instantly con jure up and vividly recall the kiss Cassandra and he had shared.
It was the sight he saw when he closed his eyes before he fell asleep. It was the recurring dream that tortured him night after night. The memory of her warm, supple lips upon his haunted him.
Dash it all-he wanted her for himself!
He had thrown out Ellerby after his offer of marriage. Tonight he interrupted her reunion with an old acquaintance. Julian had no idea how old or how close that friendship was but he did not wish it to develop any further.
What was he doing thwarting every chance she had to marry? The truth, he discovered, was that he could not bear to see her with another. Not just Ellerby or Shelby-not any man. If he continued in this fashion, she would end up with no husband and, thus, no inheritance.
Then it dawned on him. There was nothing wrong with his intentions.
Julian was so caught up in his duty of making sure the stipulations in the earl’s will were fulfilled … he simply did not think of the obvious solution.
With Edward’s absence, it seemed the perfect solution. Their fathers wanted the families united. His marriage to her would certainly accomplish that. Although with his legal ties to the Phillips family, the union may seem odd to outsiders. What did he care?
Julian made his way down the corridor and into the ballroom. He scanned the crowd fo
r the violet dress Cassandra wore.
“I say, Julian, do you think it’s proper to be here in your state?” Horace sniffed in the squire’s direction.
Julian grabbed Horace’s coat lapels. “Have you seen her, Lady Cassandra?”
“I believe I saw her leave not more than ten or fifteen minutes ago”
“Leave? Oh no!” Julian eyes shot open with panic. He needed to see her, to tell her, now.
“I thought you might be outside waiting.” Horace remained calm. “Didn’t think about it much really.”
“She’s taken my rig,” the squire realized.
“By herself?” Horace chortled. “Don’t be ridiculous man. She’s probably caught a ride from someone else.”
“No, Horace, that’s not possible.” The squire dragged him out of the ballroom and down the hall. “She doesn’t have any friends in town.”
“By the look of you I’d say she’s done the impossible.” Horace glanced at his friend’s much altered manner.
“I need you to take me home right away!” Julian motioned for the footmen to bring their hats and coats.
“I’ve promised the next set to Mary Worthington,” Horace balked. “I’m sure you’re quite mistaken, Julian.”
“We have to leave-now!”
Horace looked down at his crushed lapels. “Is all this abuse necessary?”
The squire hadn’t noticed his white-knuckled fists grasping Horace’s jacket. “I’m so sorry.” He eased his grip and smoothed the wrinkles. “If my carriage is here, you may return to your Miss Worthington with my soundest apologies. If not, I must insist-”
“Fair enough,” Horace replied.
After donning their coats, hats and gloves, the two men dashed outside.
Sure enough, the squire’s carriage was missing. Once aboard Horace’s chaise they started off for Stewart Hall.
Cassie had left Squire Stewart stranded. She did not care how angry it would make him. She knew he would be resourceful enough to find a ride home. If not, the long walk would do him good.
Upon her return to Stewart Hall, she swept into her room and prepared for bed. For a few moments she kept her mind busy on her task but soon it wandered to thoughts of the squire. Confronting him tonight had not been easy. Her words had been uttered in anger, not in the loving manner that might have convinced him of her affection.
An Agreeable Arrangement Page 9