Mark dug his nails into his palms so hard he feared he’d rip his gloves. He needed to tear into something, and he regretted it couldn’t be Katherine’s hide. “You called me a naive fool and refused my proposal. Pardon me for interpreting that as a dismissal.”
“I suppose I was a bit harsh with you, but I never expected you to be so ignorant about the ways of the world. I obviously could not marry a bastard, even if you are the son of a duke.”
Her words hit Mark like a knife. Of course he had known she shouldn’t marry him. No woman of the ton would marry a bastard unless she did it for love or out of a desperation for money. But how dare she throw his status in his face now? His control threatened to shatter, but she continued talking, seemingly unaware of the danger she was in.
“I could never marry a man who wished to rule me. I need someone biddable in my home, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like dominant men in my bed.” She licked her lips and looked up at him, catching him watching her. “In fact, I love them.”
“You love nothing but money, power, and your own pleasure.”
“Ooh that is harsh. You have been so wickedly spiteful since I refused you. The engagement toast was a good touch. Not one of the guests has forgotten that party.”
Trust her to turn his insult into a triumph for herself. “I no longer number you among my acquaintance. If you approach me again, you do so at your own peril.”
He turned from the sexy pout she gave him and stomped off toward the exit.
***
Cassandra tried to sleep a few more hours, but she was too restless. She couldn’t stop wondering if Mark was safe. Questioning the Lintons could land him in deep trouble. If they thought Mark a threat, Cassandra did not doubt they would have him killed. She wished she’d stopped him from going or at the very least encouraged him not to go alone.
In the few moments not spent imagining the dangers Mark faced, she was worrying about the intensity of her feelings for him, wondering if she should call a halt to the whole affair. At least if she found work as a traveling companion she could leave the country for awhile. She might be able to put the horror of her marriage behind her if she were elsewhere.
She sighed and rolled over to stare at the ceiling. No matter how sensible it would be, she wouldn’t send Mark away. Why was she incapable of having a purely physical affair?
Between the turmoil in her heart and the fact that someone was trying to kill her, it was a wonder she didn’t spend all day crying. But she could count on her hand the number of times she had allowed herself to indulge in tears since she had agreed to marry Reddington, and she was not going to add to her tally now.
Feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t help her one bit. She dragged herself off her bed and rang for Rebecca. When the maid appeared, she requested a breakfast tray and asked Rebecca’s assistance in donning her riding habit, thinking perhaps the frigid morning air would help clear her head. While she ate, she penned a note to her sister, asking her to call that afternoon so she could be introduced to Mark.
When she’d given the note to a footman, Cassandra called for her guards and inquired whether she was permitted to ride in the park if they followed at a discreet distance.
The guard named Ewen spoke first. “Mr. Foxwood wouldna like it but aye, ye can ride.”
The other man, Sidney, looked at them both like they were crazy. “Milady, do ya know there’s a fine thick frost out there? It’s fair freezin’”
Cassandra smiled. “I am afraid I have quite a penchant for riding in temperatures that would keep others inside. The cold air helps me think.”
Sidney shook his head, but Ewen told her they would see to the horses.
As she’d expected, the park was deserted. She was able to canter, unencumbered by other riders. When she’d gone about halfway around the loop, Sidney rode up beside her. “Two men are keeping you in their sights, Lady Reddington. I’m going to stay by your side while Ewen sees to them.”
“How do you know they are following me? This is a popular public path.”
“Milady, I must ask ye to trust us.”
She nodded her assent. It was foolish to take chances.
Following Sidney’s lead, she exited the park and turned onto a well-populated street where servants carried baskets of household goods and ladies who refused to let foul weather ruin a day of shopping rushed by with their maids. After a few moments, Ewen rode up on Cassandra’s other side. “The men’ve turned ‘round. I’m thinkin’ they gave up when Sidney joined you, my lady.” He leaned forward to look at Sidney. “Should I try to track ‘em?”
Sidney nodded and Ewen turned his horse around.
“What did the men look like?” Cassandra asked.
“One was thin and blond with a big nose. The other looked like one of those frog-faced chaps Mr. Foxwood warned us about.”
“It sounds like the blond man who attacked me last night.” Cassandra shivered, remembering his cold hands on her.
“Aye, from the description Mr. Foxwood gave, it’s likely him, milady.” Cassandra arrived home without further incident. Ewen arrived shortly after she’d settled herself in the library. He reported that he followed the men until they entered a tavern. Then he slipped a boy some coins to stay and watch for them to exit. He’d promised the lad more if he showed up at Cassandra’s address with useful information.
Cassandra thanked Ewen, and he returned to his post in front of the house. She shuddered as she thought what might have happened had Mark not provided her with guards. Once Mark heard about the incident, he would likely forbid her to leave the house again. At least she could have a pleasant visit with her sister before that confrontation.
***
A servant showed Mark to the study where Stanton sat reclined in a chair, a brandy in his hand, despite the early hour. “Foxwood, what the devil is going on with you? Since when do you tempt fate by running around with the wife of a man like Reddington? I knew you were living on the edge, but isn’t that a bit extreme.”
“Reddington is dead.” So much for his carefully planned explanation. Stanton had always known how to evoke a rash response from him.
“I hadn’t heard this. Not that I mourn the bastard, but what happened?”
“No one knows except his wife, his valet and his solicitor. He was killed in France. The men responsible are after Lady Reddington. Based on that and… some other reasons, his death has not been announced.”
“How the hell did you get involved?”
“Earlier this week, Lady Reddington was shot on my land.”
“Shot? My God.”
“We have neighboring estates in Devon. She was riding and a bullet grazed her temple. The culprit was a groom from Reddington Abbey. He’d been hired to eliminate her.”
“And you helped her recover by bringing her to your bed?” Stanton shook his head. “I thought you went out to that godforsaken, freezing castle to be alone.”
“I did, but she is not an easy woman to resist. Besides, she had no one to protect her besides Loring, her husband’s valet. He’s a good man, but he’s too old to fend off murderers.”
“And you volunteered to risk your life to help her? You? The man who said he would never care for a woman again?”
“I could hardly leave her to the mercy of her husband’s enemies. I hope you don’t think I’ve sunk that far below civilized society.”
“I would say you have sunk quite low, my friend, but for all your extremely rough edges, you are quite the gentleman. I’ve said before that you should have been a knight of old.”
“I did not come here to have my faults examined,” Mark snapped. “I simply wanted you to understand why I needed the information I asked for.”
Stanton swirled his brandy. “Is she as passionate as she looks?”
A wave of rage rolled over Mark. He had to remind himself his friend meant no harm. They’d often discussed their female conquests before. Still, he could hardly keep his voice level. “I will pretend you
did not ask that. Don’t make such a mistake again.”
“So you do feel more for her than lust. I suspected as much.”
“Stanton, I value your friendship. Cease this line of conversation, or I will forget my feelings and do you bodily harm.”
“Do forgive me. I am only happy to see that Katherine didn’t wound you as badly as I had feared. I’m pleased to see you acting like your old self again. I was afraid I had lost my friend to that greedy bitch.”
Mark lifted his brow and stared at his friend, willing him to change the subject.
Stanton did as he was bid. “What can I do to help you protect Lady Reddington?”
“Go about your usual business but listen for any mention of Reddington, the Lintons or this man called The Cat. We think Reddington kidnapped women and shipped them to France likely to work in brothels or to be sold to men seeking pleasure slaves.”
“My God.” Stanton sat up straight. “That is deplorable.”
Mark nodded. “Cassandra is quite certain he forced young women to entertain at parties that he gave, but we know little else except that he was killed in France. The groom who tried to kill Cassandra said the Frenchman who hired him was angry because he had not received a shipment Reddington owed him. He implied that the cargo in question was young women.”
“You believe this is connected to Miss Caroline’s?”
“Yes, only because Reddington had a stake in it. A brothel would be a good place to train women before sending them away.”
“I’ll inquire about an appointment with Simone tonight.”
“I plan to go to Miss Caroline’s as well. You should call on me tomorrow if you learn anything.”
Mark stood to leave, but Stanton halted him.
“I know you don’t want my advice,” his friend said. “But if I were you, I wouldn’t let Cassandra go.”
Mark left without saying another word.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
When a maid showed Mark into the drawing room, Cassandra thought he looked especially impressive in a sapphire jacket and camel-colored waistcoat. The blue made his hair appear more blond than usual, and its brightness emphasized the broadness of his chest.
Amanda looked suitably impressed. Her cheeks had grown red, and Cassandra wasn’t sure she’d ever seen her sister smile so broadly.
“Amanda, this is Mr. Foxwood.” Amanda looked at her slippers, making herself appear every inch the shy debutante Cassandra knew she’d never been. “Mr. Foxwood, this is my sister, Miss Halverston.”
Mark took her hand and bowed to kiss it. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Halverston. You are every bit as beautiful as your sister.” For a moment, Cassandra was actually afraid her sister was going to swoon.
After Mark seated himself, Cassandra rang for tea, trying to suppress a laugh as she watched Mark and Amanda act their prescribed roles for each other.
Mark turned a knee-weakening smile on Amanda. “Do I understand correctly that the past Season was your first?”
“Yes, sir.” She had a disturbingly dreamy smile on her face. “My aunt, Lady Morgan, was kind enough to sponsor me.”
“Have you enjoyed your time in London?”
The frown on her face brought back the sister Cassandra knew. “I must admit I find the constant round of balls and parties tedious.”
Mark laughed. “I am pleased to see you’re as forthright as your sister.”
Amanda blushed. “I hope I did not give offense.”
“Not in the least. It’s gratifying to meet a young woman with more on her mind than dress fabric or the bobbles one can put on a hat. I take it you have not been intimidated by the dangers that await young women in London.”
Amanda smiled. “Oh, no. Cassandra saw to that. She gave me excellent advice on how to avoid scandal.”
Mark turned to Cassandra and smiled. “I am sure she did. I can only imagine what she must have said. I am quite sure she warned you away from men like me. If we meet at a ball, I expect my offer of a dance to be refused.”
Amanda blushed again. “Perhaps, but I think you are more honest than most of the men I’ve met. I wouldn’t have shunned you quite so thoroughly.”
“Yes, but I would’ve spoken honestly about my desire for you as well. I fear that would have given you pause.”
Amanda giggled, something Cassandra had never seen her do in front of a man. Her sister was quite thoroughly charmed. Cassandra imagined she would now hear nothing from Amanda but how delightful Mark was. Despite that, Cassandra enjoyed watching the banter between them.
She wondered if, after all her warnings, her sister had ever experienced this type of light, congenial flirtation. Amanda appeared to be holding her own. Perhaps she had practiced her skills while Cassandra was in the country, or perhaps Amanda had more natural talent for flirtation than Cassandra would have guessed.
Mark cleared his throat and looked at Amanda. “I would hate to spoil our delightful conversation by reminding you of the danger you sister is in, but I must ask if you have seen Reddington or either of the Linton twins during the Season.”
Amanda frowned. “Reddington would not dare show his face at any of the events Aunt Claire has escorted me to, but the Lintons are occasionally invited to respectable parties. Their mother is involved with many charitable endeavors and is extremely generous. I cannot understand how she managed to rear two such offensive sons.”
Mark smiled. “Did you have the misfortune of speaking to either of the twins recently?”
“They had the gall to approach me at a ball given by the Countess of Tregar. We had not been introduced, but that did not stop them from pressing their attention on me. I gave them a set down, and they slunk off in defeat.”
Neither Mark nor Cassandra could stifle their laughter “I would like to have seen that,” Cassandra said. “What did Aunt Claire have to say?”
“She congratulated me and told me to give them the cut direct if they should approach me again.”
Mark smiled. “Excellent advice. At the parties where you have seen them, was anyone willing to suffer their attention?”
“I can’t recall seeing them talk to anyone I recognized except…” She paused and her cheeks grew rosy. “Lady Southwood.”
Cassandra gave Mark a worried glance, and he put an end to his questioning.
As they discussed the lighter side of Amanda’s experiences in London, Mark conducted himself like a handsome rake who knew exactly how to seduce a woman without her even knowing he was playing for her. By the time they finished the last of the scones and biscuits, Amanda, Cassandra’s practical, often cynical sister would have followed Mark anywhere.
Cassandra was seeing a side of them both that she’d never seen before. Was this the relaxed, flirtatious man who Mark had been before Katherine? And was she actually jealous of his attentions to her sister? As much as it horrified her, she was. If only he could be that comfortable with her. If only they could spend even a few hours in each other’s company without arguing or falling into bed.
As Cassandra walked her sister to the door, Amanda took her arm and whispered, “He wasn’t arrogant or overbearing at all. In fact, I thought him one of the nicest men I’ve met since coming out.”
“That is exactly why he can seduce women so easily. He wrapped you around his finger before you finished a cup of tea. He is subtle, and that makes his type the most dangerous of all.”
“If he is all you say, you would not have stayed with him.”
“I had little choice in the matter.”
“You chose to fight Reddington’s will, and you chose Mr. Foxwood to help you. Another man would have done as well.”
Cassandra sighed. “Perhaps even I am not strong enough to resist his charms.”
“Perhaps you should stop trying.” Amanda hugged her sister good-bye.
Cassandra leaned against the door for a few moments, trying to ignore the temptation of her sister’s words.
“Well, you certainly char
med her,” she said when she rejoined Mark in the drawing room. “It was such a treat to see your seduction methods in action.”
A sly smile spread across his face. “I’m glad I amused you.”
“Was that a performance just now, or was that the man I might have known if I’d met you before…”
“Before Katherine?
She nodded.
He avoided a direct answer. “I’ve found that it often helps to give people what they expect. Your sister expected me to be a rakish gentleman who would flirt and play with her but would not harm her because her sister was present.”
“You didn’t have to pretend for her. She wanted to meet you, because you sparked her curiosity. I’d already told her about you.”
“I imagine you told her I was insufferable and far too willing to order you around.”
There was no point in denying it. “Yes, I did.”
“Then I chose wisely. I showed her what she wanted to see, not what you were hoping to show her. I could not give you the satisfaction of having your sister agree with you.”
“You are insufferable, but I don’t think the arrogant, overbearing man whom I love to thwart is the real you either. The real Mark Foxwood is the man who comes to bed with me. The man who concerns himself with my pleasure while heightening his. He’s the one who…” Could she do it? Could she confess her regard for him?
“Who what?” Mark asked, his voice only a whisper.
“Who affects me most powerfully.” Heat rose in her cheeks. Her heart raced. She had almost told Mark she loved him. And only the night before she’d resolved to exert more control over her emotions.
He smiled like a large, hungry cat and tried to pull her into his arms, but she ducked away and turned to gaze at the fire.
Mark came up behind her and spun her to face him. His eyes showed confusion and pain. “Cassandra, what’s wrong?”
A Carnal Agreement (Regency Intrigue Book 1) Page 15