Impetuous

by Candace Camp

  “What?” Philip looked up distractedly. “Oh.” He grimaced, but rose to his feet and did as his mother bade.

  Cassandra excused herself as soon as Lady Violet retired, hard-heartedly leaving Sir Philip to squirm out of the Moulton women’s clutches by himself.

  Upstairs in her room, she was not surprised to find her sister and brothers waiting for her. She was, however, a little taken aback to see Georgette Neville casually sitting cross-legged on the bed with Olivia, playing a game of checkers.

  “Cassandra!”

  “Miss Verrere!” Georgette scrambled off the bed, as did Olivia, coming around to meet Cassandra. “I hope you will not think me too bold, coming here like this.”

  “I told her it was perfectly all right,” Olivia said.

  “Of course it is,” Cassandra agreed. “I am delighted to have a chance to visit with you.”

  Georgette smiled. “Good. I wanted to talk to you earlier—it was so strange and mysterious getting that note from Philip saying to expect you and telling Mama to lie about Grandmama knowing your grandmother. We could not imagine what was going on. Mama was sure that Philip must be in love. Grandmama kept saying that it was ‘decidedly peculiar,’ his inviting a Verrere that way. Except, of course, that it was four Verreres, as well as these Moulton people, whom Mama and Grandmama did not know at all. It was odder than any of Philip’s starts.”

  Cassandra reserved her own judgment on that. It seemed to her that a young gentleman installing his bastard children in a nearby house was a bit more peculiar than bringing home a few strangers, but she certainly was not about to bring that up.

  “But then I couldn’t talk to you because Miss Moulton stayed with me the whole afternoon, chattering about this and that. I don’t want to say anything against your cousin, ma’am, but is she always this friendly?”

  Cassandra chuckled, and Olivia let out a snort of disgust.

  “No. She’s just trying to get on your good side, hoping you’ll have some influence with your brother,” Olivia told her bluntly. “Or perhaps she thinks that Sir Philip will be so impressed by how sweet she is to you that he will immediately offer marriage.”

  “I wondered if that was it,” Georgette admitted. “Philip’s first note sounded as if it was only you he was bringing.” She nodded toward Cassandra. “I couldn’t understand why he would do that if it was Miss Moulton he was interested in.”

  “He’s not interested in her.” Olivia rolled her eyes. “Cousin Joanna is the only one who thinks he is.”

  “And Aunt Ardis,” Cassandra added.

  “Who cares about that?” Hart put in scornfully. “The only thing that’s important is the treasure.”

  “Yes! The Spanish dowry!” Georgette exclaimed, obviously quoting, and clasped her hands together ecstatically. “Thank heavens I decided not to go down to dinner. Mama had told me that I could, as it was a special occasion, but after spending all that time with Miss Moulton, I thought I simply could not bear it any longer. So I told Miss Pritchard that I would rather eat with Miss Olivia and the twins, and I told Miss Moulton that I had to eat supper in the nursery with the other children.” She grinned irrepressibly. “I was so glad I did. Olivia and Hart and Crispin told me all about Margaret Verrere and the Spanish dowry and how you are searching for it. I want to help. May I?”

  “Certainly. If it’s all right with your brother.”

  “Oh, Philip won’t mind. He’s a wonderful brother!” Her eyes shone. “Whenever Grandmama and Uncle Robert get all prissy about how Mama allows me too much freedom, Philip always tells Mama to ignore them. I know he would let me.”

  “Wonderful. The more minds on this, the better, I say. Did Olivia show you the map we found?”

  “No, I couldn’t get in your case!” Olivia cried, looking wounded.

  “That’s right, I locked it.” Cassandra reached inside her bodice and carefully unpinned the key which she had attached to her chemise when she dressed for dinner. “Perhaps I am too careful, but after what I heard tonight…”

  “About the burglary?” Crispin cried. “Isn’t it capital? Georgette told us all about it—how someone was searching the library for that book we need.”

  “We don’t know that he was searching for that book. We only know that he went to the library.”

  “What else could he want there?” Crispin asked reasonably. “This is turning into a slam-bang adventure.”

  “Personally, I thinking finding the treasure would be ample excitement for me,” Cassandra told him, “without throwing in a thief, as well.”

  The other four seemed to think this attitude poor-spirited, but Olivia reminded her brothers that Cassandra was, after all, old, and everyone found this reason enough to excuse her behavior. Cassandra opened the box and showed Georgette the map. She wrinkled her brow over it just as they had, saying that it looked like nothing familiar to her. She pored over the pages in the diary where the Neville portion of the map was mentioned, but, fascinated as she was, she, too, had no idea what the “Queens Book” might be.

  Cassandra soon shooed the children out of her room so that she could go to sleep. She was feeling quite weary, but she knew it was as much from a malaise of the spirit as from the long journey they had made. Hearing that Philip did indeed have a house for his illegitimate children, as rumor had said he did, had made her feel quite low, confirming everything her aunt had said about his libertine ways. The kisses they had shared, the caresses, had meant no more to him than an opportunity to snare another female, to add another heart to his collection—although obviously one’s heart was not what he was interested in.

  Occupied with such blue thoughts, Cassandra’s mind drifted for a long time between sleep and wakefulness, and when she did at last go to sleep, she was bothered by fitful, restless dreams. She awoke the next morning feeling little more rested than when she had gone to bed the night before.

  Downstairs, she found only Georgette and Olivia at the breakfast table, starting on their second helpings. Georgette and Olivia had by now become fast friends, apparently, and Georgette greeted her with the happy news that her governess, Miss Pritchard, had agreed to take the girls on an outing for the rest of the day.

  “We are to have the carriage and go to Downham Market. Life is so much more interesting when one has guests.”

  “Where are the twins? Are they going, too?”

  Olivia looked horrified at the notion. “No! It is a shopping expedition. They would be a nuisance. Besides, Sir Philip promised them that the head groom would give them a tour of the stables when they get back.”

  “Get back?”

  “Yes. They’ve gone with Philip to see the boys at Silverwood.”

  “Indeed?” Cassandra still felt shock at the way Georgette and her mother spoke so casually about Philip’s blatant indiscretions.

  Georgette nodded, then looked a little anxious. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  “What? That he take Crispin and Hart with him? No, I am grateful to him for that. I am sure they are ecstatic.”

  “There are some who would not like their brothers playing with children like that. They would find it improper.” Georgette made a face. “Mrs. Carter in the village says that it’s a disgrace to even have those children living here, that they are a bad influence.”

  Cassandra’s dislike of injustice came welling up. She had worried about the impropriety of Sir Philip taking the boys to his mistress’s house, but she would not think of condemning the children as unfit playmates simply because of the circumstances of their birth. “That’s a horrid thing to say, as if it were those poor children’s fault.”

  “That’s what I think. Mama says that she is quite proud of Philip, for most men ignore poor children of that sort, and they wouldn’t have had a chance in life if Philip had not taken them in.”

  “I’m su
re that is true.” Cassandra had to admit that Philip had done the decent thing to acknowledge the children as his and to take care of their upbringing. Many men denied their bastard children, leaving the woman and child to fend for themselves. Still, Cassandra could not quite understand Lady Neville’s seeming pride in having her son flaunt the numerous products of his licentious ways. Surely she could not be indifferent to the fact that her son was a lecher.

  There were footsteps in the hall behind Cassandra, and she knew from the grimace that touched her sister’s face who the new arrival was.

  “Georgette!” Joanna cried enthusiastically. “How wonderful to see you again. And where is your dear Mama?”

  She came bustling into the room, a vision in a cherry-and-white striped dress of polished cotton.

  “Miss Moulton.” Georgette returned Joanna’s greeting with something less than pleasure.

  However, Joanna seemed not to notice as she sat down on the other side of Georgette. “I am so looking forward to visiting with you again today.”

  “I cannot. I, uh…my governess is, I mean, I have to spend the day with my governess.”

  “I am sure that this once you could be excused from your studies,” Aunt Ardis said with heavy joviality as she followed her daughter into the room. “After all, it isn’t every day that you have visitors.”

  “Philip is quite strict about my studies,” Georgette countered. “I do not think he would be pleased to find that I had ignored them.”

  “Oh, well, of course, if that is what Philip wants…” Unconsciously Joanna’s shoulders relaxed.

  “In fact, I had better go up there now.” Georgette jumped from her seat, leaving the rest of her eggs, and Olivia followed suit.

  “But where is Olivia going?” Aunt Ardis asked.

  “I believe Miss Neville’s governess has kindly offered to allow Olivia to participate in, um, their studies, as well,” Cassandra replied.

  “And Olivia wants to?” Joanna asked, obviously amazed at the idea of voluntarily setting out to learn something.

  “Mmm.”

  “I always said that your father raised his children in an odd way.” Aunt Ardis dismissed the subject.

  “Where is Sir Philip?” Joanna asked eagerly. “Has he come down to breakfast yet?”

  “I am sure he will arrive soon, now that you are here,” her mother told her smugly. “I do think that Sir Philip is showing a decided interest in you, my dear.”

  It was all Cassandra could do not to roll her eyes at her aunt’s self-deception. The woman had had to twist Sir Philip’s arm even to get Joanna invited to Haverly House, and now she saw in that some interest on Sir Philip’s part?

  She had to endure her aunt’s and cousin’s company for the rest of the morning. Her misery was alleviated only slightly by the fact that Lady Violet joined them later in the sitting room. Sir Philip’s mother was a nice woman, but so easygoing that she did nothing to stem Joanna’s almost nonstop dialogue on the beauties of Haverly House, interspersed with lengthy descriptions of her own wardrobe. Violet also placidly agreed when Joanna suggested an outing, saying that she would arrange a picnic beside Linning Broad for the following afternoon.

  “The children will quite enjoy it,” Violet said, smiling.

  “You mean Crispin and Hart?” Joanna asked, and it was all Cassandra could do not to laugh at her fallen expression.

  “Yes, and Olivia and Georgette.”

  “Well, of course, Georgette.” Joanna’s smile was turned on again. “I quite delight in dear Georgette. But I do not think of her as a child.”

  “No? She is only sixteen.” Violet sighed. “But you are right. I fear she is growing up too fast. In only two more years it will be time for her debut.” She sighed again. “I do so hate having to attend the season. I much prefer my quiet life here in Norfolk.”

  “That’s quite understandable,” Cassandra murmured. “This is such a lovely place.”

  “Perhaps by that time your son will have married, and his wife can take care of Georgette’s season,” Joanna suggested with a coy smile.

  “Do you think so?” Violet looked faintly surprised. She glanced toward Cassandra, as if for confirmation.

  “I would not be at all surprised,” Joanna continued, dimpling and trying to conjure up a blush in her cheeks.

  Her efforts were wasted, for Lady Neville was not looking at her but at Cassandra. Cassandra smiled back at her weakly. She could hardly say bluntly right in front of Joanna that she thought Sir Philip had as much interest in Joanna as he did in yesterday’s fish.

  Finally she said lamely, “I don’t know. Sir Philip seems a dedicated bachelor.”

  “All men are until they meet the right woman,” Joanna replied archly.

  “Indeed. You know, I believe that I shall send an invitation to Miss Yorke to join us tomorrow,” Violet said. “Such a sweet young woman, and she hasn’t much entertainment in her life, I’m afraid.”

  “Miss Yorke?” Joanna looked as if a bad odor had crossed under her nose. “The…housekeeper?”

  “Mmm. I suppose one could call her that, but she is primarily in charge of the children’s education. Mrs. Watson does the housekeeping.” She rose to her feet. “Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I must tend to that, and, of course, I must tell Henri about the picnic lunch.” She looked a bit daunted by this idea. “I don’t know how I shall get across to him what I want. I don’t believe the man speaks a word of English. I cannot imagine why Philip brought him here—except, of course, that his sauces are really quite delicious. And his desserts! Lady Neville loves them, you know, so I suppose it is a good thing.” She sighed. “But I find him so intimidating. I try to tell him what I want, and he starts babbling in French, and I cannot understand a thing he says. He waves his arms about and gets all red in the face. So generally, of course, I just let him do as he pleases, and that seems to work well enough. But I’m not sure he would quite understand a ‘picnic.’”

  “I am sure Cassandra could talk to him,” Joanna volunteered. “She knows French.”

  Cassandra glanced at her cousin, surprised. Joanna was not in the habit of pointing out anyone else’s accomplishments. Then she realized that Joanna was probably hoping to relegate Cassandra to the level of the staff, to embroil her in running the household and keep her out of the drawing room, giving Joanna free access to Philip’s company.

  “Do you really?” Violet turned to Cassandra, her eyes wide with admiration.

  “Yes, I do, and I would be happy to talk to him, if you’d like.”

  “That would be wonderful!” Violet beamed. “I do hate to impose on you, but…”

  “It’s no bother at all,” Cassandra assured her, rising.

  “Wonderful! Come along, then.” She started toward the door, motioning to Cassandra. “Let us go right now, and you can translate everything I say for him. This will be marvelous! You are a jewel to do this for me.”

  Cassandra suspected from the look on Joanna’s face that she had not intended for Lady Neville to go with Cassandra to the kitchen. She had probably envisioned Cassandra making her way like one of the staff to the kitchen while Violet remained in the sitting room with them, grateful to Joanna for suggesting it.

  They found Henri in the kitchen, overseeing the preparations for luncheon. He looked none too happy to see them, but bowed humbly and released a spate of French. Violet looked immediately unhappy and worried. Cassandra quickly returned the chef’s effusive greeting, and his eyes lit up.

  “Mademoiselle!” he cried as if she had just offered him a chest of gold, and launched into an even longer speech.

  It took her only a few minutes to sympathize with the man’s frustration and homesickness and to assure him as to Lady Neville’s delight with his food. He perked up a good bit at Cassandra’s fulsome words of praise, and
when she then conveyed the special request for the noon meal the next day, he answered with a careless wave of his hand that it would be no trouble at all, merely another challenge for his culinary skills.

  They had just left the vast kitchen and were making their way toward the front of the house when a side door opened and Sir Philip stepped in.

  “Mother! Miss Verrere. Just who I wanted to see.”

  “How sweet of you, dear.” Lady Neville presented her cheek to him to kiss. “We have been talking to your chef. Miss Verrere knows French. Isn’t that clever?”

  He grinned at Cassandra. “Miss Verrere is a very clever girl, I find.”

  “Hardly a girl,” Cassandra corrected, striving to keep her voice cool. Her heart had leaped in her chest at the sight of him, and she had to struggle not to return his grin. But she was determined not to let him charm her into being another one of his victims. She was not some man-crazy thing like Joanna nor deluded enough to think that she alone would be the one woman whom he married rather than abandoned.

  Philip raised a brow at her tone, but said only, “If you are not in need of Miss Verrere’s services any longer, Mother, I had promised to show her the library today.”

  “Of course not, dear, go right ahead. I must send Miss Yorke an invitation, anyway.”

  “Invitation to what?”

  “You explain it to him, dear,” Violet told Cassandra, already walking away from them.

  “Explain what to me?” Philip turned to Cassandra.

  “We are picnicking tomorrow at something called Linning Broad.”

  “Egad. All of us?”

  “Yes, including your Miss Yorke.” Cassandra kept her voice and face aloof.

  Philip groaned. “I should have known that Mother would think she needed to entertain us. Ah, well, we had better get to work, if we are going to waste tomorrow. Are you ready?”

  “Of course.”

  He glanced at her oddly, but guided her along the hallway to where it branched and then on to the library. Cassandra gasped when she stepped inside. It was an enormous room, rising to the height of two floors, with a small balcony on the second floor. A winding metal staircase rose up to the balcony. One wall was a line of windows on both floors, flooding the room with light, which was augmented by sconces on the walls and shaded reading lamps on a desk and two small tables. There were several comfortable chairs near the lamps, creating small, cozy areas in which to read. But most of all, there were books, rows and rows of books. Wooden bookcases were built from floor to ceiling on both levels, filling almost three entire walls of the room.