Chapter Thirty-One
Beckoned by the scent of coffee and bacon, Seth walked to the breakfast room.
The Coopers considered Saturday morning breakfast sacred.
It was important to take the time to share a meal, talk about their week, and enjoy each other’s company.
They had an open table policy with invitations to anyone they considered family.
Now that Cooper had the means, a brand-new table featured plates of fresh-baked rolls, scones with jam, and slices of ham.
Cooper sat at the head of the table, reading The Times.
Mr. Sanderson finished plating scrambled eggs from the sidebar and moved to sit next to Caroline.
The two talked over a collection of letters and cards.
Trevor sat across from them, strawberry preserves dripping from his toast onto the letter he was writing.
At the end of the table, Cassandra shimmered like a dream in a pale blue muslin day gown, smiling as she brought a teacup to her lips. Seth leaned against the doorway, watching for some time before she noticed him.
“You should have rung the bell!” Cassandra scolded. Hurrying to him, she extended her hand in support.
“I can walk to a chair, Cassandra,” he snipped, but he took her hand, anyway.
Had it not been for Cassandra fussing over him, he might have been back to work a week ago. He wouldn’t admit it aloud for fear that she would stop, but he enjoyed her attentions. It gave him excuses to touch her.
Over the course of Seth’s recovery, the family had turned a blind eye to the sight of them wrapped together.
During the day, he would lounge in her lap while she read on the sofa, and he held her hand under the table during meals.
At night, they slept in the same bed where Cassandra would allow him chaste kisses and nothing more.
When his hands wandered—he was a man, after all—she swatted them away and refused him. “Not until we’re married.”
God willing, that would be Monday morning.
“Stop treating him like an invalid, the man can walk,” Cooper tutted. “I’ll tell you this, Reeves, I’m glad to be rid of her. I hope you know what you’re getting into. She’s bossy, she’ll want the final say in everything.”
“Stop talking, Matthew.”
“And the constant orders.” Cooper unfolded The Times and raised it to his face. “Good luck.”
With Cassandra’s help, Seth settled into a chair. She poured him a cup of coffee; he held it in one hand and held her hand with the other.
“What’s all of that, Caroline?”
“Aunt Valentine is running a campaign for you,” Caroline spread the cards across the table. “You have letters, well wishes, gifts. Everyone wants to be your friend.” She lifted an ivory card. “This one is from Colonel Bishop, thanking you for saving Cassandra’s life.”
He scowled. “Burn it.”
Davis rapped a knuckle against the doorway to signal his presence. “Lord Blackmoor has arrived.”
“Show him in,” Cooper spoke through his paper.
“To the breakfast room, my lord?”
“It is Saturday, Davis,” Cooper reminded him. “This is a family breakfast. Show him in.”
Dressed in a black morning coat, Adrian entered the room. He surveyed the table’s occupants one at a time before his gaze settled on Cooper. “Perhaps we could speak privately?”
Cooper folded the paper, placed it on the table, then gestured to the empty chair next to Caroline. “Have a seat.”
Adrian stood unmoving.
Pouring himself another cup of tea, Cooper explained, “Here’s what will happen if we have a ‘private’ conversation, Blackmoor.
Reeves will tell Cassandra whatever you say tonight while they’re preoccupied with each other.
” His lips curled in distaste and Cassandra blushed the prettiest shade of red.
“Caroline will have a glass to one of these walls.” Caroline’s blush matched her sister’s.
Cooper gestured to Mr. Sanderson, who shrugged.
“Zeke somehow knows everything before we do. Shall we conduct this conversation in the most efficient manner?”
Adrian’s gaze shifted to Trevor.
“Trevor can keep quiet,” Seth said. “Can’t you, Trevor?”
Trevor nodded, then returned to writing his letter.
“Very well.” Adrian sat in the empty seat next to Caroline, who placed a scone on a plate, pushed it in front of him, and poured him a cup of tea.
She smiled. “Two sugars, no cream.”
The porcelain teacup disappeared in his hand as he lifted it to his lips. He thanked her before turning to Seth.
“Tracking down a custom made pistol after an arms competition has proven to be…”—he paused as he searched for the word—“unfruitful.”
“One day, I would like it if you gave us some good news, Blackmoor.” Cooper looked at Seth. “You still don’t remember anything, Reeves?”
Details were coming back to him, but the memory of the faceless man was not there, only a vivid image of the pistol pointed at them, and that was the same as having nothing.
“Not since yesterday.” Seth turned to Adrian. “You said you’d have a strategy?”
Adrian took a sip of tea before responding. “With your reintroduction to society, we wait and see if the culprit comes out on his own.”
Seth blinked. The table went silent.
“Am I hearing this correctly?” Cooper bit out. “The strategy is ‘wait and see’?”
“I’ll provide security, you won’t even know that they’re there.” Adrian took a bite of the scone. “I also recommend arming yourselves.”
“Arming ourselves?” Cooper’s voice rose. “If your security is as good as you say, there’s no reason for that.”
Seth squeezed Cassandra’s hand, meeting her eyes before he turned back to Cooper. “I agree with Adrian.”
Incredulous, Cooper’s gaze narrowed in on Seth’s. “You were shot, Reeves, and now you’re going to carry a gun around London? Do you know how preposterous that sounds?”
“If I had been armed, I wouldn’t have been shot!” Seth set his jaw. “I won’t be caught off guard again. I’m not taking any chances with Cassandra’s life.”
“Then send her away,” Cooper hissed.
Seth and Cooper glared at each other across the table.
Cassandra huffed.
“Both of you, stop. Matthew, I’m not going anywhere.”
An all-night argument ensued after Adrian informed them that Cassandra was likely the intended target in all three attacks. Cooper insisted on sending Cassandra to Lincolnshire. Seth had agreed, but Cassandra staunchly refused. Seth couldn’t leave London, and Cassandra wouldn’t leave without him.
“With all of this talk, will we be safe at the wedding?” Cassandra asked Adrian.
“You needn’t fear anything, Miss Cooper. You’ll be a Hollingsworth soon. If not in name, in kin,” Adrian said, surprising Seth with the softness of his tone. “No harm will come to you.”
“I’m not afraid,” Cassandra replied, but her hand trembled. Seth squeezed her hand to reassure her, even though he was also afraid. How could he protect her when every person they passed on the street could be an assassin?
***
The next night as they laid in bed, Seth whispered, “After the wedding, maybe you should go to Lincolnshire.”
“Is that what you want?” Cassandra traced his scars over his nightshirt. “To send me away to a place where you’ll never see me? Never be able to hold me like this?” She pressed her lips to his. “Never kiss me like this?”
“You know that’s not what I want.” Seth returned her kiss. “You’ll be safer there.”
“I won’t be safe anywhere,” she said. “I wasn’t safe in Hampshire, either. What makes you think Lincolnshire will be different?”
He brought her hand to his mouth and placed a kiss on her palm, his gaze locked on hers. “I can’t lose you. I wouldn’t survive it.”
“I won’t live apart from you,” she whispered. “I love you too much.”
Rolling her onto her back, he kissed her, tongue stroking insistently over hers. With one hand at the small of her back, he pressed her body flush against his. He nestled between her legs and pressed downward.
“Seth,” she whispered. “The door is open.”
He kissed his way down her throat. “Close it.”
“You’re still hurt.” She gasped as his hand closed over her breast.
“I’m in agony,” he growled against her neck, deftly unhooking the buttons on her nightgown, mouth trailing over the exposed skin.
She ran her hands through his hair and across his back, holding him closer.
It would be so easy to give in to him. She had little control left after weeks of restraint, and Seth had none.
He was hard above her and as desire coursed through her, she bit her bottom lip.
“You drive me mad when you do that.” He took her lip into his mouth and soothed it with his tongue. He snaked his hand between them, lifting her nightgown, gripping the back of her knee and trailing inward.
She grabbed his wrist.
“Not until we’re married,” she breathed. “Tomorrow.”
“Cassandra, that’s an eternity from now.” He traced her collarbone with his mouth and squeezed her hip.
“Seth, stop.” She kissed him once more and moved away from him. “I mean it.”
Seth put his head into the pillow, muffling a loud groan. He rolled off of her and onto his back. Gripping the bedclothes to keep himself from touching her, he urged, “Read to me. Something boring.”
With a smile, she lifted Practical Botany, Vol.
3. from the bedside table and opened a chapter at random.
Before she finished the third page, Seth had fallen asleep.
Placing the book down, Cassandra sighed.
He fatigued so easily, a far cry from his previous vitality.
The thought of him overtaxing himself put a sour taste in her mouth, but he had recovered enough for life to go back to normal after the wedding.
He would return to Lord Bolderwood, to Mr. Sanderson’s factory, and start his busy career as a draftsman in a time of war.
Matthew knocked on the door frame, holding a bundled blanket at his side. Fresh from the factory, the smell of hot metal followed him into the room. “How’s the patient?”
She frowned. “Recovering.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“He’s still so weak.”
“You have to stop coddling him. You can’t keep him in that bed forever, Cassandra.”
“I know that. But I’m not ready to share him.” She sighed. “Do you need me to wake him?”
“No, let him sleep. I’m here for you.” Matthew nodded to the hall. “Come outside with me.”
Cassandra stepped from the bed, careful not to wake Seth. After donning her dressing gown and slippers, she followed Matthew down the stairs and out the front door.
A dense fog had rolled in. London stilled at this time of night, silent except for the occasional bark of a dog in the distance.
Lanterns flickered like will-o’-the-wisps dancing in the street.
The stone steps were cold as she sat on them, but she warmed once Matthew draped the blanket over their shoulders.
Her brother smelled of cedarwood as she leaned against him.
“I won’t get any nights like this anymore.” He tucked the blanket around the both of them and settled her into the crook of his shoulder. “So let’s make this one a good one.”
“Matthew…” Tears formed in her eyes.
“None of that.” He flicked her chin. “Blazes, Cassandra, I haven’t even said anything yet.
” He leaned his head on hers and teased, “It’s not too late to call all of this off.
I can send you home. You can take your dowry and become a proper spinster.
Spend your days doing whatever you wish. No need to obey anyone?”
“I want to marry Seth.” She laced her fingers through his. “Are you still angry with me?”
“I forgave you weeks ago.” He kissed the top of her head. “Reeves too, but don’t tell him. Make him sweat about it a bit longer.”
“I think he’s been punished enough,” she said. “I’m sorry for how I handled everything, I know this isn’t what you wanted. Making weapons, taking lives. I forced your hand.”
“Zeke wanted to offer us the arms contract the whole time. Even without your… involvement”—he cringed—“I would have accepted. I’ve been talking to Lord Bolderwood, and I think there’s a way that I can do some good with this opportunity.”
“Are you going to tell me what it is this time?”
“Later. It isn’t a secret, but it’s not what I wanted to talk about.” He sat back, met her eyes, and held both of her hands in his. “Before I give you away tomorrow, I need to know, does Reeves make you happy?”
Cassandra finally had a complete picture of Seth. When it was just the two of them, her heart soared and the attraction was undeniable, but more than that, there was friendship, respect, and trust between them.
And love.
“I’ve never been as happy as I am with him. Yes, he can be… irritating at times, and he embarrasses me in public. I don’t think he’ll ever be completely tame.” She sighed. “But I love him, Matthew.”
Matthew’s smile was bittersweet.
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you,” he said.
“I knew that one day I would have to let you go, but only to a man who would love you as I have loved you, who saw your worth. I always knew it would be Reeves. He’s the only man I know that can handle you.
You’re headstrong, Cassandra, but that’s not always a good thing.
You need to learn to be taken care of, to communicate and compromise. ”
“Wise words.” She smiled. “You sound like our father.”
“And you are so much like our mother. I was going to surprise you tomorrow, but seeing as we’re already crying.” He gave a watery laugh. “You deserve to wear her dress tomorrow, Cassandra. I had it retrieved from Cooper House. Madame Fournier had your measurements, so it should fit.”
Bottom lip trembling, she wrapped her arms around him, and all she could say was, “Thank you.”
“They should be here.” His voice broke. “Father should be giving you away tomorrow and I’m sorry that you have to settle for me—”
“I have never had to settle for you.” Cassandra held onto him. “You have been the best brother. You have done everything you promised, Matthew. Our parents would be proud of you.”
They both held each other tight and cried.
“Enough.” Matthew hiccuped and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “I haven’t kept all of my promises, but I’m working on them.”
The door opened behind them, and Caroline stepped outside. “May I join you?”
Cassandra opened the blanket and welcomed her into the fold. The three talked until dawn, sharing memories, laughter, and tears. And she would miss them, these quiet moments, because tomorrow, she would be Cassandra Reeves. She had one last night as Cassandra Cooper.
With the help of her siblings, she made it a good one.