Chapter 26
MARY WELCOMED BILLY AND CASSIE BACK TO KIDLINGTON WITH tittering relief and woeful apologies for having been the cause of any trouble with the Lackingtons.
She had a mouth with a mind of its own, she told them, but would try to make up for it with a good late breakfast, if they could give her a couple of hours.
But no amount of cardamom this or caraway that could soothe Cassie, even if Mary trotted out her best tricks—a sympathetic ear, soft pillows, rose-oil bath, fresh flowers—nothing seemed to work.
Cassie sobbed in her Peach Blossom bed for most of the first three days, exhausting the household supply of lavender-scented handkerchiefs, her face all snot and tears.
Even Billy tried to coax her from her room, but he didn’t have much to offer.
A turn in the garden? No thank you. Nice walk to town?
Not a chance. Maybe a ride in the carriage to admire the scenery?
I don’t care if I never see this fucking countryside again.
Cassie was glad Annabel had sent for some things and stayed away; she had no interest in setting eyes on her sister.
She needed a cooling-off period; she always had.
Annabel was giving her space. On the fourth day, when her hurt began to subside, she took a summer blanket from the bed, wrapped it around her shoulders, and sat next to Billy, who was reading a book on the bench in the garden.
Her hair was down; the breeze was gentle.
It seemed to soften her harder edges. They sat in silence for a while.
“What if we got married?” she finally said. “You and me.”
Billy put a rose petal in the book to mark his place and closed it on his lap. “Because we’re cousins?”
“No, we’re not.”
“Okay. Maybe I still like Fanny.”
Cassie put a sympathetic hand on his knee. “Warnaby likes Fanny.”
“I still think Warnaby might like me.”
Cassie had to laugh. It was the first time in nearly a week she’d found anything funny, and it lifted her mood just enough.
“What are you reading?”
He showed her the leather spine: Sense and Sensibility. “Mary gave it to me. I guess Annabel read it to her. Anyway, she said I reminded her of Edward Ferrars. It’s actually really good.”
“Mmm.”
“So, Edward Ferrars is this guy who’s bummed he has no real occupation or skills.
His family has pretty high expectations, but he really just wants, you know, to be happy.
He actually wants to be a vicar. Which maybe wouldn’t be so bad.
” Billy put his hand on the book and looked out at the garden.
“But he’s a good guy. I have a feeling it’s gonna end up okay for him. ”
Cassie pulled the blanket closer around her. “What about me? Am I like anyone? In the book?”
Billy studied her. “There’s these two sisters. Mary says it’s like one’s all heart, one’s all head, but I see it more like one sister’s a total hot mess, and the other one’s not nearly messy enough. In my humble opinion.”
“Like how?”
“Like, if she felt all the feels, her whole world would come apart.”
“Which one am I?”
He tilted his head. “Hmm. I think you’re pretty passionate when you know what you want. You really go for it. Like, text and don’t think twice.”
“I’m totally like that. But is that the heart one or the head one?”
“I’m not sure.” Billy shrugged. “Maybe you can be both sisters.”
Cassie considered him. “It’s weird, seeing you read a book.”
“You know what’s weirder? I don’t miss my video games as much as I thought I would. Or my phone, or any of that stuff.”
She nodded, breathed in and breathed out. “What do you miss?”
Billy thought for a long time, staring into the distance. “My beat-up Vans.”
Cassie looked at the swaying treetops. “Leggings. Buttery-soft leggings.”
“My skateboard.”
“Rollerblading in LA. By the beach. When the sun’s going down?”
“A pizza slice, dripping with cheese and tomato sauce, maybe a little greasy, after a super-long night dancing.”
“Mm, yeah. And showers. Like with the handheld spray thing?”
“Head-banging, mosh-pitting, earsplitting, you-think-you’ll-never-get-over-it concerts.”
“I miss lattes. With extra foam.”
“My cat.”
Cassie looked at him, surprised. “You have a cat?”
“Miss Piggy. After my favorite muppet.”
“Out of all the muppets? She’s such a diva.”
“Says the diva,” said Billy.
“Takes one to know one.”
They giggled.
“Anyway, my mom takes care of her when I’m out of town—plus, my mom, goes without saying—but Miss Piggy is my longest-running relationship. When I’m home, she sleeps in my bed, under the covers, with her head on the pillow.”
“That’s so cute.”
“I think she thinks she’s my girlfriend.”
Cassie smiled. Another quiet moment.
“Okay, casual dating. No offense, but just meeting some cool guy at a bar and being, like, should we just get outta here?”
“Like how we met.”
“Yeah. That was fun. I daresay.”
Billy laughed. “Truth? I thought you were probably out of my league.”
“Truth?” said Cassie. “I don’t know what league I’m in anymore. I don’t get how it works here. It’s just not me.”
“Tell me about it. D’Evercy asked me about my intentions, you know, with Fanny. And I’d never even thought about intentions before. So now I’m thinking about it, and it’s hard.”
“It is hard.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. She sighed. “Billy?”
“Yeah?”
“If I were into girls, I’d totally go for Fanny too.”
He rested his cheek on top of her head. “Warnaby, same.”
The breeze ruffled the flowers, their hair.
“So, what’re you gonna do?” Billy said.
“Well, not give up, if that’s what you mean. I am not a girl who gives up.”
“Like I said.”
“Which is why Gonzo’s my favorite. Obviously.” She sighed, the way people do when remembering the small things that made them. “He does life his way. He’s fearless about just being Gonzo.”
“That’s so fair,” said Billy.
Suddenly, Mary burst out of the French doors, rushing toward them, bosom bouncing, cheeks flushed, hands waving like flags.
“Miss Blake! Miss Blake! There’s a rather handsome gentleman caller just arrived!”
Cassie turned and pointed at herself. “Me Miss Blake?”
Mary grinned. “Yes, you!”