Chapter Six #2
‘I am most satisfied with the result,’ Julian said, a little smugly. ‘But that is not to say I was a worthy husband in those first weeks. I would not want to put Cassandra through the difficulties I forced on Portia.’
‘Far better to yoke her to someone as boring as Rutland,’ Sebastian said with a grimace.
‘It is up to Cassie to decide whether he is too dull to make a good husband,’ Septon said taking another sip. ‘And he is far from the only choice. There is Tobias Blake, as well. He is reading for the church.’
‘Another vicar?’ This was even worse.
‘Fisk thinks he would be a good choice for her.’
‘I imagine he would,’ Sebastian said, wincing.
‘It is what she knows,’ Julian added as if this explained everything. ‘It would be a stable life. I could guarantee the man a living on my estate.’
‘She could live just across the way from the great house,’ Sebastian said, spreading his hands as if setting the scene. ‘I see her in a modest little cottage, keeping house for her lord and master…’
‘You make it sound like indentured servitude,’ Julian snapped. ‘The wife of a clergyman is hardly as bad as that.’
‘Nor is it the life one would expect for the daughter of a duke,’ Sebastian countered.
‘Not the legitimate daughter, perhaps,’ Julian said with a sigh. ‘I want the best for her, of course.’
‘Of course,’ Sebastian said with a grimace.
‘But I am not sure that it will be possible.’ At this, he was surprised to see a touch of worry on his friend’s face.
‘Do I think she deserves to be mistress of a great house and the protection and wealth of a titled husband?’ He paused for a moment, then gave an emphatic nod.
‘Of course I do. She has a spirit as noble as any member of my family. More so, if I am honest. She was raised to be a better person than I was, by people who lived the lessons they taught her.’
‘She is a vicar’s daughter,’ Sebastian admitted.
‘That appears to be what the gentlemen of London think of her,’ Julian said, obviously frustrated. ‘I fear they think she is both too pious and too unchaste. As if that is even possible.’
‘She is neither of those,’ Sebastian blurted, before remembering that he should have no opinion.
Julian did not seem to notice, too wrapped up in his own problems. ‘It is not as if I can command gentlemen of rank to court her.’
‘I am sure there are many powerful men that will want her, if you give them the time to come forward,’ Sebastian said. Then, before he could stop himself, he said, ‘I…’
‘You, should learn to get out of the way and give them the space to do so,’ Julian said, his manner turning from confidant back to guardian.
‘Because it’s not as if I could be a candidate for her hand,’ Sebastian said, remembering that he was supposed to be uninterested.
Julian nodded in approval. ‘I am glad that you will admit to the fact. Now stop playing about and distracting her from her business.’
‘Her business?’
‘The business of finding a proper husband from whoever has the good sense to offer for her. The last thing I need is for her to take your flirting seriously.’
‘I don’t think you have to worry about that,’ Sebastian said, thinking of the way she had responded to it so far. ‘She is a very sensible girl.’
‘And you are sensible as well, are you not?’ Julian gave him another warning look.
‘Because I do not want to have to explain this situation twice.’ This last was said with a finality that reminded him of the day they’d met a year ago which had ended with him fainting from blood loss as a vicar murmured prayers over his body.
He smiled at Julian, as if they were in complete agreement, and turned his thoughts to the memory of the beautiful Cassie bending over him, whispering encouragement and stroking his cheek. ‘Do not worry. I am sure, before the Season ends, she will have a man as devoted to her as she is to him.’
‘I am sure you are right,’ Julian said, smiling again.
Sebastian set his cup aside and stood. ‘Now, if you will excuse me, I have business to attend to.’
Julian raised his cup in salute. ‘Of course.’
‘Send Portia my love. And to your sister?’ He turned back and blew a kiss. Then he hurried out the door and into the street without waiting for a response.
Rutland and Blake.
The fact that there might be other men interested in her was not a surprise, but he had not expected them to arrive so soon. They were not the most impressive men in London and in his opinion, Cassie deserved far better.
Him, for instance.
There was no time to lose. The longer the Season went on, the more likely it was that other names would be added to the list of suitors.
He needed to spike the guns of his rivals and spend all the time he could in the company of the beautiful Cassandra.
And he must do so without her brother noticing the fact.
It would be tricky, of course. Shakespeare had said the course of true love would not run smooth. He had no experience in it, but the quote appeared accurate. He had also heard something about faint heart never winning fair lady. So he should best get about it, no matter how difficult it might be.
He signalled for his carriage and hopped in before it had fully stopped, ordering the driver to take him to the Septon townhouse. The first step would be to find the lady in question, and the best time to do that was when he knew her brother was not at home.
It was a beautiful day on Bond Street and Cassie was taking advantage of a short break in her busy social schedule to do some shopping.
Julian was away from the house, as he often was during the day, and Portia had gone as well, visiting friends.
Neither of them would object to her going out on her own, as long as she was accompanied by a maid.
At least, she assumed they would not. She had not actually asked anyone.
And, when Portia had suggested they make social calls together, Cassie had hinted that she had a megrim and was not in the mood for visiting.
When she saw her sister-in-law later in the day, she would tell her another fib about hoping fresh air and a walk would clear her head.
The air in London could hardly be called fresh, compared to the country. With that excuse, she’d have been smarter to have gone to Hyde Park. That was the trouble with lies. Even small ones were so hard to keep straight.
But she had been afraid that the truth would make her seem ungrateful.
She had wanted to get away, if only for a little while.
To be by herself with no one watching her every move and interaction so they might offer critiques once she was done.
So she had convinced Bessie that they should walk to Bond Street, promising the maid an ice at Gunter’s if she did not report every detail of the trip to the master of the house.
It was probably too much to hope that she would have any real privacy during her Season. To be offered up as a candidate for marriage to London’s elites required that she behave as if she had never been out of sight of her guardians, nor wished to be so.
But it was rather ridiculous. She had been of age for five years and had wandered freely around the countryside with no fear for her reputation.
She had never done anything wrong and the men around her, who were simple working people, had better manners than some of the supposed gentlemen she’d met in town.
Then, as if she needed an example to prove her point, the Duke of Westbridge appeared from around the next corner and walked down the pavement towards her.
She glanced around her, searching for escape. She did not want to cut him in public, but neither should she be talking to him. If someone noticed them and told her brother, she would come home to the same lecture she’d received after last night’s waltz.
But this side of the street seemed lined with tobacconists and boot makers, the sorts of places a lady had no reason to frequent. There was nothing for it but to keep moving forward and hope that he passed her with no more than a tip of his hat and a polite hello.
It had been too much to ask. He walked towards her with purpose and a bright smile. ‘Miss Fisk,’ he said, reversing his direction to walk with her. ‘So good to see you again. It has been so long.’
‘It has been hours,’ she corrected.
‘It seems longer. May I escort you to your destination?’
‘That will not be necessary,’ she said, drawing a little closer to Bessie to remind him she was chaperoned. ‘I have no fixed goal, but I am sure I do not need assistance finding my way.’
‘All the more interesting,’ he said. ‘We shall ramble together.’
‘I don’t want to divert you from your shopping,’ she said, trying to sound kind.
‘I had no plan in coming here, but to find you,’ he said and pretended to gaze into the window of the shop they were passing.
Their eyes met in the reflection on the glass. ‘What do you mean by that?’ she said, frowning.
‘Simply that I stopped by your home and inquired after your location.’
‘Who told you where I had gone?’ she said, annoyed.
He smiled back at her from the glass. ‘I did not bother with the front door as Septon’s butler is notoriously enigmatic. I went straight to the back entrance and bribed a maid. She saw your maid speaking with a footman.’ He turned and winked at Bessie who blushed furiously.
Cassie stared at him for a moment, unsure of how to respond.
She had known he was wicked. But it appeared he was clever, as well.
And more persistent than she’d expected him to be.
A gentleman would have taken the hint and pretended to forget their past, just as she was doing.
Did he think she would tumble into bed with him just as she had done last year?