Chapter Two
A gentle breeze drifted through the open bay windows Cassandra sat next to and she let out a sigh of relief.
The morning had been uncommonly hot for the springtime and the afternoon promised to be even worse.
She shifted uncomfortably, longing to wipe at the sweat coating the back of her neck and wishing she had chosen to pin her hair up before coming down for tea.
“I’m telling you, Viola. Both you and Elizabeth are the talk of the ton! Everyone has your ball on the tips of their tongues.”
Cassandra pinched off a piece of cake and slowly lifted it to her lips as she studied her aunt.
Lady Mildred Jones, wife to the Earl of Hanebridge, looked nearly identical to her sister but shared none of her personality.
She’d been smart enough to put her hair up, though Cassandra couldn’t help but wince at how tightly she’d pulled her blond hair into her chignon.
She was dressed a little more conservatively as well, with a high neckline and long sleeves.
How she was not bothered by the heat, Cassandra didn’t know.
“I agree, aunt,” Phoebe spoke up with a nod.
She looked more like her father than her mother, Mildred.
She sipped her tea and Cassandra held back her shudder.
She had no intentions of touching the stuff when she was seconds away from overheating.
“You did throw a wonderful debut ball for Lizzie last night. I enjoyed myself so much that I hardly wanted to leave.”
“Oh, we know, Phoebe,” Elizabeth spoke up with a smile. “You were the last person to depart, after all.”
Phoebe didn’t seem bothered by it, continuing to sip her tea. “You can blame yourselves for making my night so enjoyable.”
The ladies laughed at that, except Cassandra.
She was hardly paying attention, her mind drifting from the unbearable heat to how badly she wanted to take a nap.
The ball had not ended until after dawn and she’d barely gotten enough sleep last night.
When she’d come down for breakfast to see her mother and Elizabeth looking as fresh as ever, Cassandra could hardly believe her eyes.
Lady Viola Matthews, the Countess of Wiswall, touched Elizabeth on her shoulder.
Both Cassandra and Elizabeth had adopted her strawberry-blond curls, though Cassandra’s had a tendency to frizz while Elizabeth’s always remained perfect.
Viola had lovely deep brown eyes though, which she had passed on to her younger daughter.
Cassandra had taken her father’s sky-blue eyes.
“I hardly had anything to do with it,” Viola said, pride stark in her voice. “Elizabeth was lovely as always. I watched her all night and she did not take a single moment to rest from dancing. I was half afraid that she would fall down!”
“Oh, Mother, you know I’ve prepared extensively for that night,” Elizabeth told her. “I wanted to be prepared. Just ask Cassie, I spent hours dancing in both our rooms so that when I finally debuted, I would not be tired.”
The three ladies looked at Cassandra and so she nodded, even though she did not wish to be a part of the conversation. She wanted to sleep. “I can confirm,” she mumbled, biting into her cake simply to give herself something to do.
Elizabeth beamed. “But did you see Lord Vassell? He was so tall, I thought I might break my neck just looking up at him.”
“Of course, I took note of him,” Phoebe said, batting aside a lock of dark hair that had fallen against her cheek. Her eyes glittered with interest. “And I also noticed Lord Gregory, the second son of the Marquess of Fairway. Wasn’t he as kind as he was handsome?”
“He certainly was,” Elizabeth agreed. “Though I wonder if he is a bit old.”
“The older the better,” Mildred said. “They have a world of wisdom.”
“Mother!” Phoebe gasped and Viola laughed.
“She’s right, though,” Viola agreed. “But I don’t think too much attention should be placed on one gentleman. It’s important to get to know each person who shows interest in you, so that you make the right decision.”
“The right decision for me will be any gentleman who has wealth and status,” Phoebe stated. “I am already on my second Season. I have no time to waste.”
Cassandra looked out the window, staring at nothing. She tried and failed to cast aside the discomfort rising in her at the conversation. This wasn’t something she could partake in. Debuts, courting, marriage…all a part of a life that Cassandra could never have.
Try as she might, she could not stop that pinch of longing that seized her chest. She curled her hand into a fist under the table to stop herself from touching her scar.
In her home, she did not bother to wear the veil.
Her family did not care. But outside of these walls, she had to hide the thing that kept her from finding love, from having a family of her own.
“Well, not to worry, ladies,” Mildred said, drawing Cassandra’s attention away from her wandering thoughts. “The masquerade ball I will be hosting in a few days will help us narrow down the perfect bachelors for you two.”
“Who will be in attendance?” Elizabeth asked excitedly.
“Have you invited Lord Bane?” Phoebe questioned. “I hear he is quite wealthy and he isn’t too bad to look at.”
“Of course, I have,” Mildred stated proudly. “And he has already confirmed that he will be in attendance. You’ll have to move quickly though, Phoebe. Don’t think you are the only lady who has her eyes set on him.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice, Mother,” Phoebe said determinedly and then Cassandra turned her attention back to the window, letting her mind wander once more so that she did not have to long for the things she would never have.
***
She had to endure another hour of tea and talk of eligible bachelors before Cassandra was able to retire to the library.
The moment she was in the large room, she drew in a deep breath, casting aside the uneasy emotions that had been plaguing her ever since the start of the Season.
It would only get worse, she knew. With every ball, party, or soiree, Cassandra knew that the hole in her heart would grow larger.
But for now, she supposed she could immerse herself in a book and forget the world around her.
She wandered over to the Shakespearean section, running her fingers along the spines of each publication.
For the past few months, Cassandra searched for her favorite novel, Romeo and Juliet, and could not find it.
She’d gotten into the habit of bringing it everywhere with her and must have misplaced it somewhere.
She came here often hoping that it had been found and returned to its rightful place.
Since the spot was still sadly empty, Cassandra opted to read her second favorite, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
She took the book with her to her usual spot on the chaise lounge by the window, propped her legs to the side, and began to read, savoring the gentle breeze that brushed against her neck.
As soon as Mildred and Phoebe had left, Cassandra had gone straight to her chambers to pin her hair up before coming to the library.
She’d gotten though a few pages when the door opened and Elizabeth swept in.
“Oh, Cassie!” Cassandra watched as her sister hurried over and dramatically threw herself into the armchair nearby. “I feel so overwhelmed.”
Cassandra slowly closed the book, noting the last page she’d read, then gave her dear sister her full attention. “What’s the matter?”
Elizabeth held out the scandal sheets in her hand. “Here,” she said. “Read it for yourself.”
Cassandra had just barely reached out to take the scandal sheets before Elizabeth pulled it back.
Cassandra held back her smile. Elizabeth had always been a bundle of energy.
Though they were two years apart, Cassandra sometimes wondered when Elizabeth would shed the childlike enthusiasm that usually had her bouncing from one place to the other.
Not that she minded much. Cassandra remembered a time when she’d been just like that, when she would much prefer chasing cats around the backyard to sitting in silence reading.
That was before the incident, before her life had changed forever.
“It says here,” Elizabeth began to read, springing to her feet.
Cassandra followed her with her eyes as her sister paced back and forth.
“’The Countess of Wiswall’s hosted one of the first balls of the Season, and has truly set the tone for all the rest. With her beautiful daughter debuting as the Season’s ‘Diamond’, Lady Elizabeth Matthew’s coming out was a major success! ’”
“I don’t understand,” Cassandra said, straightening. “I see no problem with what was said. You’ve been dubbed the Season’s ‘Diamond’, which I think is quite accurate. The ton has finally said something right, for once.”
“But that’s just it!” Elizabeth blew out a frustrated breath as she collapsed in the chair once more. Somehow, not a single strand of hair fell out of place. “It is far too much pressure.”
“This is good news, Lizzie,” Cassandra told her with a warm smile. “There is nothing to be afraid of, I assure you.”
“How can you be so sure?” Elizabeth pouted. “With so many eyes watching me, what if I were to do something scandalous and embarrassing?”
“In all your ten-and-seven years, have you ever done anything scandalous or embarrassing?”
Elizabeth made a show of thinking about it. “No, I don’t think I have.”
“Then there is your answer. Certainly nothing to worry about.” Cassandra propped her feet up once more, opening her book. “And now that you know that, leave me be so that I may read.”
Cassandra was not at all surprised when Elizabeth threw herself onto the chaise lounge next to her, wrapping her arms around Cassandra’s neck. “Oh, Cassie, you always knew exactly what to say.”
“Yes, yes, I am the wise big sister. What else is new?”
Elizabeth giggled at that, which brought a smile to Cassandra’s face. Through all the longing that panged her heart, she was truly happy for Elizabeth. She wanted the best for her sister, wanted her to find and marry for love—even if that fate was never destined for her.