Chapter 25
WORD TRAVELS FAST WHEN LOVE IS IN THE AIR.
IT IS THE TRANSFIGURATION of hope into life, in which all the possible permutations of who might fuse with whom settle into solid form, as when cool vapor turns to shimmering frost. Once the Lackingtons were informed and dispatched, a bottle of French champagne was popped, spilling over with bubbles.
Billy couldn’t quite wrap his head around the sudden turn of mood, and situation, but he was happy for Annabel, who was radiant with joy.
D’Evercy even clapped him on the back. His ridiculous fail during the hunt that morning seemed all but forgotten.
Whether there were Doofuses in Derbyshire was left to another day.
At least one of them had a life, Billy thought.
It seemed like a start. He made a good-hearted attempt at a toast and drained his glass, thanked them for the welcome refreshment, and retreated to his room for a much-needed bath.
Annabel, for her part, hoped to find courage in the bottom of her glass, for despite her giddy lightness, she had Cassie still to tell.
***
Cassie was fresh bathed and clothed in a crisp morning dress, sitting at the dressing table, pinching her cheeks to coax some color back, when Annabel walked in and stood behind her, reflected in the mirror.
“There you are! I didn’t know where you went. I’ve had breakfast, a bath—I even brushed my teeth! I finally feel good again. Almost like myself!”
“I’m so glad. You look much better.”
Cassie turned. “Has Warnaby been worried about me?”
Annabel hesitated. “We all have been.”
Cassie stood to show off her new borrowed gown. “Not too shabby, huh? I’m pretty sure it’s from Paris.”
“It is. And not shabby at all.”
“Do you think I should ‘recuperate’ for a couple more days? I could ugly it down a little.”
Annabel wrung her hands. “Listen, Cassie, there’s something I have to tell you—”
It was then that Fanny burst into the room with a broad smile across her usually reserved face. She was flush with excitement, practically atwitter.
“What a glorious day, indeed!” She took one of Annabel’s hands, one of Cassie’s. “Look at you, Cassandra, up and smiling! Are you not beside yourself with joy, as I am?” Fanny looked between them. “I’ve just had the news when I arrived. We are to be as sisters, all of us!”
“We are?” said Cassie.
Fanny turned to Annabel, who looked tortured. “Oh. Have you not told Cassandra of your engagement?”
Cassie’s eyes darted back and forth. She slipped her hand from Fanny’s grasp and looked at Annabel.
“Henry . . . He asked me to marry him.”
Cassie folded her arms across her chest. “And you said yes?”
“I did.” Having survived the ordeal of betraying Henry’s trust, she’d now betrayed Cassie’s as well. But there was nothing to do but tell the truth. “I love him, Cassie.”
Cassie pursed her lips, her mind whirring.
“Well, what about Warnaby?”
“He came with me this morning,” said Fanny. “He’s had the news as well! But I’m afraid he’s gone home already, tail between his legs, given that Annabel accepted in an instant, while I delay for weeks and weeks.”
“Wait. Warnaby asked you to marry him?”
“I suppose it has a certain inevitability to it. I don’t know why I should toy with his admiration the way I do. It’s cruel of me.”
Cassie looked at Annabel. “You told me they weren’t betrothed.”
“I didn’t know they were! I promise!”
“We are not,” said Fanny. “Not yet, in any case.”
The look on Cassie’s face spoke volumes. Fanny knew she’d committed a terrible faux pas and intervened where she shouldn’t have.
“I’m so sorry. I should not have burst in the way I did. Forgive me.”
She apologized to Annabel with her eyes, and left, closing the door quietly behind her.
“Well, great. This is just so fabulous.” Cassie started to shed the borrowed morning dress, wrestling it off.
“I was trying to tell you.”
“I’m up here practically on my deathbed and you and Fanny are off getting marriage proposals right and left?”
“It-it-it isn’t like that at all.”
“Here’s what it’s like, Annabel. You go and make the most major life decision you could possibly make, that affects all three of us, me and Billy, not just you, maybe for the next ten years, maybe forever—and you don’t even talk to me about it first? Your own sister?”
“It happened so fast, Cassie.” Annabel was on defense, but some part of what Cassie said was right. She hadn’t considered them, only herself. “And we agreed, at least I thought we did, that marriage was the best chance we had—”
Cassie tossed the gown on the bed and retrieved her picnic dress, cleaned and hanging in the armoire.
She stepped into it, pulling it up over her chemise and punching her arms through the puff sleeves.
She reached over her head and behind her back, fumbling with the buttons.
Annabel tried to help, but Cassie snapped.
“Now you want to help me?” She yanked herself away. “No thank you!”
Annabel stepped away. “Look, I knew it would come as a shock, but I didn’t expect you to be like this, Cassie.”
Cassie turned on her. “Like what?”
“Like, furious with me.”
“Don’t you see, Annabel? I’m the elder sister!”
Annabel drew back. The fury had drained from Cassie’s face, replaced by something else.
“Harriet told me what happens to an elder sister when the younger marries first. Don’t act like you don’t know.”
Annabel did know, but she hadn’t thought of that either. Cassie’s chin was quavering.
“‘Why, brides might bloom for years and years, but spinsters are made in a day’!”
“Oh, Cassie—”
“And that’s what you’ve just made me!”
Annabel didn’t know what to say. For all intents and purposes, Cassie was right. She watched her sister twist her hair into a half-hearted bun and fasten it.
“I suppose this is payback or something?”
“Payback? For what?”
“I don’t know. Maybe you’re jealous because I’m the one who’s always had a life!”
“But for the first time, Cassie, I feel like I’m having a life. One I’ve always dreamed of. And I’m sorry about Warnaby, I am, but don’t ask me to be sorry for being happy. Because I’m pinching myself, just hoping I don’t wake up!”
Cassie snatched up her picnic hat and sundry things, stormed to the door, turned the knob, and then fired at her sister a parting shot. Her eyes were teary now.
“Well, I’m glad it’s a dream for you, because it’s a total nightmare for me!”
And with that, Cassie walked through the door and slammed it shut.