A False Proposal (9 page)

Chapter Ten

Cass sighed with relief when the Linford carriage drove down the long avenue with its canopy of tall trees overhead, the final approach to Deborah Grey’s country home. Jack had ridden his spirited bay alongside them, so he had not been subjected to Cousin Louisa’s ceaseless lecture on the unsuitability of Cass’s attendance at the house party. When Cass had reached the end of her patience, she finally barked out, “It’s done. We’re nearly there. May we speak of something else?” Louisa had grimaced, but she said no more. When she’d dozed off at last, Cass had entertained herself by sticking her tongue out at her cousin and making some very rude and unfeminine gestures she’d learned from Jack and his friends when they were boys.

Deborah, Hugh, and some of the guests who had already arrived were stationed in front of the somewhat austere-looking house, awaiting them. Jenny, her mother, and Atherton. Adam, Cass noted, was conspicuously absent. Perhaps his arrival had been delayed for some reason.

“No introductions are needed, I think,” Deborah said when the stairs had been lowered and they’d stepped from the carriage. Atherton and Hugh bowed, and Jenny gave Cass a quick hug. And then Deborah took her arm and pulled her a little apart from the others.

“I am so pleased you accepted our invitation, my dear.”

Cass smiled. “Thank you, ma’am. It was kind of you to include me.”

“Not at all. My son was most adamant about it, and I agreed.” She glanced quickly at a landau driving up. “Will you excuse me, Cassandra? I must greet the latest guests.”

Who turned out to be Elizabeth Morgan and her mother.
Oh, no
. Cass had had the impression that Adam didn’t care for Miss Morgan. The thought of competing with the younger girl, who had the advantages of youth, beauty, and a fresh face on her side, made her insides roil. Ridiculous, in any case. This was a house party, for pity’s sake, not a competition.

After they’d all been shown to their bedchambers, and served tea and a light meal afterward, Cass decided fresh air and a walk would lift her spirits. If she left immediately, there would still be time to enjoy the spring sun before it dropped too low on the horizon. Jack was out walking with Jenny. She knew some of the others were in the drawing room, but there was no expectation for her to join them until dinner. After grabbing her bonnet by the strings, she hurried off down the corridor and ran smack into her cousin, outside her own chamber.

“Where are you going?” Louisa asked, managing to make her question sound like an interrogation.

“For a walk.”

“Be so good as to wait a moment. I’ll get my—”

“I’ve no need of a chaperone. I don’t intend to be gone long or go far afield.”

“Nevertheless, you should not be alone.” She turned back toward her chamber to get her bonnet, and Cass tried a different approach.

“You look tired, Cousin. There’s a group gathered in the drawing room. Wouldn’t it be more restful to sit and have a comfortable chat with Jenny’s mother and the other chaperones?”

Her cousin paused, thinking it over. Deciding if it would be proper for her charge to walk out alone, and if she was willing to relinquish this modicum of control over her. After giving Cass a suspicious look, she relented. “You may be right. I would enjoy that. See you are back in time to dress for dinner.”

“Of course,” Cass said, feeling like a child of Philippa’s age instead of a grown woman. Sighing with frustration, she hurried away before Louisa changed her mind. If she wouldn’t even allow Cass to explore the expansive—and perfectly safe—park by herself, what would the rest of the week be like? She’d be hovering every time Cass turned around.

Cass skipped down the front steps, her bonnet flapping against her legs. She paused a moment at the bottom to don her hat and admire the parterre gracing the front of the home. The intricate geometrical beds were planted with iris, lobelia, petunias, and gillyflowers. One section was filled with a profusion of blooming roses, white, damask, and deep red. Since rose was Cass’s favorite scent, she thought they smelled enchanting. The parterre was beautifully designed and meticulously cared for, and the purples, pinks, and scarlets did much to relieve the stark façade of the Jacobean home.

Deborah owned a lovely piece of property, and Cass intended to explore it more fully another day. For now she’d make do with following the graveled path through the wood near the house. In the distance, she caught sight of Jack, Jenny on his arm, studying a temple that had been constructed near a pond. Since their betrothal, Jenny’s mother had allowed the couple a greater degree of privacy. Oh, how she envied them that. The path would take Cass in a different direction, which was good, since she didn’t feel like socializing, even with her brother and his fiancée.

No sooner had she stepped onto the path than she saw a man walking toward her. She couldn’t see his face, but nevertheless recognized Adam immediately by his form and gait. Had he been out walking around since their arrival, deliberately avoiding his guests? He hesitated for a split second before approaching her, which made her suspect she was the last person he wanted to see.

“Miss Linford,” he said formally. But his eyes were warm.

“Mr. Grey.” Cass wondered how much longer they’d keep up this formality, though she was to blame for starting it in the first place, that day Jack had brought him home. Since their kiss the night of the dinner party, it hardly seemed necessary, except perhaps in public. Adam was wearing tight fitting riding britches with a blue, swallow-tailed coat. He seemed a bit disheveled, which didn’t make him any less attractive. When he offered his arm, it was her turn to hesitate.

“You appear to be on your way to the house. I can go on by myself,” she pointed out.

“Come, let me walk with you. It would give me pleasure.”

…

When Cass wrapped her fingers around Adam’s arm, a stab of that pleasure shot through him, and he barely registered it when she spoke.

“This is quite a spacious park,” she commented. And then, “Adam?”

She was staring at him, and he wondered how many seconds had passed since she’d spoken. He gave his head a shake.
Pay attention, fool
. At least he’d caught the question. “Indeed. I’m very pleased this property belongs to my mother outright.”

“It was in her family, I think?”

Adam nodded. “When Deborah and my father married, it was placed in trust for her. After she left him, she applied to the trustee for occupation of the house and grounds.” He gazed thoughtfully down at Cass. “The townhome belongs to my father, however. He could put her out at any time.”

“The night of the dinner party she mentioned that he allowed her to live there. That was how she put it. I wondered…” Cass paused.

“Go on.”

“Well, I simply wondered if she was afraid he would reclaim it someday. If she worried about it.”

“He hasn’t shown any inclination to do so. Yet,” he added. “Deborah, as I’m sure you have noticed by now, is of a very sanguine nature. If the thought has occurred to her, she’s never said a word to me.”

“Do you think he might?”

After today, nothing the old bastard could do would surprise Adam. Knowing what a disaster his father’s finances were in, the only surprise was that he hadn’t already sold it out from under her.

“Adam?”

“My apologies. The truth is, one never knows with my father, which is why I’m grateful Deborah owns this estate. She could live here year-round, if need be.”

They walked on, and Cass said, “Are you planning to visit Sir William this week?”

“I am. Your brother wrote to him on my behalf, did you know?” When Cass nodded, he continued. “He’ll be expecting me.”

As they rounded a curve, a folly came into view, and Cass let out a little squeal of delight. A wide smile broke over her face.

“Oh, look at this! Do the wood nymphs reside there?” she teased, eyes sparkling.

“Only in my wildest dreams,” Adam said. Her smile enchanted him, made his breath catch. “Let’s walk around to the other side.”

Stepping off the path, they wound their way through low-growing foliage until they’d reached the far side. He led her up the few steps into the small, dark interior. A circular stone bench had been built right into the walls, and they sat down on it. Adam let the quiet wash over him. A gentle soughing of the wind was the only sound, and Cass seemed at ease with silence, too.

After they’d rested for a while, he noticed the coolness in the secluded little copse. “Are you warm enough?” he asked.

“I’m fine.” She pulled her shawl more tightly about her, though, and he knew she wouldn’t be fine much longer.

“Do you ever think about our summers here in Surrey?” Adam asked. He didn’t know where that sprang from.

“Sometimes,” Cass admitted. “Why do you ask?”

“I always envied you and Jack because you seemed so carefree. Never a shadow of anything disagreeable hanging over you to spoil your happiness.”

“It
was
a happy childhood. Aside from the fact that I always wanted to be included in whatever you and my brother were doing, and often was left out. Other than that one tiny flaw, it was close to idyllic, I suppose.”

“Now, wait a minute. My memory is quite different. More often than not, we
did
include you in our jaunts about the countryside.”

“Only when you took pity on me because I cried. I don’t think I’ve ever properly thanked you for that. Jack did everything he could to prevent it. In hindsight, I can understand why and forgive him, but at the time I hated him for it.”

In some ways, Cass was still that girl who used to follow them about and demand to ride and hunt and explore. But Adam was aware, too aware, of her physical maturity. Her undeniable loveliness. He had the feeling that behind the brave face she showed in public, a profound sadness lurked. The tragedy with her fiancé could certainly be to blame for that, curse Bentley, and the loss of both her parents. It wasn’t just sadness, but the weight of responsibility, too. He did not understand why Cassie had taken on the education of her sister, and why Jack didn’t insist on a governess for the child. He’d pursue that with her later, if an opportunity presented itself.

“What?” Cass said, startling him out of his thoughts. “Why are you staring at me?” Lord, this was the second or third time he’d been so distracted she’d had to prod him back to the moment.

“Forgive me. I was thinking about—”

“Your unhappiness as a boy? I had no awareness of it then, although I did wonder why we saw so little of your parents. And your mother didn’t make calls.”

Adam had no wish to discuss his father and mother and the shameful circumstances of their marriage. Cass knew too much as it was. So he went with his instinct. “No. I wasn’t thinking of that.” He glanced at her, holding her gaze, and said, “Actually, it occurred to me that I might be able to think of a way you could properly thank me. You owe me a great deal, you know, and your debt has accumulated interest over the years. It’s no small thing now.”

Adam had no idea how she would react to his teasing, so a thrill pulsed through him when she laughed. Her face flushed, she said, “You’ll have to show me exactly what you mean.”

He hadn’t expected her to be so brazen. He felt his breath coming faster, his heart pounding. Offering her sensual mouth, her smooth, rounded cheeks, for his delectation, Cass leaned toward him, waiting. Adam desperately wanted to kiss her again, to feel her body with its tempting curves against his. But he hesitated because of the blatant lie he had told his father about her earlier today. She would never forgive him if she knew. He’d feel like a cad if he took advantage of her now. So although he trembled with the effort of controlling his urges, he backed off.

Shock and embarrassment registered on Cass’s lovely face. And why not, since he’d been the one who suggested she repay her debt with kisses? She leaped to her feet, but he remained seated, knowing her effect on him was much too obvious in the light colored breeches.

“We had better get back, Adam,” she said tersely.

Reluctantly, he rose. “As you wish,” he said. They made their way back to the path, and because the silence was no longer comfortable, Adam said, “I’ve been wondering about how you’re getting on, Cassie. You hide it well, but I fear you are troubled.” He’d meant it kindly, but she didn’t take it that way.

She scowled up at him. “You are mistaken, Adam. Why do you view me thus?”

Deuce take it, now he’d gotten too personal and made her angry. If she were still speaking to him by the end of this walk, it would be a miracle. But he plunged ahead. “Your fiancé’s death, for one thing. That would be hard for anyone to bear at such a young age. By your own admission, you sequestered yourself after the tragedy.”

“It’s in the past. I rarely think of it anymore. I told you that the night of the dinner party.”

“That doesn’t mean you weren’t hurt by it.”

She bristled. “Of course I was hurt by it, but it is no longer uppermost in my mind. That is how I prefer it.”

He bumbled on. “And—and your parents. They both died since I last saw you. I wasn’t here to offer my condolences. May I do so now?”

At that she softened. “Thank you. My mother’s death was hard. She contracted an inflammation of the lung that could not be cured, and she died slowly. At the end, she stayed at Birch Lane with me, and I did all I could to ease her passing.” She grimaced. “The one thing she wanted before she died, I could not give her. She was so distraught after Bentley’s death, and wanted above all else for me to marry. For her sake, I was sorry it was not to be.”