A Lady of Secret Devotion (15 page)

In the quiet of his room, Mark thought of his encounter with Cassie. She hadn’t minded the idea of pretending to court him. The only real problem was that Mark wasn’t at all sure that he wanted it to be pretense. He was starting to have feelings for the woman—feelings that were vaguely familiar—feelings he’d vowed to never have again.

Chapter 12

I
’m delighted that you could attend the party with us,” Mrs. Jameston told Mark. Cassie watched his reaction with a bit of apprehension as the older woman continued. “I believe you and Cassie make a perfect couple. I knew from the moment I met you that you held more than a passing interest in our Cassie.”

Mark seemed completely at ease. He gave Cassie a smile as he leaned closer to Mrs. Jameston. “I’m very glad to have been asked to join you lovely ladies. I have to say that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself.”

Cassie looked out across the sea of people. Henrietta Wilson smiled and nodded as various people stopped by to wish her a happy birthday. The woman was quite pale and thin, but seemed happy enough. Mrs. Jameston had told Cassie that the troublesome son would not be making an appearance at the party, which had led to a more relaxed atmosphere. It seemed Franklin Wilson was abroad, thanks to a last-minute suggestion made by his father. Cassie couldn’t help but wonder if Mrs. Jameston might follow suit and offer to send Sebastian abroad as well. For the last few days, he’d caused nothing but misery to anyone who dared to stand up to his bullying ways. Cassie knew the situation was taking its toll on her employer. Mrs. Jameston had complained several times of stomach pain and weakness. She thought it nothing more than nerves, however, and refused to see a physician.

“Why don’t you two join the others and dance?” Mrs. Jameston suggested. “I’m going to speak with Henrietta.” She didn’t wait for an answer but moved across the room to her friend.

Cassie looked at Mark with a sense of panic. “I can’t dance with you.”

He laughed. “But why not? I dance fairly well. I promise not to step on your toes.”

“But I cannot offer you the same pledge.” Cassie moved away from the dancing and music and made her way outside onto the lawn, where dozens of people strolled and talked.

Mark was at her side immediately. He took hold of her elbow. “What’s wrong?”

Cassie twisted her gloved hands together. “I cannot dance.

I’ve never learned.”

“Is that all? I could easily teach you. No one will ever know.”

She laughed nervously. “I doubt you could keep that secret for long. I’m not at all graceful. In fact, I’m rather clumsy at times. You would be completely aghast.”

He shook his head. “I could never be aghast at anything you did. Come along, let me show you how easy it is.” He drew her to the side lawn, where there were no people.

“Here?” she asked in disbelief.

“Why not? I can show you some simple moves. Before you know it, we’ll be in perfect step together.” He tightened his hold on her arm and turned her to face him. “There’s really nothing to be afraid of.”

“That’s what you said about horses.” She met his eyes and felt as though he were pleading with her to trust him.

“You haven’t suffered from your time with Posie. In fact,” he drew her right hand in his as he positioned her left on his upper arm, “you’ve truly done well. I think the horse is quite fond of you.”

“I suppose you’ll want me to dance with her next.”

Mark chuckled. “Let’s see how you do with me first. Keep your arms fixed. Resistance is important so that you can feel the direction I’m taking you.”

She felt his hand pressing on her back. “It seems you’re always taking me directions that I’d rather not go,” Cassie said as Mark pushed her backward. She stumbled slightly, but he held her fast.

“The waltz is a wonderful dance. It allows the couple to remain close, face-to-face, so that they can talk all the while.”

“I’ll do well to breathe and not step on your feet, much less talk,” Cassie declared, trying to look over her shoulder as Mark continued to move her backward.

“Don’t worry about what’s behind you. That’s my job. Your job is to relax in my arms and enjoy yourself.”

Cassie laughed nervously. “Sounds dangerous.”

Mark winked. “It could be.” His voice was husky and bordering on seductive.

She trembled from his nearness.
This is just a game,
she reminded herself.
We’re just doing this in order to get information on Sebastian Jameston.

“See there, you’re doing very well. Now as I turn you, lessen the tension in your arms. That’s the way,” he said as he maneuvered her. “You’re a natural. Soon you’ll be an accomplished horsewoman and dance partner.”

“And then what will you teach me, Mr. Langford?” Cassie questioned, feeling rather breathless.

He laughed and brought their dance to a stop. “I suppose we shall just have to wait and see, Miss Stover. But whatever it is, I am certain it will be pleasurable.”

Cassie felt as if she were floating with the clouds. The evening with Mark and Mrs. Jameston had proven to be so much fun. She had learned to dance, and Mark had been so very gracious about her missteps. He seemed to enjoy himself, but Cassie knew it was all a game.

“But for tonight,” she told herself as she brushed out her long hair, “I can pretend that it was all real. That the way he looked at me was more than just a game.” She looked in the mirror and saw the flush on her cheeks. Her eyes were bright with the joy she felt. No matter what happened in the future, she would always have this one very magical night.

“Cassie?”

She turned from where she sat and found Mrs. Jameston standing in the adjoining doorway. Offering the woman a smile, Cassie put her brush down and got to her feet.

“Is there something I can do for you?”

Mrs. Jameston smiled. “No. I just wanted to thank you for accompanying me tonight. You seemed to have a very good time, and that was as much a blessing to me as anything else.”

“I did have a good time,” Cassie agreed. “I must say it turned out to be more fun than I had ever imagined.”

“I would say your young man also had a good time. He seems quite smitten.”

Her comment caused Cassie to sober. Mark had lavished her with attention, but that was all in keeping with their agreement.

“Did you check on your son? Is he all right?” Cassie asked, quickly changing the subject.

“I did, but he’s not here. Silas told me that Robbie took him out for the evening but an hour ago. He isn’t expected back very soon. I’m not at all certain that was such a good idea, but it’s out of my hands.” She grimaced and held her hand to her stomach. “I believe I’ll retire early. I’m still suffering from whatever malady has my stomach on edge.”

“Would you like me to come and read to you?”

“No. I think not. You might just as well enjoy some time to yourself. I pray you have the sweetest of dreams.” Mrs. Jameston turned to go and then called over her shoulder, “No doubt Mr. Langford will be having very pleasant dreams of you.”

Cassie was glad that Mrs. Jameston couldn’t see her expression, for surely it was not very complimentary. She’d scrunched up her nose, as if smelling something rotten.

Thinking of what Mrs. Jameston had said about her son, Cassie wondered if she might have time to do a little bit of snooping. Mark had asked her to try and get into Jameston’s room when he was absent and see if he’d left behind any papers or information that might help the case. Cassie didn’t like the idea of having anything to do with Jameston or his room, but if the man was out for the evening, it might work to at least attempt a bit of investigation.

She tightened the ties on her robe, then lit a candle. Drawing a deep breath, Cassie headed for the hallway. There wasn’t a single sound in the house as she made her way toward Sebastian’s room.

Pausing at the staircase, Cassie glanced down to the first floor. Seeing no one there, she hurried past and made her way to Jameston’s bedroom. The last time she’d been in his room . . . Cassie knocked lightly on the door, deciding that if anyone called back, she’d merely make a run for the servants’ stairs.

She shuddered as she remembered his hands on her.

But no one called to her and so she gingerly turned the knob on the door.

The silence seemed overwhelming as she peered into the darkness of the room. She held the candle high and watched as it cast eerie shadows on the walls. Stepping inside, Cassie nearly jumped out of her skin at her own reflection in the window. The drapes hadn’t been pulled and the glass seemed to create a perfect mirrored image of her frightened face.

She pulled the drapes quickly, fearing that someone might already have seen the light from the street below.

“I’m not very good at this,” she whispered. As soon as the windows were covered, Cassie turned her attention to the nightstand beside the bed. A pair of scissors, some bandages, and a bottle of ointment stood as reminders of Jameston’s wounded leg. Otherwise, there was nothing worthy of her attention.

The small round table near the end of the bed drew her attention. There were several pieces of paper on it, and Cassie hurried to view them. One looked to be an invoice for a new suit. A rather expensive new suit, Cassie noted. Another piece of paper appeared to be hastily written notes, but they made no sense.

“Baltimore—six weeks. See Davis about the pier.”
There were several other scribbled comments, which Cassie quickly committed to memory.

She had just turned to investigate a large trunk that stood beside the door when she heard the unmistakable sound of men talking. Blowing out the candle, she hurried into the hallway and tried to figure out which way she should go.

“It doesn’t seem to me,” Robbie was saying, “that the men would need all that much time to learn the job.”

“If they are smart men—eager men—then no,” Sebastian agreed.

Cassie realized they were coming up the main staircase. She could see the golden glow of their lamp as they drew near. She hurried to the servants’ stairs and hid in the passageway. The conversation between Jameston and McLaughlin might well be important to Mark, and she didn’t want to risk leaving too soon.

“I’ve seen too many men who were quick to volunteer for good pay but were unable to satisfy my desired level of performance. I need men who are unafraid of the law and what might happen if they’re caught. I also need men who can keep their mouths shut.”

“I think you’ll find these men are trustworthy,” Robbie replied.

Cassie clung to the stair rail and tried to slow her panting breath. She prayed the men wouldn’t hear her on the stairs; otherwise she would have to face them and make up some sort of story as to why she’d come this way.

“Do you smell smoke?” Sebastian asked.

The candle felt like a dead weight in Cassie’s hand. How could she have been so stupid as to have blown it out in Jameston’s room?

“The lamp is smoking, that’s all,” Robbie assured.

Cassie didn’t even feel she could draw a breath until she heard the bedroom door close behind the men. Their conversation, now muffled, continued as if nothing were amiss.

She tiptoed past the room and hurried as fast as she could down the hall until she was safely inside the walls of her own room. Breathing heavily, Cassie leaned back against the bedroom door.

“I am about as good at this as I am in dealing with horses,” she said, shaking her head. “And about as brave.”

CHAPTER 13

A
crash of thunder caused Cassie to sit straight up in bed. She held a light coverlet to her neck and waited for yet another flash of lightning. It wasn’t but a few seconds before it appeared again, and the thunder followed suit.

B-O-O-M!

The windows rattled ominously, leaving Cassie completely shaken. She eased back against the pillow and tried to slow her rapidly beating heart, but it was no use. The storm outside, however, was minor compared to the one raging deep within. During every waking moment of her life these days her mind and heart were centered on one thing—one man. For more than three weeks, she had been pretending to be completely enamored with Mark Langford. There was only one problem: She knew without a doubt that she was no longer merely role-playing.

“What am I to do?” she asked the emptiness of her room.

Throwing back her cover and tossing the pillow aside, Cassie got out of bed without even bothering to put on her slippers. She walked to the window and stared out for several minutes as rivulets of water streamed down the glass.

“O God, what am I to do? Is this punishment for pretending to be in love?” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “I care so much about him. I’ve never known these feelings before, and now they’re supposed to be nothing more than a game. A game to catch a criminal.”

She hugged her arms to her body. The lightweight lawn gown was more luxurious than anything Cassie had ever worn for sleeping. It was just one more reminder of Mrs. Jameston’s generosity.

“She’s been so good to me, Lord. Am I doing the wrong thing by trying to see her son put in jail?”

Even though she’d asked the question, Cassie knew the answer. She was doing the right thing. Sebastian Jameston had become increasingly ugly with his mother. He’d made it quite clear that he wasn’t in a hurry to leave her home. He shamed her daily as he heaped one comment upon another, trying to make her feel guilty about the way she had failed him. It was taking its toll on Mrs. Jameston’s health, and frankly, Cassie had begun to worry.

“He can’t be put behind bars soon enough,” she muttered.

Cassie left the window and sat back down on the edge of her bed. Mrs. Jameston’s health seemed to be failing a little more every day. She’d grown quite weak, not even desiring her afternoon carriage ride or stroll in the garden. No one seemed to know what to do. Even Ada was concerned.

“Lord, please show me what I can do to help Mrs. Jameston. I hate to see her—”

The sound of another crash came to Cassie’s ears, but it wasn’t from the thundering storm. Jumping to her feet, she ran for the door that adjoined her room to Mrs. Jameston’s. Opening it only a crack, Cassie called out, “Mrs. Jameston? Are you all right?”