An Agreeable Arrangement

Geek to Chic
Honeymoon Husband
Miss Quinn’s Quandary

Shirley Marks

This title was previously published by Avalon Books; this version has
been reproduced from Avalon Books archive files.

To Faith for seeing the charm in my stories
and
To Kim for her persistent enthusiasm
to hear every word in every bookand believing as I do that Faith is awesome!

As always … to my darling husband.

A special acknowledgement to
Heidi Ashworth who allowed her
characters Sir Anthony Crenshaw
and Lord Avery from
Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind,
to make a cameo appearance in this book.

GGHedgeway Park is and always will be my heart’s
desire,” Lady Cassandra Phillips said to no one in particular. “If it is my fate to reside here for all my
remaining days, it could not make me happier.”

Cassie looked at the house and the manicured gardens that stretched around her home before she
climbed the stone steps to the garden terrace. She sat
in one of the chairs, shaded by a yew tree. Mrs. Hicks,
who had followed from the house, carried a pitcher of
lemonade. She offered a glass to Cassie then set the
tray on the terrace table.

“Where is the pet?” Mrs. Hicks glanced about for
a sign of him. “Romeo? Romeo? Where art thou,
Romeo?”

“I do wish you would not call for him in that manner,” Cassie scolded her housekeeper.

“You should have given his name a bit more consideration before you presented him with such a burden”

“I’m sure you’ll find him in some cozy place for
an afternoon nap. His morning began with chasing
the rabbits from the vegetable patch. There was a
large one that led him on an exhaustive chase.”

“The one with a torn ear?” The housekeeper closed
her eyes and steeled herself. “Ah, he’s a devil that
one is, sneaking through the thatched fences, around
the makeshift barriers, the staff’s clever traps and the
like.” She mimicked his movements with a sideways,
snake-like wave of her arm. “It’s impossible to keep
him out of the garden. The cook’ll sooner add him to
her stew or make a nice meat pie, if’n she had the
chance.”

“Well, he has exhausted Romeo quite completely.
I’m certain that my pet will have thoroughly recovered once he smells cook’s cakes come out of the
oven” Cassie pulled out the chair next to her. “Pray,
sit with me, Rosie.”

“You know the help shouldn’t be taking tea with
you, milady.”

“Bother, you know I don’t consider you a servant. I
think of you as family. You nearly raised me yourself
after Mama died. And you’ve been a constant comfort
after Papa’s death” Cassie gave her a smile. “Besides,
this is lemonade, not tea. Now, I beg you, sit.”

“‘Tis really not right.” Mrs. Hicks hesitated but she
finally sat. “You should find a proper lady’s companion, not an old servant. What would people think?”

“I don’t give a fig what people think,” Cassie said
with complete sincerity.

“Really, milady, I have the household to run.”

“I mean no offense but you are not as young as you
once were. You should let Molly take on some responsibilities.”

“She is but a child,” Mrs. Hicks gasped.

“You only wish to see her as such. I’m sure she
could run the house quite competently. I do wish you
would agree to become my companion. I still need a
bit of guidance now and again.”

“What you need is a husband,” Mrs. Hicks told her.

Cassie had no reason nor wish to marry. She did
not need the protection or financial support of a man.
Life was perfect. Her father had seen to that. He’d
left her a tidy sum and her home, Hedgeway Park.

“You are far from being an old maid. You still
could make a decent match. If you’d only try,” Mrs.
Hicks implored with the tilt of her head. “I know
your father would have wanted you to marry.”

“Fustian! Papa had made plans but he wasn’t really set on seeing them through. They were an old
man’s folly, that’s all” Cassie made a moue. “Now,
look here, Layette has brought down these magazines. I do wish you would help me look through
them.”

The housekeeper set her pince-nez on the bridge
of her nose to examine the fashion plates.

“Layette mentioned that some of my gowns need to
be replaced. I hate to spend the money but I fear she is
right.” Cassie handed Mrs. Hicks a few magazines.

“I believe you’ve always felt that practical clothes
were best for a practical woman,” Mrs. Hicks stated.

“You know me too well.” Cassie began to look for
a dress that might appeal to her. “I must admit that I
am ready for a change”

The drab apparel she wore was not her favorite
by half. Thank goodness today was the last day of
mourning. Although no amount of time would ease
the pain of her father’s absence, she could look forward to wearing the clothes she had cast off two
years prior.

A shadow fell across the magazine Cassie read.

“Excuse me, my lady” Siddons the butler neared.
“This arrived only moments ago” He lowered the
salver. Cassie retrieved the letter. Siddons and his
tray retreated into the house.

Cassie recognized the scrawl across the front of
the missive. If correct, this should be the list of first
quarter expenses from the squire, Julian Stewart, the
executor of her father’s will.

“That man is so timely, you could set a clock by his
letter’s arrival,” Mrs. Hicks remarked in good humor.

For the last two years, the financial breakdown of
the previous quarter had always arrived on the first day of the second month of the subsequent quarter.
Cassie broke open the seal and straightened the single, crisp sheet of paper.

Instead of the column of numbers on the right side
of the page and their corresponding descriptions on
the left, this was a short note.

Cassie’s eyes went wide. She felt the blood drain
from her face. She sat bolt upright, sending the fashion plates tumbling from her lap onto the ground.

“What is it? What’s happened?” Mrs. Hicks sat
up in alarm.

Cassie said nothing. The housekeeper took the letter and read the news for herself.

“Oh, my!” was all she could manage at first. “I
was afraid your father would do something like this.”
Mrs. Hicks moaned, echoing Cassie’s dread.