An Agreeable Arrangement (3 page)

“After the wedding you and Edward shall move to
your beloved home for the duration if that is what you
wish. Until that time, this is where you will reside.
Good day to you” He returned to his work papers.

The butler loomed in the doorway and called to
Cassie, “This way please, my lady.”

How very rude the squire was. Without say in the matter and without other viable options, Cassie spun
away and followed the butler.

Cassie stopped in the foyer. Layette stood with the
luggage and waited for a word from her mistress.
“We will be staying, Layette,” Cassie said, unhappy
with the outcome of her appeal. She glared over her
shoulder, down a long hallway at Julian Stewart who
sat at his desk. He seemed unaffected and continued
with his work. It was obvious to her that he gave her
not another thought.

Maxwell stopped in the foyer. He made the introduction, “Lady Cassandra, the housekeeper, Mrs.
Green” Then left.

“Your ladyship.” A stout woman stopped in front
of Cassie and dipped a curtsy. “This way please, my
lady” She lifted the hem of her skirts and mounted
the steps.

Cassie took hold of the heavy oak handrail and
trudged up the stairs of this unfamiliar house she
would not call home.

Mrs. Green stood to the left side of the landing.
“Miss Lorna’s rooms are across from yours”

A picture of Lorna as a small child flashed in
Cassie’s mind. Lorna, the only sister of the Stewarts,
had been four or five the last time Cassie had seen her.

The housekeeper opened the double doors to
Cassie’s apartments and stepped into the room.

Rounding the far hallway corner came a young man-Edward Stewart, younger brother of the squire.
He was dressed in buckskin breeches that hugged his
well-shaped muscular thighs and disappeared into his
black high-top boots. The dark green riding jacket
brought out the most vivid green of his eyes, which
would make the prettiest girl envious.

His pace quickened and a smile brightened on what
Cassie considered a most handsome face. Edward indeed resembled his older brother Julian. Although his
coloring was fair and the elder’s dark, they stood about
the same height.

Edward’s face was a bit fuller and had a healthy
glow. His head was topped by riotous blond curls. It
took only a moment for Cassie to decide Edward was
more attractive and far more likeable of the two
brothers.

“Can it truly be you? My dear Cass!” Edward took
her hand and performed a deep, sweeping bow. He
applied a light kiss on the back of her hand before he
rose. “Do you not remember me? Edward” A slight
tilt of his head off to one side questioned whether or
not she recognized him.

Of course she had. If circumstances had been different, she might have been more pleased to remake
his acquaintance. In her present situation, she could
not bring herself to say she was truly as glad to see
him as he was to see her.

“It’s been a very long time, I fear. We were what …
both nine? Mere children then but how you have grown.” With her hand in his, he took a small step
back and eyed her, making a thorough inspection. He
smiled. His eyes smiled. “I must say, time has been
more than generous to you”

Cassie felt her face warm. She was not accustomed
to men staring at her in such an open and obvious
fashion.

“After you’re settled, please allow me the pleasure
of escorting you for a walk around the gardens”

“That sounds wonderful. I shall look forward to it.”

Edward led her with the hand he would not relinquish. He slipped his other around her waist and
stepped behind her, escorting her to her rooms.

“Until this afternoon, then” Edward pressed his
lips against the back of her hand and whispered, “No
need to blush for we are to spend the rest of our lives
together and I shall not waste precious moments being proper when there is no need.”

He reached the top of the stairs and turned to face
her. In a bout of dramatics, Edward tossed another
kiss from his fingertips before descending.

Cassie could not help but smile at the sweet intent
of the romantic gesture. With his exit, Cassie passed
across the threshold and studied the bedchamber.
She admired the large-paned windows that allowed
the bright rays of the sun to cascade into the room.
Moving farther in, she ran her fingers over the back
of the gilded sofa in front of the fireplace.

Turning to the right, she crossed to the writing table, strategically placed near the windows where one could
pen letters in natural light.

Cassie would need to write Mrs. Hicks and tell her
of the bad news. She had no real notion when she
would return but couldn’t bring herself to order the
housekeeper to close the house.

Mrs. Green opened the door to the adjoining room.
Cassie continued her tour. Layette followed her into the
bedroom. The same glorious light flooded this room.
Cassie fingered the duvet on the four-poster bed. The
snowy-white background edged in a pink flower and
blue ribbon pattern made it the most beautiful she had
ever seen.

“If there is anything else you need, my lady,
please ring.” Mrs. Green gestured at the wide tapestry bell pull that lay against the wall before taking
her leave.

“Il est tres charmant, West-ce pas?” The French
maid sighed with a silly smile plastered to her face.

Cassie removed her spencer and faced Layette.
“Yes, he is quite charming.” And certainly pleasant.
She felt numb. Too much was happening too fast.

Was it the extended time apart from the Stewart
family and the sudden reunion that caused her uneasiness? Was it the squire ordering her about? Was
it her uncertainty about her future husband?

Husband. That was an unsettling thought. Marriage
to Edward appeared to be the only way she could get
what she wanted. Cassie would do whatever it took to save her home, even if it meant tolerating the squire
and his edicts, even if it meant marrying Edward.

Edward … she wondered. Undoubtedly, he must
be very popular with the ladies. Cassie could see the
effect his manner had on her maid, Layette. There was
no doubt. Edward Stewart was quite handsome. What
woman would not want his attention? She should have
felt fortunate that she was to marry him. Matters could
have been much worse. Cassie’s father might have insisted she marry the elder brother Julian.

Edward Stewart entered through the open double
doors of the library. “Good morning, Julian,” he said
with a quality that almost lent the greeting to music.

“I see that it is, isn’t it?” The squire peered over
his wirerimmed eyeglasses at his jubilant younger
brother.

“It is a perfect morning.” Edward inhaled deep and
opened his arms wide, greeting the warm rays of the
sun. “Except, I do have a complaint, albeit a small
one.”

“Only one? Then it would seem far from perfect,
would it not? What complaint do you have?”

“It’s the valet, Valentine, is that his name? He seems
a bit on the odd side, don’t you think?”

“Odd? Hadn’t noticed really.” The only concern Ju lian had regarding staff came when the household did
not run efficiently. He saw nothing that would indicate
that such was the case.

“Well, it doesn’t matter, really.” Edward shrugged.

“What do you mean it doesn’t matter?” The current
valet saw to the squire’s wardrobe and did an adequate
job. “The fact that you bring up his name warrants discussion.”

“He’ll be gone in a fortnight. You’ll chase him
away just as you have all the others” Edward took a
coffee cup and dispensed the steaming black liquid
from the large silver urn on the credenza. “It’s always
the same. The capable valet I’ve hired has always
gone by the time I return.

“You, dear brother, manage to fill the position. However I always find the cove you’ve hired, on the whole,
unsuitable. Then I have to search for an adequate replacement. Then the process starts again. I do wish
you’d let me have my own man.”

“As I’ve explained before, Edward, we are not the
aristocracy and as such we should not be expected to
follow what they dictate as the latest fashion.”

“It’s not as if you haven’t got the blunt” That offthe-cuff remark would get Edward nowhere. In a more
restrained voice he continued. “I am representing the
family when I travel for business. And as such I should
not have to rely upon the local accommodations to
supply me with some servant they simply have on
hand.”

“The one valet has enough to do when you are
home. If we had two … I daresay, what would keep
the two of them occupied?”

Edward did have an answer. “Like I said, I have
only the one complaint. Otherwise it is the beginning
of a glorious day”

“Perhaps you can enlighten me as to what makes
this particular morning any more glorious than the
others?” Julian straightened in his chair and set down
his pen. Experience told him only a female could
cause this type of euphoric behavior in his brother.
The squire leaned back in his chair, giving Edward
his undivided attention.

“I just met my bride-to-be upstairs. I believe my
luck has continued to hold. Not only does her dowry
promise to be sizable, but she is a beauty as well.”

“What do you know of her dowry?” Julian said
nothing more to his brother than what he’d needed to
know.

Edward seated himself on the sofa and unceremoniously propped his feet up on the expensive table.
“Perhaps I will hire my own man.”

Edward sighed in exasperation and turned to Julian.
“My dear brother, you know as well as I do that Cass
is the only daughter of the Earl of Thaddbury. It’s no
secret, Lord Thadburry was a wealthy man”

“That is true,” Julian agreed.

“And although his title and holding have gone to his
heir, I do not believe he would have left his beloved daughter without a feather to fly with.” Edward sipped
his coffee and took a moment to savor the flavor. “I
may not have the financial sense that you possess,
dear brother. However I am not so blind that I cannot
work that much out for myself. I’ll tell you what else I
suspect” He sat forward to address his elder sibling.
“I know our father was at one time very good friends
with the earl. For as long as I can recall it was understood our fathers had arranged for a marriage between
our families.”

Julian knew his brother had the facts correct but
wasn’t about to confirm or deny any of the details.

“Father had already seen to your marriage-it had
been arranged before I’d been born, I believe. The fact
that it didn’t last long is no fault of yours. She’d always been a sickly girl.” Edward’s unpleasant expression subsided. “However, when it comes to Cass and
me, neither of our fathers are around now but”-he
motioned to Julian-“that’s where you come in. You’ll
see to it that everyone is all right and tight, doing the
proper thing. I wager that Cass’ father was so adamant
that she and I should marry, if she refuses to go
through with it, she’ll inherit nothing”

The squire would allow Edward his speculation
about the details surrounding his upcoming nuptials.
“And what may I ask do you hope to gain by this?” Julian had half-expected his brother to be unwilling to
take the marital step.

“I don’t need to be threatened by financial ruin. I have you to bully me into marriage.” Edward stood,
walked toward Julian, and laughed. “However, I’d
imagine there would be an increase in my quarterly
allowance and a decrease in my workload”

“Less work you say?” Julian raised his eyebrows.

“It’s not what I would wish for, mind. But I do think
it’s about time I settle down and think about filling the
nursery. My providing an heir will take the pressure
off you to remarry.”

“We need not concern ourselves with providing an
heir. We have no titles to pass on”

Edward set his hands on the desk and leaned in toward his brother. “But we have land and money I’m
sure you’d like to see kept in the family.”

Julian removed his spectacles, laying them to rest
on his papers. “I suppose I should find a capable agent
to fill your shoes. But you shouldn’t allow that to concern you.”

“It’s the family business, of course it concerns
me” Edward returned to his chair and once again
propped his feet on the table. “Cass and I shall move
to her beloved Hedgeway Park after we’re wed. After
we’re settled and start our family, I can resume my
activities.”

“Lady Cassandra may still feel reluctant about the
marriage, even with all you believe she stands to lose.”
Julian touched his recently assaulted cheek, recalling
her objection.

Edward’s smile faded. His boots made a resounding thud from their resting position as he stood. “Why?
Am I so horrible that she would not have me?” Edward splayed a hand upon his chest, offended by the
mere suggestion.

“Do not take offense,” the squire replied. “I do not
believe it is a personal dislike. She did not say precisely, but I’m sure she has some foolish woman’s
notion of marrying without love and other such nonsense”