One True Love (20 page)

She was so confused. Although she once believed herself in love with Mr. Parker, she could not imagine doing with him what she had done with William. Her world had shifted in such a short time, and her feelings were shifting as well. Pain seared her heart as she thought of William as unhappy. She wanted to be a good wife to her husband. But how could she if he kept his distance except at night?

"Cassie. Do you still love Mr. Parker?"

The air left her lungs. How was she supposed to answer such a question? She looked around the room, and searched for an escape. There was nowhere to go. She was well and truly trapped.

"Perhaps it is for the best if you did not answer."

"I...uh...I..."

Mary grabbed a biscuit and plopped down in a nearby chair. "I am done with my fittings, thank goodness. I do not understand why women have to have so many changes of clothes. Morning dresses, walking dresses, dinner gowns, ball gowns. It is ridiculous if you ask me." She looked curiously from one to the other. "Did I interrupt something serious? You both look like startled deer."

"We were just talking, Mary," said Lady Camberley.

"Talking about how William is so unhappy, I suppose," said Mary.

Dear heavens! William's family must despise her for the sham of their marriage.

"Oh, do not get your feathers in a ruffle, Cassie. It is William's own fault. It is not as if he could expect you to fall madly in love with him only a day after returning from a spoiled trip to Gretna Green with your betrothed. He may be mad about you, but he cannot think you can turn your feelings on and off so easily." Mary bit into her biscuit as if they were discussing the weather.

"Mary! Must you be so brass? I am sorry, Cassie. I did not mean for our conversation to turn so sour. I do not blame you, truly, I do not," said Lady Camberley.

What exactly did they expect her to say? Could William be mad about her? She warmed at the thought. But no, he was too cold to her. At least he was cold during the day. But the nights...

"It is the curse." Elizabeth poured herself a cup of tea and sat down.

"What curse?"

"Oh, William did not tell you? Hmm...probably not. He doesn't believe in it. You see, a long time ago, the third Marquis of Camberley, and his brother, the second son, fell in love with the same woman." Mary's eyes twinkled.

Elizabeth picked up the story from there, "Lady Monica, of course, married the marquis."

Anne walked up to join them. "But the second son, Lord John, had a jealous fit of temper."

"And when the marchioness refused to be his lover, he stabbed her with a knife," added Elizabeth.

She looked back and forth as the sisters told their tale. What could this tragic triangle have to do with William?

Jane wandered over, obviously entranced with the story, and not wanting to be left out. "As she lay dying, she set a curse on Lord John."

"And every second son of the Marquis thereafter," said Anne.

"Which is odd when you consider it, since she in fact, cursed her own son," said Elizabeth as she nibbled on a biscuit.

"I never thought about that." Anne screwed up her face in consideration.

"Nevertheless, she did curse her own son, and every second son thereafter," said Mary.

Jane continued, "According to legend, the second son of the Marquis of Camberley was cursed to rejection."

"He is never to find his true love, or to marry. He is destined to remain a lonely bachelor," said Elizabeth.

"But William married Cassie," said Jane.

"So the curse came to an end," added Anne.

"Except that William is unhappy," added Mary.

"Mary!" The entire lot of them turned on Mary. She simply shrugged her shoulders.

Cassie paled. She could not believe in some silly curse, but she did believe William was unhappy. She was quite sure of it now. What could she do? They were bound to each other for life. She did not know how to make her husband happy.

"Oh posh. He is only unhappy because he believes his wife loves another." Mary lifted her brows towards Cassie.

Mr. Parker. Mary meant Mr. Parker.
What could she say? She was once betrothed to Mr. Parker. She could not change the past.

"How can you say such a thing? How would you even know such a thing?" Anne screeched.

"We are twins," Mary stated as if that said it all.

"He was quite desperate to marry," said Jane.

She swallowed hard before responding, "Desperate?"

"Perhaps not desperate." Jane grinned.

"No, not desperate, but he did want to marry. I cannot imagine why," said Mary.

"He is the only one of us who actually wanted to marry," said Elizabeth.

"To the bane of my existence." Lady Camberley's face puckered as she rolled her eyes at her daughters.

"Unfortunately, his suit was rejected," said Anne.

"Twelve times," laughed Mary.

"I guess thirteen is his lucky number," said Jane.

Thirteen.
She was number thirteen.
She could not imagine why twelve eligible women turned down his suit. William was incredibly handsome with his dark, thick, wavy hair and chocolate colored eyes. He was wealthy beyond compare, and from a powerful family. He must have had his pick of young misses thrust at him by matchmaking mamas.

Did he marry her because everyone else rejected him? Did he think her so desperate she would not turn him down? Well, she
was
quite desperate. Ruined. Disgraced. But that is not why she said yes.

Why had she said yes?

His smile. His kiss. His touch.

Where was a fan when one needed to fan one's self? The room was overly warm. Hot, in fact. Burning. Could they not douse the fire?

"Cassie, dear. Are you quite alright? I believe my daughters overstepped themselves." Lady Camberley screwed up her face like the sternest schoolmarm. Everyone had the decency to blush, except Mary who grinned as if she were having a great deal of fun. At Cassie's expense. Could this conversation get any worse?

She nearly burst into tears. The last place she wanted to have a good cry was in front of his sisters and mother. It was bad enough they thought she made William unhappy. How much worse will they think of her if she turned into a watering pot?

She fought to get her emotions under control, and considered her words carefully before she spoke. "Thirteen is
my
lucky number. If the other ladies had not rejected him, then where would I be?"

"In Yorkshire with your great aunt, I suppose," Mary sneered.

"Enough Mary. You are being quite rude." Anne came to Cassie's defense. "Mary is closest to William, so naturally, she is somewhat protective, but she does not mean to offend. I am sure of it. We are all worried about the two of you. Are
you
happy, Cassie?"

Yes.

No
.

Maybe.

Cassie bit her bottom lip. Life would be much simpler if everything would go according to her plans. She was supposed to be Mrs. Parker right now. Instead, she was Lady William Prescott. A rather urgent and dramatic change in her life plans. One that still rendered her speechless. Everything happened so fast. How could she reconcile herself to it all? On one hand, she could not imagine living without William in her life, but on the other hand, if she were honest with herself, she did miss Mr. Parker.

Happy? More like confused.
Very confused
.

The hairs on the back of her neck lifted as if her husband's warm breath blew across her skin. She sensed him before she saw him. How odd. She looked up and met his gaze. The room closed in and washed away the insane conversation with his mother and sisters. They were the only two people in the world. Cassie smiled.

He did not smile back. His face was impassive with no expression or emotion.
William was unhappy
.

Cassie watched as her husband walked over and greeted each of his sisters and his mother. He came to her last and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"Are you ladies done? I thought I would escort my wife back home."

"Yes. We are quite done." Lady Camberley gave warning glances to her daughters.

"Good. Then shall we?" William offered her his hand. She said her goodbyes and climbed into the carriage.

***

While on the drive to their townhome, William thought about the distressed expression on his wife's face when he entered the drawing room. She looked as if she were about to burst into tears. What had his family said to her? He clenched his fist. If they said something to upset her, to make her unhappy...

Cassie sat across from him in the the carriage and stared into her hands. Did she miss Parker? He hardened his jaw at the thought. His extreme dislike of the rogue was only natural, except, there was something else. He could not quite put his finger on it, but there was something that disturbed him about the man.

As soon as they arrived, Cassie went straight to her room, claiming a headache. He noticed the drawn lines on her face and her pale complexion. He wanted to comfort her and wrap his arms around her and hold her forever. Instead, for the sake of his own heart and sanity, he retreated to his study with a glass of brandy.

There was a knock at the door, but before he had a chance to respond it opened. Stephen waltzed into the room.

"Brother," William said. "Pour yourself a glass."

Stephen nodded and poured his brandy then took the seat opposite of William. They sat quietly for a few moments before Stephen spoke, "I just came from Whites."

"And?" He braced himself. He could tell by the set of Stephen's jaw and the anger in his eyes something was wrong.

"Talk of Miles Parker wagged on every tongue. Apparently, I just missed the lout when I arrived."

Every muscle in William's body tensed. He had the terrible feeling the rest of the story would prove not to his liking."Go on."

"The man came in raging drunk, hollering about challenging the bastard who stole his woman. He put a bet on the books that you would be dead by sunrise tomorrow."

William sat his glass on a side table and stood, ready to tear the idiot limb from limb. He growled, "He gave up his claim to Cassie when he returned her home disgraced. She is
my
wife."

"Of course. I thought you should be forewarned. According to Banks the man was well into his cups. He would not be fool enough to carry out such a threat, especially after announcing it to every gentleman in Whites." Stephen finished his brandy and rose. "If you need me, send a note around."

"Yes, thank you, Stephen."

His brother turned and clasped him on the shoulder. "Keep your wife nearby. I suspect the besotted fool might try something that would force you to defend her honor."

Stephen's words echoed in his head long after he left. He could keep Parker from his wife, but could he keep his wife from Parker? A dark scowl crossed his face. He was tempted to go upstairs and remind his pretty little wife who she belonged to. Then he remembered the sadness on Cassie's face when he found her with his family.

Was his wife unhappy? Should he have left her to her disgrace? She might not be happy if she were in Yorkshire, but at least he would not have to endure watching her. And despite everything, he found he could not resist going to her room at night. Last night proved that. He wanted her like no other woman, and when they were together, he thought she wanted him too.

Although his wife may think herself in love with Miles Parker, he was certain of the connection between
them
. The passion was clearly etched on her face when he entered her sweet body. Cassie wanted
him
, needed him.