One True Love (26 page)

The door crashed open. Cassie sat up and clutched her feverishly beating heart.
William. Good heavens!
She fell back against the pillow, closed her eyes, and tried to steady her mind. When she opened them, he scowled down at her.
Now what?

William's insane moods wore her out when all she wanted was a peaceful marriage. This unnecessary turmoil put a strain on her nerves, and truthfully, she had not forgiven him for his callous abandonment.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

"Do I not have the right to see my own wife?" he sneered.

"You have chosen to stay away for days, and now you come storming into my room as if seeing me is suddenly urgent?" Cassie sat up and pushed her hair from her face. She must look like a fright.

"I think discovering my wife is enceinte is urgent," he boomed.

Cassie sat up and stiffened her spine. "How did you know?" she whispered. She had not told a soul. She had waited and hoped William would come home as she prayed her news would thaw his chilled heart.

"Dr. Breckman told me. Nevertheless, it should have been my wife. You have known, but you did not see fit to inform me of your condition?" William paced about the room like a panther stalking its' prey. Warning bells clanged in her head. There was more to his anger than he let on.

Resentment so deep, so real, rose inside of her, and she needed to gain control of her wits before speaking. "I have not seen you since the ball. I only learned it that day. I intended to tell you that night, but you stormed off without giving a clue as to your whereabouts. You have not bothered to grace me with your presence,
my lord
."

Something like guilt flashed in his eyes before his face turned into a stony mask.
Hate.
She saw it in his eyes. Hate and disgust.
Why?
She wanted to cry out, to grab hold of him and shake him. What had she done to cause such vehemence?

"Whose child is it, or do you even know?" William's clipped, angry tone burned her like boiling oil poured on an open wound.

Her body shuddered from weakness. If she were standing, she would surely collapse. How could he say such a thing? Her hands shook, not from fear, but from an anguish so deep it rose to the surface like the lava of an erupting volcano. Never before had she experienced such hurt; such rage. Not when she returned from Gretna Green. Not when she saw the disappointment in her parent's eyes.

Fury boiled over and she grabbed a pitcher of water beside her bed and flung it at William. The bowl followed. He dodged the crockery, but the water doused him.

She charged at him and beat her fists against his chest. "How dare you! You...you...blackguard. You rotting bloody bastard!" Tears burned her eyes and streamed down her face as her out of control fists pounded the muscles of unmoving wall.

William grabbed her shoulders and shook her until her head snapped back. She could not read the stony expression on his face or in his dark, shuttered eyes. For a brief moment, they stilled and he held her tight until he bruised her arms. She struggled to catch her breath. He pulled her into his arms and rested his chin atop her head. His hands ran down her back and etched an impression on her skin. Torn between leaning against him and pushing him away, she remained rigid, and fought for control of her emotions.

"It is alright, Cassie. I will accept this child as my own."

His words took a moment to sink in. He did not believe the babe within her womb his? What could have possibly possessed him to think she would do such a thing? Cassie took her vows seriously. Did he think she would go to another man's bed? His lack of trust sickened her.

"Go away." She pushed against his chest with the palms of her hand, then turned her back on him, and listened as his footsteps crossed the room, and as the door opened and shut.

She wrapped her arms around her waist and sank to the floor. This time the tears did not come. She sat on her knees with her heart hammering in her ears, for what seemed like hours, before she finally rose, rang the bell pull, and demanded a bath.

Tonight she would attend the Farthington Ball without her husband. She would carry on. And when she began to show, she would return to Rosehill Manor
alone
.

***

The Farthington Ball was a ridiculous crush of hothouse flowers and London dandies. Cassie wore a deep blue silk gown cut in the popular Empire style. A gold sash rested below her breasts and drew attention to her fashionably low-cut bodice. Katie piled her golden curls on top of her head, and then weaved in diamonds and sapphires. A small sapphire pendent handed down from her grandmother graced her throat. She positively shimmered, and the attention of the surrounding gentlemen proved this to her.

Her dance card filled up within fifteen minutes of her arrival. She gave herself no time to stop and think about her missing husband, his horrible accusations, or her torn heart. Cassie danced and laughed and soaked in the atmosphere of swirling gowns and flickering candlelight. Living her life to the fullest was the only thing she could do to prevent the shallowness of her marriage from creeping into her thoughts, and taking over her every move. If William did not want her, then she would continue on without him.

Her resolve did not last long.

"Cassie, dear, where is William tonight? We hardly ever see him anymore," asked Anne.

"I would not know. He does not bother to inform me of his whereabouts or agenda."

Anne's brow creased and she pursed her lips. "This is becoming a habit of his. Is something wrong?"

"No, of course not. William stays busy." Cassie attempted to smile, but her lips did not cooperate. She should have kept her mouth shut. She trusted Anne, but, she was water to their blood, and William came first with his family. Perhaps when her babe was born the Prescotts would see her in a different light. Then again, if William did not accept her babe as his own, what made her think his family would acknowledge her child?

Lord Wortham came to claim the next dance, leaving her no choice but to put her thoughts behind her. Cassie's heart could not stand to dwell on matters.

Despite her attempts to enjoy herself, a facade came over her like a cloak of disguise. Her pasted smile became brittle, and she tried to stop herself from rubbing her dry eyes. She danced and turned with partner after partner, but she could not help but glance around with hope blooming in her heart. She needed to have a frank discussion with her husband, but if he continued to avoid her, how would they ever work through this mess of a marriage?

Her observation skills sharpened as she noticed the difference in the faces of young, innocent girls in their first blush of love, juxtaposed with women who wore fake smiles that never reached their eyes. Recently, she heard tales of ladies who married for convenience, mostly to improve their social and financial statuses. True love was rare among the highest circles of Society.

Stephen partnered her for a waltz. He was tall and handsome like his brother with the same dark, wavy hair and chocolate eyes. His smile was warm and pleasant, but she did not react to him in the same way as William. They moved across the room while she waited for the inevitable.

"Where is William tonight?" The concern in Stephen's eyes caused her to bite on her lip.

"I am sure he is quite busy," she said, even though she knew the excuse sounded weak.

Stephen watched her, his gaze intent. Had William told Stephen about her condition, and his awful suspicions?

Stephen said nothing more. She started to excuse herself to the lady's retiring room when a strange hush came over the crowd. She turned to see what caused the fuss when she spotted her husband on the arm of another woman.

She stilled as Stephen took her arm amid a flurry of whispers that turned into a roar inside her head. Cassie watched her husband escort the woman into the ballroom. The raven-haired beauty wore her hair piled high on her head. Dark, exotic eyes with long lashes fluttered against her face. Her cranberry gown shimmered in the candlelight like that of a fairy princess.

"Why?" whispered Cassie.

"Lady Quartermane," Stephen muttered.

Cassie sucked in a deep breath.
William's mistress. Here. In front of the entire
ton
. Heat burned her cheeks as mocking faces turned towards her. She caught William's eyes, which he raised, daring her to say or do something. She wanted to slap his face. Imagining the red mark gave her a small sense of satisfaction, but it was not enough to cool the rising anger.

William turned his back, cutting her in front of everyone. She gathered her composure and pretended she did not feel the humiliation, or the eyes of Society watching her, and the pain that wrapped around her throat and choked her.

Anne came to her side. "Cassie, I ripped the hem of my dress. Could you help me?" Not waiting for an answer, she pulled Cassie forward.

Cassie followed her sister-in-law to the lady's retiring room. The hot sting of tears clouded her vision. The burn of deceit followed her out the door. William slammed her heart against the wall, stomped on it, and threw it back into her face.

What happened to the William she loved?

Oh God, she loved him.

Despite her husband's cruel treatment as of late,
she loved him
. She wanted him to return to her, to hold her, to make love to her, to accept their child. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she reached the retiring room. She swiped at her wet cheeks with the back of her hand.

Anne locked the door and pulled Cassie into a hug. "Oh, Cassie, I am so sorry. I do not understand what caused William to act like an idiot."

Cassie tears turned into sobs. Anne handed her a handkerchief to wipe her eyes and blow her nose. She crumpled it in her hand. "I suppose I should buy you a new one."

"Talk to me, Cassie. What is going on?" Anne took her hand and implored her with her dark eyes
–chocolate eyes like William's.

Cassie sniffled. She needed to talk to someone. Suddenly, she wished for Jocelyn, who was so young and innocent, and would certainly not understand marital problems. Anne was older, but she was also unmarried. She pondered what to do, then started blabbering. "I am enceinte."

"Oh Cassie, that is wonderful. However, I do not understand. William has always wanted children. Why would he treat you as if you had the plague?"

Cassie took a deep breath. "He believes the babe is not his."

Anne gasped, "No."

"Yes."

"How could he think such a thing?" she asked.

"I do not know or understand it myself. A couple of weeks ago Lord Winnington cornered me in the garden. I did not want him to touch me, but he forced a kiss on me. Then William showed up and bloodied his nose. I think my husband blames me, or believes I wanted Lord Winnington's affections. He leaves early and does not come home until late. He will not talk to me, Anne."

If the handkerchief were paper, it would have been torn to shreds by now. Cassie pulled at it as she tried to stop another round of tears. She was at her wits end with her emotions running high, and she did not remember a time when she felt so rung out.

Anne took a deep breath and whispered, "It is the curse."

"What? That silly ancient curse about women rejecting the second son?
I
did not reject him, so how could it possibly be the curse?"

"William married you within days of breaking off your engagement with Lord Winnington. Jealousy runs hot in my family. Nevertheless, I think it is more than jealousy. He fears you will break his heart."

"That is ridiculous. I wanted to marry him."

"I thought you did too," Anne took her hands, "but does William know that?"

***

Revenge tasted bitter. The
ton
looked at him with a combination of disgust and speculation. William witnessed the humiliation flood his wife's cheeks, so he turned his back, and gave his own wife the cut direct in front of all of Society. He handed the harpies more fodder for their gossip. And he felt like the world's biggest cad.