The Visitor (44 page)

Cassandra was not thrilled to be asked to play after dinner, but she did so without complaint. The only person who had not heard her perform was Tate, but for this activity he was the only person who mattered.

Hoping desperately that he couldn’t see her warm cheeks, she sat down and started a familiar piece. It was more interest than skill level that hindered Cassandra, as she did in fact play well. She did not, however, fool herself. Charlotte, whose dynamics and phrasing were more accomplished, was the better pianist.

Lizzy had even less interest in performing; her tastes ran to tapestries and books, but she enjoyed listening to music.

“Very nice,” Edward said when Cassandra was done, the occupants of the room giving her applause.

“How about some Bach,” Lizzy asked.

Cassandra gave a slight nod and began. She had yet to look at Tate but knew he was watching her. He’d done little else all evening. She remembered that they had ended their afternoon together with eyes only for each other. With that in mind, Cassandra found the piano a distraction.

That Tate wanted to keep looking at her was only too clear. What he might not know is that she wanted to look back.

“Are you going to play for us, Lizzy?” Edward had the cheek to ask when Cassandra finished and moved away from the instrument before anyone could suggest another piece.

“No,” she said sweetly, her eyes sending a message before she turned to Morland. “Don’t you start,” she warned him when she saw the gleam in his eyes.

He only smiled.

“Your sister doesn’t care to play?” Tate asked quietly when Cassandra came back to sit near him.

“No more than I do.”

Well remembering her view on the matter, Tate only smiled.

“It looks as though we’re stuck with cards,” Edward commented, going for the deck.

The women, thinking they might be asked again to play, were on their feet in a moment. Both of the men in their lives noticed this but only smiled without comment. Morland and Tate liked music, but pushing the women they loved to perform—even women they believed played beautifully—was the last thing they wished to do.

Chapter Twenty-One

Henry had not stayed to breakfast with the family. He and Cassandra had ridden early and she had gone to the table, but as soon as Henry received the morning post, he retired to his study. He surprised the family by joining them again not five minutes later.

Cassandra, Edward, and Lizzy watched him take his regular place at the breakfast table, their food forgotten.

“Have Morland and Tate been exchanging plans?” Henry asked of his sisters.

“Why would you ask that?” Lizzy ventured.

“Because I have received a request for your hand in marriage, Lizzy, and one for yours as well, Cassie. They have come in the same post.”

As though they’d practiced the move, both girls’ hands came to their mouths before they exchanged looks. They grinned at each other like children and then looked back to Henry.

“I can see by this melancholy reaction that I must say no,” Henry said dryly, pushing from his seat amid his sisters’ laughter. They were chattering before he could exit the room.

“I think it would be so wonderful to have a double wedding, Cassie.”

Cassandra sat very upright, as though she’d been affronted.

“How could you think anything else? I’ve wished for us to have a double wedding for some time now.”

“With baskets of flowers!” Lizzy went on. “That’s a must.”

“Yes, but now, should our dresses match or be different?”

“I think different, Cassie. We have separate tastes, and I’m a few inches taller. One style might not work for both of us.”

“That’s true. I think we should go into town today and start shopping.”

“I have to see Anne Weston this morning, but we can go directly after.”

It wasn’t until that moment that they noticed Edward. His head turned back and forth between them as they talked, as if he were watching a ball fly to and fro over a net.

“Do you not have anything else to do, Edward?” Lizzy asked with a smile.

“Not in the least,” he sat back. “I find I’m free all day.”

The women laughed at him.

“Would you like to accompany us to town?” Cassandra offered, certain he would say no.

“I think I’d better. I may not have a chance to witness such a spectacle ever again.”

“You had to ask him,” Lizzy said to her sister, but no one was very upset. No, indeed. The Misses Elizabeth and Cassandra Steele of Newcomb Park were going to be wed.

Brown Manor

“He was acting so oddly Wednesday night, Anne. I didn’t know what to think. And then in today’s post, the letter arrived.”

“And one for Cassie too?”

“Yes! Henry sent word back to both men directly.”

Anne’s sigh was deep, her eyes dreamy.

“How lovely.” She looked at Lizzy suddenly. “When, Lizzy? When will you be wed?”

Lizzy looked surprised. “I don’t know. I didn’t think about it. Cassie and I are going shopping later, but I forgot all about selecting a date.”

Anne laughed at her.

“I so wish I could have witnessed this firsthand. You have plans to shop for a wedding, but you don’t know the date.”

Lizzy had to laugh with her, but the question of a date stayed on her mind. It would have been the only thing on her mind had she known that Morland was already at the house looking for her to discuss this very subject.

“She’s gone to see Anne Weston,” Cassandra told him.

“I think she mentioned doing that. I forgot all about it.”

“I don’t suppose I can help with anything?”

“Only if you’re going to tell me what day she’ll marry me.”

“Of course I can,” Cassandra said with a smile, shocking Morland, whose mouth was left open. “It’s the same day Tate is going to marry me.”

“Tate asked for your hand?”

Cassandra smiled. “Just this morning.”

Morland hugged her and kissed her cheek.

“Congratulations.”

“And to you also.”

“Thank you. Did I hear you right? We’re having a double wedding?”

Cassandra stared at him, filled with sudden doubts. She’d failed to consider what the men would want.

“Well, we thought it would be nice.” Cassandra’s voice had grown soft and uncertain. “I haven’t asked Tate, nor has Lizzy asked you, but then you know that.”

Morland smiled, just short of laughter.

Cassandra sighed. “There’s more to this than I imagined.”

“That’s probably true for all of us, Cassie, but if Tate feels as I do, you may have any wedding you wish. What does Henry think?”

This time Morland could not stop his laugh. Cassandra’s eyes had grown saucerlike, telling him that Henry had not been let in on the plan either.

“Don’t panic,” Morland cautioned when he could speak. “Why don’t we first look at a calendar, choose some dates, and see if any of those would work for you and Lizzy. From there, you can ask Tate and gain his input. Henry probably won’t care to have much opinion on any of it.”

“Good!” Cassandra declared. “That’s a fine plan.”

When Edward wandered along not five minutes later, he naturally wanted to know what they were doing.

“Finding a date to be wed.”

Edward wondered at the fact that Morland and Cassandra were working together but only said, “Can I help?”

“No!” Cassandra replied with such panic that Edward chuckled.

“Edward, do you know what I’ve done?”

“No, what?”

“I’ve begun planning without ever once asking Tate if he minded a double wedding.”

“He won’t, Cassie. And as bride it’s your choice.”

“But it’s his wedding day too.”

Edward only smiled and reiterated, “He won’t care, Cassie. You may trust me on this.”

Cassandra only frowned in concentration and went back to the calendar.

“Let’s see,” Morland was saying. “The bans have to be read two weeks in church, so this Sunday and next, and we could all be married in about ten days.”

“You can’t be serious, Morland!” Cassandra turned to him. “There are dresses to be made and plans to settle.”

“Twenty days, then?”

His face was so serious that Cassandra turned to Edward.

“Can you please make him understand?”

“Understand what?” Lizzy wished to know, coming through the doorway in the nick of time.

Cassandra and Morland began to speak at the same time, and once again, Edward sat back and watched, not sure if even the wildlife in Africa could compete with this spectacle for interest and fascination.

“Wait a minute,” Lizzy cut in. “I’m not getting any of this.”

Cassandra closed her mouth and let Morland explain, satisfied to see her sister’s surprise when Morland suggested they marry in 20 days’ time.

“I don’t think that’s enough time, Morland,” Lizzy said gently. “Will it bother you terribly to have the wedding in August or even September when the weather has cooled?”

Waiting that long had never occurred to Morland, and he was very bothered but did not immediately answer.

“Morland?” Lizzy tried again.

“I’m just considering a few things,” he said but didn’t elaborate.

Lizzy looked to Cassandra, but she only shrugged.

“Did you really think it would be in just a few weeks, Morland?” Lizzy asked, not certain what he was thinking.

“I admit I did.”

Lizzy didn’t know what to say. Charlotte had taken several months to plan her wedding. It didn’t seem overly long to any of them at the time, but maybe Barrington would disagree.

“We haven’t actually chosen a date,” Cassandra mentioned. “I still haven’t spoken to Tate.”

“Well, maybe you should do that, Cassie, and let me know what you decide.” Morland’s smile was normal, and his eyes were kind, but Lizzy could tell he was disappointed.

“Now, I’d best be off. I understand you were headed to do some shopping.”

Lizzy was so surprised she didn’t speak. Morland bid them all goodbye and made his way to the door.

He was gone before Lizzy realized she should have gone after him. Thankfully, her siblings did nothing to add to her confusion. Edward told her that he was ready to go at any time, and Cassandra said she would need only ten minutes.

Lizzy thanked them, decided to go ahead and shop, and hoped that Morland would come back that evening so they could talk.