Page 2 of Forbidden Earl

Footsteps from the hall interrupted her thoughts. She couldn’t imagine being near Remy, not now. She backed into the side door. “Oh, here comes Remington. Can you distract him while I slip past him in the hall so I can go say goodbye to Gigi? I owe her more than a few hugs.”

Donna pressed her hand on her heart and shrugged. “Okay. I’ll try, but Blackwell is probably still with his grandmother.”

It was clear Donna cared about Blackwell—though her fiancé didn’t matter to Cassidy. As long as they were happy, that meant true love existed. And, that she was a pretty darn good cupid.

She waited, impatient to see Gigi, her favorite member of the Burke family. She never knew Remy’s parents who had died during the revolution which was why he’d been raised by his grandmother. “He can be there. I’m just avoiding Remy.” She waved and closed the door.

“Interesting,” Donna said.

Remington’s heavy footsteps brought him back to the blue room. Cassidy listened for the coast to be clear then quietly opened the door to slip down the hall behind them.

Donna asked Remy, “Mr. Burke, I was wondering if Miss Chelsea Bright will be in attendance today.”

“Remington is fine.” There was a glimpse of the nice guy others saw in him, she thought, captivated as he poured himself tea.Good. Cassidy tiptoed down the hall toward the sunroom. Remington said, “I hope she does come over. It will be good for her to know Blackwell is off the market, though my grandmother might not approve if I asked her.”

Cassidy bowed her head outside the door. Soon, anything Gigi might have to say wouldn’t matter. It was fitting in a way that her sister and Remington be superior together. She ignored the barb of pain and entered the room.

She turned, and there was Gigi, lying on her bed near the open window, staring at her flower garden, away from where Blackwell sat quietly, holding her frail hand.

Cassidy, head low, made her way to Gigi’s side.

Blackwell jumped out of his chair. “Hi, Cassidy. I’ll leave you two alone.”

Cassidy blinked away tears and nodded her thanks. Neither of them said anything. Once the door closed Gigi said, “It’s good to see you, my sweet girl.”

For years, Gigi had been the only one who had listened to Cassidy, who understood that she was different than her family. Gigi showed her simple joys in life. First in California and then when they’d returned to Avce, she’d tried to give Cassidy a green thumb—but it hadn’t worked. She squeezed Gigi’s hand. “So this dying thing you’re doing? It’s why we’re not in the garden planting a rose bush.”

Gigi laughed low and throaty. “This was supposed to be your home, my dear.”

If only she’d been born a Burke, she’d have been happy to be related to Gigi. Cassidy massaged the older woman’s wrinkled hand. “You’re leaving your Remy all alone now.” She sniffed as Gigi’s eyes welled.

“I’ll be fine.” Remington stern voice sounded behind her and she jumped.

Drat.He was here. She turned and recognized the rigid expression he always had for her.

Remington came beside her. “Cassidy, for once be nice to my grandmother.”

Clearly, he didn’t understand their jokes and never had just like the last time he’d scolded her over her joke about cutting all the rose bushes down.

Gigi coughed. “Remington Burke, Cassidy is my dearest friend and she should be your wife. I wish you’d treat her better.”

Cassidy flinched and felt her body go numb.

“Cassidy!” Remington’s shout shook the windows. Then he took a deep breath. “Grandmother, she hates me. I won’t ruin her life that way.”

Gigi had a firm grip on Cassidy’s hand as she glanced at her grandson. “You must marry, Remington. It would bring my heart joy to know you married Cassidy. And Cassidy, you’d do well if you left your parents’ house and moved in here.”

Her heart pounded like a hammer to a nail in her chest. This was impossible. She shouted, “You can’t be serious!” But then lowered her voice. “I’d do anything for you Gigi, but I don’t think Remy and I would get along.”

Remington stared at her and she felt her skin burn, but his dark eyes were hard to read—when normally she knew his every thought. He turned toward his grandmother, his shoulders bowed. “I’ll marry Cassidy if it makes you happy.”

Her lips parted and she pushed her hair out of her face. Was he serious? Or was this another of his many pranks he’d played on her throughout the years?

Gigi’s eyes glistened with tears as she squeezed their hands, but then she coughed so bad that she hacked and went white. Cassidy prayed she didn’t die on the spot.

Her face felt numb but she nodded. “Okay, it’s decided, then. Remington needs to straighten it out with my father.” She didn’t mention the previous contract for Chelsea. “As long as no one stops me from working at the palace, I’ll agree.”

Remington tensed and she lifted her head. Any second now, he’d take it back. She was prepared for the worst. He’d tell her it was too late and he was marrying her sister or Lucinda or some other woman from his past.

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