Page 53 of Taken to the Grave
Cassie crossed her arms tightly. “He refuses to listen.”
“She refuses to see good sense,” he shot back. “If you refuse to ever marry, you will find yourself set apart in society.”
“Maybe I wouldn’t mind that very much,” she said.
“There are precious few options for unmarried women, Cassie, even heiresses.” Michael looked undone by the argument as he tugged at his already drooping cravat.
“Why should I be content with marrying some man just so I might be able to mingle better in society? I want more than that out of my life, thank you.”
Genie, who stood between the brother and sister as a kind of buffer, turned toward Cassie. “And you should want more than to just marrysome man. You should be able to marry the man of your choice, and Michael is not saying otherwise.”
Audrey wished Genie’s good sense would be taken to heart, but she knew the mulish cast of Cassie’s expression too well.
“I have yet to meet anyone who I would even wish to take a stroll with, let alone marry.”
“Perhaps you would, if you would give any suitor an honest chance.”
Cassie deftly swerved away from Michael’s cutting observation. “This discussion isn’t about whether I marry or not. It’s about receiving the inheritance our father settled on me.”
“As I have already stated, you are not equipped to manage such a fortune.”
“Equipped?” Cassie balked.
“Yes, equipped—with good sense!” Michael roared, his patience visibly breaking. “One only need look at the debacle with Renfry to prove it!”
Audrey winced, and Cassie’s face turned to stone as she stared at her brother. Even Genie appeared stunned, her hand settling over her lips.
“How dare you throw that into my face?” Though she spoke softly, Cassie’s vehemence filled the suddenly quiet room.
Michael seemed to realize his blunder but, in his stubbornness, wouldn’t be moved toward contrition. “You were foolish. Too trusting, too naïve.”
“Michael,” Genie started to say, but she didn’t appear to know how to continue.
Audrey went to Cassie’s side and took her hand. Her fingers were slack, though, as if too stunned to grip hers in return.
“You’ve been sheltered, Cassie,” he went on. “Coddled and spoiled and you’ve no idea the realities of managing more than your pin money.”
“That is unfair,” Audrey said, feeling the cut even though he hadn’t made it toward her. “She hasn’t been given the chance.”
He turned his incisive eyes toward her. “And you think I should give her that chance with an income of nearly two thousand pounds a year?”
“Yes, because it is mine, not yours,” Cassie replied. “You cannot withhold it from me.”
“Legally, I can, as it is in a trust, and I am the holder of that trust. Besides, what would you even do with it?” Michael asked.
Cassie ripped her hand from Audrey’s. “Maybe I would use it to help other women like me to escape from the overbearing men in their lives!”
He rolled his eyes. “Like you?”
“Yes, I was foolish. I was trusting. I believed the lies of a man because all my life I had been taught to trust them, depend upon them, know that they are honorable. Well now I know they aren’t.”
Audrey tried to re-capture her hand. “Not all men are dishonorable, Cassie.”
She moved away, toward the study doors, leaving Audrey grasping at air.
“They want only two things: money and pleasure. I know I’m not the only woman who’s been taken for a fool.” She stopped then and turned, her eyes bright. “Maybe I will use my fortune to help other women like me. Women who have nowhere else to turn.”
Michael threw up his hands. “You speak as if you don’t have anyone to support you.”
