Page 20 of Enchanted By the Lyon
Her light tinkling laughter at the entryway to the garden broke the spell of misery that was affecting his mood. She excused herself from Val and gave a nod to Puck. And then, there she stood not ten feet away, coming to an abrupt halt when she saw him. He realized it must have appeared as though he was standing there as if waiting for her. Perhaps he was, even as he told himself he wasn’t. But then she gracefully strode closer and he bowed.
“Lord Blackthorn… I didn’t expect to see you here when I was summoned to the garden,” she said softly, tilting her head to one side as though inspecting him.
“Nor did I expect you, Mrs. Vaughn,” he answered, stepping forward to take her hand and kissing the air between her gloved fingertips. A totally proper thing to do when encountering a lady, but how he wished he could pull the fabric from her hand and feel her skin.
She looked around him to see if anyone else was present. “We’re alone?” she whispered, showing her concern.
“So, it would appear, but have no fear. You are safe with me,” he said, stepping back to give her space. And to keep himself from reaching to touch her again. “Mrs. Dove-Lyon sent you here, and she sent me,” Lucius announced, determined not to fall into the obvious trap.
Cassandra nodded and her mouth tightened under her domino mask as she looked past him to the far part of the garden. She pointed with her chin. “And she’s provided refreshments, apparently.”
Lucius turned to see a seating area where two rustic wooden chairs where arranged. A round wooden table sat between them,holding two champagne flutes and a silver bucket where a bottle of champagne chilled. Beyond that, there was a sort of chimney on legs in which a small fire was kindled merrily blazed. A tiny whisp of smoke curled from its top. It was enchanting and rather clever. A portable hearth!
“I’ve never seen one of those before. What is it?” he murmured.
“It’s a chiminea,” Cassandra answered, moving toward the little chimney as if entranced. “Rupert—my husband—told me about them. His family was in trade, you know…he had traveled and seen and sold many things. He’d always wanted one for our garden, but then…”
Her voice trailed off, and then she turned to him. “Sit with me? I mean… if you think it’s safe.”
“Safe?” He had no idea what she meant.
“For us. To just…well. I know it might cause a scandal, but there’s champagne. If she called us both to be here, obviously she… well. I think it would be all right. No one will see us to cause a scandal.” She bit her lip. “It’s just… honestly, my lord, I feel like I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t at least sit in front of the chiminea. For Rupert.” She paused, and then said in a cracked-sounding voice, “He would have liked this.”
Since she put it that way, he supposed it would be all right. Even as he knew Mrs. Dove-Lyon had summoned them and was clearly up to her matchmaking tricks, if the sole reason they sat together here was to honor the memory of her dead husband, then who was he to say no, but a cad?
After all, he couldn’t leave her alone. Anyone could come along and accost her. Like… Valentine. That settled it. “Very well, madam. Let’s.” He gestured to the chairs.
As she moved toward them, he realized perhaps Mrs. Dove-Lyon was providing them not with an opportunity for a triste but one for him to find out more about her past—and her husband’sbrother. What better way to do so than by providing the exact opportunity with an unexpected object from Rupert’s family’s past?
He wondered how she knew about it. She has spies everywhere, he decided. It was just like her to know everything. Even the tiny details of a person…
Cassandra settled into her chair with grace, like a queen ascending her throne. The thought made a smile dance at the edges of his lips as he moved to stand before the table. The heat from the little hearth warmed the backs of his calves as he reached for the champagne and proceeded to pop the cork.
“You’re very good at that, my lord,” she noted.
He decided now was not the time to tell her that he was good at many things. Perhaps if he played his cards right, he’d be able to show her of his skills—in bed—at the end of this game. But for now, his usual tendency to flirt was the wrong one. He wanted to know more about her, not make her race away from him. So, he silently nodded and filled their glasses. He handed her one, then lifted his and moved to his chair.
As he seated himself, she raised her champagne in a toast. “To… old memories of people past, and new beginnings with people present,” she said.
He lifted his glass in turn. “Hear, hear,” he said, then sipped from his flute.
She set hers down and reached to remove her mask with a mutter about it being scratchy. He had to agree with her about that and removed his. They each placed them on the table next to the bucket holding the bottle.
Then they sat, she staring into the flames, probably lost in her memories, with him staring at her not sure how to proceed. She was so lovely to look upon. It was hard not to reach for her. Instead, he lifted his glass from the table and clutched it instead, as he wondered what Mrs. Dove-Lyon had thoughtmight happen between them here. Perhaps he should just be honest with her about mending her past.
“Were you informed that Mrs. Dove-Lyon has assigned me a task where you are concerned, Mrs. Vaughn?” he began, figuring he should get straight to the point.
“She did?” she gasped but there could be no mistaking the apparent look of interest sparkling in her green eyes. He hated the thought of snuffing out such excitement. She seemed to glow like a fairy working her magic.
“Yes. A business matter, nothing more,” Lucius replied and watched her face fall.
“I see,” she finally murmured before reaching for her glass again and taking another sip of her champagne. “And what, exactly, did Mrs. Dove-Lyon hire you for?”
At that moment, the lady in question entered the garden area and Lucius and Cassandra came to a stand after returning their flutes to the table. “I hired him to right the wrong where your inheritance is concerned,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon replied as she joined them by the fire.
Lucius offered the lady his seat and when both women had taken their chairs, he went to stand across from them with legs spread and his hands linked behind his back. “Mrs. Dove-Lyon is under the impression that your brother-in-law may have swindled you out of your husband’s money.”
Cassandra frowned. “That was a long time ago,” she declared softly.
