Page 27 of Enchanted By the Lyon
She was stunning in a pale blue gown that reminded him of a warm summer sky and he swore he could feel the heat of her body pressed up against his own as it did that night at the Lyon’s Den. Jewels sparkled from her neck, ears, and at one gloved wrist as the reflections from the candles above made them glimmer. He still couldn’t fathom why she had such an effect on him but maybe—as difficult as it was—it was time to admit he just might have actualfeelingsfor the lady, besides wanting to bed her.
He’d never felt this way about any other woman. Even his past feelings for Marsha paled in comparison leaving him with the impression that perhaps what he had felt for Marsha wasn’t love at all.
Then it dawned on Lucius that Cassandra wasn’t alone. He watched her laughter brighten her face as she held onto the arm of his erstwhile friend Valentine. The reality of the situation and the past conversation with Mrs. Dove-Lyon suddenly hit him. If the Black Widow of Whitehall had her way, those two would marry.
In fact, he would lose this woman unless he did something that went against everything he’d claimed he wanted out of life: To remain a bachelor. Now, with Val at her side instead of himself, he was starting down the green-eyed monster of jealousy, and it was about to consume him. Such an admission told him everything he needed to know of his feelings for Cassandra.
Could he really stand by and watch the budding romance between Cassandra and Val blossom over the entire season? Lucius inwardly groaned. He didn’t think he could stomach it, nor could he hide himself away in the country. Not with his debt still remaining unpaid to Mrs. Dove-Lyon. He would either have to let the woman go or admit that this attraction he had for the lady went beyond anything he had every experienced before.
Her words back at the Lyon’s Den ran through his head again. Isuppose such an offer for someone likemeshould be appreciated, my lord, but I must decline. And the way the tears had glistened in her green eyes… Now that he had time to speculate on the matter, he began to realize Cassandra had feelings for him too.
God, how he must have hurt her. Offering to createan arrangementlike she didn’t matter to him at all…like she was any of his mistresses, who he’d finished up with and virtually tossed aside when he became interested in another. What kind of callous cad was so heartless?
Me, I suppose.He felt a flush of shame. Another unfamiliar emotion. But never mind that—what mattered was could she ever forgive him? He supposed his apology would require more groveling than he had ever done in his entire life if he wanted to pursue something between them. His gaze followed the couple as they made their way through the room and his feet began to move as well. The ballroom was brimming with guests, and he lost the pair for a moment until he saw them taking their place on the other side of the dance floor. The musicians began to play, and Cassandra appeared as though she was enjoying herself as she expertly performed the patterns of the dance.
Then their eyes met and her face quickly fell, along with her body, as she stumbled briefly before she resumed her place in line and continued the dance.
Perhaps that he had such an effect on her might play to his benefit. He recalled her words about upping his game and decided it might be beneficial if he also took a turn about the dance floor. He was about to make his way across the room when a voice interrupted him.
“She’s a beautiful lady, if not a bit tarnished. They’ll let anyone these days into a ball reserved for the elite,” a man’s voice all but sneered.
Lucius turned to face the gentleman who had once been a close friend and who now—because of the man’s vile character—was an enemy, and adversary. “You should be careful who’s name you besmirch, Forbes. Mrs. Vaughn is the dear friend of those in the nobility who would take offense.”
“Coming to the lady’s defense? How unusual. But, shedidknow how to please me in bed when she was my mistress years ago,” Hollingsworth declared with a sly, knowing grin.
Lucius stepped forward, enraged the man would admit he had taken Cassandra as a lover in the middle of a ballroom. He clenched his fists at his side, and struggled not to punch him. “I should call you out for—”
The viscount threw his head back and laughed. Forbes was only too happy to have a chance to irritate Lucius given their past, not that it was Lucius’s fault that Forbes had no sense for business investments. “I can see I hit a nerve. Good. I’ll call that a bit of payback for all the strife you’ve caused me in my life. Enjoy the evening, Blackthorn.”
His nerves were rattled by the knowledge that his worst enemy had taken to his bed the one woman he had begun to want in his life and made Lucius regret he couldn’t make Forbes pay for what he had said. But there was no point letting the man get under his skin and as far as Cassandra was concerned, he had already known to what lengths she had needed to take in order to survive.
It wasn’t as though Lucius was ignorant to the fact that she had taken other lovers. He had done much the same even though Society tended to look the other way when it was a man taking a mistress.
Ignoring the anger that had briefly consumed him, Lucius returned instead to the idea of getting Cassandra’s attention by dancing with one of the more-than-available ladies. He scanned the willing wallflowers who hoped to gain his attention before he strode in their direction. He put on a smile hoping he could manage to get through the ordeal he would have to put himself in just to gain the lady who was slowing weaving his way into his heart.
Chapter Sixteen
Cassandra managed tosomehow continue the polite smile she currently had plastered on her face. Her fingers, lightly resting on the arm of Valentine Pierce, trembled and she found a small bit of comfort when the earl patted her hand while continuing his conversation with the Marquis of Saxton.
Moriah was watching her intently with a worried expression, causing Cassandra to turn away to stare helplessly into the crowded ballroom. That was an instant mistake, for it was then she witnessed Lucius bowing to a lady on the dance floor right before the music began, and when the couple began to perform the patterns of the set.
What started out as a way for Valentine to pay off his own debt to Mrs. Dove-Lyon, also became a way to possibly make Lucius jealous. And yet the situation had become something so much more troublesome to her peace of mind. She had never been one to play at the games the women of Society performed in order to catch themselves a worthy husband. She didn’t want to be categorized as one of them even though she had given up any hope of Lucius falling in love with her. He had made it abundantly clear that the only way he wanted Cassandra was in his bed. Indeed, she meant nothing more to him except as abusiness arrangement made with Mrs. Dove-Lyon to pay off his own debt. It was hard to remember that when his gaze continued to meet her own whenever they met at these functions.
Despite what she’d told Mrs. Dove-Lyon and her hopes of the lady finding another suitable husband for her, Cassandra was left with no other choice than to proceed with the original plan. No matter how many attempts Cassandra proposed to change the widow’s mind, the lady was adamant that the course had been set. Her fee had been paid and was non-refundable. The widow had given Cassandra every opportunity to change her mind about her potential husband before setting her plans into motion, but Cassandra had been steadfast that Lucius would come to love her. She had also been such a fool not to listen to her friend’s advice.
At this point, Cassandra had decided to continue the ruse of being indifferent to the man. Lucius could continue to find out if Barlow Vaughn had indeed swindled her out of the money she should have inherited from Rupert, and if her parents’ deaths were also somehow connected. Then she could allow this entire fiasco to fade away into her past. And Lucius along with it. Now if only she could turn off the emotions of her heart each and every time she saw him.
The past month had been unbearable after their kiss at the Lyon’s Den. She’d managed to remain civil when he first came to Moriah’s home and began questioning her about her husband and his brother. They had sat in the study for over an hour that first day after their kiss but it had been sheer torture for Cassandra. She may have told herself that her infatuation with the Earl of Blackthorne was over, but as with all things relating to the matters of the heart, turning her emotions around as quickly proved an unsuccessful endeavor. The next several meetings with the earl were just as troublesome, givingCassandra the truth of the matter. She was still hopelessly in love with and enchanted by Lucius Ford.
She watched him out of the corner of her vision as he performed the quick patterns of the quadrille with a lady who was unknown to her. He was an accomplished dancer, and she was at least thankful that she didn’t have to watch him perform a waltz that would bring the couple closer together. She didn’t know how much more her heart could stand while it continued to shatter more and more with each encounter with Lucius.
“I really must do something to turn your frown around, dear lady,” Valentine whispered in her ear. “Do not let Blackthorn know how you still care for him, or else you’ll never find any peace.”
Cassandra tore her gaze from the dance floor and lifted her face toward Valentine. “I never I said I cared for him,” she stated even while her chin quivered to give her true emotions away.
“You didn’t have to,” Valentine replied before he patted her hand tucked into the crook of his arm. “Perhaps something to eat might put you in a better frame of mind.”
“I don’t think food will solve the problem,” she gulped, knowing she’d never get a morsel past her lips.
