Page 35 of Enchanted By the Lyon
He peered down at her from his towering height. “As a matter of fact, yes, it is, and you best listen to my words if you know what’s good for you.”
He roughly let go of her arm and proceeded to return to his horse. He mounted and took up the reins before he pointed a slim finger at her. “You’ve been warned.” He started away.
Cassandra noticed movement at the window of the townhouse. Emily stood there frowning before stepping quickly away as if trying not to be seen. Cassandra turned back to the street to watch Barlow retreating into the distance. Puzzlement formed on her brow as she again turned toward the townhouse. Had Emily encountered Barlow before?
She was torn between her evening obligations and the mystery of Forbes, and now possibly Barlow, had to do with Emily’s predicament. She was about to go back inside when the sound of the wheels of her own conveyance rang out as it rounded the corner from the mews behind her townhouse. When the footman jumped down from his perch and let down the step, she quickly retreated into the seat while she felt completely overwhelmed and upset with Barlow’s threat.
Her world spun around her as she felt the onset of a headache. Three things were abundantly clear. First, she needed to confide in Lucius about Barlow’s visit and also let him know about Emily’s visitor in the form of her ex-benefactor. The second was her concern that perhaps Emily had had an altercation with Barlow given the tears she was certain Cassandra saw from the poor lady. And finally, and more importantly, she needed to let the man she loved know that she felt her life was now in danger. She had no idea how she would manage to make it through the social regimes of the night!
Chapter Twenty-One
Lucius watched Cassandraskip to the patterns of the dance with Valentine, but he could see for himself that something was off with the lady. While she performed the steps to perfection, the delight he usually saw reflected in her features were only a mask put in place for others to see. That he could tell something was terribly wrong with the lady only proved to himself that he had slowly fallen in love with the woman. Who would have thought such a thing was even possibly for him? Certainly not himself, but clearly Mrs. Dove-Lyon had everything to do with the match.
The clever biddy, he mused thinking of the Black Widow of Whitehall and all she had knowingly done to ensure he fell into her clutches. No matter her motives, he was grateful for the woman’s knowledge that even he hadn’t known he needed at the time. Infatuation had become love in a matter of just a few months. Now he couldn’t imagine his life without Cassandra in it. He was looking forward to a private moment when he could confess all to her.
“I had really hoped you might be interested in making a match with my sister, Anne. But I can see for myself that your interests lie elsewhere,” Orlando Barlingham muttered with aheavy sigh. “I suppose I’ll need to find another man who will be suitable for her.”
Lucius gave the man a nod. “I’m certain the right gentleman will come along when he’s meant to. Your sister is a beautiful woman, and you shouldn’t have a problem finding her a suitable husband.”
“You say that easily enough, but have you seen the eligible men available this Season? Half of them look as though they’re right out of the schoolroom. The other half have one foot in the grave,” Orlando complained before he cast his gaze at Lucius’s brother. “Perhaps you might be interested?”
Leopold laughed. “I hardly think Lady Anne would settle for a second son with no title,” he said with a lopsided grin. “Besides, I have no intention of marrying just yet.”
Orlando grumbled beneath his breath. “I suppose you’re right,” he said reluctantly. “If you gentlemen will excuse me, I need to steer my sister away from Viscount Hollingsworth.”
“Wise choice,” Lucius said in agreement as they watched their host leave to attend to his sister.
Leopold stepped closer to his brother. “That reminds me, I forgot to tell you something.”
Lucius raised one brow. “About marrying?”
Leopold chuckled. “Me? Heavens no. You, on the other hand, are closer to wedded bliss than I,” he said before lowering his voice. “I meant to tell you I saw Forbes about a week or so ago. Not the best part of town, if you take my meaning, but he appeared to be up to his old antics.”
A half-laugh, half-snort left his lips. “Not surprising, but what the hell were you doing in—as you said—not thebest part of town?”
Leopold looked uncomfortable for a moment before he responded. “Does it matter?”
Lucius raised one brow. “Most likely, but instead tell me why I should care what Forbes does or where he goes?”
“Well… heusedto be your friend,” Leo proclaimed.
“Past tense, as you just pointed out. Again, why should I care?” Lucius prodded.
“I don’t know the identity of the man he paid off while sitting at the tavern but given our earlier conversation about your recent visitor who works for the law, it might be important. Hollingsworth would be a likely candidate to wanting to get even with you.”
“As could any number of individuals from my past,” Lucius answered, while watching Valentine return Cassandra back to the Saxton’s. “What did the other gentleman look like?”
“Scrawny, at best. His clothing wasn’t the best cut, if that detail matters. The tavern was dark, so he was hard to make out. There wasn’t anything about him that necessarily stood out, other than he seemed to fit in there.”
“Meaning you didn’t recognize him as part of Society?” Lucius asked.
“Definitely not.”
Lucius raised his hand to his chin as he contemplated his brother’s words. He supposed such a description could be about anyone, but why did he have the sudden notion that Barlow Vaughn was this same man? Smythe had given him a similar account in his report, but this could all be coincidental. Lucius would still listen to that inner voice telling him to be wary. Now he noticed Forbes lingering far too close to Cassandra for his comfort level. Lucius’s instincts kicked in.
“I’ll look into the matter. In the meantime, if you’ll excuse me, brother, I have a lady who appears to need rescuing,” Lucius said giving Leopold a nod. He began making his way across the room until he reached his lady’s side. He tossed Forbes a knowing glare and watched his old friend leave the room.
Lucius leaned down to whisper in Cassandra’s ear. “I must speak with you.”
