Page 36 of Enchanted By the Lyon
She turned her head to stare up at him. “I need a private word with you as well.”
Lucius offered his arm. “Excuse us, Saxton, but I need to have a word with Mrs. Vaughn,” he said politely.
Trying to stroll casually through the crowded room proved a challenge as they were halted to engage in small talk with several people. Lucius was at last able to make it to the balcony where he continued onward down the marble stairs and into the garden below.
“I think we’re far enough away from prying eyes, Lucius.”
He looked around into the night and continued onward into a maze of neatly trimmed hedges. When he finally reached the center and saw that they were alone he finally felt it was safe to talk.
“We have a problem,” he confided as he escorted her to a nearby bench.
“Yes, we do,” she said taking a seat. “I’m now totally lost inside this maze.”
He heard her teasing tone but Lucius was too irritated to sit so he paced instead. It tended to keep his head clear until her words sunk into his mind. “What’s happened?”
She patted the place on the bench next to her and he took a seat. “You first, or if I tell you my news you may go running to right a wrong and leave me here to find my way out. It will certainly take me hours.”
“Now Iamworried.” His voice filled with concern as he raised her hand to his lips.
“I have to admit the incident did rattle me,” she confessed, squeezing his hand.
Lucius pulled her closer. “Tell me what happened today after I left.”
“I became lonely for your company?” she teased again in an obvious attempt to lighten the mood.
“Cassandra…”
“Very well but promise me you won’t run off to seek revenge.”
“I can make no such promises if it concerns your wellbeing, my dear.”
She gave a heavy sigh. “I had an encounter while I was waiting for my carriage to be brought to the front of the townhouse,” she began before sneaking a glimpse at him before continuing. “It was Barlow, giving me a warning to call off the investigator you hired. He thinks you’re my lover.”
“What!” he yelled out.
“Calm yourself, Lucius, or you’ll be letting everyone within hearing distance know of our little liaison here in the gardens. As you can see, I survived the incident without harm,” she explained.
“He must be getting desperate if he’s accosting you right in front of your own house,” Lucius fumed, rubbing the back of his neck. “What else did he say?”
Cassandra shrugged. “I’m not certain the rest bears repeating. Let’s just say he felt I was moving up in the world and that I didn’t deserve my place among Society. But I’m also concerned that Emily may have had an altercation with him before as well considering the look of terror she had on her face as he rode away. I saw her in the window; she drew away before she knew I saw her.”
He continued watching Cassandra intently and he could see for himself that there was more that she wasn’t telling him. “What else?” he demanded, trying to hold his temper in check.
“It may be nothing,” she said sheepishly.
“All the same, from your worried expression, please tell me what else happened today,” he urged softly.
“When Patience and I arrived at my townhouse this afternoon, an unwelcome visitor was leaving,” she began before fidgeting with the fan dangling from her wrist.
“And…”
She drew in a deep breath and exhaled before continuing. “He was an ex-lover of mine from years ago,” she confessed, putting her hand on his arm. He didn’t care to hear about her past lovers, but he certainly was well aware that they had both had had them in their lives. “He wasn’t there to see me, Lucius, but Emily.”
“Emily?” he asked wondering what turn this conversation was going to take next.
“She refused to go into the details, but we found her on the floor in the front parlor. He had slapped her,” Cassandra declared with a shudder. “I know from personal experience Forbes has a tendency toward violence and this is the reason why I quickly ended our association.”
Lucius jerked his head upright. He didn’t know of anyone else in his circle that had Forbes as a first name other than his old friend and enemy. “Viscount Hollingsworth?”
