Page 65 of An Unwitting Alliance
“There has been a thief in Airewell,” Patricia explained. “But a thief would not come here, certainly.”
Cassandra did not like the thought of a thief invading their small country society, but it was a real possibility.
Tom frowned. “Perhaps it will turn up yet.”
Patricia shook her head. “I shall ask Mama to make an announcement. If the purse and pearls are not recovered by the end of the night, we shall have our answer. I cannot forgive someone if they took it.” Her mother was not far from them, so it was not surprising when Patricia released Mr. Gibbons’s arm and rushed away.
Aunt Evans tsked her tongue. “We will not have any peace until the reticule is found, mark my words.”
“How about favoring me with another dance, Miss Vail?” Mr. Gibbons gave her his most charming smile and stuck out his arm toward her.
She pulled her bottom lip through her teeth. “I... I am promised already to Mr. Harwood.”
Mr. Gibbons’s face fell. “I see. Perhaps the next set, then?”
She was not looking at Tom, but she knew he was waiting for her response just as Mr. Gibbons was. He would not like her dancing twice with Mr. Gibbons, but she had never needed to refuse a man and had no idea how to do it. “How kind of you to ask, Mr. Gibbons. You must not single me out though. The other young ladies are eager to dance with you.”
“But I did not come to dance with anyone else.”
If he had spoken those words weeks ago, she would have melted into his arms. Tom shifted impatiently next to her.
Cassandra had to set Mr. Gibbons down. It was the right thing to do, even if it meant severing a promising suitor if Tom walked away from her. She took a fortifying breath. “Since we are just good friends, I cannot let anyone think there is more between us.”
“Miss Vail,” Mr. Gibbons begged, stepping closer. “Cassandra.”
The use of her given name surprised her, but it must’ve surprised Tom more. He slid between them. His broad shoulders effectively pushed Mr. Gibbons back. “The lady has politely declined.”
Around Tom’s arm she could see Mr. Gibbons’s jaw clench. “She does not require protection against hergoodfriend.”
“Gentlemen!” Aunt Evans rushed forward and set her hand on Tom’s arm. “There is no reason for this heated conversation. Mr. Gibbons, I am afraid you have traveled all this way for naught. My niece is engaged to Mr. Harwood. She cannot entertain your attentions any longer.”
“Engaged?” Mr. Gibbons sputtered. “I do not believe it.”
Cassandra squeezed her eyes closed. This was not part of the plan. Once the announcement spread, there would be no release from the engagement. Absolutely no choice. She and Tom deserved better. They desperately needed more time to figure things out. Didn’t they?
When she opened her eyes, she peeked around Tom to catch the expression on his profile. To her great astonishment, he did not seem flustered in the least by the premature news. In fact, his expression was smug, and the tension seemed to visibly lift from his presence. “Mr. Vail may assure you when he returns from London,” he said and then tilted his head. “Mr. Gibbons, usually one congratulates a couple when good tidings are delivered.”
With disbelievingeyes, Mr. Gibbons met Cassandra’s gaze, and she looked away. She was not ashamed of the announcement, as she had imagined she would be, but was mostly embarrassed for Mr. Gibbons. She wished he had not come all this way.
“You’ll forgive me if I do not celebrate this jointure. Excuse me.” Mr. Gibbons gave a curt bow and marched away.
“Dear me. That did not go well at all.” Aunt Evans watched Mr. Gibbons’s back until he disappeared into the cardroom. “You must forgive me as well. I know you did not want me to make any announcements, but word of the engagement was inevitable. I suggest you prepare yourselves.” She marched away in the opposite direction from Mr. Gibbons, the finality of her parting words ringing in Cassandra’s ears.
With her breath suspended in her lungs, she waited for Tom to turn and face her. Had he been acting before, and now, with Mr. Gibbons gone, would he be angry? She could easily imagine Tom’s annoyance, but she had never witnessed his anger. If anything would put a man over the edge, it would be this. Without a miracle, their names would be forever strung together.
When he finally shifted, however, his smile reappeared. “I think we can handle it. Well done, Cassie.”
“Well done?” How could he say that? She knew he was beginning to care for her, but he had also fervently and repeatedly said that he wanted to be freed from her. Did he not understand the lasting effect of a well-informed rumor mill? There was no going back now.
Tom winked. “Even Tiger would be proud.”
She cast her eyes to the ceiling in mock exasperation, meeting his absurd comment with sarcasm. “How did you guess that I did it to please my cat?”
“Because I cannot imagine you did so to please me.” Tom’s chuckle was low and rich and his calmness almost vexing. “There, there, Miss Cassie Vail. It is all sorted for the present. Which means we can finally dance.”
He really was a novelty. Not a single feature resonated any worry about their future together. “You want to dance? Now?”
Tom inclined his head and extended his arm.
