Page 80 of An Unwitting Alliance
Without thinking, she leaned forward and put her arms around his waist, burying her head against his chest. “I suppose I can give us more time if you can.” Her words were nearly lost in his jacket, but she knew he had caught them when his arms tightened around her.
“Thank you, Cassie. And, in return, I will think twice through every decision I make during the kidnapping.”
“Do you even hear yourself?”
He laughed into her hair, and she felt his hand reach up and stroke it. “Not really. I am too busy enjoying the feel of you in my arms.”
* * *
The Vail household was once again filled to the brim with Rebels. Tom hoped Mrs. Vail would not mind that they were using her home as a gathering place for their latest mission. Jemma and Lisette had brought Mrs. Fielding with them, although she preferred to wait in the carriage, and even Paul and Louisa had come again. Cassandra had done her utter best to keep Nutmeg occupied elsewhere and had just slipped back into the room—this time with her hair pulled up in a loose chignon and her fears hidden behind a calm visage.
An air of excitement that often accompanied them when they banded together for a cause traveled around the sitting room. Rarely nervous, Tom wondered if Cassandra’s concerns were getting to him. Along with the thrill of helping someone, there was an underlying worry nagging in his chest. Or perhaps it was seeing her and remembering there was still a great deal to settle between them and he longed to see everything resolved.
“Everyone know their parts?” Ian asked, interrupting Tom’s thoughts and stepping into his Mother Hen role.
“Grandmother, Lisette, Nancy, and I will wait inside the first carriage to bring the Kelbys to the inn,” Jemma said.
Paul spoke next. “And Louisa and I will wait in the second carriage to act as a decoy should anything go wrong.”
Miles cleared his throat. “I will act as Alan’s uncle and his father’s brother.”
“Tom?” Ian prompted.
“I will dress up as signore Rossi, whom Mr. Longbottom has already met, and see if I can find Alan and his mother while Longbottom is distracted with Miles. I will only act if Miles fails.”
Ian nodded. “And I will accompany you partway and position myself as a lookout. Miles, did you procure the clothes from Mr. Miner for the boy?”
“They are in the Fieldings’ carriage.”
Tom squeezed his eyes shut with relief. He had forgotten about the clothes. Thankfully, everyone else had recalled their part.
Everyone agreed to the plans and filed outside to the carriages. Tom held back, hoping to have a word with Cassie, but where had she disappeared to? A glance out the window revealed her standing near a carriage next to Lisette. Lud. Now they would not have a chance for a word alone. He gnawed on his bottom lip and wondered what the two women were discussing. At least Cassie was speaking to their Rebel angel—the one person who would be generous in her description of him. He turned to leave but was waylaid by Auntie Evans.
“Oh, fiddlesticks. I missed everyone.” She looked exhausted. Perhaps the Rebels had kept her up too late the night before.
“How is Mother Vail today, Auntie?”
“Fit to be tied. She cannot abide staying in bed when there are guests to be entertained.”
Tom cringed. “I am completely at fault. It will not happen again. Please assure Mother Vail that the group will not be returning. Her health and the baby’s are of the utmost importance to me.”
“I fear it is for the best. Forgive me, but if everyone is leaving, I had better return upstairs before a certain someone attemptsto sneak out.” Auntie Evans weaved around Megs to get to the sitting room door.
“You certainly have a great many friends.” Megs peered around him to the window. “Is Cassandra going with you today?”
Tom glanced back out the window, his eyes immediately locating her again. She smiled at something Lisette said. His own lips tugged at the sight. The light caught Cassie’s hair, making it glimmer like gold. Lands, but she was beautiful. He hated that he was causing her worry and grief. He had been worse than a rock in her shoe since he’d arrived, both plaguing her and wearing down her resistance.
“Mr. Harwood?”
“I’m in love with your sister.” The words tumbled out before he could snatch them back. He’d been holding them inside against their will for far too long. And, once they were said, he did not regret them. Neither could he look away from Cassie to gauge her sister’s reaction.
“That’s wonderful!” Megs said, from somewhere beside him.
A dry laugh caught on his lips. “It should be, but it is complicated.”
“Don’t you want to marry someone you love?” Megs asked, her words careful.
“Of course, I do.” Tom finally turned and shrugged sheepishly. “But as things stand now, I wonder if Cassie would have me.”
