Page 81 of An Unwitting Alliance
“I see,” Megs said. “Since you are being honest with me, I have to admit I do not quite understand you. Doesn’t shehaveto marry you regardless of her feelings?”
Tom looked out the window again in time to see Cassie walk out of view. “As long as I am betrothed to Cassie, I cannot win her properly. She deserves a choice, even if it means breaking off the engagement.”
Megs pursed her lips. “I think you might be onto something. Cassandra doesn’t care to be backed into a corner. She’s like a bull, and she bucks hard.”
“Have you actually seen her that way?” Tom asked, thinking of when he had tried to give Cassie a kitten. “The imagery of which you speak is so candidly real, it scares me.”
“I have, and I must say, after you have spent any time with my sister when she’s angry, a bull is good company.”
Cassandra stepped inside, and Tom had no opportunity to defend himself. Besides, Megs likely wouldn’t understand that riling Cassandra was far more natural to him than romancing her.
Cassandra put her hands behind her back and leaned against the doorframe. “Lord Reynolds is asking for you.”
Tom whispered quickly to Megs, “Let’s keep this to ourselves for now, shall we?”
Megs nodded, and he walked straight to Cassie, his hands reaching for hers. “I will return soon.”
“Good luck.” Cassie set her hands in his. Her expression remained neutral, but he could sense her worry.
He squeezed her hands before releasing her and making his way outside. There he mounted Zeus and led the charge to town, doing his best to center himself for the task ahead of him, which meant no long looks back at the house.
Chapter 26
By the time Tom returned,Cassandra would be as mad as he was. With every passing hour, her fretting grew worse. By two in the afternoon, she was certain something had gone awry. He wouldn’t have intentionally broken his promise. Unless he had forgotten she was waiting. She wasn’t thinking clearly. Remaining in the house another moment would drive her truly mad.
She gathered her bonnet and reticule and a reluctant Megan, and they began the long walk to Patricia’s.
“Why are you doing this?” Megan complained as they arrived, stealing glances in every direction.
Cassandra hit the knocker on Patricia Pollard’s house and stepped back. “Because I have to.”
Megan latched on to Cassandra’s arm. “But I’m frightened.”
“Don’t be,” Cassandra assured her. “We did nothing wrong.”
The butler answered the door and escorted them into the sitting room. They found Mr. Gibbons sitting across from Patricia. The two of them stood as Cassandra and Megan entered.
Patricia was all smiles, probably because she was happy to be caught in Mr. Gibbons’s company. “How kind of you both to pay me a visit. Do sit down.”
Mr. Gibbons dipped a bow. “I was just on my way out. I will see you tomorrow, Miss Pollard.”
Patricia said goodbye in a sickly sweet tone and then turned her expectant gaze on Cassandra and her sister.
“We did not come for social purposes,” Cassandra explained as soon as the door shut behind Mr. Gibbons. “We came to—”
Megan pinched her side and finished the sentence. “We came to ask if you had found your pearls.”
Patricia’s wistful sigh was far too contrived. “No, I have yet to find them. Why do you ask? Doyouperhaps know who might have taken them?”
Megan leaned in to Cassandra and took ahold of her reticule holding the pearls, moving it behind her back in one subtle motion. “Oh, goodness no.” She laughed, the false sound ringing about the room.
Cassandra nudged her. What was Megan doing?
“I am sorry you wasted your trip, then,” Patricia answered. “I have no news for you.”
A tea tray was brought in, and Megan lunged toward it. “I have not noticed this delicate pattern on your tea service. Were these imported?”
“Of course. Mother has only the very best of everything,” Patricia preened. “I imagine you have never had the likes at your house, poor things.”
