Page 61 of Impassioned
“I already do in my head. Does that count?” She grinned, and Sabrina laughed.
Sabrina looked hopefully between the two women before landing her gaze on Cass. “I don’t suppose you’ve identified a potential suitor?”
“Not yet. I think they’re all too afraid of my father to approach me anyway.”
“Well, I can understand that,” Sabrina said wryly. “However, that doesn’t help you. Is he aware of that?”
“I’ve tried to tell him, but he says any gentleman worthy of my hand won’t behave like an immature pup. He appears to enjoy making this difficult.” Cass folded her arms across her chest and sat back against the settee.
“Perhaps your brothers should intervene.”
“Lucien has tried to speak with him also—to no avail. I suppose Con could try, if you want to mention it to him.”
“Actually, I meant that they could find a way to spread the word that potential suitors needn’t be intimidated by His Grace, that the only person they need to impress is you.”
Cass let out a laugh. “An auspicious idea, but I don’t know if that’s possible.”
“It’s worth trying,” Miss Lancaster said.
Sabrina nodded. “I will speak to them. In the meantime, what are you attending this week?”
Cass rattled off a list of events, including a musicale on Tuesday, a rout on Thursday, and two balls on Friday and Saturday. Sabrina was glad she had nothing on Wednesday so that she could attend dinner at the Brightlys with Constantine. The time they’d spent together yesterday had been magnificent, truly the best of their marriage. She hoped they’d moved to a new place in their relationship and that things would only continue to improve. She wondered how much she had the “tutor”—and Lucien and Evie—to thank for that.
“How shall we transport ourselves to these events?” Sabrina asked. “I can pick you up in Aldington’s coach.”
“Papa expects us to take one of his ducal coaches so that everyone will see the coat of arms on the door.” Cass rolled her eyes. “He’s rather insistent upon it. Which means we will fetch you on the way to the occasion.”
“Lovely,” Sabrina murmured. “I do promise to supportyou, not him, in whatever way I can. I made it clear to him that you will choose your husband. Or not.”
Cass’s dark eyes rounded. “You told him that?” At Sabrina’s firm nod, she giggled. “How I wished I could have seen that. I always knew you were made of stronger stuff than you let on.” She cast Sabrina an admiring glance before turning her head toward Miss Lancaster. “She will be an excellent ally.”
“I agree,” Miss Lancaster said. “It is always good to have allies.”
Sabrina couldn’t agree more, particularly since she’d never had one until Evie. Now she had two more. Perhaps it really wasn’t too late for her wishes to come true.
Constantine shot to his feet as Sabrina sailed into the parlor before dinner. He hadn’t seen her since she’d returned from Evesham House and was pleased to discover that she appeared serene. And lovely. Honey-gold curls whispered against her temples as she moved into the room, and the hem of her cornflower blue gown swayed gently against the carpet.
“Good evening.” He went and took her hand, bowing elegantly as if they were courting. Because they were. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. You are quite handsome this evening.”
He reluctantly released her hand and gestured toward the settee, hoping she might want to sit with him there instead of in separate chairs. “We have a little time before dinner. I am anxious to hear about your interview with my father.”
Sabrina lowered herself elegantly to the pale yellow settee. “Anxious?”
Constantine sat beside her—close, but not too close. “Yes. You marched into the lion’s den, and while you needed to go alone, I very much wanted to be with you.”
“Thank you.” Her gaze flicked down to his sleeve, where his hand rested on his lap. “I appreciate your support, and I think it gave me courage.”
“Did it?” Constantine itched to touch her, to take her hand or stroke her bare shoulder. He curled his fingers against his thigh.
“Yes, and I shall need it because we are hosting a ball.”
“You’d mentioned that, but what has that to do with the visit with my father?”
“He insisted we have it on the twenty-third. Of this month.”
His jaw dropped. “He can’t expect that from anyone, let alone—” He snapped his mouth closed and grimaced. “I didn’t mean—”
