Page 16 of Intolerable
The idea took root in his mind and did a fair job of pushing Cassandra aside. Right up until he left the dressing room and caught sight of Glastonbury in the ring sparring with Fred.
The viscountwasfast. And nimble. He caught Fred’s shoulder and his stomach with two quick jabs, impressing Ruark. Depending on Glastonbury’s opponent, the prizefight might be very entertaining.
But Glastonbury reminded him of Cassandra, dammit. It sounded as if the viscountcouldcourt her—if he wished. Cassandra seemed amenable, and the duke had said he preferred the viscount to Ruark.
The duke would have preferred a gutter rat to Ruark.
Leaving the club, Ruark strode into Covent Garden where he hailed a hack to Mayfair. Mort’s words haunted his brain:History that likes to repeat, if I remember correctly.
He wasn’t wrong, as much as Ruark wanted to deny it. Which was why Ruark couldn’t let it repeat. Not this time. Not with Cassandra.
He needed to distance himself from her—and fast.
Chapter 5
When Cassandra reached the bottom of the staircase the following evening, she nearly tripped on the bottom step because her father was waiting for her. Arms clasped behind his back, his paunch sticking out, sable eyes fixed and expectant as they landed on her, he struck an imposing figure. Or he would to anyone else. To her, he was just her father standing between her and the coach that would deliver her from his meddling.
Summoning a smile that she hoped would take any potential sting from his coming lecture, she dipped a brief curtsey, knowing he would appreciate that. “Good evening, Papa. You can’t be coming with us to the rout.” He wasn’t dressed for it, thank goodness.
“Of course not, but perhaps I should.” He seemed to ponder her now regrettable comment.
“But Prudence and I are ready to leave,” Cassandra said serenely, glancing at her companion over her shoulder as Prudence descended the lower portion of the stairs.
“I wanted to see you before you go.” He swept his gaze over her with approval, and Cassandra exhaled in relief, both because she seemed to meet his expectations and that he wasn’t going to attend the rout with them. Glancing about, he frowned. “Where is my sister?”
“My sponsor said she would meet us at the rout.” Cassandra didn’t bother keeping the terseness from her voice. She didn’t mind him knowing that she was annoyed with her aunt’s behavior. In fact, she wished he’d reinstate her sister-in-law Sabrina as her sponsor.
“That isn’t acceptable,” he said with deep disapproval.
“Sabrinawould be here,” Cassandra murmured, unable to help herself.
The duke scowled. “What reason did Christina give for not coming here to escort you?”
Cassandra leveled her gaze with his. “None.”
Muttering something under his breath, her father unclasped his hands and took a step toward her. “I’ll speak with my sister. In the meantime, if she is not awaiting you at the rout, you must return home immediately. Perhaps you shouldn’t even go.”
“What of my marital prospects?” she asked with faux distress, as if she cared half as much as he did about finding a husband this Season.
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t be saucy. Fine, you’ll go, but you’ll come right back if Christina isn’t waiting for you.” He turned his attention to Prudence. “Miss Lancaster, I’m counting on you to steer this situation.”
Prudence inclined her head. “You have my word, Your Grace.”
Since Cassandra would never endanger Prudence’s position, she wondered if they were about to embark on a folly in which they drove to the rout only to turn around and come home. An idea slipped into her mind, and she decided to take the opportunity to press a request that her father had so far belligerently refused her.
“Hopefully, she will be there,” Cassandra said smoothly. “If not, I’ll miss the chance to see if Wexford’s call the other day encouraged anyone else to come forward. In that instance, perhaps it would be prudent to allow me to attend the Phoenix Club assembly on Friday. It is well attended, and many young ladies are on the Marriage Mart there.”
Cassandra held her breath. He’d allowed her to go to the first one of the Season, after the club had changed its rules to allow family of members to attend the assemblies. This had encouraged a robust Marriage Mart at the club assemblies so far this Season. Since her brother was the owner—and now her other brother and his wife were members—Cassandra could easily attend.
“I can’t imagine the prospects are very good there,” her father said with a touch of derision. He did not support his son’s endeavor and seemed unaware of how popular the club had become or how sought after the invitations were.
“How would you know?” Cassandra kept her voice even. “What I mean is, you haven’t been, but Sabrina thinks it would be beneficial if I attended. Will you please at least consider it?” She brought forth another smile and added, “Please, Papa?”
His features softened. “I’ll consider it,” he said gruffly. “But I make no promises.”
Cassandra swept toward him and stood on her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. We’ll come right home if Aunt Christina isn’t at the rout.” She looked back to Prudence and moved her eyes toward the door in silent communication that they leave immediately.
Prudence curtsied to the duke and followed Cassandra from the house.
