Page 28 of Intolerable
This Season.Not for years. Not for all the time since their mother had died.
That wasn’t fair. He wasn’t aterriblebrother, just not a very present one.
And he was trying now, which she appreciated. “Let me know if you can’t invite Glastonbury. I’ll stay home. It’s not as if I’d find a husband tomorrow night anyway.” Probably.
The corner of his mouth ticked up. “Cass? Do you really hope to find a husband, or are you just trying to appease Father?”
It was both. “Does it matter?”
“It does to me,” he said quietly. “Are you truly interested in Glastonbury?”
“I like him. But I don’t know him well enough yet. I need to do that before Papa forces his hand. Then it will be too late for me to go in another direction.”
“You want a husband you will care about.” It wasn’t phrased as a question, but he was seeking confirmation.
“At a minimum,” she said firmly. “I don’t want something that’s arranged without my input. Like what happened with Con.”
“Things have worked out quite well for him.”
“Because you meddled, apparently.”
Lucien laughed. “They might’ve gotten there on their own. Eventually. If you want me to meddle in your marriage, I could probably be persuaded.”
“I should hope you would afford me the same support you do Con.” She said this with more disdain than she’d intended. Actually, she hadn’t intended any, but the long-buried envy she had for her older brothers and their camaraderie, even when they seemed at odds, seemed to be greater than she realized.
“I absolutely will. You have my word.” He stood. “I should get to work on this task. What if you decide you and Glastonbury don’t suit?”
“Are you worried I will have saddled your club with a member you don’t really want?”
“That hadn’t entered my mind, but someone else on the membership committee will certainly bring that up.”
“Would that be Wexford or Mrs. Renshaw? Don’t bother denying their presence on the committee. I pay attention.” She didn’t actually know if they were on the committee for certain, but it made sense that they were.
“I have always said you are too smart for your own good. I will not confirm anything.”
“You’re not denying it either.”
“Keep that to yourself.” He shook his head, smiling.
She rose and he took her hand, surprising her with the gesture. “I promise I’ll do my best, Cass. Just prepare as if you’re going tomorrow night.”
“Now you sound confident,” she said. “Dare I get my hopes up?”
“I think they already are, or you wouldn’t have summoned me.” He grinned and squeezed her hand before letting go. “More than this specific task, you can count on me. If you don’t want to get married this Season, don’t. Con and I will step in with Father.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that very much. Now go and do whatever you do to convince people to follow you.”
“I’m just myself, Cass.” With a shrug, he left.
This was a great deal of effort just so she could attend an assembly that couldn’t guarantee her any success on the Marriage Mart. What itcoulddo was remind her of a certain incident as well as a dance when she’d been rescued from unwanted attention.
She was hoping to see Wexford. And perhaps, if she was very lucky, they’d end up in a dark cupboard.
Ruark strolled into the men’s library at the Phoenix Club. Guests were beginning to arrive for the assembly, but they wouldn’t start coming in earnest for another hour or so. There was plenty of time for a drink with his friends first.
Dougal MacNair sat in a chair near the windows overlooking Ryder Street below, his long legs stretched out before him as he sipped a glass of what had to be Scotch whisky. As a Highlander, MacNair rarely drank anything else.
“I’m pouring a superior whisky if you’d care to trade that piss you’re drinking,” Ruark offered magnanimously as he went to the liquor cabinet near MacNair’s chair.
