Page 66 of Intolerable
No, she wouldn’t have. Especially since they’d agreed to avoid each other publicly. So far that wasn’t working out so well, not that she minded.
“Your sister-in-law was most helpful with wardrobe suggestions,” Mrs. Shaughnessy said. “Is she here this evening?”
“No, I’m afraid not.” Cassandra believed Sabrina and Constantine were enjoying a night at home. Sabrina grew weary of too many events and too many people. This ball in particular would have been taxing for her due to its size.
Mrs. Shaughnessy nodded. “I do hope you’ll deliver my best regards to her. I’m so pleased Ruark was able to bring us along tonight. Isn’t it wonderful, Kathleen?”
Miss Shaughnessy was scrutinizing the ballroom as if she were trying to read minds. Cassandra wondered if she was conducting some sort of research. She made a note to keep an eye on her—for Ruark’s sake. He clearly cared for his sister very much.
“Are you enjoying the ball?” Cassandra directed the question to both mother and daughter.
“Oh yes.”
“Not particularly.”
They spoke over each other, and Mrs. Shaughnessy sent a beleaguered look toward her daughter. Miss Shaughnessy, however, didn’t notice because she was focused on Prudence. “How do you get your job?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
Prudence pressed her lips together, appearing to try to think of how to answer such an unexpected question. “I, well, I was recommended to Lady Cassandra and His Grace by another lady, my former employer.”
“And how did you obtain that position? I thought companions were middle-aged spinsters or widows.”
“How do you know I’m not?” Prudence asked softly with a hint of mischief.
Cassandra smiled. When Prudence decided to allow her wit to show, it was never disappointing.
Miss Shaughnessy studied Prudence. “You are most definitely not middle-aged. You might be five and twenty, but I’d wager you aren’t even approaching thirty. I suppose you could be a spinster, but I’d guess widow first.”
“Why is that?” Prudence seemed genuinely interested.
“There’s a sadness around you.” Miss Shaughnessy made the statement without hesitation.
Cassandra looked to Prudence who stared at Miss Shaughnessy. She also seemed to have paled. Hoping to put an end to the awkward moment, Cassandra rushed to change the subject. She turned to Ruark’s mother and asked, “How was Lord Wexford as a child? I imagine he got into trouble quite often.”
Mrs. Shaughnessy laughed. “Oh, yes. He was always traipsing through the mud with the dogs or swimming in the pond instead of catching fish, which was what he’d set out to do. He never stood still.” Her gaze unfocused as if she were looking back in time instead of at her present surroundings. “He used to pretend to box a chair in the nursery.”
Fascinated, Cassandra leaned slightly toward the dark-haired woman. “Indeed?”
Chuckling, Mrs. Shaughnessy said, “I suppose he wasn’t pretending. He actually hit the cushioned back. He was mimicking his father, who was rather good at the sport.”
Learning that Ruark’s father had been a pugilist made her think of the activity differently—at least with regard to Ruark. She could understand why he did it and didn’t think she could expect him to stop. If she could wait three years to marry him, surely she could deal with his sport.
The back of her neck twitched. She was giving up a great deal to marry him, and he hadn’t even asked her. It seemed implicit that they would wed in three years, but he hadn’t promised anything.
“He still loves the sport,” Mrs. Shaughnessy continued. “I haven’t watched him fight in a long time, but I expect he’s every bit as good as his father was. His da would be so proud of him.” The pride in her voice was unmistakable.
Cassandra felt a surge of longing. While she and Ruark had bonded over losing a parent, he still had one who clearly loved him and admired him. Cassandra didn’t doubt her father’s love, but why was it so hard for him to show it? The loneliness she’d managed to keep at bay with her newfound circle of friends and family streaked through her, leaving her cold.
Three years was nothing in the grand scheme of life. She would wait for the man she loved because she didn’t want to contemplate anything else.
“Your next dancing partner is coming this way,” Prudence said softly.
Taking a deep breath, Cassandra cleared the darkness from her mind. She turned a bright smile on Mrs. Shaughnessy. “Lord Wexford and Miss Shaughnessy are so lucky to have you as their mother.”
“Please call me Kat,” Ruark’s sister said rather loudly. “Please.”
“All right,” Cassandra said with a light laugh, touching Kat’s arm. “You must call me Cass then.”
“They almost rhyme,” Kat noted. “It’s too bad you aren’t my sister.”
