Page 78 of Intolerable
“But—” Prudence started before cutting herself off as she looked at Cassandra in question.
“I’m avoiding the house today,” Cassandra said with a sigh. “I fear there will be callers, and I don’t want to take any today.”
Lucien lifted a shoulder. “Tell Bender you aren’t receiving calls.”
“I didn’t want to deal with Papa’s aggravation.” Because then she’d have to tell him why she didn’t want to receive calls and that was another aggravation—one she was going to have to face sooner rather than later. So she’d fled the house instead.
Nodding with understanding at last, Lucien gave her a flash of a sympathetic smile. “How about Miss Lancaster takes the coach to Gunter’s, and I’ll take you in my gig?”
“That’s fine.” Cassandra was both eager to hear what he had to say and somehow dreading it at the same time. He’d never behaved like this. What could he possibly have to say that he wouldn’t reveal in front of Prudence?
Cassandra turned to Prudence as the milliner came to deliver the hatbox. “I’ll meet you at Gunter’s shortly.”
“I’ll take this.” Prudence accepted the hat with a smile for the milliner and departed the shop.
“I can only hope whatever it is you need to tell me so urgently is worth all this fuss,” Cassandra said with a hint of irritation as Lucien escorted her from the milliner’s.
Lucien’s gig was just outside the shop, managed by his tiger who turned over the reins after Lucien settled Cassandra inside and hopped onto the back. Once he started driving, his frown returned. “There is no delicate way to say this, so I will just be plain.”
Cassandra squeezed her hands together in her lap. “Please.”
“You were seen with Wexford near the stables at the ball the other night.”
Her nerves, rattled since Lucien had arrived in the shop, balled into a knot of dread in her stomach. “By whom?” She sounded much calmer than she felt, and for that she was grateful.
“One of Father’s coachmen. You should be glad he came to me and not Father.”
The knot hardened to stone, and Cassandra felt queasy. “He didn’t tell Papa?”
“No. He likes you—everyone does—and thought I could handle the situation in a more discreet manner. He said he didn’t think anyone else saw, but of course there’s no knowing that for certain.”
Rumors about her could start at any moment. Mayhap they already had.
Lucien shot her a narrow-eyed glower. “What have you to say for yourself?”
“I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“Should I talk to Father and prepare him for the wedding?” Lucien shook his head. “No, because there isn’t going to be a wedding.”
She angled herself toward him. “What do you mean?”
“Wexford won’t marry you. He has that silly rule—”
“Not to marry until he’s thirty,” she interrupted. “I know all about that. Which is why I plan to wait for him.” She wouldn’t tell him that Ruark might wed sooner. Because it was currently amight.
“Oh, Cass, did he tell you he’d wait for you too? Don’t bother answering because it doesn’t matter. You wanted to know why I’ve been so against his courtship. The reason is that he falls in and out of love as easily as you buy a new wardrobe and discard it the following year.”
“I don’t do that.” Not entirely. Her insides twisted. “You’re saying there have been other women?” Like her?
“I know of at least three he was head over heels in love with. Because of his rule, he didn’t marry any of them. Would you care to know whether he still loves them?”
She already knew the answer. She’d seen the hesitation and doubt in his eyes. He wasn’t sure he would still love her in three years’ time. Or even two months’ time. Why would he? He’d loved before and, apparently, the emotion hadn’t ever been permanent.
“He does not,” she said quietly, turning herself so she faced forward once more. She’d thought their connection was special, that it was proof he’d been smart to wait to marry. But she was just another woman in a long line.
“I’m so sorry, Cass. Perhaps I should have told you about this before. Then you could have kept your distance from him.”
Except the damage had already been done. From the moment they’d kissed in the cupboard—and that was before she’d ever danced with him or they’d given Lucien any inkling they might wish to court—she’d been lost. She may not have fallen in love with him then, but she’d been infatuated at least.
