Page 105 of Intolerable
“No. I had to track Lucien down at Evie’s house. She’s actually the one who told me.”
“And that’s when Lucien insisted you bring his coach and men.” Ruark nodded toward the two coachmen who stood just inside the door. He looked back to Cassandra. “I don’t know how she would have planned this.”
“I don’t either, but apparently she did.” Cassandra’s gaze dimmed. “I can’t believe she didn’t tell me. Especially after I finally told her about you.” Her eyes met Ruark’s. “Then again, she also understood that I didn’t want to break my promise to you to keep things between us. Perhaps she and this man made a similar vow to each other.”
“It sounds as if she’s about to make more vows than that,” Ruark said.
“I’m sad I won’t be there. Nor will she be at our wedding.”
Ruark took his future countess’s hand. “We will celebrate when she returns.”
“And meet her husband.” Cassandra smiled up at him. “I suppose we should return to London then.”
He kissed the inside of her wrist. “Our future awaits, my lady.”
Chapter 25
Instead of going straight to Grosvenor Square, Cassandra thought it would be wiser to bring reinforcements. To that end, they’d first gone to Constantine’s and Sabrina’s. Thankfully, they were already awake and receiving visitors.
Sabrina was thrilled to hear of their wedding plans while Con was a bit surprised.
Standing in the drawing room of his house, he narrowed his eyes at Ruark. “I thought Lucien said you wouldn’t wed.”
“I hadn’t met the right person. Cassandra is the right person.” Ruark took her hand and looked into her eyes with so much love that Cassandra felt as though she might burst from happiness.
“Does he know about this?” Con asked.
“Not that we’re getting married,” Cassandra said. “We’re going to tell him now. I thought it best if both you and he were with me when I break the news to Papa.”
“Why? He’ll be thrilled that you’re betrothed.”
“Not to me,” Ruark said with a grimace. “I, ah, pretended to court Cassandra a few weeks back, and it didn’t go well.”
“He insulted Ruark at every turn. Because he’s Irish.”
“Don’t forget that my mother married an Irish steward,” Ruark added.
“Yes, that too.” Cassandra looked to her brother. “See why I need your support?”
“I do.” He put his arm around Sabrina. “We’ll meet you there.”
Relief and joy flooded Cassandra. “Thank you.” She rushed forward and kissed her brother’s cheek then hugged her sister-in-law.
A few minutes later, she and Ruark were on their way to Lucien’s house. His butler showed them into his sitting room at the back of the ground floor.
Ruark stroked his jaw. “I hope he doesn’t hit me again.”
“He hit you?” Cassandra moved close to him and touched his face.
“When he banished me from the Phoenix Club.”
She gaped at him. “He banished you from the club? Can he do that?”
Lifting a shoulder, Ruark kissed her forehead. “He says it’s his club, that he can do anything.”
“Yet, he had to move heaven and earth to extend Glastonbury an invitation.” Cassandra scoffed. “His rules are awfully convenient.”
“I believe Wexford said something similar.” Lucien strode into the room wearing a dark blue banyan over a shirt and pantaloons, his slippers moving soundlessly over the carpet. “Should I expect news?”
