Page 27 of Intolerable
She hadn’t expected any of that, and it took her a moment to respond. “Thank you. Why does Con say you meddle?”
“Because I do from time to time. I’m afraid I, ah, meddled a bit in his marriage. In my defense, he and Sabrina needed help in the worst way. Still, I overstepped and should not have.”
“This sounds like a story I want to hear when you have more time. I am never included in the good stuff.” Such were the pitfalls of being a much younger sister. Lucien was seven years older than her, and Constantine was nine.
“It’s a story you’ll have to pry from Con, I’m afraid.” He grimaced. “I did enough damage.” Cassandra was more curious than ever. “Please tell me how I can help you, and I promise I won’t overstep.”
“As you know, Papa is insistent I wed, and he’s begun involving himself in the process. He made me go to the park with him today.”
Lucien flinched. “You have my deepest sympathies. Was it awful?”
“If you can overlook his disparagement of Wexford, not entirely.”
“Why were you discussing Wex?”
“We saw him, and Papa couldn’t resist telling me howintolerablehe would be as a husband. He doesn’t realize Wexford’s call was an act, but even if it wasn’t, I can hardly think the earl would want to marry me after Papa’s behavior.”
“I understand he was quite obnoxious.”
“In every way you can imagine. He is the opposite with Glastonbury. In fact, I daresay he’d escort us to Gretna Green himself.” It would serve him right if she did elope with whomever she chose. She’d keep that in mind.
Chuckling, Lucien leaned back into the chair and crossed his legs. “If he doesn’t, I will. Just say the word.”
“You can’t be gone from London for so long. What about your club? In fact, Papa has decided to allow me to attend the assembly tomorrow night.”
“I’ll be damned.” Lucien clucked his tongue. “How did you get him to change his mind?”
“He made me promise that I’d dance with Glastonbury and obtain his assurance that he would call on me soon.”
Uncrossing his legs, Lucien grasped the arms of the chair as his brow furrowed. “Glastonbury is not a member.”
“I know.” She leveled him with an expectant stare. “That is why I need a favor.”
“Hell, Cass, it can’t be done. Not on such short notice. The assembly is tomorrow night.”
“I’m aware it’s a challenging request, but it’s your club. Surely you can get him an invitation before then.”
“While it’s my club, I do not make the membership decisions on my own. There’s a…process in place.”
“If it’s your club, you can skip the process.”
He exhaled, his features creasing into a deep frown. “It’s not that simple. I can’t go into details, I’m sorry.”
“Won’t you at least try? If I don’t dance with him, Papa has forbidden me to attend any other assemblies for the rest of the Seasonandwill accompany me to every ball.” She pitched forward. “Only imagine what that will be like.”
He swept his hand across his forehead. “I can.” Muttering something indiscernible, he turned his head toward the windows and stared off into the middle distance for a moment. His gaze found hers, but there was reluctance in their depths. “I’ll try.”
“You don’t seem very enthusiastic. Or optimistic.”
“I’ll do my best but know that it’s a nearly impossible task. What if I speak to Father and explain that Glastonbury isn’t a member?”
“Then he’ll just say I can’t go to the assembly.” She could see in Lucien’s eyes that he wondered if that wasn’t the better course of action. “I haven’t been successful on the Marriage Mart thus far, and the crop of gentlemen at the Phoenix Club is different than everywhere else.”
“That’s true,” he said hesitantly. “But there is overlap. Many of the gentlemen you see at balls and soirees will also be at the assembly.”
“Yes, and perhaps you can take the opportunity to make it known to them that they needn’t be intimidated by our father.”
Lucien winced again. “I should have been doing that all along. I’d intended to and…well, I have no good excuse for being a terrible brother this Season.”
