Page 12 of His Loving Deception

“Cassandra,” he almost seemed to be pleading with her and she shook her head. It must be the alcohol making her think that. Benedict Savarin did not plead. He ordered. Directed. Commanded.

“Benedict,” she giggled, despite the seriousness of her mood.

He compressed his lips. “I’ll come with you.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’m not your problem anymore, remember?” She sobbed as she said it, and brought a hand to her mouth. She’d been doing so well until then.

He closed his eyes. He had said that, she was only reminding him of his own instructions.

“You’re going to be all of Sydney’s problem if I don’t go with you. Wait right here,” he was back to commanding, his tone firm.

He disappeared and she felt dizzy, had to lean against the hallway wall for support.

“Let’s go,” his voice broke through her nausea. She opened her eyes and for a second, when they met his, he saw the panic in them. She might be twenty four years old, but there was still a traumatised sixteen year old inside of Lady Cassandra Hervey.

The short car trip to the pub she’d named seemed to have sobered her somewhat and she was steadier on her feet when she emerged from his black Aston Martin.

He picked Cherie in the crowd instantly. Her small frame, huddled against the bar, shoulders hunched, face predictably pinched with worry, was incongruous with the rest of the happy, loud patrons. Timothy stood behind her, typing into his mobile phone. Ryan, the geek who looked ready to run the world from his laptop, was standing about a metre away from them, staring absently at the lights.

The petite blonde beside him visibly relaxed when her eyes located the people she had, until twenty four hours ago, lived with, and considered a makeshift urban family of sorts. She turned to him, the self-confidence he had admired in her from the first back in spades. “You may wait here. Or outside. I’m going to talk to my friends.”

So far as dismissals went, it was decisive. “One hour, and then I’m getting you home, Cassandra.”

“I’m not your problem, remember?” She threw over her shoulder as she disappeared into the crowd. As he watched her rejoin her friends, he felt a pain in his gut, like he’d been sucker punched. He’d been wrong. She was his problem now, and she always would be.

CHAPTER FIVE

Cassandra felt like she was facing yet another panel of judges, as her three roommates eyed her dubiously. No one moved. No one spoke.

“It’s still me, guys,” she said after the silence had stretched her nerves taught.

Cherie looked doubtful. “Was Ben telling the truth?”

“Yes.” She nodded. Then, “No. Partly.”

Ryan, always socially awkward, looked particularly out of his depth. “I’ll get us some drinks.” He loped away towards a free space at the bar.

Cass turned her attention back to Cherie and Timothy, biting down on her lower lip. “My name isn’t Kate Harris. Not really.”

“You’re a Lady? Like, real life nobility?” Cherie frowned.

“That stuff was true.” She reached across and put a hand on her friend’s forearm. “Cherie, I wish I could explain what it’s like.” She sighed, trying to pinpoint the best way to express her feelings. “Everything else I’ve told you guys is true. About my mum passing away, and my dad marrying Cruella de Ville.”

“You just forgot to tell us you’re seriously loaded,” Timothy scoffed sarcastically.

&n

bsp; Cass shot him a pleading look. “I didn’t want it to matter. It’s not who I am. It’s not who I want to be. This is the real me. Kate Harris. Living with you guys, studying at university, waitressing in a crappy job to make ends meet. That’s all me.”

“But why?” Cherie murmured. “You must have had everything you could ever want. Why leave it all behind?” She paused. “And what’s this about the police, and theft?”

At that, Cassandra’s face froze. “I want to tell you, guys. I want to be completely honest with you. But that’s a closed matter.”

“Did you do it?” Cherie persisted, her pretty face intent on studying her friend.

Cass twisted the strap of her handbag. “What do you think?” She said finally, her tone sombre.

Cherie flashed her a smile. “I know you didn’t.” And with that, apparently one judge was convinced that Cass passed muster. Cherie wrapped her arms around Cassandra and squeezed tight.

---