Page 15 of The Earl's Secret
More than anyone else would ever realize.
“Speaking of Cassandra,” he said, lifting a finger, but Gideon had already began a conversation with the stablemaster. By the time he turned around, he seemed to have something else on his mind.
“One last thing,” Gideon said, holding onto his horse’s reins. “Do be easy on Cassandra. I know she isn’t always agreeable, but she’s had a hard time since the… incident. Good luck, and I shall see you soon.”
With that, he mounted his horse, and before Devon could fully grasp Gideon’s departing words, he was riding away. By then it was far too late for him to follow or call him back to ask him to explain just what he was talking about. Incident? Whatever could he mean?
He supposed there was but one thing to do about it. He was going to have to ask Cassandra himself.
The only problem was, he didn’t seem to be able to find any time to speak to her alone.
Her parents were both present at dinner that night, although the duke seemed to be of the belief that Cassandra was his sister, Eve, and Devon was her husband. As much as he could see the hurt on Cassandra’s face that her father was not, in the moment, aware of her true identity, Devon decided that if he had to play a role, the role of her husband was not a particularly difficult one.
He pulled out her chair for her, allowing his fingers to skim over the soft, pale skin of her neck as he stepped back and away. She bristled, fixing him with a glare, but he simply smiled at her, knowing that doing so would likely vex her but uncaring at the moment.
“Good to see you here in the country, Robert,” the duke said with a wide smile for him, and Devon could understand the family’s sense of loss. For the duke was an upright man, one with a good heart who loved his family and had done his very best until life presented him with a challenge that he couldn’t quite overcome.
All that had happened afterward was the fault of whatever sickness had struck him, not the duke’s own intentions.
“I was thinking that perhaps tomorrow we should go check on the lands, Robert, what do you say? It could be like old times, riding together across the fields.”
Devon stole a glance at Cassandra. He wouldn’t mind accompanying the duke, but he wasn’t sure that the man often ventured beyond the grounds, especially to speak to farmers and tenants.
“De—Robert and I are busy tomorrow, unfortunately, Father,” Cassandra said gently, and Devon stirred to life when Cassandra reached over and placed her hand on his arm. She obviously noticed his reaction, for she pulled it back just as quickly. “Perhaps we can do something else together – within the house.”
“I’ve been in this house for far too long,” he grumbled. “I’ve just overcome my case of the grippe. Time to return outdoors.”
“Must be a sign,” Devon murmured, and Cassandra fixed him with a look, clearly misunderstanding him, but he found it interesting her father was also interested in leaving the house – although for an entirely different reason. Fortunately, no one else heard Devon’s mutterings, for he didn’t wish to explain their treasure , even though Gideon had told him that the duke was already aware they had a riddle to solve. It would be easier to continue on his own.
“So, are you newlyweds ready to add more members to the family?” the duke asked, causing Cassandra to choke on her drink while her mother admonished, “Gregory!”
He laughed away the question with a wave of his hand. “Eve doesn’t mind such talk, do you, Eve?”
“I suppose not,” Cassandra said, although Devon noticed that she couldn’t meet his eye.
Devon took advantage of the situation and leaned back, lifting his arm and setting it on the back of her chair. She bristled slightly, although she didn’t move away – likely for no more than the benefit of the charade they were putting on for her father.
“I am a fortunate man, to have married her,” Devon said, his lips curling up slightly into a smile, especially when Cassandra gripped his leg underneath the table, which did not have what he was certain was her desired intent but in fact just made him more eager to continue on his current path. “I am ever so grateful.”
“You should be,” she said with a frosty glare. “Being married to me is a great privilege.”
“To which, I completely agree,” he said, lifting his glass and holding it up to her. She ignored him for a moment, until her mother hissed, “Cassandra,” and she sighed before clinking hers ever so slightly against his.
Devon smiled as he figured he had won this battle. But he was smart enough to realize that he had certainly not won the war.
Two footmen – the only two Devon had seen thus far at Castleton – arrived with the first course, and Devon could but hope that it tasted better than it looked.
He was sad to find out that it didn’t, but at least the company was enjoyable.
It wasn’t until later, after the dinner had concluded and the duchess had led her husband upstairs, that Devon finally had a chance to speak with Cassandra alone.
He knew she was trying to avoid him, walking out of the door just behind her parents, but it wasn’t as though she could follow them into her father’s bedroom.
Instead, she stood at the bottom of the stairs with her hand on the banister as though trying to decide what to do.
“I don’t bite,” he said from behind her, and she turned with a wary gaze on her face.
“Don’t you now?”
