Page 30 of The Earl's Secret
“Lord Whitehall?” Cassandra scrunched her nose, confused.
“You were staring over in their direction. But you must have spent a great deal of time with Lord Covington as of late, which would have given you plenty of opportunity to appreciate him.”
“Lord Covington?” she said, feigning nonchalance even as she realized she sounded like a parrot. “Yes, he has been at Castleton of course, and we have spent some time searching for the treasure since Gideon was called away, but I can assure you that nothing untoward has occurred between the two of us.”
Which was a partial truth. Not entirely untoward. Not since they had arrived at Castleton. At least, not yet.
“If anything, I would say we are slowly learning to be friends more than enemies,” she finished.
“Well, that is lovely,” Hope said encouragingly, while Faith rolled her eyes.
“It is hard to believe that this ball came together so quickly, with your family having returned to the country so recently,” Cassandra said, attempting to change the subject, and Hope allowed her to do so without comment.
“You know Mother,” she said with a shrug. “Always needs to host an elaborate event before anyone else can.”
“Now as for your riddle,” Faith interjected, returning to their first topic of conversation, “I am beginning to believe that the author was not of sound mind. How could she have been, when no one has had the ability to make any sense of it?”
“That’s just it,” Cassandra said, biting her lip. “I wonder if she meant the clue for a certain person, one who would have particular knowledge to solve the riddle, knowledge that no one else would possess. But if neither Gideon nor I can make sense of it, then who could properly do so?”
“Perhaps there is no treasure at all, and this was all some old ancestor trying to lead her descendants on a chase while she gleefully cackles about it as she watches down on you,” Faith said, causing both Hope and Cassandra to stare at her incredulously.
“Faith!” Hope finally exclaimed, but her sister merely shrugged.
“What? It is entirely possible.”
“I suppose,” Cassandra said reluctantly, knowing how much it would devastate Gideon if there was nothing at the end of all of this. In fact, she would be rather upset as well, for she was, at the moment, having great fun with it. Which had nothing to do with a certain Lord Covington, she told herself.
“Perhaps we can come help you search one of these days,” Hope said, to which Cassandra smiled warmly.
“That would be lovely,” she said, but they had to halt their conversation as a duo of gentlemen approached. They greeted all three ladies, but seemed to be known to Hope and Faith, and asked for their accompaniment in a dance. Cassandra could see that Hope was prepared to decline for her sake, but she waved her on, telling her not to worry, that she would find her own partner very soon.
Which happened much more quickly than she thought.
“Lady Cassandra, may I have this dance?”
She turned with a smile on her lips, although she was slightly surprised to find Lord Amberdash standing behind her. She knew him slightly through Gideon, but he did not frequent the same circles.
“Of course, my lord,” she said, even though, truthfully, in her heart of hearts, she had been hoping that Devon would ask. But she noticed as she turned to look from the corner of her eye that he was still deep in conversation with Lord Whitehall and wasn’t showing any indication that he had a care of what she was currently doing.
She placed her gloved hand in Lord Amberdash’s, allowing him to lead her out onto the dance floor. She nearly groaned aloud when she realized that the current dance was a waltz, for she had no desire to be captured so close to him – but how was she to decline now without appearing appallingly rude?
Although perhaps another man’s interest might coax Devon to pay slightly more attention to her. She was aware that she was acting in a rather spiteful fashion, but she couldn’t seem to help her feelings.
“You look exceedingly becoming tonight, Lady Cassandra,” the viscount murmured, his breath hot upon her ear, and she had to try not to shudder at his closeness. Why did another man’s nearness bother her so when she welcomed Devon’s proximity?
“Thank you,” she said when she realized silence was growing between them. She was trying to recall if they had ever had much exchange before, but she couldn’t remember such a time.
“Where is your brother this evening?”
“He was called away on business,” she said, certain that Lord Amberdash likely already knew, for word travelled quickly as to the various whereabouts of guests who should have been in attendance.
“Leaving you alone – such a pity.”
Cassandra turned her head sharply toward him, trying to determine just what was seeping out the edges of his voice.
“I can assure you that I am well looked after – and I am very adept at taking care of myself.”
“I do not doubt it.”
