Page 31 of The Earl's Secret
Cassandra didn’t entirely enjoy the way she felt about him watching her through the remainder of the dance, but it wasn’t as though she could say anything about it when he stood so close to her, his grip tight on her back and her hand. When the musicians finally brought the song to a close, she was quick to step back and curtsy before hurrying away to find her friends.
Unfortunately, Hope and Faith did not appear to be anywhere on the sides of the ballroom, and soon enough, Cassandra saw them out on the dance floor once more.
She spotted her mother with a group of women near the other end of the hall, but she had no desire to join them – she was sure their talk would be far too dull.
Instead, she decided that now would be an ideal time to find the ladies’ room, and she slipped out of the ballroom to find her way.
She was pleased to be alone in the room – until she emerged to find a figure waiting for her in the shadows of the hall.
“Lady Cassandra, we meet again.”
“Lord Amberdash,” she said with some trepidation, looking one way and then the other, hoping that someone else would emerge. “What brings you to the ladies’ retiring room? Perhaps you are lost?”
“Not at all, for I have found exactly what I am looking for. You,” he said with a flourish, and Cassandra did not enjoy the predatory gaze he leered upon her.
“I can hardly think of any reason why you might have need to speak with me alone.”
“Come now, Lady Cassandra,” he said. “We all know of your propensity for scandal.”
Cassandra stiffened. “You have heard incorrectly, my lord, for I have no interest in causing scandal,” she said. “And I doubt you could possibly be aware of what has taken place in my past. However, I can assure you that it is nothing you need concern yourself with and has no bearing on my current regard for propriety.”
“No?” he said, beginning to step toward her, and Cassandra looked around for an escape. Perhaps she could slip by him once he was close enough. “What if we create a scandal that no one has to know about?”
“I could not,” she said, unable to help herself from taking a step backward for each he took toward her, but he continued to advance. As soon as he neared, she ducked under his arm, trying to hurry away from him and return to the ballroom.
Unfortunately, her skirts hampered her and before she could escape and emerge from the corridor, he had grabbed her arm and was pulling her backward.
“Unhand me,” she commanded, but he leered down at her, wrenching her arm behind her back as he pulled her through one of the nearby open doorways.
“I will – in a moment,” he sneered. “This should take but a minute, as long as you behave. You know that everyone is aware of your true nature. There are few reasons why a young lady would be sent away as you were, only to return and not marry by a respectable age.”
His words sliced through her, but at the moment, Cassandra didn’t care what he had to say – her greater concern was regarding his actions. There were two potential consequences, each of which were very frightening – what he could do to her, and, even worse, the result if someone happened upon them. For she was sure, especially if his words were true, that no one would ever believe that she wanted no part in this. She would be well and truly ruined, and this time everyone would know who had done so. She would far rather have been forced into a union with Devon than this man.
Devon. Where was he, and what would he possibly think if he found them? He couldn’t. She had to make sure of it. She needed to escape now.
“Lord Amberdash,” she said, keeping her voice as even and calm as possible, “you are hurting my arm. Which I will need if we are to—” She swallowed, unable to finish the sentence, although her words had some desired effect, for he slightly loosened his grip as he swept an arm around her back and turned her to face him, now that they were in the confines of a small parlor, which was lit with a fire.
Cassandra’d had enough. In close quarters, she lifted her knee and drove it up between his legs. He let out a cry as he released her, and she managed to maneuver around him toward the doorway before he caught up to her, this time grabbing her hair, causing her to let out a cry she was unable to contain.
“You little wench,” he snarled, and she closed her eyes as her head remained backward, except suddenly she was free and nearly falling forward from the quick change in momentum – into a broad chest. Her eyes flew open as familiar hands gripped her close, and she knew from his scent and the feel of his chest beneath her fingertips just who had arrived. It was exactly as she had feared, and yet, it was also how she knew she was safe.
“Devon,” she sighed, leaning into him, and he murmured, “are you all right?” in her ear. When she nodded, he grunted, “good,” before gently letting her go and moving her beside him.
“What,” he said, growling out the words, “do you think you are doing?”
She opened her mouth to reply, until she saw that he was not addressing her, but instead was advancing on Lord Amberdash now, who was holding his head and chin high, although he was now the one backing up across the room.
“You know Lady Cassandra,” the viscount said, waving a hand in the air, although his eyes were twitching from one side to the other, “always looking for a good time. I was going to give her one.”
“You best think again before you repeat those words toanyone,” Devon snarled. “She is a lady.LadyCassandra. She deserves respect and has no interest in anything else from you. If you ever –ever– touch her again, then I will break every bone in your body, do you understand me?”
Lord Amberdash’s jaw dropped open in surprise, as he began stammering, “b-b-but, I, she—” Suddenly his eyes narrowed. “She’s your whore, isn’t she?”
That seemed to cross the line for Devon, as he cocked his arm back and let his fist fly, right into Lord Amberdash’s nose. Cassandra couldn’t help but cringe at the sickening crunch, as much as she felt that the man completely deserved it.
“There is more where that came from,” Devon said. “And that is just from me. Wait until her brother returns.”
At that, he left the man and walked toward Cassandra, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
