Page 35 of The Earl's Secret
“Cassandra, Lord Covington, already going down to dinner?” They turned together as Cassandra realized they were standing on the top of the landing, her mother below them at the bottom of the staircase.
Even as Cassandra smiled, she could feel it wobble on her face, for she had wanted a moment with Devon, to speak about what had happened and assure him that he most certainly was nothing like the vile viscount. She needed to know what was going through his mind, what he had thought of her after all that occurred.
There was also the fact that she wanted to make it very clear that she could have handled herself if she had been left alone to do so.
“Yes, Mother,” Cassandra said as they descended and walked in to the dining room together. Her father was already sitting at the table. Devon followed her and as he pulled out a chair for her, she leaned up and whispered, “Meet me at the fountain tomorrow morning. I have an idea.”
His single acknowledgement of her words was his nod, and then he continued to his own place, although she didn’t miss the warmth in his eyes when he sat down and looked toward her, a warmth that seemed to radiate through her own chest and into her toes.
“Oh, I have a piece of news,” Cassandra’s mother announced, and they all turned to her expectantly. “I received a note that Gideon is to return soon. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Cassandra forced a smile to her face, even as a strange part of her was left suspiciously bereft. For as much as she loved her brother, she was enjoying searching for the treasure – and she was enjoying it even more so with Devon by her side. Gideon’s return would mean that Devon would once again be spending time with his friend, and she was sure the two of them would find many reasons to leave her out of the search. It would be like her childhood all over again.
Which gave her greater drive to find what they were looking for tomorrow. It was the one way she could be sure to stay a part of this – and to spend more time with the man she had finally realized she would never be rid of – in her heart or mind.
* * *
Despite Cassandra’s smile,Devon hadn’t missed the look of disappointment that had crossed her face last night at dinner at the news of Gideon’s return. Was it because she knew he would likely discourage her from continuing to search for the treasure? Or was it that she was certain it would mean an end to their time together?
Inwardly, he hoped the latter to be true, although he did not hold altogether the same concerns. For once Gideon returned, Devon could speak to him about what was truly on his mind – his desire to court Cassandra.
The sole problem was whether or not his friend would allow it to be.
Today, he was much more interested in Cassandra’s thoughts regarding where they should now be searching. She had asked him to join her out of doors once more. They had already searched the gardens and part of the ruins. Perhaps there was more to the ruins she wanted to explore.
He walked through the gardens, finding her once again at the fountain, although this time she was perched on the edge, as though aware that this was where he would search her out.
“There you are,” she said with a cheeky grin. “Took you long enough.”
He arched a brow at her, although he couldn’t keep the smile off his face from simply being in her presence. “Well, when a lady does not provide the time for such a meeting, it does make it rather difficult to accommodate her expectations.”
“I suppose that makes some sense,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “How curious are you about where I would like to search?”
“Very,” he admitted.
“You do know Castleton has a small lake upon the grounds?”
“Of course,” he said. “Gideon and I spent much time swimming within it during the summer months.”
“Well, I don’t know if you recall, but at one time there were small servant cottages built near the lake,” she said. “They are no longer used – primarily because we do not have nearly as many servants – and they have sat empty for years. But would it not make sense?” Her excitement was palpable in the air. “I thought the clue was leading us to the servants’ quarters. My father and Gideon expected it to lead us out of doors. This would mean that both of us were partially correct.”
Devon nodded his head slowly as he rubbed his chin. “It would be clever, although it seems so far from the estate.”
She shrugged. “It is still within walking distance. That is all that matters, is it not?”
“I suppose,” he said thoughtfully, considering that her idea actually made a great deal of sense. “Are you prepared to go now?”
“Of course,” she said, following his eyes. “And yes, I have my very best walking boots on.”
She stood and they began toward the lake side by side, although Devon hadn’t held out a hand to lead her, which she seemed to appreciate. It was not necessary, and she would likely see it as no more than him believing he had to look after her again.
“About what you were saying regarding yourself and Lord Amberdash,” she said, and Devon could feel his ire rising again at just hearing the man’s name, especially coming off her lips. “You are nothing like him. Nothing. I told him multiple times I wanted nothing to do with him and, in fact, demanded that he unhand me and leave me be. Whereas with you… I demanded quite the opposite and, in fact, wanted what occurred just as much, if not more, than you did.”
She looked up at him then, her cheeks flushed but her eyes clear. “Do you understand?”
“You make yourself very clear, my lady,” he said, swallowing hard, for he couldn’t help but wonder if she would still want him now with the same ferocity as she had previously felt.
He didn’t ask, however, did not want to scare her off, and besides, they had come to a clearing that showcased the lake stretching out in front of them. It was a rare day when the sun was high in the sky, its rays glistening down upon the blue of the lake. The water was so inviting, Devon’s memories of swimming within it so vivid, that he was tempted to strip down and dive into its depths.
