Page 47 of The Earl's Secret
“I do,” Gideon said with a nod, opening a drawer and looking through his desk. “Here it is.”
Cassandra took the paper from him, opening her notebook and beginning to review each list. They spoke of Gideon’s visit while they waited, until finally Cassandra sighed, shaking her head.
“Nothing appears out of the ordinary.”
“Another idea to cross off the list,” Gideon said, scratching his jaw. “I have been thinking more about the riddle.”
“Have you solved anything?” Cassandra asked, her expression a mixture of hope and disappointment, likely hope for a lead and disappointment if her brother had solved something before she did.
“No, but I have some ideas,” he said.
“I’m guessing you do not want to share them with me?” Cassandra said, arching a brow.
“I do,” Gideon said, even though it was very clear that he didn’t. “And I will. It is just—”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Gideon,” Cassandra said threateningly, her teeth ground together, “what is it?”
“I just believe it might be in your own best interests that Devon and I pursue this. Without you.”
“Is that not for me to decide?” she asked, obviously entirely displeased with her brother.
“It is only that — through absolutely no fault of your own — trouble seems to… follow you. Or find you. I’m not sure which,” Gideon admitted, wincing as he did so.
Cassandra’s jaw dropped open, even as Devon was already sitting forward on the sofa as the need to defend her rose within him.
“Now, Gideon,” he began, but Cassandra eyed him with a look that told him not to interfere any further.
“How can you say such a thing?” she asked. “Trouble doesn’tfollowme. I just—I simply—”
Gideon leaned forward and placed a hand on her knee. “It’s like being shot at while searching the cottages. That wasn’t your fault, and yet, it happened. Did anything else occur at other times when you were searching?”
“Not really,” Cassandra said with a shrug, although her lie was obvious by the flare of her nostrils. “Just a bit of rain outside and some contrary statues in the long gallery.”
“And Devon told me what happened at Lord and Lady Embury’s. That you were nearly accosted just outside the ballroom.”
Cassandra turned to Devon with a murderous glare, but he didn’t feel any regret.
“He had to know about Amberdash,” Devon said defensively. “We can hardly invite the man into our circles now. He must be punished, and the best way to do so is to make him feel a social outcast.”
Cassandra had set her teacup down and now crossed her arms over her chest, clearly feeling attacked.
“Just think of that business a few years ago, that had you sent away,” Gideon said, and now Devon could feel the beginning of a headache at his temples. “You obviously didn’t do that to yourself, and yet you were the one who was chastised. Trouble is attracted to you, Cassandra. As are, obviously, gentlemen who should know otherwise than to attempt ruining a young lady.”
Of course, Gideon could hardly be aware of it, but that last remark was directed at none other than Devon himself, as he was the one who had properly ruined Cassandra – twice now.
“I am not keeping anything from you out of some punishment or anything of the sort,” Gideon said. “Rather, I am just trying to protect you.”
“I can protectmyself, thank you very much,” Cassandra said, not hiding the malice in her voice.
“I know you can,” Gideon said slowly, and even Devon had to cringe at how patronizing his tone was. “But there are times when I must do so as well. It is part of my role – as your brother and as the head of this family.”
Devon could tell that there was much Cassandra wanted to say to that as she ground her jaw and clenched her hands in and out of fists, but she refrained, likely because she knew that to argue would surely make Gideon more inclined to believe she couldn’t look after herself.
Cassandra took an audible breath, in and out, and Devon knew exactly what she was thinking – that if she was not allowed to continue to search with the two of them, she would only do so alone, which would likely lead her into more trouble than he could imagine.
