Page 57 of The Earl's Secret
Devon wokethe next morning with an ache in both his chest and his head.
He knew the headache was likely from the bottle of brandy that he and Gideon had finished off the night before. They had spoken at great length about the past, finally free to share all that had occurred and all that Devon hoped for — although he wasn’t sure that he would ever completely gain back Gideon’s trust.
The ache in his chest was the concern about what Cassandra was feeling this morning, what she might say to him after all that had occurred the previous night.
He had, unfortunately, allowed history to repeat itself.
Except this time, he knew better. This time, he was going to fix it and find the ending both he and Cassandra deserved. This time, he was going to finish this with the proposal he should have issued five years ago.
After a few more minutes of sleep and a cup of coffee in bed, Devon felt infinitely better, and when he finally descended the staircase, it was with a bounce in his step and a whistle on his lips. He had missed breakfast with most of the guests – including Cassandra – and he went in search of her, not surprised when he found her in the parlor with the other female guests.
Apparently, she had waited for him to visit the stables. That was a good sign.
But first, there was another matter of importance.
He took a breath as they all looked up at him in surprise when his frame filled the doorway.
* * *
“Good morning,”Devon greeted the table, and Cassandra hated her traitorous heart for skipping a beat when she saw him. She noted her friends staring back and forth between her and Devon with uncertainty and an appropriate bit of malice for him, which was fair. She had shared all with them this morning. They had been equally shocked at both her past with the earl as well as the fact that what she thought had been a growing connection between them had, in fact, all been for a ridiculous wager.
Cassandra herself could hardly believe it. Here she had finally put her trust in him again, had believed that he could, perhaps, be the man for her, that her mind could accept what her body and heart were trying to tell her.
But it was all for naught. He was as devious as he had always been, looking out for himself and Gideon, while she was nothing but a pawn in his game.
What she hated most was how much it had affected her. After she had heard the truth last night, she had hurried back to her bedchamber, doing her utmost to keep her composure before anyone could see how distraught she truly was. She had fallen asleep with tears on her cheeks and pain in her heart, both of which had still been with her this morning.
“Lady Cassandra,” Devon said, his hands behind his back in an unassuming pose, and her eyes narrowed at the fact he could think that he would trick her once more, “would you have a moment to speak with me?”
Her head snapped up to his.
“No, I would not.”
His eyes widened, although she didn’t care that he know how upset she was about last night. Damn him, standing there so completely unaffected, his handsome face in repose.
“I promise that I shall be brief,” he tried again, and she was still shaking her head when Gideon filled the doorway behind him.
“Give the man a chance to explain, Cassandra,” Gideon said with exasperation, and finally Cassandra realized there was but one way to end this. She brusquely pushed her chair away from the writing desk in front of her, cleared her throat, and issued an apology to her friends before she was brushing past the two men in the doorway with a flurry of skirts.
“I amnotpleased with this,” she muttered as she passed, noting Devon exchange a look with Gideon. Let the two of them attempt all they wanted. She was not going to break before them. Not this time.
Gideon led them into his study, hesitated for a moment as though wondering whether he should remain, but finally shook his head and retreated.
“I’ll leave you to it, then, but I shall remain close,” he said, his words an obvious warning that nothing untoward should occur again. He had nothing to worry about there. “Best of luck.”
Cassandra scoffed as Devon thanked him. Cassandra leaned back against the desk, awaiting whatever charming words he had planned for her with her arms crossed.
“I do not appreciate being forced into this conversation,” she began.
Devon lifted a brow as he took a chair in front of the desk, gesturing to the other for her. She paused for a moment before doing as he suggested, although not without a slight flounce as though to tell him she was doing so of her own will.
“You do realize that most women would be forced into marriage at this point,” he said. “I hardly believe you should complain about a conversation with me, nor am I aware of why you are so displeased.”
Her eyes widened. “You do realizethat last night was a repetition of all that occurred five years ago.”
“I can hardly agree with that,” he said, shaking his head. “Five years ago, you were found alone after I left, only to face the repercussions yourself. I believe last night it wasIwho remained to face your brother.”
“And just how did that conversation play out?”
