Page 60 of The Earl's Secret
“So you say,” she said, swinging her legs down off the arm of the chair and onto the floor. “But besides that, I know that Devon is your closest friend and this probably all seems like it would work out perfectly to marry me off to him. You would not only then find me a husband but also keep your best friend close.”
“Do you really think I would marry you off for such a reason?”
Cassandra paused, sighing softly.
“No. But I do not think you fully understand.”
“Perhaps I don’t,” Gideon said with a shrug. “But I also do not believe you are being fair to Devon. I had my doubts as well, after I discovered… well, what was between the two of you. I cannot say I was pleased to learn of the past, either, but the truth is, Cassandra, all I want is for you to be happy. Both of you.”
“Noted,” she said with a nod. “Are you not supposed to be fishing?”
“I am,” he said, standing now, obviously realizing that he wasn’t going to get anywhere with her. “The men are waiting for me. I had wanted a word with you first.”
“Have you said anything to Mother?”
“Of course not,” he said, frowning as he shook his head. “It would only worry her.”
“Thank you,” she said, biting her lip, considering how her mother had reacted the last time she had been caught in such a situation. “Is Father going to accompany you today?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact,” Gideon said. “He is having a rather lucid day, so Anderson said he would bring him along. It will be good for him.”
“He will enjoy that,” Cassandra said with a smile.
“As will I,” Gideon replied as he walked toward the door, although not without looking back at her. “Devon is a good man, Cassandra. I know you have had your differences with him in the past, but he was there for me when no one else would have been. I cannot imagine my days at school without him, and I do believe he cares for you a great deal. Soften your heart toward him if you can.”
That was the very problem, however. For if she were to do so, it would leave her heart vulnerable to be irreparably broken. But she wasn’t going to speak to Gideon about that, so instead she just nodded in encouragement for him to leave to join his friends on the nearby river – especially as it would mean Devon was going along with him, providing her a reprieve of having to watch for him appearing around every corner.
“Catch some fish, Gideon,” she said, to which he thanked her before continuing on his way.
Cassandra leaned her head back against the sofa and closed her eyes. She had heard from her maid that Devon was preparing to leave tomorrow, a fact which brought her both comfort and sorrow. For as much as she yearned to see him again, for his touch and his presence, the sooner he was cut from her life, the better.
It was the only way she would ever be able to move on.
CHAPTER24
When the next day dawned with no sign of Devon, Cassandra couldn’t quite bring herself to ask anyone if he had, in fact, departed, although she couldn’t think of any other explanation for his absence. She hated that she couldn’t deny her longing to see him, and the hope that perhaps there had been more to his proposal, that he would prove her wrong by convincing her that he cared for her more than his ridiculous wager or because he felt he owed her brother for compromising her.
But it was as though the past was reoccurring – except this time, there would be no sending her away to learn how to better conduct herself. Perhaps she was just soiled goods, she thought morosely as she stared out the window. She knew that it wasn’t completely uncommon for women to ruin their reputations, but she was likely one of the few ladies of her status who refused to do what was expected and marry the man who had so ruined her.
She had forced a smile to her face for breakfast, while she sensed a strangeness in the air, as though she was being watched – but every time she lifted her face, the others around the table quickly returned their gazes to their plates in front of them.
As soon as breakfast was over, Hope stood and clasped her hands in front of her.
“Shall we perhaps make for the parlor?” she asked, and Cassandra furrowed her brow. It wasn’t like Hope to plan anything for the rest of them.
“I don’t see why not,” she said. “As it happens, I have an idea about the riddle I would like to share.”
It should be something she was excited about, but it seemed she had lost all of her vigor for it now that she didn’t have Devon to help her with it. She would tell Gideon all she had found, she decided, and then he could pursue it.
“Wonderful,” Hope beamed, and Cassandra couldn’t help but smile back. Hope was always a beacon of sunshine, and it was hard to not respond to her optimism about everything in life. She stole a glance at Madeline, not surprised to see that she seemed equally as skeptical as Cassandra did, but they made their way to the parlor without comment.
Once they had taken their seats, Hope sprang to her feet, her eyes bright as she gripped a sheath of papers in her hand.
“I have a story.”
“Oh?” Cassandra said, surprised. “Where did you find it?”
“It is a story for you alone, Cassandra,” she said, ignoring her question as she crossed the room and set the papers in her hands. Cassandra couldn’t help her curiosity as she flipped through the pages, finding about five pages of handwriting within. She looked up at her friends, who were watching her carefully.
