Page 68 of The Earl's Secret
“Now?” Cassandra asked, looking around the room, past the friends and family who had gathered, at Devon and back again.
“Yes. I must apologize. Close the door to the past, as it were.”
“Whatever for?”
“For not stopping the family from sending you away. I should have spoken up for you, should have ensured that we stood by you, no matter what it meant for our family’s reputation.”
“Gideon.” Cassandra reached out and placed one of her silk-clad hands on his sleeve. “It’s finished. I understand.”
“But—”
“You were hardly old enough yourself to stand up for what you believed in. I know that things would be different now. Neither of us are the people we were five years ago, which is a good thing.”
“And as for Devon—”
“We have also — obviously — come to an understanding,” Cassandra said, a smile playing on her lips. She appreciated what Gideon was doing, truly she did, but she had also made her peace. “You are right in that it is time for us to move on. We have learned from the past, and if nothing else, we will remember those lessons when it comes time for us to parent our own children.”
“That we will,” he said, his jaw still set stoically. “Thank you, Cassandra.”
“Of course.”
He nodded, his jaw ticking, and she realized how much this had been weighing on him. She reached out and squeezed his hand as their parents walked up to join them. They had been uncertain about Cassandra’s father’s involvement today, but this morning, by all miracles, not only was he in good spirits but he also seemed to be entirely aware that Cassandra was his daughter and not his sister.
“Cassandra, you look beautiful,” her mother said, her hands clasped in front of her while her father nodded.
“You are certain of marrying this man?” he asked her, and Cassandra’s heart warmed at what a good man her father truly was.
“Absolutely.”
“Well, then,” he said, “how long are we waiting for?”
“Not long,” Cassandra said, sending her wide grin across the room to where her future awaited. “Not long at all.”
* * *
“I am looking forwardto introducing you to my family,” Devon said, having found Cassandra from across the room. “I’m sure they will be pleased that I have found a woman who can put up with me.”
“Some might say that I am also something of a handful,” Cassandra said with a cheeky wink at Devon that had his heart fluttering and his desire stirring to life, although he closed his eyes and made himself think of something else entirely, being that this room and the one connected were full of his entire family.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” he said, until he heard a throat clearing in his ear and he turned to find Whitehall standing there.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Devon asked the man who he wouldn’t entirely consider a friend but who seemed to be growing on him regardless.
“I suppose so,” the viscount said with a shrug as though it didn’t matter one way or another. “I must speak with you.”
“Very well,” he said, stepping away from the small group they were speaking to so that they could have some privacy. “What is it?”
“It’s about the book,” he said, looking from one side to the other as though suspicious they might be overheard.
“What of it?”
“It doesn’t make much sense to me that Lord Embury would be in possession of it.”
“What are you saying?” Devon asked, leaning in closer, curious despite himself.
“I am saying,” he said, his eyes hardening, “that I have some questions over his motivations.”
Devon blinked as he stood straight, surprised by Whitehall’s suspicions, but winced when he saw just who was standing behind Whitehall. He tried to motion to his friend to stop talking, but the man didn’t seem to understand his gestures.
