Page 8 of The Earl's Secret
“Goodness,” she said. “That is rather strong.”
“So it is,” Cassandra agreed with a smile. “Is there any other way to drink brandy?”
She decided with her fist sip that she would push away all thoughts of a certain rower who refused to leave her mind. Damn Devon Addison. The now-Lord Covington was occupying far too many of her thoughts as of late.
She smiled at her friends, opening her mouth to ask them if any ideas had arisen – until she saw all of their eyes move to something over her shoulder. She turned to see what had so captured their attention, and her breath caught in her throat when she saw just who was standing behind her, those thighs she had pictured just above her head, his stance wide and hands on his hips as he looked down at her with that arrogant smile she wanted to reach up and wipe off his face, primarily because of what it did to her.
“A lovely day to sit outside, isn’t it ladies?” he said, waving them away when they stood to bow before him – all but Cassandra. “Came out to watch some rowing, did you?”
“Oh, I didn’t see anyone on the water,” Hope said, turning around to look now, and Cassandra closed her eyes as she felt Devon’s gaze on her. He had realized that it was her watching him, damn the man.
“No?” he said, and Cassandra refused to look at him, for she knew the self-important smirk he would be wearing. “I just came from the water myself and could have sworn that I had spectators.”
He dropped to the ground beside Cassandra, sitting far closer than she would have liked. “If you are not here as observers, then just what are we doing on the banks of the Serpentine?”
He reached out a hand, and Cassandra snatched up her book before he could grasp it. True, she would prefer that he didn’t see what she was reading, but she was even more worried that the riddle would fall out of the pages and into his hands. That would never do, for if he found such a thing he was certain to mention it to Gideon.
“Weare reading,” she said primly. “We decided to take our discussion out of doors today.”
“Did you, now? And what has you all so captivated?”
“It is a book on etiquette, of course,” Cassandra said. “That is what we prefer to read.”
“Right,” he said, obviously struggling to ensure that his face remained passive, his lips curling and uncurling.
Since he couldn’t reach the book, instead he went for Cassandra’s drink. She let out a small grunt of irritation while attempting to tug it from his grasp, but he was too strong for her, lifting it to his lips and taking a big swig. Cassandra watched him with her mouth agape.
“Why, Lady Cassandra,” he said, his own eyes widening in shock as he sputtered just slightly. “That is… ah… fortifying.”
He paused, putting the drink down, before he cleared his throat once more and then took another sip, although this time it was much smaller. She could but imagine that he had been expecting something else entirely to quench his thirst.
“I will say, you have excellent choice in quality,” he said with a wink, and Cassandra was both annoyed and aroused at the same time. “Are you looking forward to leaving London for Castleton?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, I suppose I am.”
“As am I,” he said, smiling.
It took Cassandra a moment to realize exactly what he was saying. “Pardon me?”
“I have the great fortune to be accompanying you for a time,” he said, his grin stretching wider as though he knew how she would accept the news and was glad of it. “It is always a wonderful place to be at this time of year, isn’t it?”
“But—” she began to protest, only there was nothing for her to say. If Gideon had invited him, then who was she to deny her brother’s choice in companion? She let out a sigh that was obviously more audible than she had intended, for she could sense Madeline’s sharp gaze upon her. “But I do love the summer as well,” she finished lamely, unable to come up with anything more clever. “I’m sure it will be a lovely stay overall.”
He grabbed an apple from her basket, his teeth crunching into it as he stood. “I look forward to it,” he said with that wink again, and Cassandra had to take a breath to try to calm herself.
“Ladies.” He nodded to the rest of them before walking away, and Cassandra had to force her eyes away from him and back toward her friends.
“Well,” Faith said. “So much for ambivalence.”
Perhaps Castleton was not going to be as relaxing as Cassandra had originally thought.
CHAPTER4
Devon chuckled to himself as he wandered down the hallway to meet with Gideon. He was going to have far too much fun annoying Lady Cassandra with his presence here at Castleton. He hadn’t seen much of her on the journey here, for he and Gideon had ridden beside the carriage that held Cassandra and her mother. They had arrived late enough in the evening that the women had taken their meals in their rooms before retiring for the night.
He had caught glimpses of her, of course, especially when they had stopped to lunch, but she was so preoccupied with glaring at him that it was difficult to actually speak to her. He had considered asking Gideon for advice on how to melt her icy exterior, but he knew his friend would surely wonder why he cared so much what Cassandra thought of him.
That was an explanation Devon was not inclined to provide.
