Page 14 of The Heir's Fortune
“Be sure to eat enough for your great search today,” Cassandra said to her husband as she spread jam over her toast. “You should not want to have to cut it short for a luncheon.”
Her husband snorted. “I should think not.” He paused, staring at her more carefully. “You know that the only reason you are not coming with us is because of the danger.”
“I do not believe there is any danger remaining asDonRafael and his men were captured,” Cassandra said. “But so be it.”
Lord Covington looked at her suspiciously but didn’t say anything, and when Cassandra waved him away after he placed a kiss on her cheek, he wore such a smitten expression that it seemed she had distracted him from the truth.
“You practically told him what we were doing!” Madeline accused her a short time later as they quickly donned their hats and cloaks before beginning their tail.
“I did nothing of the sort!” Cassandra countered.
“Oh, darling, be sure to eat,” Madeline said in a high, mocking voice as she swooned back and forth, fluttering her eyes. Cassandra swatted her but started to laugh.
“I do not sound like that!”
“You do, in a way.”
“I am a woman in love. I cannot help myself. Someday, you shall understand.”
Madeline looked down at her hands as she pulled on her black leather gloves and they started down Castleton’s wide staircase. “I am sure that if I marry, it will not be for love.”
“Why would you say that?” Cassandra asked, hurrying to keep up with Madeline’s long strides.
“Because it would have happened by now,” Madeline said. “But enough of that. We must keep our wits about us.”
“Should we tell anyone where we are going?” Cassandra asked, looking around her, and Madeline shook her head.
“Of course not. Anyone we tell would feel obligated to inform your brother.”
“You’re right,” Cassandra said, setting her jaw with a firm nod of her head. “I am not trying to be foolish. If we were anywhere else, I would never go alone. But these are the grounds of Castleton. I grew up here, running around the gardens and paths as a child. If the men leave our property, then we will not follow, but if they remain here, I do not see any problem in us being part of this.”
Madeline smiled, lifting her head. “I like how you think.”
“Of course you do. That is why we are such good friends.”
They linked arms and began down the path, keeping Gideon and Lord Covington in their sights ahead. The men did not carry the map, as they had studied it back at the house and then written out directions as to where they thought they should go. They were worried about bringing the map along with them, in case they were to lose it or damage it along the way. They had decided they would return for a footman if necessary, which worked to the ladies’ advantage for it was one less person who might notice them.
“Do you think they read the map properly?” Madeline asked suspiciously.
“They are both intelligent men.”
“Are they, though?” Madeline asked, raising a brow, and Cassandra suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her behind a rather rotund statue.
“Did they see us?” Madeline asked.
“No, but they were looking back this way.”
“Are they lost?”
“I don’t know!” Cassandra said, laughing. “I would tell you if I thought we should worry. But no, they seem to know where they were going.”
Madeline popped her head back up over the rock.
“They’re moving again,” she said, tugging Cassandra up behind her, turning around when she saw that Cassandra hadn’t moved.
“What is it?” Madeline asked impatiently. “We must go.”
“I need to ask you something.”
