by Meghan Sloan
Cassandra didn’t like being used as a pawn, and her father knew this. He had told her that she would inherit. How could she inherit as per his wishes and take charge? That couldn’t be allowed. Alice was right; women were lucky if they got anything at all from men. They were the property of men, fathers, husbands, male relatives. No matter if she had a lot more freedom with her father - that would change should anything happen to Ernest. It would all be taken away from her.
Maybe that was why Ernest was urging her more to look for a prospective husband. It wasn’t that Cassandra hadn’t tried, but no man lived up to her expectations. She was the first to admit that her standards were high. She would have to be emotionally attracted to them as well as physically to want to marry them, but that hadn’t happened. Her past suitors were annoyed at this, but it wasn’t exactly something she could help. She had things she wanted in life, and she was going to move on if they weren’t there.
Cassandra had a feeling that Ernest was going to make her break her high standards to get someone before anything happened to him. She wasn’t sure she was prepared to do that.
It didn’t take long to get to Seton Hall. Both Cassandra and Alice were regular walkers, and they were healthy enough. A walk that lasted only ten minutes barely left them out of breath. The doorman greeted them with his usual smile and took their cloaks and bonnets.
“Evening, Miss Cassie. Did you and Miss Alice enjoy your holiday?”
“Evening, Williams. We certainly did.” Cassie brushed down her dress and looked around. She could hear the loud babble of voices from the main hall. “I take it things are busy tonight?”
“Very busy. We’ve got a good crowd in here tonight.” Williams glanced towards a door just off the lobby. “Are you looking for Mr. Seton?”
“He’s in his office, is he?”
“He is. Just remember to knock,” Williams winced. “He practically snarled at Harris when he went in earlier without knocking.”
Now that was odd. Ernest was normally kind and friendly to all of his employees. Snapping at his staff was unusual. Alice gave Williams a gentle smile.
“He’s having a hard time right now, Jack. I’m sure he’ll calm down soon.”
“I hope so, Miss Alice. But it’s best to be prepared if he’s going to shout at you.”
Cassandra was about to say something, but then she realised that Williams was focusing on Alice. The two of them were talking, their eyes only on each other. Cassandra bit back a smile. It was no secret that Williams was in love with Alice, and her aunt clearly exhibited a mutual affection for him yet neither of them would pursue it.
Alice said she wouldn’t be able to marry Williams due to their social stations, but Cassandra wondered if it was due to Alice’s age. She was a good ten years older than Williams, which would have been very much frowned upon. But from the way the handsome doorman treated her, he didn’t seem to mind that she was an older widow.
When it came to love, social status didn’t matter. Cassandra had learned that over the years. Certainly from her parents.
Leaving them to it, Cassandra headed through the door and up the stairs. It was to the private rooms above the actual gambling hall, where Ernest’s study and several private rooms were housed. There was no worry about being unchaperoned up here, not when so close to her father’s study. Those who knew Ernest Seton knew better than to try anything with his daughter.
Ernest’s study was the first on the left. Cassandra knocked, wincing when she heard her father bark from inside.
“Yes?”
Cassandra opened the door and went in. Ernest was pacing around the room, his hair standing on end. Papers were scattered across his desk and onto the floor, a very odd thing to see when he was normally so tidy.
“Father?”
Ernest spun around. He blinked when he saw her.
“Cassie. What are you doing here? I thought you would be at home.”
“I wanted to come and see how things were,” Cassandra crossed the room towards him. “Make sure you were all right.”
“I’ll live.” Ernest looked behind her. “Isn’t Alice with you? She’s supposed to be with you at all times.”
“She’s with me. I left her downstairs talking to Williams.”
“The doorman?” Ernest’s eyes narrowed. “She seems to be doing a lot of talking with that man.”
“Well, there’s no harm in it,” Cassandra found herself giggling. “Actually, I think you might be hearing wedding bells with those two if Williams persists. I’m sure he’ll wear down Alice’s protests that she’s too old.”
“That’s because she is too old. She’s just turned fifty. She shouldn’t be thinking about marriage.”
“Father!” Cassandra swatted his arm. “Since when has age stopped anybody? Williams doesn’t seem to care, and Alice won’t when she realises that there’s a man who can love her for her. You’re not going to object to your sister finally finding happiness after that disaster thirty years ago? I mean, it means you won’t have to support her anymore if Williams does marry her.”
Ernest started to protest. Then he groaned and shook his head.
“You’re sly, do you know that?”
“I wouldn’t call what I just said sly, it’s practical. But if it was, I learned it from you.”
Ernest grunted. He moved away and leaned against his desk with his arms folded.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you engineered the situation between them.”
“Now why would I do that?”
“Because you’re an old romantic at heart.” Ernest shook his head. “It’s a shame you don’t focus that romance on yourself.”
Cassandra sighed. She hadn’t come here to talk about her love life, or the lack of it. And just because Thomas Montgomery had sadly passed didn’t mean her father got an invitation to discuss it.
“Father, we’ve been over this before.”
“Have we?”
“And I’ll tell you what I told you when you first bought it up. I’m not going to marry because everyone is saying it’s the right thing to do. My focus, my life, is with this business,” she gestured at their surroundings. “It’s been in our family for years, and I intend to keep it that way.”
“I do have male relatives who can look after you.”
Cassandra barked out a laugh, which made Ernest jump.
“You know they’re not going to look after me. They see me as a hindrance. And the relatives you do have treat you like you’re swimming in gold coins. They’re disrespectful all over and they won’t be as kind with this place. You know I’ll look after Seton Hall. I’ll build it up bigger and better.”
Ernest stared at her. Then he sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.
“You’re young, Cassie. You shouldn’t be focused on me. You should be living your own life with your own family.”
“You are my family, Father.”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m not going to be around forever. Just…” Ernest winced, looking slightly uncomfortable. “It’s best if you find someone who can look after you.”
Cassandra snorted and folded her arms. She was tempted to stomp her foot, but she wasn’t twelve years old.
“You assume that I need someone to look after me at all. You know what I think, and this is the last time we’re going to discuss it. I don’t want to get married unless I manage to find someone I can love in here,” she pressed a hand to her heart.
“And even then, they’re going to have to realise that Seton Hall is going to be my first priority. This place is far more important than a marriage,especially when I know I’m just going to be put in amongst the furniture and not given another thought unless they want an heir and maybe a spare.”
Ernest flinched.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Cassie. I suppose we’ll just have to agree to disagree on this matter.”
“We will agree on this, though,” Cassandra lifted her chin and fixed her father with a glare. “I’m not going
anywhere. You will not marry me off just because you think it’s in my best interests. And I know you won’t be able to do it. So stop with that thinking right now.”
They stared at each other. Ernest may have discussed marriage for his daughter many times, but they both knew that Cassandra would never be forced into it. She was too strong for that, and Ernest loved his daughter too much to force her away. He wanted her to marry well, but Cassandra wanted to marry for love. That seemed hard to come by nowadays.
Ernest was the first one to break the stare, looking at the floor with a heavy sigh.
“Forgive me, Cassie. I...it’s just with Thomas’ death...I’m just a little…”
“A little scared?” Cassandra softened and approached her father, taking his hands. “I know you are. That I understand. But don’t foist things on me. All right?”
“All right.” Ernest kissed her forehead. “I love you, princess.”
“I love you, too.” Cassandra squeezed his hands and gestured towards her father’s big chair behind the desk. “You stay here and rest. I’ll deal with everything out in the masses.”
And hopefully, have no more conversations about marriage. Because Cassandra didn’t want to hear it. Even from her own father.
Chapter 4
“His daughter?” Gabriel was startled by this response. He had been expecting Norman to say Seton had a specific thing he did or gimmick that brought the punters in. Not his daughter. “What’s she got to do with any of this?”
Norman smiled.
“She’s a very bright woman. Knows the business well. Practically grew up running up and down those halls.” He went to the drinks cabinet and poured out two brandies. “Ernest Seton raised her to understand everything that went on in his gambling business. And some of the new things they’ve implemented to get more custom or to make their place look more enticing were Cassandra’s ideas.”
Gabriel was even more startled. He was prepared to believe that women could be clever - several of the women he had met in sexual encounters were incredibly clever - but none of them had been involved with business. Certainly not like this. And to say this woman was responsible for making Seton Hall more successful? That sounded ludicrous.
He accepted the brandy glass from Norman.
“A woman is involved with the gambling business? There must be something wrong with her if she’s helping out.”
Norman chuckled. He settled into his chair again and crossed his legs.
“On the contrary, there’s nothing wrong with her, other than being incredibly stubborn. But therein lies the problem.”
“Her stubbornness?”
“Her presence at Seton Hall. Ernest Seton is over sixty. He was nearly forty when Cassandra was born and his wife, God rest her soul, passed during the influenza epidemic. Along with a matron aunt, it’s just Cassandra in his life who he completely trusts.” Norman made a face. “I’ve met a few of his family members and they’re not desirable people, trust me. Cassandra and her Aunt Alice are a bit of fresh air compared to them. And I know Seton’s concerned about Cassandra when he passes himself.”
“I didn’t realise you were in contact with them.”
“Father and Seton were friends.”
Gabriel was confused.
“They’re business rivals and they’re friends?”
“You know what Father’s like. He wants to be friends with everyone. I’ve met Cassandra as well. She’s…” Norman paused and shook his head with a smile, “she’s a stunning woman. Very intelligent when it comes to the workings of a business. Surprised Father, certainly. He had the utmost respect for her.”
Gabriel was still trying to get over the fact that the success of the rival gambling hall was due to a woman. When Norman had mentioned Seton’s daughter, he had thought she was involved with something nefarious. Like she was in charge of a brothel which supplied girls for her father. Gabriel wouldn’t be surprised. He was more surprised that she was actively part of the place and making it look better than Thomas’ place. How was that even possible?
“Are you saying if I’m to pay you back, I’m going to need to deal with her?” Gabriel snorted. “How can dealing with a woman be so difficult?”
Norman’s smile widened.
“You haven’t met Cassandra, have you? I was trying to say that Cassandra’s life is her father and the business.”
“Doesn’t she have a husband or something who objects to this?”
“She’s not married,” Norman sipped his brandy. “Father has said that Seton wants her to marry well, but he’s not about to force her into it. He won’t force her into anything. Not to say that Cassandra hasn’t had any suitors in the past,” he added quickly, “because there have been plenty. I’ve come across her with suitors before. But she doesn’t take anything from anyone. You insult her or someone she cares about in the smallest of ways, and she’ll go at you with her sharp tongue. That woman doesn’t suffer fools gladly.”
“Claws extended?”
“Pretty much,” Norman shrugged. “I’ve had a good relationship with her. She appreciates my work and respects my choices, so we have no problems. I don’t want to be on the wrong side of her.”
“Are you scared of her?”
“Not scared, I just know what side my bread is buttered on.” Norman paused. “I don’t want to be a schemer, Gabriel, but if you get her distracted, then you might have a chance of paying me back sooner than you think.”
Gabriel stared. Was he actually suggesting that Gabriel pursue Cassandra and take her mind off the gambling house?
“You...how am I supposed to do that?”
“You’ve got a reputation. Why don’t you use that?”
Gabriel grimaced.
“I gave that up when I was thrown out of the family. It doesn’t hold the same appeal now.”
“Women not throwing themselves at you right now?”
“On the contrary, they’re still doing it. But I don’t find anyone attractive,” Gabriel flinched. He could feel his face going red. “Something changed, and I’m not sure what it is, but I’m not too keen on taking another woman to bed anytime soon.”
Norman sniggered.
“Spoiled little rich boy.”
“Now a spoiled little poor boy.”
“Fair point.” Norman swirled the brandy around in his glass. “Well, it’s an option. I’m not saying you have to do it, but you’re going to be up against a tough competitor in Cassandra Seton. She won’t give you an inch. The best thing for you to do is to make yourself look more enticing than Seton Hall, which isn’t going to be easy if Seton has his daughter working on the place. It’s just a thought,” he added quickly, “I’m not telling you that’s what you should do.”
“So, you’re essentially saying have her distracted so much that she’ll want to focus on whatever is distracting her and not her father’s gambling hall. Get her married to someone. Or have her seduced. How hard could it be to get one over on a woman?”
“You really haven’t met Cassandra, have you?” Norman laughed. “I’d like to be a fly on the wall when you try to get past her defences. She’s not one to be trifled with, and she will call you out.”
