“I was visiting with your mother,” she said and sidled over then slid onto the corner of his desk, leaving one foot dangling.
He scowled. “Cassie, whatever you—”
“Can I be honest with you, Luke?”
He dropped back into his chair, rubbed his temples briefly and sighed. “Of course.”
Whatever it was he had to hear, he’d hear it because he did not have it in him to send her away. Here is where she told him she had realized a match with a duke was an excellent choice for her and that she could not see him again and he would forever have to watch her from afar and recall the few kisses they had shared knowing they would never, ever be enough.
“I do not know if I must marry the duke.” She toyed with the long length of ribbon hanging from her waist and wrapped it about a finger again and again. “I hope to persuade Anton otherwise to be certain.”
“You do not wish to marry him?”
“Of course not!” She gave a light laugh. “I was not lying when I said I have no plans to marry.” She lifted a shoulder. “Perhaps one day but not now. I have far too many other things to do.”
“I would wager Anton would not force you into a match.”
“I would certainly hope not but Anton can be misguided in thinking he has to care for us all as a father rather than a brother.” Cassie gestured to him. “After all, he put you—a renowned rake—in charge of my welfare.”
“Cassie, I might be known as a rake, but I would never put you—” He paused and shoved a hand through his hair. Risking her reputation and allowing her to venture about London hardly counted as keeping her safe. “Very well, that point stands.”
She slid off the desk and came to stand in front of him, hands to hips. He tried not to think about how easy it would be to grab said hips and pull her close, inhale the scent of her and curve his hands over her rear.
He tried and failed. Instead, he curled his fingers into the wooden arms of the chair.
“My real point is this...my days of freedom could be numbered.”
“I do not think he will force you, Cass. Truly.”
“And if they are, I would far rather spend them in this...new way.”
Allowing his brow to furrow, he eyed her. “New way?”
“I like your kisses, Luke. They make me feel things. New things. Like...” She gestured downwards. “In my stomach and...lower.”
Teeth gritted, he closed his eyes. Dear God, he’d never been the most innocent of men but had his sins been so bad that he was to be tortured in this life as well as the next? When he opened his eyes, she stared at him eagerly, delicate white teeth digging into her bottom lip.
“Cassie, you have no idea what you ask of me.”
“Actually I do.” She glanced at the closed door. “You are a family friend. No one thinks anything of you visiting with me. We can be seen together in most situations and no one would be any the wiser.”
“So you want...kisses?”
“I want more of...that feeling.”
“If we are caught...”
“We shall be careful.”
“You would risk everything for kisses, Cassie?” She could not have thought this through, surely? Even if she did not match with the duke, there were plenty of handsome, eligible men who had been after her hand ever since her debut. She might even find a damned love match.
But if it was known she had kissed him—or worse—she’d be forced to marry him. That’s if Anton didn’t decide to call him out instead. He would not wish either fate on Cassie.
Oh yes, not to mention he owed Anton far better.
Luke gripped the chair so hard, the wood bit into his fingers. If this was a test, he was going to fail, of that he was certain.
“You do not know what you are asking, Cass.” The words came out gruff.
Her lips curved. “You are a rake, Luke. I hardly think I am asking much.”
“Cassie—”
The door opened and Bartlett stilled at the sight of Cassie. The butler swiftly averted his gaze as she scooted off the desk. “Forgive me, my lord, I shall return in but a moment.”
Meaning Cassie needed to leave. Immediately.
The door to the room remained open even once Bartlett ducked out.
She twined her fingers together. “Luke, I—”
“I have an appointment to which I will be late.” He rose from behind the desk, opened the door farther and gestured for her to leave.
“But—” Her argument vanished when he hardened his gaze and gestured once more.
“I’m very busy.”
With a huff, she swept out of the room. He’d been in the company of women long enough to know he had offended her. But it was necessary. He sank into his chair and leaned back. Necessary and about the most painful thing he’d ever done.
Chapter Seventeen
Cogs and little pieces of metal were spread out on the table. Cassie had little idea what any of them were or where they belonged, but Eleanor had them laid out in an extremely specific way. Cassie knew that because she made the mistake of moving one when she sat next to her sister in a bid to aid her with putting back together the mechanical calculator her sister had deconstructed at some point. She hoped accepting Eleanor’s request to aid her would give her a little time to think on Theodore’s disappearance.
And Luke too, she supposed.
Eleanor paused and sighed. Cassie, brow furrowed, ignored her, allowing herself a slight smile. Her sister was never one for subtlety. She sighed once more—so loud that Cassie suspected half the household heard it.
She twisted on her chair to eye Eleanor. “Is something the matter?”
Eleanor set the mechanical calculator on the table, bit briefly down on her bottom lip and fixed her with a potentially sympathetic look.
Why Cassie could not claim it was most certainly sympathetic was because Eleanor was far more likely to offer her some no-nonsense advice or do something practical for her rather than offer her a shoulder to cry on. How they had always been so close, she did not know, but there was something about their vastly different personalities that worked.
Not that Cassie had any intention of crying on shoulders. She’d shed her tears for the future Anton wanted for her and the lack of progress in finding out what happened to Jane’s brother.
Oh yes, she’d shed her tears and then propositioned Luke.
And he’d said, well, nothing.
What she should do next, she was not certain, but she did not regret her request. Kissing Luke made her feel like never before, and whatever the future held for her—whether she persuaded Anton out of this fool notion should he arrange a marriage for her or not—she wanted to explore this more.
She wished to truly understand what it was to be a woman.
Cassie glanced at Eleanor to find her gaze still upon her. It was unfortunate she could not ask Eleanor for advice on the matter but with their mothers long dead, neither of them could claim much knowledge of womanhood and all it entailed.
Demeter would be in ignorance too and the thought of asking Chastity about such delicious sensations made her shudder. Their oldest sister would likely hang Luke up by his entrails if she found out he had kissed her. As much as she appreciated her sister’s care of her, she scarcely wanted one protective sibling let alone two plus Luke imagining he knew what was best for her.
“What is it?” she finally asked.
Eleanor opened her mouth then shut it again. She lifted a finger, frowned, then lowered her hand. “I heard...that is...you know you may confide in me, do you not?”
“Of course!”
“It is just this whole engagement business. Since we found out about it, you have not mentioned it once.”
“Because it will not happen, Eleanor,” she said with more confidence than she felt. “Anton shall return home and I shall put paid to any such thoughts.”
Eleanor rubbed the end of her nose. “I certainly hope so. I imagine he does not see arranging for a match for me as
part of his remit but what if he tries to marry off Demeter too?”
“He sees you as his sister as much as the rest of us do.”
She tilted her head. “He knows it is harder to marry me off, no doubt.”
“You are entirely eligible as a duke’s daughter but I did not think you had any interest in matrimony.”
“Oh certainly not,” her sister agreed. “It seems a miserable notion, handing over one’s destiny to a man. And we all saw how woeful Chastity’s match was.”
Cassie grimaced. “And that was meant to be a love match.”
Eleanor nodded. “He shall never force Chastity into anything—I doubt he could—but surely you are concerned he might press for this match?”
“I am not without my worries,” she admitted. “But I am confident I can talk him out of such foolish notions.”
Her sister smiled. “You always were far more persuasive than I.” She gestured to a large cog. “Pass me that one, will you?”
Cassie obligingly handed her sister parts as she slotted them back into place.
Eleanor sighed heavily again. Cassie rolled her eyes and turned to her once more. “Eleanor?”
“Oh nothing.”
“Eleanor?” she pressed. “I know you did not ask for my help because I have delicate hands like you said. We both know I am not careful enough for such things.”
“I was just wondering why it was you did not think to come to me. Or us.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Well, the viscount ended up injured and Chastity was quite frustrated by the whole matter. She declared you had been keeping things from us.”
“She wants me out of the group?” Cassie’s heart gave a little skip.
All she ever wanted—since she’d known of its existence—was to be part of her mother’s investigative society. She could not let it be taken from her now.
“No,” Eleanor insisted. “Not at all. But she wishes—well we all do—that you would come to us for aid.” Her sister gestured between them. “We usually tell one another everything and yet I have scarcely seen you since this whole thing started, and, Cassie, there is a reason we do this as a group of women. No one would ever suspect a woman of investigating such matters. However, we have limitations upon our sex and we must work together.”
Cassie let out a light laugh. “Eleanor, you adore working alone. There is seldom a time when you are not tucked away somewhere, working on your latest project.”
“That is entirely different, and you know it.” Her sister shook her head. “My point is, you have nothing to prove. We love you and you need not put yourself in danger. If this cannot be done, then you must stop. Jane will understand.”
Inwardly, Cassie grimaced. Jane would not hold such a thing against her but how could she give up now? Jane had no one else who believed her and now would be sent off to marry Mr. Fawcett. Someone had to do something.
And, frankly, even if Eleanor did not see her as such, Demeter and Chastity had to cease seeing her as their little sister who needed protection. The only way for Cassie to do such a thing was to find out what had happened to Jane’s brother—without their aid.
Cassie fixed a bright smile. “I am certain I can discover what happened, Eleanor—and without putting myself in any danger. I promise.”
“Good. Because I would never forgive myself if you came to harm.” Eleanor leaned in and pressed her head to Cassie’s. “I love you, Cass.”
A pang of guilt speared through her. “I love you too, Ellie.”
***
LUKE SWIRLED THE amber liquid around the glass, watched it coat the inside of it for a moment then threw it back and luxuriated in the slow burn. Alas, when it hit his stomach, it did not do what he hoped and wash away the tight sensation that had lingered there ever since Cassie propositioned him.
He could never take her innocence. Never.
After all, she was bloody Anton’s sister.
He was having a damned hard time seeing her as that at present, especially when she came in to his study and so boldly declared he made her feel things down there.
He smirked. Dear God, there were experienced women in the world who would have less of an impact with much more explicit language. Trust him to find that announcement about the most erotic thing he’d ever heard.
Thank the Lord for the interruption of the butler or else he might well have lifted her back onto his desk and ensured she had many, many more feelings down there.
“Haven’t seen you in a while, Whitehurst.”
Luke glanced up to see Briggs—a fellow Oxford student and heir to a sizeable fortune from his uncle. Though from relatively new money, the fortune was so vast that most turned a blind eye to his lack of a title somewhere in the family.
The man’s thick, sandy hair, chiseled jaw and amiable manners did not hurt much either. Last he’d heard, Lord Whittaker had been eyeing the man up as his future son-in-law, though he had no doubt the Season had brought plenty more potential opportunities. However, if the ton considered Luke a rake, Briggs was most certainly so.
“You know how it is during the Season.”
Briggs pulled back the chair and motioned about the club. “Not to mention, many of our numbers have fallen already.”
The dimly lit room could hold as many as fifty men at the various tables but today only hosted a handful. It was only mid-afternoon, however. No doubt many of the men were using the busy time of year to court themselves a lovely debutante with a fine dowry.
Briggs flashed a smile. “Glad to see you are still here, though. I was getting worried for a while.”
Luke shook his head and poured another whisky from the decanter in the center of the table in front of him. “You need not fear for me, Briggs. I have no intentions of spending my time courting.”
He set his glass on the table and leaned back. “It will not be long. First Daniels then Loxlea. We’re all falling year upon year.”
Luke ignored the mention of Anton. He did not need to think on his closest friend when his little sister was also crowding his mind for attention. “Well, you shall be pleased to know I have no prospects.”
His friend chuckled. “How do you do it? Keep all those mamas and eager debutantes away, I mean? I cannot go anywhere without them clawing at my shirt sleeves.”
Lifting his gaze to the ceiling, he took a slow sip of his drink. Luke knew why he avoided marriage. He’d almost fallen into the trap as a young man and would have found himself tangled in a web of deceit had it not been for Anton.
He’d been so easily led by a pair of beguiling eyes and erotic words which, when combined with the copious amounts of alcohol he’d enjoyed, had almost led to his downfall. He would fall into line one day but not yet—not until he rid himself of his ridiculous desire to Cassie he reckoned. It wouldn’t be bloody fair on a wife, for one.
For two, he could not imagine having any woman in his life other than her...
It was a damned mess.
“I suspect my reputation keeps the debutantes and eager mamas away,” Luke muttered.
“I hardly think that’s true, though I heard tell you were spending more time with Lady Cassandra. Do not tell me you have an interest in her? Friend or not, Anton will never allow it.” Briggs leaned in. “She’s damned handsome, though.”
Grip tight around the glass, Luke eased out a breath. Briggs wasn’t wrong but that did not mean he liked him noticing Cassie’s attractiveness. Hell, he didn’t want anyone noticing.
He’d have to be more cautious, though. Family friend or not, if their closeness had been noted, it would not be long before the gossip turned salacious, especially if a proposal did not appear by the end of the Season. He knew better than to commit Cassie to a life with him and his flaws.
“Anton requested I keep an eye on her while he was gone, that is all,” Luke said as breezily as he could.
“I’m not surprised. She certainly needs watching over. Her father is hardly an attentive chap is he?”
“Indeed.”
“Still, not a terrible task unless it gets in the way of one’s interests.”
Luke wasn’t going to confess to Briggs he’d had little interest in much apart from Cassie recently. The man could scarcely pay attention to one woman for an entire night.
Briggs set his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “You know, I’m convinced he only proposed because of what happened to Teddy Parsons.”
“Nonsense.” Luke waved a hand. “Anton had marriage in mind from the moment he set his eyes on Eliza. Besides, I’m certain they were engaged prior to his death.” Luke frowned. “Indeed, it was at least a month before.”
Shrugging, Briggs relaxed again. “Parsons’ death makes you think though, does it not?”
“How so?”
“Well, I have no time to waste. Could be snatched away in a moment. There he was, young and hale and a talented artist to boot and it was all snatched away in a moment.” Briggs shook his head sadly. “I saw him that night, you know. Here.”
“I did not know.”
Briggs sighed. “I should have asked him to join me for a drink or invited him elsewhere. Anything. I thought the man had given up gambling for good and I just feel if I had uttered but one word, he would not have left and been killed.”
“It’s hardly your fault, Briggs.”
“Still, it’s strange, is it not? One different decision and he would not have been where he was.”
Luke nodded slowly. Theodore’s whereabouts that night were no secret. He’d gambled away a sizable fortune in his youth. Though he’d become a fine and honorable man in recent years and it seemed he’d slipped up once more and sought out one of the gaming hells.
The behavior was not necessarily out of character. Had Cassie looked into it though? And would she? He finished off his drink. Knowing her, she would happily barrel into the gaming hell and get into all sorts of trouble. If he was to continue keeping her out of mischief, he needed to be clever and pre-empt any danger.
Secrets of a Duke's Daughter (The Duchess's Investigative Society Book 1) Page 12
