Chapter Ten
“Reilly didn’t come in with you?”
Cassandra sighed as she stepped from the foyer into the main hall of her mother’s house. She’d left her bags near the front door and now leaned against the wall to rest for a moment. Climbing the dozen stone steps brought back a dull pain in her ankle. “No, Mom, I’m perfectly capable of walking up a set of stairs.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“Sorry.” Cassandra smiled, hoping it took the sting from her words. “He took the taxi, said he had an errand to run and I promised not to set foot outside this house until he returns.”
Margaret frowned. “Honey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Mom, I’m fine.”
“Now, why don’t I believe that?”
“Because I’m not looking you in the eye.” Cassandra ducked her head.
“That’s right, you never could look me in the eye and lie at the same time.” Her mother smiled and put her arm around Cassandra’s shoulders. The classic scent of Chanel No. 5 surrounded them like a comfortable quilt. Drawing in a deep breath, she was calmed by the perfume her mother had worn for as long as she remembered.
“Let’s go in the living room,” Margaret said. "I’ve got a light lunch waiting and you can try lying to me again. This time from the comfort of the sofa.”
Cassandra snaked her arm around her mother’s waist, waiting until they sat before she spoke. “My ankle’s not so bad. In fact, it hardly hurts at all unless I bump into something.”
“Or walk up a flight of stairs,” Margaret added.
“Or walk up a flight of stairs,” Cassandra conceded.
“Hmmm, the truth. I like that, especially after what happened at the Bancrofts’ and then getting home to find that awful message. I’m so relieved you weren’t seriously hurt last night.”
Looking into her mother’s eyes, Cassandra could see herself, plus twenty-five years. When a watery sheen made the green of them brighter than normal, Cassandra found herself fighting back her own tears. “I’m okay, really, it’s just a hurt ankle.”
“But the idea of a strange man attacking you, then finding out where you live…”
Cassandra took her mother’s hands in a tight grip. “I’m not helpless, Mom, and I was only alone for a few minutes. It seemed like everyone at the party ended up in the gardens the moment I screamed.”
“And where was Reilly during all this?”
“I already told you, Reilly was the first one there. And he was right beside me when I told the police everything. He…he didn’t leave my side for the rest of the night.”
“I can see you’re all right, but you’re still my baby. When you called this morning and casually said you were attacked—” Margaret drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. “Okay, enough of that. What were you doing outside alone at the party?”
Cassandra paused. “Getting some much needed fresh air.”
Margaret filled two of the three glasses sitting on the tray in front of them with iced tea. “And getting away from Reilly?”
“Oh, that man is so infuriating.” Cassandra set her chin in a stubborn line. “One minute he’s ordering me around, telling me what to do, what to say. Then he shares something about himself that tugs at my heart. But, the next thing out of his mouth gets my blood—”
The serene smile on her mother’s face caused Cassandra to stop mid-sentence. “What?”
“I don’t think I’ve seen you this wound up over a boy since the sixth grade when Bobby Elliott tried to kiss you under the mistletoe and received a black eye for his efforts.”
“I am not wound up over Reilly Murdock.” Cassandra took a quick sip from the glass her mother offered and continued, “I just don’t like how he’s taking over. He called Lily this morning to tell her I wasn’t going in to work!”
“But you told me you were going to the store.”
“I did after I told him in no uncertain terms he wasn’t going to tell me how to live my life.”
“Maybe he’s concerned how you’re handling things, emotionally, with all that’s happened.”
Biting on her bottom lip, Cassandra tried to force back the memories from last night. Dancing with Reilly, how it felt to be held in his strong arms and arguing with him when he got too close, both physically and emotionally. Being held as he carried her to her apartment and later, when he comforted her as she fell apart.
“Honey, did you hear me?”
Startled out of her trance-like state, Cassandra blinked once and focused on the glass of tea, unable to look her in the eye.
She’ll know. She’ll know I threw myself at Reilly last night like a trembling idiot. “Ah, I’m sorry, Mom. What did you say?”
“How was the ball, other than the obvious?” Margaret asked as she brought a matching glass tumbler to her lips and took a quick sip. “The newspaper had a picture of you and Reilly arriving and all the excitement about the necklace. Did the jewelry have something to do with you being attacked?”
“We discussed it with the police. They’re considering it.”
Margaret nodded. “I’m sure Elizabeth was put out I wasn’t there.”
“Yes she was, but Reilly was able to smooth that over. To tell you the truth, I wish I could’ve turned her down. I would’ve if it wasn’t for getting the necklace some publicity.”
“Seeing how Edwin and Elizabeth always insist on black tie, did Reilly have any trouble fitting in?”
“No, as a matter of fact he seemed more comfortable there than I was.” The burn of jealousy from last night flared to life again. “He wore a tuxedo that looked custom made, charmed every woman he spoke to and probably got more than a few phone numbers tucked into his pocket.”
Margaret’s gaze was direct as she stared at her daughter. “But you didn’t have a good time.”
Cassandra tried not to squirm under her mother’s sharp scrutiny. “Considering how our world has changed over the last six months, it feels so shallow to stand around gossiping about whose marriage is on the rocks, the latest fashion and…”
“And money? Seeing how we don’t have any?”
“I used to enjoy those parties when I was younger, but long ago I began to realize there’s more to life than shopping and parties.” Cassandra sighed. “Now, it’s about keeping my business afloat and paying bills. I feel as much of a fraud for being there as I think the parties are themselves. This act to keep up appearances has become…”
“Exhausting?” Margaret asked when Cassandra’s voice faded away. “Darling, there’s something I’ve been thinking about for the last month, but I haven’t quite known when to say anything.”
“What is it, Mom, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, darling, it’s just…I want to sell the house.”
Cassandra’s jaw dropped in shock. “What?”
“I know it’s a surprise, but this place really is too big for me, and it would take a great financial burden off you.”
“B-but where would you go? Where would you live?”
“I’ll move into something smaller, an apartment. The income from the sale would go a long way in a smaller place with a lot less upkeep.”
“Mom, you’ve lived here for over thirty years. Willard worked all his legal magic to keep it from being liquidated.”
“It doesn’t hold a special place in my heart like it did when you lived here. Back when I, too, was content to live a life of shopping, socializing and parties.” Margaret closed her eyes and the pale skin of her lids trembled. “Too content to see what was happening to your father—”
“Don’t you dare blame yourself for what Daddy did to us,” Cassandra cried. “You did that once when we found out about his gambling debts.”
“I’m not blaming myself, but I think it’s time to make some changes.” She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. “Getting rid of this house is one of them.”
“But what will people say when you move out?”
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“Oh darling,” Margaret sighed. “I’m getting close to the point where I couldn’t care less what people think about me.”
“But you were the one who insisted no one find out about our financial situation. You said it would ruin us and change our whole world.”
“Our world has changed, Cassandra, whether we thought it would or not. I was such a silly, spoiled woman back when your father died. I panicked at the thought of being without money, without the social circle I traveled in. Of being without your father.”
Though he’d been cheating on you for years with his former sister-in-law who was also your best friend?
Cassandra pushed the vile thought away. “You—you loved him, Mom. It only makes sense that you were scared to be alone.”
“Yes, I did love him, but over the years, the very world I hated so much in the beginning had become the gilded cage I was too scared to be without.” Margaret put her glass on the table and turned to look directly at Cassandra. “My parents dragged me kicking and screaming into this world of high-priced glamour after your grandfather threatened to cut off funding for my education. Did I ever tell you that?”
Cassandra shook her head, amazed at her mother’s words.
“I refused to have a coming out party. My freshmen year at Wellesley had really opened my eyes to what was happening in the world.” She paused. “I wasn’t the same person at college as I was back here in the city. With the after-effects of the Vietnam War still raging and the women’s movement getting stronger and stronger, having a debutante ball seemed like the silliest thing in the world to me. At first, I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. Then, when faced with the end of my education…”
“I can’t believe Grandfather did that to you.”
“He only wanted what was best for me, honey. I can see that now. I guess a part of me knew then, because I did give in and take part.” Margaret laid a hand on her daughter’s knee and gave a gentle squeeze. “By the time the ball happened, it didn’t really matter to me what I did or where my life was heading.”
“You’re confusing me. I don’t understand.” Cassandra watched as her mother stared past her, lost in a private memory. A memory that again brought the bright shimmer of tears to her eyes. “Mom?”
“I’m doing an awful job explaining this, aren’t I? Maybe I should start at the beginning—”
The chime of the doorbell and the ring of the telephone filled the air in chorus, startling both women.
“That must be Reilly…or the rental car,” Cassandra said.
“Rental car?” Margaret asked as both women rose from the couch at the same time. “Why do you need a rental car?”
“That’s what I came to tell you.” Cassandra moved toward the front door as the telephone rang again. “You get the phone and I’ll answer the door. Then I’ll tell you what’s going on.”
Margaret nodded and Cassandra went out into the foyer, pausing to look around at the only home she’d known.
She saw herself as a child, running down the long staircase on Christmas mornings. Past the stairs was the archway that led into the large kitchen where she’d do her homework after school while her mother and Rosa planned one of the many elegant dinner parties her parents were famous for.
Not all the memories were happy.
Cassandra looked at the closed doors of her father’s study.
Her twenty-fifth birthday celebration. She’d gone looking for her father, to thank him for the baby-blue Porsche topped with a big red bow in the driveway. What she found was her father with his former sister-in-law, a woman he’d always called uncouth and wild, locked in a fevered embrace in his study.
Cassandra had moved out a week later.
Maybe selling this house would be a good thing.
The doorbell rang again, breaking into Cassandra’s thoughts. She peeked out one of the frosted side windows at a muted shape of a tall man in a black jacket and blue jeans.
Reilly.
“All done with your little errand?” she said, opening the door and catching sight of the small, four-door sedan parked at the curb. “Where did that come from?”
“A car rental place. It’s not too bad, as long as you aren’t claustrophobic. There wasn’t much to choose from at the last minute. And before you say it, no, Lily isn’t taking care of your rental.” Reilly brushed past her. “I called while you were packing. I also told her not to tell anyone where you’re going, only that you’re taking a few days to yourself. Then I contacted the ferry service in Hyannis and made reservations for us.”
It took a moment for Cassandra to process all he’d just said. She closed the door and followed him. “Do you mind telling me why?”
Reilly checked his watch as he walked into the living room. “Because we’ll drown if we try to drive to the island.”
Cassandra grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and gave a hard tug. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. Why did you tell Lily to keep my whereabouts secret?”
Reilly turned around. “Do you remember last night?”
Cassandra had to stop short or else she would’ve walked right into Reilly’s chest. She was forced to tip her head back to look at him, her eyes focused on his lips. The memory of his mouth on hers flashed through her mind. The power of his kiss had taken away any remaining strength she’d had last night and the memory was threatening to do the same thing now.
“Yes.”
Her voice came out in a breathless whisper and Reilly’s eyes darkened. One hand reached out, and his fingers danced across her cheek, the pad of his thumb catching on her bottom lip.
“So do I.”
His fingers curled around her neck to cradle her head. He rubbed his thumb back and forth over her mouth. An overwhelming desire to have his mouth on hers filled her. A hard kiss. Right here, right now. His tongue probing the edge of her lips for only a moment before it plunged deep, searching for hers.
“Reilly…I…”
“Redecorating this cottage is a perfect way to get you out of town.” Reilly’s hand fell as he abruptly stepped back and turned away. “This way the police can do their job and I can do mine, keeping you safe. Like I told you before, the fewer people who know where you are the better.”
The loss of the warmth of his touch was as much a slap in Cassandra’s face as his words. “Y-your job?”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m here, remember?” He didn’t turn back around. “I’m supposed to be keeping you safe. That’s all I can do.”
The lump in her throat appeared from nowhere. Cassandra forced it back as she stepped around him and planted herself directly in front of him. “What do you mean by that?”
“You know exactly what I mean.” Reilly’s voice dropped to a rough whisper. “I wanted to kiss you just now. I wanted it as much as you did, but I don’t want to stop with just a kiss. I want to strip off your sweater to find out what color lace underwear you’re wearing, and then I want to strip it off your body too. I want to touch every inch of your skin with my hands and my mouth—”
Her body responded as Reilly bit back whatever he was going to say next. The muscles twitched in his jaw and he took a step away from her. His gaze shifted to look at a spot over her head. “Mrs. Van Winter—Margaret, are you all right?”
Cassandra whirled around. Her mother stood at the doorway leading from the dining room, her hand gripping the beaded woodwork so hard her knuckles had turned white.
Cassandra rushed across the room. “Mother? Do you need to sit down?”
“No…no, I’m fine.”
“You aren’t fine,” Cassandra said. “Was it the phone call?”
Margaret nodded. “I, ah, I need to go to Washington. A friend has taken ill and is in the hospital. I called and was able to get a seat on an early evening flight.”
“We’ll take you to the airport,” Reilly said.
“Oh, that’s not necessary. I can call a taxi.”
“You will not,” Cassandra said. “I’m going
out of town myself and I want to know you got to the airport okay.”
“Out of town? Does this have anything to do with the rental car?” Margaret asked.
“Yes, I got a job redecorating a summer cottage on Nantucket for the president of RannCarr Oil.” Cassandra rushed through her explanation. The color was back in her mother’s cheeks, but she was still worried. “He wants it started right away, but if you need me to go with you instead—”
“No dear, that’s all right.” Margaret pulled one hand free and brushed back a stray lock of Cassandra’s hair. “I’ll be fine. You go to this job. I assume Reilly’s going with you?”
“Yes ma’am,” Reilly answered.
Margaret nodded. “Good…that’s good. You’ll have your cell phone, dear?”
“Yes, I will.” Cassandra looked from her mother to Reilly and back again. Even though her mother had spoken to her, she was staring straight at Reilly. “Do you want me to help you pack?”
“Ah, yes, would you get my luggage from the hall closet? Oh, can you handle the stairs with your foot?”
“I’ll be fine. Aren’t you coming?”
“In a minute, dear. There is something I need to take care of first.”
Reilly remained silent as Cassandra again shot both him and her mother a puzzled look before she left the room. He waited until he heard her footsteps on the stairs before turning back to her mother.
“I don’t know how he is.” Margaret’s voice was low as she glanced at the foyer. “All I know is his nurse called an ambulance and he’s being transported to Walter Reed Hospital.”
Reilly’s chest tightened. “I didn’t ask.”
“Yes you did, you just didn’t say anything aloud.”
Chagrined at how easily his feelings for Digger could be read on his face, he dropped his gaze to the carpet. “He told me about you and him.”
“Yes, I imagine he did.”
Reilly reached out to lay his hand on Margaret’s arm and looked her in the eye. “When I agreed to this job I thought Cassandra was the daughter of an old friend.”
“She is.”
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