by Pam Mingle
“And I meant it when I said I wanted you involved. You’ll be a real asset to my campaign.”
“What about your mother? Will you tell her the truth?”
“Absolutely not. I love her, but I’m not sure she could be trusted with the truth. She’s in society so much. One slip of the tongue is all it would take, and the news would be all over London in a matter of hours.”
Cass nodded and Adam continued. “We can tell our guests tonight at dinner, and I’ll send announcements to the papers tomorrow.” He paused for a beat. “We may have some difficulty with Jack.”
She looked at him, puzzled. “In what way? You said it was his idea to leave the decision to me, which is a miracle of sorts.”
Adam stopped abruptly. “He warned me about taking liberties with you. Said there were to be no ‘stolen kisses or secret embraces,’ or something to that effect, or he’d call me out. When I tried to reason with him, told him that people would expect us to act like an engaged couple, he said they could go to the devil.”
“Oh, dear,” Cass said. “We’ll simply have to be circumspect in his presence. It’s not as though we’ll be doing anything unseemly in public.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” Adam said, laughing. “I haven’t demonstrated much self-control where you’re concerned.” Cass thought about the two of them exchanging intimate looks, meaningful smiles, even touches, all with other people about. It made her quiver all over.
“As I said before, he is quite right to worry about your reputation. I respect him for that.” He took her by the shoulders and studied her face. “I don’t want you hurt by this, Cassie. There is still time to change your mind.”
“No,” she said. “My mind is made up. I want this, Adam.” I want you.
…
Adam decided to make the announcement in the drawing room, before the assembled guests went in to dinner. After they had returned from the lake, he sought out Deborah while Cass spoke to her disagreeable cousin. He’d yet to have a chance to ask Cass how Louisa had taken the news. Deborah had been thrilled. With tears in her eyes, she’d told Adam that Cass was the very girl she’d hoped he would marry. He could tell she was dying of curiosity, but he cut off any questions, promising he’d explain everything later.
He’d had to wait for most of the day to tell Jack, since he and Jenny had not returned from their shopping expedition to the village until late. Adam asked one of the footmen to alert him when they arrived, and after a cursory greeting, he ushered Jack off to the library. When he’d poured brandies for them both, he said, “Cass has agreed to go along with the false betrothal.”
“I don’t like it,” Jack said. “It could spell ruin for her.”
“Have some faith in me, Jack. I swear I won’t let that happen.” Adam perched on the edge of the desk and studied his friend. “You don’t seem surprised.”
“I told you she might agree. Not to take anything away from your charms, but Cass does love politics. This will be her first chance to be involved rather than merely reading about it. Louisa will accuse her of neglecting her duties to Pippa because of this.”
“But surely the expectation was that Cass would eventually marry. Isn’t it time your sister had a governess?”
“Believe me, I have tried to bring Cass around to that view many times. She promised our mother, you see, that she would always look after Pip. She takes it very seriously. But Louisa has a habit of reminding Cass of her duty, and her harping on it doesn’t sit well. Did she mention it to you?”
“No, just that she dreaded telling your cousin. I don’t like that woman lording it over Cass. She told me that Louisa was her ‘cross to bear.’ It’s not right.”
“Cass does a good job of standing up to her, and I step in when necessary.”
“What’s made the woman so bitter and joyless?”
“Louisa had a failed love affair when she was young. She was once engaged to a military man. He went off to war and returned with a wife. To be honest, every time Cass shows the least interest in society, it’s obvious that Louisa is jealous. Since she never married, she doesn’t want Cass to.”
“I’m glad Cass will be spending more time away from her.”
“We can agree on that, anyway,” Jack said. He tossed back the rest of his whiskey and rose. “You haven’t forgotten about my conditions, have you?” He stood directly in front of Adam and looked him in the eye.
Adam hated lying to his friend, but he couldn’t very well say, Your sister wants me to bed her, could he? So despite the sharp needles of his conscience pricking him unmercifully, he simply answered, “No. I haven’t forgotten.”
…
Cass stood next to Adam, her nerves as taut as a harp string. Deborah, who had embraced Cass and whispered her sincere joy at the news, waited on his other side. Deborah’s reaction was in sharp contrast to her cousin’s. When Cass had told Louisa she was engaged to Adam, the older woman plopped down onto the nearest chair and seemed so rattled that Cass rang for a restorative drink.
“No, that cannot be,” she’d said. Cass had hidden a grin. Although she hadn’t experienced the triumphant feeling she anticipated, she still derived a good deal of satisfaction from the look of disbelief on her cousin’s face. That is, until Louisa recovered herself enough to question Cass’s commitment to Philippa’s education, her suitability as a wife to an MP, and the difficulties of being so much in society as becoming Adam’s wife would require. By the time Cass had dealt with all of it, she was feeling much less complacent.
Afterward, Cass had bathed and rested on her bed until it was time to dress for dinner. She’d let her mind drift over all that had happened that day. Overall, she felt…satisfied. Adam had certainly seemed glad of it. More than glad, she thought, when she remembered him practically ripping her clothes off her, and the awed look on his face when he had. In the end, though, she appreciated his consideration of her when he’d temporarily called a halt. Thinking what lay ahead made her heart race and her body flutter with excitement in the strangest places.
But now, when the public announcement was about to be made, she was full of misgivings. What would people think about this sudden turn of events? Would they be happy for her? Would they remember what had happened with Bentley and pity Adam? Even worse, would they think it was a patched-up business brought about by her brother and Adam to ward off a scandal? She was about to find out.
Adam had instructed the butler and one of the footmen to pour champagne for everyone, and when that was done, he said, “You are probably wondering what we are going to toast. A few weeks ago, I announced that I was standing for election. But this is an even more important—and a much more personal—announcement.” He turned and looked at Cass, and had she not known the whole thing was a ruse, she would have believed in the fierce glow in his eyes.
“I’ve asked Cass to marry me, and she has accepted. I consider myself the luckiest man in Christendom right now.”
Well. That might be laying it on a bit too thick. She risked a quick glance at Jack, who wasn’t able to prevent one corner of his mouth quirking up.
“So I ask you to raise your glass in a toast to my bride. To Cass and our future together.” To her surprise, Adam leaned down and kissed her on the mouth. Was he issuing a challenge to her brother?
Everybody started to talk at once. Jack hugged her—it would have seemed odd if he hadn’t. Then Jenny. Cass wondered if she knew and decided from her subdued manner that she did. Hugh came up and kissed her cheek. “My brother has a lot more sense that I gave him credit for,” he said, smiling. She spoke to everyone, and only felt a little guilty when Eleanor Broxton approached her looking sheepish.
“Miss Linford, may I wish you happy? I am so embarrassed…what I said to you about Mr. Grey. I-I didn’t know.”
Cass thought it best to be truthful. “Neither did I, that night. No apology is necessary.” She squeezed the girl’s hand before letting it go.
They went into dinner, and iro
nically, she was finally seated next to Adam.
…
“All of Christendom, eh?” Cass asked. “Not just England, or London? Or this little corner of Surrey? That was quite a pronouncement, Adam.”
He chuckled. “Too much? I thought it sounded rather dashing, actually.” The after dinner rituals over, Adam had steered Cass toward the terrace when he’d judged that she had enough of congratulations, well wishes, and nosy questions for one evening. She looked enchanting in some sort of clingy confection that outlined all her curves. Adam didn’t think she was wearing stays. He glanced around, hoping they were alone.
“My brother and Jenny are just a few feet away.”
“Ah. We don’t want to bring Jack down on our heads this soon. How are you, Cass?”
“It has been a strange evening. The fact that we’re lying to everybody spoils things a bit.”
“I’ve suffered pangs of guilt all night, if it makes you feel any better. We must remember that our friends will soon be gone and then we can do some real work towards the election and not worry about other people.”
“Speaking of the election…I have a question for you. At Cowdray I wanted to ask you about the war, but didn’t have a chance. Would you tell me about Walcheren, Adam?”
He blinked, not expecting this. He thought she might want to know what the first steps would be in the campaign. But the war? He’d given her and her cousin a summary of what Walcheren had been like. Why did she need to know more?
“You wish to talk about the war? Tonight?” He studied her face, obviously puzzled. “You surprise me, Cass. There’s not much more to tell than I already described to you.”
“Surely that’s not true. Jack said you left out a great deal.”
He gave her a wry grin. “Remind me to thank him for that.”
Cass had been leaning with one arm propped against the stone railing, but now she stood straight and looked at him directly. “You told me at Cowdray that the main reason you wanted to stand for election was the war. As your…what shall we call me, in private, that is? Your assistant? Your helpmeet?” She laughed, but he didn’t hear any humor there. “I need—want—to know more, Adam.”
“In the end, you may wish you hadn’t asked,” he said. “Walcheren was hell, a mosquito infested swamp, and ultimately, a graveyard for English soldiers. The invasion was intended to help the Austrians in their fight against the French. But by the time we got there, they had been defeated and were negotiating with Bonaparte.” He caressed her hand while he spoke, rubbing his thumb along her palm and up her fingers. His gaze remained focused on their hands, but Cass’s never left his face.
“We attacked Flushing, hoping to destroy, or at least weaken, the French Navy, but we only succeeded in chasing them out. The siege on Flushing—that’s when I was wounded. The French removed their fleet to Antwerp. And then, men began to sicken from fever. Thousands died, in the most appalling conditions, and nobody knew what to do. I was terrified I’d die from it, too, especially in my weakened condition. In the end, we lost all those good men and gained nothing.”
He dropped her hand and stepped back. “When I returned to England, I learned about the panorama depicting the bombardment of Flushing, for the amusement of the Prince Regent and his friends.” He released a clipped laugh. “It sickened me. That’s when I decided to escape to the Continent for a time. Which turned out to be two years.”
“One last question. How did you get out of Walcheren?”
“The army began evacuating as many of the sick as they could, and since they were so short of medical men, they allowed me to leave, to help on board ship. Having been wounded, I wasn’t of much use to them. The fighting was over by then, in any case. The army had only stayed on because of the sickness.”
Tears glistened in her eyes. “Thank God you didn’t catch the fever. It seems a miracle that you did not.”
Her words were a balm to his wounded heart. Adam pulled her into his arms, kissing away the tears poised on her eyelashes. “My sweet Cassie, don’t cry.” He was in dangerous territory here, showing his emotions, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. Jack might still be nearby, but right now he didn’t give a damn. Never had he been so attracted to her, or any other woman. He wanted her right now, with a fierceness that robbed him of breath. Hell, of reason. Before he could overthink it, he said, “I will come to you tonight, Cass.” When she didn’t answer immediately, he said, “We can wait if you’re not ready, but know I can’t resist you for much longer.”
She shook her head and smiled at him. “I’ll be waiting. And I’m ready.”
Chapter Eighteen
Restless, Cass had moved from her bed to the window embrasure. Clad only in her night rail, she sat with her knees up, her arms encircling them, staring out into the darkness. What does one do while waiting for a lover? She’d finally ruled out trying to sleep; she was far too jittery. Images of what she was about to do with Adam were playing havoc with her peace of mind.
Never before had she contemplated becoming a man’s mistress.
Of course, she wouldn’t be Adam’s mistress in the true sense of the word, but there were definitely similarities. Heaven forbid if he tried to give her a jewel, or some other extravagant gift. That brought a smile, because she was certain Adam wouldn’t dream of treating her like some doxy he would pay for her favors.
She knew Adam didn’t love her, yet she believed he was fond of her and undeniably desired her. But still he didn’t want to be married to her, or anyone, so he said. When she’d told him she thought this had something to do with his father, he hadn’t denied it. Perhaps one day he’d tell her more. She chose not to dwell on her own feelings about marriage. Better not to analyze it too closely, at least not tonight.
Cass raised her head when she heard a tapping on her door. It was so faint, she decided she’d imagined it. Then, unmistakably, she heard the door click open, felt a cool rush of air flood the room, and a thrill of anticipation raced through her. She lowered her legs to the floor and quickly walked over. It wouldn’t do for him to be caught loitering in the passage.
“Adam,” she whispered, beckoning him in. He was holding a decanter and two glasses. He wore only britches and shirt.
“Hello, Cassie. You look fetching.”
The rogue. She couldn’t help smiling. Her night rail was not what a bride might wear on her wedding night, but she’d had the seamstress make up one of the finest lawn, with embroidery across the top and thin straps.
“Let’s sit in the embrasure,” Cass said.
Adam poured them each some wine. “I thought we should have a private toast,” he said, raising his glass. “To the loveliest lady in Christendom—”
“Stop teasing me,” Cass said, chuckling.
He laughed softly. “I wouldn’t dream of it. You are the loveliest woman of my acquaintance, and the sweetest and smartest. I’m grateful to you, Cassie, for everything. Not just this.”
They clinked glasses and drank. The moonlight limned him, and Cass thought what a beautiful man he was. His thick, dark gold hair, his strong, proud profile. She reached out a hand and ran it across the back of his cheek, feeling the stubble. It excited her.
“I thought about shaving for you, but decided my valet would think I’d lost my mind.”
“I am glad you did not.” Nervously, she swallowed her wine and was grateful for the slow warmth spreading through her chest and abdomen. After a minute, Adam took the glass from her hand and scooted closer to her. He placed his hands on her arms, sliding them slowly downward.
“It’s not too late to change your mind, Cass,” he said. “We can carry off the pretense of being engaged without making love.”
“Would that be all right with you?”
“Hell, no. It would kill me.”
And me as well. Cass knew she wasn’t interested in the pretense without the lovemaking. “It’s what I want, Adam. I may never experience it otherwise.”
Adam’s breath hitched, t
hen his mouth found hers. Pulling her into his arms, he whispered, “Cassie, I want you so much. You and no other. It’s driving me mad.” He rose and brought her with him.
She answered with her body, molding herself against him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing into his chest, so that her breasts rubbed against him. Now there was nothing between them but the fine gauze of his shirt and the thin fabric of her night rail. In the moon-drenched room, she lost herself in his kiss. Cradled in his arms, Cass felt absolutely safe. She had no hesitation about entrusting her body to him.
…
Adam’s cock strained against his britches. He nibbled the corners of her mouth before smothering her forehead, cheeks, and ears with his kisses. He couldn’t resist running his hands through her lustrous hair, drawing handfuls of it up to bury his face in. He hadn’t seen it down since they were children. After he luxuriated in the feel of it, the scent of it, he moved his hands to her breasts, gently teasing her nipples.
“Oh,” she said. “Oh.”
He groaned deep in his throat. God, she smelled good. The rose scent she always wore, now faint at the end of the day, was intoxicating. It was so Cass. Impatient now to see her, all of her, he reached down and lifted her gown over her head, tossing it aside.
Cass drew in a sharp breath.
“You’re so lovely, Cassie. Your hair, your creamy skin.” And then he paused. The moonlight had struck her in such a way that he could see her wound. The one he’d wondered about this morning. “Some day you will tell me about this, how it happened, who was responsible. I’ll probably have to kill him.” That last bit came out fiercely, gutturally.
