Forbidden Earl

by Victoria Pinder

  The hug ended and she scooted backward. “Yes, and I’m moving in with Remy, tonight.”

  He lifted her chin and she was bemused at the wide grin on her father’s face. “Good girl. We’re proud of you.”

  If only they’d cared when she accomplished things on her own—like keeping the roof from falling down. Her heart skipped a beat, but she adjusted her backpack. “You’ll be at my wedding?”

  Her mother pressed her hand on her heart. “Of course. Why wouldn’t we?”

  She didn’t roll her eyes and instead glanced at her mother. “You skipped my graduation.”

  Mom dropped her hands to her sides. Her father stood next to her mother, as always. “We had the date wrong,” he said, “but I’ll happily give you to Lord Burke. Your mother will be over tomorrow to discuss the dates with the Queen of Avce.”

  Details she didn’t want to think about. She released a sigh. “Good, because I’ll be at work. Let me know whenever it’s decided. I’m sure it will be this week.”

  Her mother’s face lost color. “You won’t have to work at the palace anymore.”

  She clutched the black shoulder strap that hung under her arms. “I like my job. It makes me happy.”

  Her mother rubbed her arms. “But now you’ll have an estate to run.”

  Seriously? She felt cold inch down her spine and she shook her head. “You mean another estate to run. Though with two, perhaps I can cut this one some better deals.”

  Her father walked with her toward the door, but he made that sound in his throat that meant she’d gone too far. “The contract will help your mother and I run the place.”

  Money filtered out of their hands like more was easily obtained. Whatever the contract price was truly didn’t matter. She reached for the handle of her suitcase. “For a year, maybe, before you gamble the cash again. Look, I’ve got to go.”

  Her father stepped in her way with his face down, though his gray hair was still perfectly coifed. “I’ve always provided a roof over your head, young lady.”

  Now they were insulted? No one offered to help when she’d literally jumped in the gardener’s path to beg him to stay on though he’d not been paid in a month because her father had siphoned the cash she’d left for him. Her shoulders slumped and she took a deep breath—then exhaled. Cassidy released her death grip on the handle of her bag. “I’m nervous about moving in there tonight. Just give me a hug and wish me luck, Dad.”

  He hugged her again with warmth. For once they approved of her. “You’ll do well once you take your place as a true lady.”

  Like she was less than she was right now? She dragged her suitcase out the front door. “I’m going.”

  Her father walked her out. “I hope he gets you a better car.”

  The Renault had been her first thing to buy for herself, and she’d had it for years. Cassidy patted the roof of her dented and sometimes unreliable baby. “Reynoldo and I get along fine, Dad.”

  Her father scoffed but helped put her bag in her trunk.

  She waved as her mother came out and her father left her side to join Mom—they painted the perfect portrait of a team.

  She turned the ignition and Reynoldo purred. Whatever had been wrong yesterday was hopefully over now. With a honk and last wave, Cassidy drove toward Remy’s house.

  Once there, she parked near the livery and took her bag from the trunk when one of Remy’s servants walked over to her, horrified.

  “Ma’am?”

  “Sorry.” She let him take the suitcase, though at her own home, she’d had to release most of the staff go years ago, but she kept her backpack.

  She didn’t knock but then she never did here. The large Maplewood foyer was empty so she called out, “Honey, I’m home.”

  Remy peered out of Gigi’s favorite sitting room, so Cassidy assumed she must still be inside. Smiling, Remy walked toward her. “Very funny. Dinner will be served soon.”

  Her heart stopped. It was one thing to marry him in theory and another to spend time with him. She felt a zip in her pulse that wasn’t normal as she clutched the strap of her backpack. “You want to have dinner with me?”

  He nodded and motioned with his head back where he’d come from. “In Grannie’s room. She wants to talk about the wedding.”

  A huge sigh of relief washed through her. Gigi was good company and the main reason Cassidy was here. “Okay, sure. Let me set up a few things in my room, which is?”

  He motioned for the stairs and they both walked up as he said, “The countess’ room, of course. Cassidy, there is another thing about our marriage that you and I need to discuss.”

  The thump in her chest meant they were going to have that conversation, on the steps. She swallowed. “Sex?”

  When he nodded, his dark brown hair fell perfectly into place. “Yeah. It’s expected for us to have an heir.”

  Her heart sped up, fast. She pressed her lips together while they walked to the second floor. She couldn’t think of what to say. She hadn’t had a boyfriend in years really and no one had excited her enough to even think about hopping into bed with. That couldn’t be said for Remy, however. Cassidy knew the names of every one of his ex-girlfriends. She’d thought he’d marry Lucinda until the supermodel had moved out of his estate last week.

  He opened the door to a large room with a queen-sized bed covered with a light sea foam green comforter—there was other furniture in the room, but thanks to the conversation, that’s what she focused on. Cassidy pushed her hair out of her face and met his gaze. “Sex with you is going to be awkward, Remy.”

  He sighed, as if she’d spoken out loud what he’d thought, though that hadn’t happened since they were children—before their teens they’d been very close. “I feel the same. Look, I won’t ever hurt your reputation or force myself on you. You’re like my sister, so I don’t want to hate myself either.” He moved to create distance between them.

  Her pulse jerked. She wasn’t his sister or related in any way. She turned away and stumbled toward a white nightstand. Needing something to do, she unzipped her bag and started unpacking her glasses collection. “We’ll figure it out with time.”

  He joined her and picked up the green frames. “Fair enough. And since we are having this very awkward talk, I have one more thing to request.”

  “Yes?” She prayed he didn’t put them on his face. She didn’t actually need glasses but they’d been part of her everyday wear for years. Cassidy couldn’t be called out now, not by Remy.

  He put the glasses down. “Get a haircut before the wedding. I’d like to see your face—from what I remember of it, you’re pretty. I’ll make the appointments if necessary. And have you considered contacts? Or laser surgery to correct your vision? We probably couldn’t get that done before the wedding, though.”

  Marry him without her glasses? No one had ever questioned why she wore them so there hadn’t been a reason to lie. “I’ll take care of the appointments myself. I promise I won’t be an ugly bride and ruin your reputation, Remy.” What had he meant by saying he would protect hers? That he wouldn’t take a mistress? “I know you’ve always cared about looks.”

  He winced as if she’d hit him. “That makes me sound shallow.”

  A small laugh escaped her as she finished with her glasses and she shook her head, glancing at him over her shoulder. “You’re not anymore?”

  He reached for her hand. “I hope not.”

  Her skin grew hot and pulsed with awareness. She took her hand back and zipped her bag. “Perhaps this is our chance to be friends again.”

  He stepped back but crossed his arms. “That’s a good start,” he agreed. “I want a wife in every way, Cassidy. We need to be on the same page, willing to try.”

  “I won’t disappoint you on purpose.” She hoped that was enough. He could ask her family to see that she tried and yet she still managed to disappoint. And she wasn’t ready to talk about sex, not now, not ever.

  Remington dropped his arms and walked to t
he door to allow her privacy. “Meet you downstairs in a few minutes?”

  She nodded. Maybe Gigi’s presence at dinner would stop her gut-reaction to pull away from Remy. Tomorrow she’d spend her day at her desk at work so she’d be safe. She’d take the wedding and marriage one day at a time. It was the only way she’d get through this.

  Chapter 4

  Remington laughed with his grandmother’s observations on Lord Paston until the door opened. Knowing who it was, he stood and watched Cassidy stumble in. She lacked grace at times but he blamed the hair she let fall in her face. Her nearness calmed something that raged inside him.

  Before college, where she’d gotten a master’s degree in computer science, she’d smiled more and worn ponytails that showed clear skin and bright brown eyes. There was no reason to hide like she did now. He motioned for her to join them and held out a seat. “Cassidy, please sit here.”

  She came forward and kissed his Grannie’s cheeks. “Gigi, it’s good to see you.”

  Again, that hair of hers was getting in the way—he’d had enough. Cassidy was intelligent and easy to be around, but she needed some grooming—not that he would tell her so. Upstairs had been awkward enough. He stood, impatient. “I don’t know how you see like that. Be right back.”

  He rushed out the door, across the hall to the bathroom. Lucinda had left behind some hair supplies when she’d stormed out of his house last month and he’d shoved them in the closet. He could hear Grannie ask Cassidy, “Do you like your room upstairs? I’ve always been fond of sea foam, but you can change whatever you want.”

  “It’s twice the size of mine and well-staged with the view of garden. I won’t have to do anything to make it beautiful.”

  “Good, but then we’ve always had similar tastes.”

  Grannie made him smile. She’d looked after Cassidy all their lives and claimed at first she’d done it because her best friend had been Cassidy’s grandma who had died helping them escape. His grandmother had sworn to watch out for Cassidy and Chelsea though Chelsea had chosen to stay close to her parents. Either way Cassidy had always been at their house in California, on every childhood vacation, and in all his classes until college. At college graduation, his grandmother took them both out to celebrate. Now that she was here, it felt like his family was complete again.

  He found the clips and marched into Grannie’s room. Without asking he went behind Cassidy and pulled her hair up, pinning it so it stayed out of her face.

  Cassidy reached up to stop him, but he gently swatted her hands away. “Remy, what are you doing?”

  Once he was done, he knelt in front of her. Clear brown eyes behind the turquoise frames, smooth skin, right now, an angry smile. The same girl he remembered. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’m fine.” She left the clips alone.

  Better. He took his seat opposite her and Grannie. A servant brought in trays of savory dishes Grannie had ordered and set it around them, as if his grandmother’s bed was a dinner table. He ignored the commotion and met Cassidy’s bristling gaze. “You almost look like my old friend again. Now you just need to ditch those glasses you’re hiding behind.”

  She whipped them off and stared at him. “I’m not hiding.”

  Very sharp, very clear, very focused brown eyes held him captive.

  Strange.

  He decided to ignore the thought and instead smiled once the servants left them alone. “There, isn’t that better, Grannie? I’ve never understood why you wear your hair so wild, Cassidy.”

  His grandmother gave him a warning look.

  Cassidy picked up her spoon and stirred her bowl of lamb stew and mushrooms. “You didn’t ask.”

  “I’m asking now.” He didn’t turn away as she took a huge bite in an attempt to ignore him.

  Grannie sipped her lamb broth, and looked from Cassidy to him. She placed her spoon carefully on her tray and quietly said, “Cassidy, it’s okay to tell Remy. He’s to be your husband.”

  Cassidy swallowed, her long graceful neck visible to him with her hair up, and stared at Grannie.

  Clearly, they had a secret they shared between them.

  He leaned closer to Cassidy, getting a hint of lavender. “Tell me what?”

  Her cheeks turned crimson but she met his gaze. “Remember Adam?”

  Her college romance. She’d started growing her hair by graduation and when he’d commented Cassidy simply claimed to no longer want bangs. Now his heart thumped and he held his breath. “Your old boyfriend?”

  Her nose wrinkled and her hands went into fists. “He was never my boyfriend.”

  As he recalled, Adam had been one of the smartest guys in their class and always around Cassidy, who was always the smartest woman he’d ever met. He scratched his head. “But I thought-”

  Her grunt interrupted him and he watched as Cassidy deliberately relaxed her hands. “He assaulted me. Then tried to touch me again—I was scared and fought him off. I called Gigi that night and she had me call the campus police.”

  His entire body went cold and his muscles tensed. He’d kill Adam right now if he saw him. Instead he stared into Cassidy’s clear brown eyes. “You never told me. I’d have killed him.”

  She rolled them, like she usually did when she was annoyed with him. “You were too busy with Tammy, then Florencia, and then Gianna who loved to mention she could be a Gigi too.”

  Gianna had been the biggest mistake out of that group but that wasn’t a good reason not to tell him. He’d have protected Cassidy. His skin prickled with the need to do something, but for now he sat back and hid the fact he was rattled. “If we’re going to name all my college girlfriends, please don’t forget Mona.”

  She laughed and her face returned to its normal pink tones. “I almost forgot about Mona. She was the nice one.”

  He leaned forward to make a point. “You still should have told me. As my wife, I expect to be informed if anyone even swats a fly in front of you.” No one would ever get near her again, not without killing him first. But Grannie’s face paled and Cassidy looked at her stew. Right. He smiled, for them all to relax, and picked up his spoon. “Let’s get back to your hair and how long it is. I love the color.”

  She tugged on a piece but didn’t take out the clips. “After that, I grew it out and honestly when I started working I had no time for styling it. Unlike your previous girlfriends, I’ve never had much interest in fashion and my day is easier if I just wash and go.”

  He could understand that. “Manicures, massages, haircuts—all of those spa essentials will be scheduled, but you aren’t running an estate on your own anymore. I have managers who work for me, and I’ll need my wife to be seen without hiding her pretty face.”

  She bit her lower lip. “I’ll handle it.”

  Right. Well, he felt small but he needed to finish this conversation. He sipped his wine. “Okay, and the glasses? When did that start? You had laser sharp vision whenever I did anything you didn’t approve of.”

  She picked up her glasses that she’d left beside her bowl. “I’m a programmer, Remy. I stare at the computer screen all day and to be on equal footing with my peers, casual attire and glasses are the standard uniform.”

  Yet everyone else he knew with glasses all looked lost and glazed over when they took their glasses off, but Cassidy stared at him like she saw straight through him, as she usually did. He tugged at his white collar and wished he’d changed out of his suit. “I guess.”

  The three turned their attention toward finishing their meal without further conversation. Once he was done, he wiped his lips with his napkin, sat back in his chair, and lifted his wine glass. “Will you admit to being happy to leave your family home?”

  She tugged her ear and then picked up her wine. “It’s still my responsibility.”

  He leaned closer again. “Our responsibility.”

  “No, my.” She shook her head. “You don’t need-”

  Did she really expect him not to be concerned? She lived nex
t to his estate. “You’re to be my wife and that estate will pass to you and then one day to our child which means our child will have as much land as the throne. I’d like to start the reforms my grandmother and I did for our villages within your estate as soon as possible.”

  “Your towns and villages are flourishing,” she conceded and sipped from her glass. “I don’t know. My father isn’t the most responsible.”

  True. Her father was a gambler, but Cassidy wasn’t like him at all. He met her gaze and repeated Grannie’s lessons. “It’s not about him. It’s about building prosperity for the villages and towns under our peerage. One of my villages now boasts multi-million dollar townhomes and is one of the most desired parts of Avce to be in. We need to start with the people who depend on your family.”

  She nodded, looking from Grannie back to him. “How?”

  He patted Grannie’s hand. “We’ll do what Gigi and I did right after Prince Antonio secured the throne by marrying Princess Kristin. We gave money to every business that had been closed under the Russian occupation with the expectation that the owners either reopen their business or start a new one.”

  She slid her glasses back on, her demeanor intent. “So you gave out loans?”

  Economics under his grandmother’s tutelage had always interested him and he’d double majored in accounting and finance. His job was to ensure prosperity for others and he took it seriously. “It wasn’t a loan. No one had to repay me anything, but we receive more long-term than the lion’s share when any business prospers through taxes.” She nodded with approval. “You’ll enjoy yourself, Lady Cassidy.”

  “Why do you care if I enjoy myself at all?”

  Cassidy and Grannie seemed so at ease with each other which brought peace to his home. Lucinda had been on his last nerve, always complaining about his Grannie’s opinion. This evening had been interesting when he’d been bored for a long time. “You accepted Grannie’s wish to be my wife.” And dare he admit that he was excited by the prospect?