An Agreeable Arrangement (6 page)

“I’ll feed him tidbits from my very own plate.”

“You’ll spoil him.” They stopped at the foot of
the staircase. “He can wait right here. You may save
whatever you like for him and when we’ve finished,
you can give them to him on his own dish.”

Lorna agreed. “I promise to save something extra
special for you, Romeo.”

“Remember,” Cassie said to her dog, “you stay
right there until we return” Romeo lowered himself
to the floor, giving every indication that he was staying put.

The two empty plates Mrs. Upton had placed upon the table waited for Cassie and Lorna. The sideboard
stood brimming with various meats, vegetables, and
other savories. All the dishes were overlooked when
Lorna spotted two packages on the table before them.
She opened the accompanying letter and scanned its
contents.

“It’s from Edward! He says, `To My Dear Ladies, I
would like to think you have been blue-deviled since
my departure. However, I suspect my little rival has
been keeping you two in high spirits and running you
to near exhaustion throughout the countryside.’ ”
Lorna looked up at Cassie. “He must be referring to
Romeo”

Lorna dropped the missive on the table and studied
the parcels a bit closer. “This one’s for me”-she
pulled the package marked with an L closer-“and
that one”-Lorna pointed at the remaining package,
marked with a C-“is for you” With the letter set
aside, she eagerly tore at the wrapping. “He is forever
sending presents!”

“Is he?” Cassie wasn’t used to receiving gifts unless there was a special occasion. She took up the letter to read the last bit.

I pray that his activity will not prevent you
from our sharing a dance or two this evening.
Please accept these gifts as a token of my
affection.

Yr humble servant, E. Stewart

“Oh, it’s beautiful.” Lorna twirled the closed parasol, shaking the ruffles free from their confinement.
Opening the Alice blue-colored parasol, Lorna set it
to rest upon her shoulder where she made a slow turn
to allow Cassie an unobtrusive view at her latest treasure. “Quick, open your package!”

Had Cassie not have moved swiftly enough, Lorna
might have shred the wrapping from the remaining
gift as well. The package had the same dimensions as
Lorna’s and it would have surprised Cassie if something other than a parasol lay within. She laid the letter on the table and unwrapped a dark rose-colored
parasol.

“Isn’t that lovely?” Lorna reached out to finger the
ruffled edge. “Will that not match your new pucecolored walking dress?”

“Since I am not in possession of that dress it would
be difficult to tell. I shall pen a `thank you’ after we finish our meal” Cassie thought that would be the proper
thing to do.

“Goose. There is no need” Lorna laughed. “We
shall see Edward tonight at the ball!”

B y the time Lorna had finished her meal, she had
saved Romeo a considerable amount of food on a
very small plate. Cassie had to insist he be limited to
a morsel or two. If he was allowed to consume the
entire plateful of food, not only would it make him ill
but her once compliant pet would become irreversibly spoilt.

Thank goodness Lorna did not object. While she
agonized over the choices, Romeo licked his chops
with anticipation and Mrs. Upton descended the stairs
behind them.

“Lady Cassandra, your gowns for tonight have just
arrived. I saw your maid removing the tissue from
the blue gown.”

“Oh, let’s do go see!” The news of Cassie’s gowns hastened Lorna’s ability to decide on which tidbit to
give Romeo.

Once he had swallowed the treats, without benefit of
chewing, the three ascended the stairs toward Cassie’s
room.

“Oh, you came to zee for yourself!” Layette wasted
no time pulling out the newly arrived dresses. “Zee
blue is tres magnifique! But zee autre …”

She pulled the lighter, cream silk satin from the
wardrobe. The gown sparkled, even in the filtered bedroom light from the windows.

“You must wear this tonight,” Lorna announced.
“It is breathtaking!”

Madam Bosque had gone far beyond what Cassie
had expected. Not only had the modiste altered the
dress to fit, she added delicate silver thread stitching
and small, intricate beading at the neckline and bodice.

“It seems impossible that this is the same gown I
slipped on yesterday” Cassie ran her fingers over the
beading, admiring the workmanship.

“I told you Madam Bosque was talented. I think
she’s quite outdone herself.” Lorna’s face beamed. “I
cannot wait to see what Edward thinks of it!”

It was all Cassie could do to tolerate sitting in
an enclosed area of a carriage with Squire Stewart.
What made it tolerable was that he dressed entirely in
black with the exception of his white shirt and cravat. Cassie could almost imagine he was not there and that
she and Lorna were riding alone to the ball.

Lord and Lady Addison resided in one of the large
mansions that stood on the north side of Grovesner
Square. Cassie and Lorna entered the residence with
the squire. Jeffrey Rutherford, whom Cassie had recognized at once due to Lorna’s lengthy and very accurate description of him, had been waiting near the
entrance. Lorna took Jeffrey’s arm and he led her off
to meet with some of their friends.

Cassie was left standing alone with the squire. The
situation did not last long and she was relieved to
find that Edward was as good as his word. He arrived
at the Addisons’ residence only ten minutes after
she had.

Her enthusiasm in seeing him had not so much to
do with her heart growing fonder because of his absence, as much as he would be the one to remove her
from the squire’s company.

Upon laying eyes on her, Edward’s mouth opened
to comment but he was struck momentarily speechless. “The transformation is absolute!” he finally said.
“I thought you radiant before but now you are a veritable vision in that gown” He took up her hand and
bowed over it. “Is she not the most beautiful woman
in this room, Julian?”

Cassie was relieved that the squire was nearsighted.
She was spared the indignity of being spied at through a quizzing glass. He did turn his gaze upon her, perhaps for the first time all evening.

“You look quite fashionable, my lady” The squire
accompanied his comment with a low bow.

Was fashionable meant as a compliment? Cassie
hoped her displeasure did not show.

“I am certainly the luckiest man in attendance, if
not the most fortunate man in all of England, to have
you stand by my side.” He took up Cassie’s hand as
if it was as precious and delicate as fine china.

She returned his smileperhaps with less luster
and more effort on her part. It surprised her how little his praise pleased her. It should have meant more
but she was not so easily flattered. Cassie felt numb
at the thought that Edward was the man she would be
with for the rest of her life.

The squire cleared his throat. “If you both will excuse me”

“Julian, if you would stay for a moment. I have
news”-Edward glanced at Cassie-“for you both”

The squire stepped forward, attentive.

“My recent meeting with Farthington precipitates
my travel to the continent.” Edward turned to his
brother. “There’s a letter for you and a copy of the contracts on your desk. I leave tomorrow for the coast” He
turned to Cassie. “I can most honestly tell you how
badly I feel about leaving.”

“How long will you be away?” Cassie found the
news disturbing.

“About a fortnight.” Edward squeezed her hand.
“Perhaps a bit longer.”

“I best reply to Farthington and look over the details of the contract before you leave,” the squire interrupted. “This is dashed inconvenient.”

“Julian-language, please!” Edward scolded.

The squire glanced at Cassie. “I beg your pardon,”
he said with a nod. “I wish I had time to find someone to take your place. You should be here attending
to your intended.”

“As it is, I must go. If you desire to keep our business dealings within the family, you might want to
look to Mr. Rutherford, there” Edward nodded toward
the young man standing next to their sister. “He looks
to be well on his way to joining us, wouldn’t you say?”

The squire stared into the crowd. “We’ll just see
about this.” He stalked away in Lorna’s direction and
muttered, “That undisciplined young pup!”

Edward’s laughter ebbed. “My absence may be for
the best. I only say this because of the circumstance
you find yourself in. I cannot imagine this is the life
you’ve envisioned for yourself. As for me”-a glorious smile broke across his face-“just because our
marriage was arranged does not make it any less desirable.”

Cassie wished she could have felt the same type of
infatuation as he. It would have made their situation
much easier to accept. At the moment she could think
of him only in kind regard.

“If only our fathers were here to enjoy our celebration. I think seeing us unite our families would have
made them very happy”

“I suppose you are correct. I know our fathers were
once close and I knew of my father’s wish. I thought
it was a dream he wanted to witness. Once he fell ill I
imagined he had given up on seeing our families
joined. Now that he’s passed … I never considered
he would insist upon us marrying, even from his
grave.”

“I suggest we take the little time we have tonight
and see what events might come our way-separation
and all.” Edward’s soft voice, filled with kindness and
understanding, seemed to ease Cassie’s fears. “Although you are not exactly a stranger, you have been
displaced-away from your friends and your home.
There will be time enough for us to become acquainted
when I return. Can we simply enjoy this evening and
not concern ourselves with what is to come?”

Somehow his suggestion made Cassie feel better.
Not only was Edward attentive to her throughout
the evening, he kept a protective eye on his sister as
well.

It was quite apparent to Cassie that Lorna did not
need Edward looking after her. The squire did not allow any young bucks to linger at Miss Stewart’s side.
A gentleman might desire a second dance, as was the
case with Jeffrey Rutherford, but none was to be had.

Edward, who had two dances with Cassie, made sure she enjoyed herself immensely and was partnered
for every set.

All in all, it was a wonderful evening.

Cassie made sure to rise early the next morning so
as not to miss Edward’s departure.

“You needn’t see me off,” he remarked. “But I am
happy you did.” He kissed her hand and placed it in
the crook of his arm then led the way to the breakfast
room. “I do have a slight concern … I hesitate to
bring up the matter.”

“Please, say what is on your mind, I am most willing to do what I can to put you at ease” Cassie stood
her ground, causing Edward to stop.

“Am I correct in assuming that you and Julian do
not rub along well together?”

She felt as if he was accusing her. “I can hardly
take the blame. I was not the one who demanded I
present myself at Stewart Hall. Nor was I the one who
foisted myself onto your family.” Cassie softened her
voice to add, “You and Miss Lorna have been all that
is pleasant, the squire however has not it does not
signify.”

“You’ve taken a dislike to him, then?” Edward certainly felt strongly about his brother, as did Lorna.

“I do not know him well enough to truly dislike
him.”

“You simply do not understand Julian.”

“Your sister said the very same thing to me. Could you please tell me what that means? Pray, exactly
what do I not understand?”

“Julian is not-” Edward reconsidered his words.
“Well, he has some very good qualities.”

“Such as .. ” Cassie would be more than willing
to give the squire a chance to redeem himself. He’d
barely said ten words to her since that first day.

“He’s got an uncompromising sense of duty and
morality,” Edward said optimistically.

“And?”

“And . . ” Edward searched for other positive
traits. “He’s very punctual.”

“Punctual? Is that the most you can say to recommend him? He’s punctual?”

“I am at a loss at the moment. Forgive me” Edward, still escorting Cassie, continued to the breakfast room. They nearly collided with the squire and
Maxwell who were on their way out. “Julian, a moment of your time. If you will be seated”

When Edward would brook no protest, Julian returned to his seat and Maxwell stood at his side.

“We are supposed to be family.” Edward glanced
from Lady Cassandra to Julian. “Just as I am on my
way out of the country I learn that my betrothed and
my brother cannot stand the sight of one another.”

.,That is a bit harsh, Edward. Nothing of the sort is
going on” It was not Julian’s place to entertain his
brother’s bride. Had he not seen to her welfare? Pro vided a new wardrobe for her since she’d just come
out of mourning?