Page 63 of Unmasking the Earl

And with that thought came a second, far more uncomfortable realization. Could it really be that she had fallen slightly in love with the Earl of Stranraer?

Maybe even more than slightly?

“Well?” Portia asked as she poured hot tea into cups Cassie hadn’t even noticed had been prepared and set. “What happened?”

She forced herself back to the present and related the whole story of finding Ned’s sister, Lady Georgiana.

Portia beamed with pleasure. “This is quite the most exciting thing that has ever happened in this quiet little village. But you seem pensive. Are you worried for her? Or sad your adventure is over?”

“Not at all,” Cassie reassured her. “I’m just a bit overset by all the drama, I suppose. We’ve been in the throes of deeply felt emotion all day. I’ve never seen a man so moved as Lord Stranraer was at finding his sister.”

Except, perhaps, when he’d been making love to Cassie…

She cleared her throat. “I think the earl’s heart is in proportion to the rest of him, though generally, he prefers not to show it. He’s a most impressive man.”

By Jove. She hadn’t meant to voice that thought aloud.

Portia was looking at her with increased interest. “Am I to understand that you’ve finally found another gentleman to admire? Is the fickle Mr. Carnforth now forgot?”

“How can you say that?” Cassie chided. “You haven’t met Julian above half a dozen times and can have no reason to condemn him as flighty.”

“He has no regard for your feelings.” When Cassie made to protest, Portia waved a hand and said, “Yes, he struck me as affable, with a good degree of drawing room wit, acceptable manners, and pleasant conversation. But there was no spark to him. Not like Lord Stranraer.”

“Do you call Julian dull?” Cassie could hardly believe her ears. “Surely, you cannot think that? Julian rides, reads widely, dances most elegantly, and has opinions on a great variety of subjects.”

“And does he share any of those things with you?”

“I… He—”

“I didn’t think so. Beneath his veneer of civilized interests, he is scrutinizing the year’s crop of young ladies in search of a potential bride.”

Cassie winced, and thought of the way he looked at Lady Lucy. “No, I’m sure you’re quite wrong.”

Except she knew instinctively her friend wasn’t wrong. That he’d, indeed, already made his choice.

And it wasn’t Cassie.

“Let him go. There’s a spirit, a passion in you, Cassie Blythe, which Julian Carnforth can neither match nor satisfy. From what I’ve seen of the Earl of Stranraer, there’s more than enough of him to satisfy any woman—in every way possible.”

Cassie’s teacup clattered onto its saucer, splashing tea over the side. Sweet Venus. Her friend had no idea. “Portia! You shock me!” she cried, to conceal the vivid memories that statement evoked in her mind…and her body.

“Hmph. As I recall, it wasn’t me in the embrace of a naked man last night. So, truly, who is more shocking?”

Cassie wriggled in her chair and turned her heated face toward the window. Portia really had no idea.

Thank God.

Her friend pushed out a sharp breath. “You are in thrall to Lord Stranraer, but too stubborn to let go of your idealized view of Mr. Carnforth, a man who couldn’t hold a candle to the earl.”

Cassie turned back to her friend. “If you have such admiration for him, why don’t you make a play for him yourself?” she said, not knowing where her sudden pique came from.

This brought a gale of laughter from Portia. “Because Lord Stranraer has eyes only for you, my dear. I would be wasting my time.”

Cassie stared at her friend for a long, confused moment, then gathered herself and said, “I’ve splashed tea in my saucer. Have you a cloth?”

Portia sighed. “So you don’t want to talk about Stranraer. Very well. I wouldn’t want you to be in a pet with me for the rest of your visit. I’ll fetch you a cloth.”

No, she didn’t want to talk to Portia about Ned. Her feelings about him were too chaotic to attempt sorting them out right now. Besides, there were other things to worry about. Wycherley, for one. How could she rest easy when the earl still seemed bent on ruining him? She was concerned for Lady Georgiana, too. Cassie had taken a genuine liking to Ned’s sister and wanted to see her restored to her rightful place in Society.