Page 65 of Unmasking the Earl

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The following day was just as beautiful as the last had been, although Cassie greeted it somewhat bleary-eyed after a restless night. Yesterday’s events had played through her mind in a never-ending merry-go-round of emotions she was powerless to stop.

She knew she had to hear what Ned had to say to her—and she imagined he’d have plenty—but that didn’t make confronting her own wanton behavior with him any easier.

Or, indeed, her new-found feelings for him.

Had he replaced her safe and familiar desire to wed Julian Carnforth with the dangerous and uncertain fantasy of being the wife of a tempestuous earl?

Would he even want her in that way?

Or perhaps he was only interested in acquiring a mistress. Yesterday, he had mentioned both possibilities equally, and she hadn’t demurred from either. Why had she not protested at the less honorable suggestion?

Perhaps he was meeting her simply to explain—in a chivalrous manner, of course—that it had all been a terrible mistake?

After a fretful morning, she set out for the churchyard and arrived, her mind still in a whirl, exactly on the stroke of eleven.

“Cassandra!” Ned came toward her with every indication of pleasure written across his handsome features. She had to admit, seeing him cheerful and in the full light of day, that he was extremely handsome. He could easily compete in that regard with Julian or Wycherley and win. Physically, he outshone them both. It had just taken a little while for her to get used to him being well-built and so…so overwhelmingly male.

“Ned?”

He grinned, showing a set of very even white teeth. And a dimple in each cheek she’d somehow not noticed before. Not only handsome, but dashing, too. Butterflies began fluttering in her stomach.

“Isn’t it a splendid day?” he said. “This dreadful village looks almost jolly with the sunlight upon it.”

“You’re turning into a poet,” she said wryly.

“Ah, you have stumbled upon one of my secrets. I do write poetry, but only for the entertainment of friends and family.”

Really? How intriguing. She’d written a few verses herself, but they were mostly about Julian and most decidedly not for the entertainment of family and friends.

“You’re in an ebullient mood today,” she said, wondering when he was going to dispense with the pleasantries and come to the point. She was anxious to learn her fate.

“Indeed, I am. Georgiana has agreed to return home to Yorkshire with me. It is such a joy to have her back again, to know the good news I shall be bringing to Aunt Claudette and the rest of the family. I want to thank you for your help. I don’t know if it was your luck or mine that made you pick up that book in Wycherley’s house, but I will be eternally grateful you did so.”

“You’re quite welcome.” Impatience made her blurt out, “But that can’t be what you wished to speak to me about. I’ve been wondering what you can have to say that is fit for a graveyard but not for Portia’s ears.”

“Blunt, as always,” he said with a sigh, then regarded her for a moment. “About yesterday…”

Her mouth felt suddenly bone dry. “Your sister?”

He gave her a telling look. “No. Us.”

Suddenly, she wasn’t ready to hear it. She swallowed heavily and opened her mouth to say something to stall him, but he held up a hand to stop her.

“I could apologize for what happened yesterday between us,” he said, “only, I don’t feel sorry at all. And I believe you enjoyed our…intimacy as much as I did.”

His dark eyes glittered at her, sending a skitter of awareness along her spine. That was an understatement.

“Well,” she said, “possibly. But perhaps you took your ‘lesson’ a bit too far. I never intended—”

His lips curved, and he moved a little closer as he interrupted her. “I won’t be put off, you know. But before we descend into an argument, you must let me tell you that you’re looking very lovely today, Cassandra.”

He never gave such gallant compliments. She was instantly wary. Was this a prelude to a kiss…or her dismissal?

“Goodness,” she responded, hoping he wouldn’t notice the way her voice kept hitching in her throat. “You are in a good mood.”

“Indeed. I feel as if all my ships have come in at once. Only one more thing needs to happen to complete my happiness.”