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“Come in,” Cassie called, straightening, composing herself to face Honoria’s concern.

Honoria came forward into the light, and her gaze met Cassie’s. “Oh love, you look done in. Sir A must have been very angry.”

“He was.” Cassie lowered her brush to her lap, suddenly without energy.

Honoria took the brush from Cassie’s limp hand, and Cassie submitted to the familiar ritual of her girlhood, as Honoria began to run the brush through Cassie’s hair.

“I am so sorry. I never meant … I never thought … I cannot see why he should be angry with you. You don’t write drivel or put people you know into books. He should be angry with me, not you.”

“No, Aunt, he did have reason to be angry with me. You see, he told me that he wanted to marry Amabel Haydon.” Cassie met her aunt’s gaze in the mirror above her dressing table.

Honoria stopped moving the brush. “Does he love her? How very odd!”

“Nothing is less odd. Amabel is lovely, and she comes from a family of—”

Honoria began to brush again. “—rank. Does Sir A wish to rise in the world by marrying? I had thought him more sensible than that, more conscious of his own value. Those Ramsburys may have all the position in the world, but they are hardly noted for setting the Thames on fire.”

“We only know Hugh’s faults, Aunt,” Cassie said gently. “And Hugh is the real cause of Sir A’s anger with me. I did not tell him that Hugh was Amabel’s brother. So, when he learned of the connection from you and the boys, he was quite … distressed.”

“Is that what it is then?” Honoria put aside the brush and twisted Cassie’s hair into a knot at her nape. “I saw him just now, and the man looked chastened or no, maybe the right word is bereft, he looks absolutely bereft.”

To be so bereft, he must love Amabel, Cassie thought. “He came here?”

“Yes. I answered the door. I confess I was hiding from Lottie. I tried to stand up to her, really, I did, but she makes me feel so small, so useless. What have I ever brought to Verwood? I depend entirely on her good will. And now I have nothing to offer.” Honoria sank onto the bench at the foot of Cassie’s bed.

Cassie twisted to look at her. “Aunt, you have a great deal to offer, but Sir A came here?”

“He brought you a letter.” Honoria reached into her pocket and withdrew a folded sheet, closed with a waxed seal. Cassie could not imagine what more there could be to say between them.

Cassie took the letter. Just holding it brought back the pain. She had not thought it possible for the old taunt to hurt her again, but coming from Raven, the words had a special sting. She had no doubt where he had heard the phrase. They had traded places. She had turned away from the fashionable world, while he had entered it.

She looked up to find Honoria watching her. “I thought…” she began. “Shall I leave you with your letter?” Honoria stood and pulled her shawl close about her.

“Yes, I think that’s best. But, Aunt, Grandmama will not remain angry long, and you and I will find a way to get to London and to keep you writing.” Cassie offered her aunt a smile.

Honoria nodded and turned to the door. There she stopped and looked back over her shoulder at the letter in Cassie’s lap. “You know, dear, I think writing has unsettled my brain. I thought Sir A was in love with you.”

Cassie shook her head. The door closed. She held the letter in her lap as the last light of the day faded. Then she broke the seal.

Dear Madam,

I write to apologize for my appalling behavior in speaking to you as I did this afternoon. To do so was unforgivable. You may wonder how I came to behave in such an ungentlemanly manner, and we must inevitably disagree on what, in the moment, I considered sufficient provocation for such anger.

Whether I am able to realize my hopes of an attachment to Lady Amabel Haydon, I have been glad of my time at Verwood. I thank you for your generous help in the work of restoring the hall. Now that the work is complete, there is little occasion for our paths to cross. It is my hope that the pain my offense has caused will lessen when I am not immediately before you. Only excepting the Verwood ball in July, at which politeness dictates that you make an appearance.

With every wish for your happiness and for the future success of Hermes, which Jay Kydd tells me is likely, I remain,

Raven

It was a letter that agitated more than it soothed. She was grateful for his acknowledgment of the wrong he had done. She could not agree more heartily that their paths need not cross. But she did not understand why he had signed the letter as he had.

She had no intention of appearing at his ball. From now on she would haunt the stables. By Grandmama’s rules, Raven was not permitted there. She had only to figure out a way around Grandmama’s decision that Cassie attend the ball. Then she and Honoria could escape to London.

Chapter Eighteen

When Raven next rode to Ramsbury Park, he discovered that new guests had arrived in his absence, the Countess of Embledon, accompanied by her daughter Lady Hyacinthe and her son, Viscount Tyne. The party of young people had spent most of the previous long, wet day playing cards, and were now keen for outdoor amusement. At Tyne’s suggestion, they settled on tennis, and the viscount gave lessons to each of the ladies in turn, taking on the rest, and showing his prowess.

Raven entered in with as much spirit as he could summon, trying to control his impatience to speak with Amabel. Every once in a while, she gave him a quick glance, as if to say, she, too, wished they could be alone together for a talk. He tried to hold onto his patience. At last, as they strolled back to the house from the tennis, she drew enough apart from the group for them to have a private exchange.