A Lady of Secret Devotion (22 page)

“You didn’t steal anything. I gave it quite willingly. I’ll happily give it again,” she said rather boldly, then immediately regretted her words.

Mark, however, grinned. “I’ve never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“Excuse me? Are you suggesting that—” she started to protest, but he covered her mouth with his own.

Cassie completely forgot about everything with that kiss.

She loved the way she felt in Mark’s arms. She loved the smell of his cologne and the softness of his lips against hers. She feared her knees would buckle beneath her at any moment.

“Perhaps a quick marriage would suit you both,” Jameston declared as he and Robbie made their way to where Mark and Cassie stood. “On the other hand, your wanton behavior might best be served by not marrying at all, Miss Stover.”

Cassie pulled away from Mark. She was breathless and couldn’t reply. But that didn’t stop Mark. She felt him stiffen at her side.

“I beg your pardon?”

Sebastian laughed as Cassie’s face reddened. “You two can scarcely keep your hands off of each other. It’s embarrassing to watch your public displays. Come along, Robbie. Let us leave them to their cavorting. At least I have the decency to keep my mistress hidden away.”

Mark stepped forward and stood in Sebastian’s way. “I expect you to apologize to this young woman. She is far from wanton in her behavior and has done nothing to merit your disdain. If there is fault to be placed, it is appropriately put upon my shoulders.”

Sebastian’s steely eyes never left Mark’s face. Cassie watched as just a hint of a smile—cold and calculated—appeared on Jameston’s face. “I certainly didn’t mean to imply that our Cassie was anything other than chaste in her behavior.”

Cassie hated the way he spoke with such familiarity, suggesting she belonged to him. She stepped forward to speak her mind, but Mark was already responding.

“Jameston, you would do well to leave this matter alone. I do not appreciate your sullying Miss Stover’s good name by pretending a familiarity with her that you do not have.”

“Oh, but don’t be so sure. After all, we live under the same roof. Her room is only a short walk from mine.” Now Sebastian was grinning from ear to ear. “I would say that I have more than ample reason to support a familiarity with her.”

Mark’s hand closed in a fist. Cassie saw this and immediately took hold of his arm, while Robbie was already pulling Sebastian away. She hadn’t realized how strong Mark truly was. His arm felt like a band of steel, rigid and unmovable. Had he wanted to strike Jameston, she would have been a very poor obstacle to keep him from his goal.

Robbie, however, seemed more than capable of handling Sebastian. He pulled the man along with him into the house, but Sebastian’s eyes never left Mark.

“That man deserves to be punched in the mouth,” Mark declared. He flashed an angry look at Cassie, which immediately caused her to let go of her hold and back up a step. She’d never seen him like this.

He immediately saw her confusion and fear. “I’m sorry, Cassie. I couldn’t stand the implication Jameston so freely suggested. Perhaps you should leave this place.”

“I cannot. I cannot leave Mrs. Jameston to fend for herself. If she passes away, I will immediately have Wills take me home. But I cannot desert her.”

Mark smiled and put a finger under her chin. “My Cassie isn’t afraid of anything anymore. Even Posie is no longer a threat.”

Cassie laughed nervously and looked away. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say that. I fear a great many things.”

He shook his head. “I don’t believe you.”

“Everyone is afraid of something,” she countered. “I would guess that even you have fears.”

Frowning, Mark dropped his hold. “On occasion, I suppose I do.”

Cassie felt sorry for him. He looked genuinely upset by her comment. “I didn’t mean to cause you pain. What is it that you fear?”

“Losing those I love,” he replied, looking deep into her eyes.

“I’ve lost twice before—my wife and my best friend—and with the passing of those dear people, it lent me another fear.”

“And what was that?” Cassie asked softly.

“The fear that God had forsaken me. That maybe He’d never been there for me at all, but rather was only there because of them.”

She wasn’t about to chide him for his feelings, for she’d experienced them herself when her father had died. She nodded knowingly and took hold of his arm. “It’s quite a hopeless place to be.” Moving toward the back gardens, Cassie was glad that Mark willingly joined her.

They said nothing for several minutes, and it wasn’t until Cassie led them to the garden settee that she managed to work up her courage. “Mark, I think it only fair for you to know that I . . . Well . . . I don’t know how to say this.”

“Are you going to tell me that time will heal my wounds and I will magically begin to see how wondrous God is and that His love for me is real?”

Cassie was momentarily caught off guard. “Ah . . . no . . . I wasn’t—”

“Please don’t worry about me, Cassie. I’m sorry I got so angry. It’s just that I feel like I’ve put you in mortal danger. If something were to happen to you, I would never forgive myself.”

But something
has
happened to me
, she thought.
Something I never expected and just as dangerous as anything Sebastian Jameston could do to me.
She felt such a sense of frustration. How could she explain without sounding pathetic—even desperate?

Mark drew a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I suppose we will have to consider putting an end to our game. I can’t bear being the reason Jameston would strike at you.”

Cassie shook her head. “Jameston wants me for reasons that have nothing to do with you, I’m afraid. He has an idea of becoming my lord and master after the death of his mother. My biggest fear is that he will somehow advance that threat and harm his mother before her time.” She paused and squared her shoulders. How could she convince Mark that the only way for her to protect Mrs. Jameston would mean putting her own safety on the line?

“We have to see him put behind bars; otherwise this will go on and on until he manages to have things his way. So you see, Mark, whether I try to overhear his conversations or not, whether you never grace the doorstep again, Sebastian Jameston will do exactly what he feels he must.”

“That’s what worries me,” Mark said, his jaw clenching.

“Then we should do what we must.”

“No matter the cost?” he asked, looking deep into her eyes.

Cassie felt the protective wall she’d tried to put between them begin to crumble. The ordeal had already cost her heart— what more could possibly be required of her?

“The price will be worth it in the long run,” she told him.

Now. . . if she could only convince herself.

CHAPTER 18

B
y the last day of June, Mrs. Jameston had improved—so much that the doctor agreed she should start to eat regularly again. Cassie was glad to hear this, for the woman was terribly pale and thin. Cassie’s mother had assured her daughter that the soup was quite beneficial, but it seemed that Mrs. Jameston had lost a great deal of weight.

“It is so wonderful to see you up again,” Cassie told her friend. “I have prayed long hours for your recovery.”

“I have as well,” Mrs. Jameston said, finishing her tea. She shook her head when Cassie offered to pour more. “I have several things I want to accomplish right away. Given that

Independence Day is Saturday, I would like to get into town before the celebration madness takes over.”

“Are you certain you feel well enough?” Cassie presumed the woman had in mind to get her son the money he craved.

He had barely been civil to anyone these last few days.

“I will be fine with your help.”

“I suppose you want to get money for your son,” Cassie said in an offhand manner.

“Yes, among other things. I’ve determined to speak to the lawyer about several issues. I want to drop by his office and see if we might make changes to my will.”

“I see. Well, we can certainly attend to that. Mark had planned for me to take my first horseback ride off the grounds tomorrow afternoon, but I can cancel if need be.”

“Nonsense. We can attend to our business in the morning.

I’m delighted to hear that you will ride. I feared that my gift was of no use to you.”

“I’m glad to overcome my past.” Cassie paused as thoughts of that long-ago accident came to mind. “I know I cannot bring back my father by holding on to an irrational fear.”

“That shows a great deal of maturity, my dear.”

“Excuse me, ma’am. Silas says the meal is ready,” Essie announced.

“Very good. We’ll be right there,” Mrs. Jameston told the young woman. Essie smiled and exited the room as quietly as she’d entered. With Sebastian out of the house for the evening, Essie was much calmer.

As they walked to the dining room, Mrs. Jameston gave Cassie a knowing look. “You’ve come to care a great deal for your young man, haven’t you?”

Cassie knew there was no reason to lie. “Yes.”

“You sound rather ashamed of that fact.”

“No, not at all,” Cassie admitted. “I’m just not sure he’ll understand and return the feelings.”

Mrs. Jameston laughed, and Cassie found her amusement somewhat startling. The older woman stopped and reached up to touch Cassie’s cheek. “My dear, the man is positively smitten with you. I’ve seen the way he watches you—the way he attends to you. The look in his eyes is just like that of my Worther so many years ago. Your young man adores you, Cassie. I’m certain a proposal is soon to come.”

Cassie considered her words for a moment. She would love nothing more than for Mark to declare he’d moved past pretense, just as she had, but Cassie had no reason to believe he had. She sighed and took her place at the dinner table, hoping Mrs. Jameston would simply drop the subject.

To Cassie’s relief, Miriam entered the room with a large bouquet of flowers. “I thought you might like to have these brought in,” she announced. “A sort of celebration that you are feeling better.”

Mrs. Jameston smiled at the sight. “Oh, they are lovely. Put them on the table by the window. Tell me, has Wills yet hired additional workers for the yard? I’d like to speak to him on the matter before he does.”

“He hasn’t yet seen to that, Mrs. Jameston.” Miriam came back to the table. “I’ll let him know to discuss the situation with you first.”

“Very good. I want to make some rather large changes. We will surely entertain more in the future, and I’d like to make a place for such gatherings.”

Miriam nodded. “I’m sure Wills can accommodate exactly what you have in mind.”

Cassie was surprised at this news. “I didn’t know you were planning big changes to the gardens,” she said as Miriam took her leave.

“Yes, well, I believe it would benefit us all to make changes.

Besides, you never know when we might need to host a wedding party.” The older woman gave Cassie a wink. “I think the gardens would be perfect for a beautiful autumn wedding.

Don’t you?”

Cassie suppressed a moan and looked away. She did think the gardens would be an ideal setting. The only problem was, she didn’t have a groom.

The next morning Cassie helped Mrs. Jameston into the carriage. It had been such a long time since they’d been out together, and Cassie couldn’t help but feel it was a good sign of things to come.

“I told Wills to take us to my lawyer’s office first. I won’t need to be there long,” Mrs. Jameston told Cassie. “Afterward, we can go to the bank.”

“If you start to feel overly tired,” Cassie began, “let me know, and we will return home immediately. There is no sense in overdoing matters on your first day out.”

“I assure you, Cassie dear, I will be quite mindful of such things. You know, I have to tell you how sorry I am about being ill. We have missed some lovely parties, and I’m certain to be too tired to attend the Fourth of July celebrations. Still, I want you to enjoy yourself. Perhaps Mr. Langford will accompany you.”

“We shall see. I will speak with him about it this afternoon. But you should know, I’ve never been one for parties. Our life after Father’s death has allowed little opportunity for such things. However, I find that I really don’t miss it. I prefer quiet evenings. I can hardly wait for the cold weather to return. I love a good fire in the hearth and an equally good book in my hand.”

“You remind me of myself in so many ways. I was never one for going out much when my husband was alive. I preferred to sit by his side in the evening. I would often embroider while he read to me, just as you have read to me. I’m afraid I am otherwise not a strong reader. And now my eyes grow weary if I strain them on print for long periods of time.”

“Well, that is why you have me,” Cassie said with a smile. The carriage came to a stop in front of a modest address. The sign by the door read
J. Daniels, Solicitor
.

“Ah, we’re here. Come in with me. I want you to meet Mr. Daniels. He’s English by birth but completely American now. He came to this country in 1830 and fell madly in love with a beautiful young lady. He never desired to leave after that.” She smiled and gave Cassie a wink. “I’m certain the same is true of your Mr. Langford. I doubt he will stay long in Boston now that he has met you.”

“We shall see.” Cassie knew her voice sounded rather wistful.

They made their way to the lawyer’s office but were disappointed to learn that he was unavailable. Mrs. Jameston set an appointment for the following Monday, then handed the clerk a sealed letter.

“I would like Mr. Daniels to read this before we meet.”

“Very good, ma’am. I’ll see to it that he has it immediately upon his return. He should be back late this evening, but I know he will come here before retiring to home.”

“Thank you.”

The women made their way to the carriage and instructed Wills to head to the bank. Mrs. Jameston seemed to be growing tired, but Cassie said nothing. She wanted to leave the woman with some semblance of control.

“It seems the town is all aflutter,” Mrs. Jameston said as they drove down Market Street.