An Agreeable Arrangement (16 page)

Lorna perked up in excitement. “Do you mean to
tell me he’s the first of his breed?”

“Well, nearly. I wouldn’t go so far as to say there
is a breed”

“Oh, that’s so exciting. What are you calling
them?”

“For the time being I just refer to them as Yorkshire Terriers.”

“Oh, that is clever, Roger,” Cassie said dryly. “A
man from Yorkshire who breeds a new type of terrier
calls the breed Yorkshire Terrier. Very clever.”

“What can I say?” He gave a small shrug and bent,
allowing Romeo to jump to the floor. The terrier
dashed to the door and back toward the garden again,
looking expectantly for his mistress and the visitor to
follow.

“Romeo wants to go for a run,” Cassie announced.
“Shall we move to the rear gardens?”

“I’m afraid I cannot join you,” Lorna said, briefly
saddened. Then her tone lightened. “Thomas Wentworth will be arriving shortly. We’re going for a
drive this afternoon and we’re expected to meet with
Belinda and Jeffrey. I must start my toilette. A pleasure
to make your acquaintance, Mr. Shelby” With that she
left.

Romeo led Cassie and Roger away from the back
of the house. Once they moved past the fountain, the
canine dashed headlong for the back lawn.

Roger waited until they were a respectable distance from the house so they could not be overheard.
“Now, would you mind telling me what is wrong?
You look positively dreadful.”

Knowing Roger could see her misery through her happy facade reduced Cassie to tears. As they continued to walk, Roger placed his arm around her
shoulders for comfort.

“Dear Roger, if you only knew.” She pulled out
her handkerchief and sobbed.

“I’m listening. Do start from the beginning and tell
me everything.”

Cassie began the tale with her engagement to Edward. Then how the difficulties she had to endure
with Julian Stewart had unexpectedly blossomed
into love after Edward’s presumed death. Last night,
she and Julian had decided to marry.

Last night, she had retired knowing her happiest
days were those to come. When she woke, her dreams
with Julian had vanished with Edward’s unexpected
return.

They had settled on a bench shaded by a rosecovered arbor. Roger held Cassie’s hand in his.

“You are in love with the squire, aren’t you?”

Cassie nodded while crying into her handkerchief.
She blotted her eyes and sniffed in preparation to
speak. “I must marry Edward. If I don’t, I lose everything. Papa saw to that”

“Then your cousin Robert would inherit Hedgeway Park, wouldn’t he? He already has your father’s
title and all of its holdings. I can’t imagine why your
father would do that to you”

“It was his dearest wish that our families be connected,” she stated firmly. “Only he isn’t here to see how unhappy I am. I’m sure he would understand if
he were still alive.”

“What are you going to do?”

Cassie blinked up at him. “I will marry Edward.”
This started a second flood of tears. “I’m sorry to be
such a watering pot, Roger.”

He pulled Cassie toward him and wrapped his
arms around her. “I’m sorry to hear of your misfortune, my darling.” In the motion of a mother comforting a child, he rocked her from side to side. “You
know I would do anything to help.” He held her away
from him. “Shall I whisk you away from here and
save you by marrying you myself? You know I would
do that”

“That’s awfully kind of you. If I married you, I
would sit in Shelby Manor and every day look across
the south field and see my beloved Hedgeway Park. It
would be a constant reminder that I’ve lost my family
estate along with everything else.” She dabbed at her
eyes and mustered some composure. “Edward is not a
horrible person, you understand. He is all that is kind
and very amiable.” She looked hopefully into Roger’s
eyes. “He says we can move there after we’re married. So you see, things won’t be all that bad”

“I shall stay in London as long as you need me. I
can come see you every day”

“No. My life’s path has already been decided for
me. There is no use ruining your life as well”
Cassie gave a final sigh. “I should be back at home before the end of the year. I will see you at Christmas perhaps”

“Are you sure?”

“I promise. I will be fine.”

After Roger’s departure, Cassie retreated to her
room. There, in solitude, she tarried for the remainder of the day. She refused her meals and saw no
one. In her saddened state she fell asleep.

Cassie dreamt of Julian, of him holding her close,
of his kisses. She could feel the cool caress of the
night air on her back. She felt his hot breath moving
down the side of her neck.

Cassie drew back from him with a gasp. She turned
to warn her love with a single look. Instead of gazing
into Julian’s eyes, she found herself staring with shock
at the green eyes of Edward, who now held her tight.

Covered in perspiration, Cassie jolted awake,
breathing heavily from the dream and its frightening
conclusion.

The afternoon was nearly at an end by the time Edward headed toward the library with a large leather
pouch in hand. Walking into the room, he unfastened
the protective flap and reached into it, drawing out a
bundle of folded paper.

“These are the purchase agreements” Edward unfolded the thick packet of paper. “I must say we did
quite well. Hefty profits” He glanced at the figures
before he tossed the papers onto the unoccupied desk.

A strange silence filled the air. Edward turned toward the hearth. The back of his brother’s favorite
chair faced him.

“Julian? Julian, are you quite all right?” Edward
peered around the winged-back chair.

Edward’s eyes widened and he gasped at the sight
of his sibling. There he saw the ever immaculate
Julian Stewart sprawled in the seat. His thick, wavy
hair was disheveled. One leg draped over the arm of
the chair. The neck of his shirt gaped open, his shirttails were pulled out of his pants and wadded up in a
bunch.

Julian’s glazed eyes stared into the dancing flames
of the hearth. The ever changing scenery of the log
provided more than enough entertainment in his
present condition.

“Julian? Julian?” Still Edward did not get an
answer.

The squire’s head snapped up from his chest.
“What?”

“Are you ill?”

“Ill? No, not really. Just burning the midnight oil,”
he said toward the fire.

“But it’s two in the afternoon”

“Two you say? And afternoon already?” The squire
blinked as if waking from sleep.

“Julian, are you quite sure you’re not unwell?” Edward regarded his brother with a tilt of his head.

“Nonsense!” Julian straightened as best he could in the chair, allowing his suspended leg to drop to the
floor. “I am quite well, thank you. Just working a bit
later than usual. Someone’s got to keep an eye over
the family business. Someone’s got to be responsible.”
Moving to the side table, he rummaged through his
desk drawers.

“You are behaving most peculiar.” Edward remarked and continued to stare. “What has happened?”

“What’s happened, you ask?” Julian straightened
and faced his brother. “What’s happened? Why, you’ve
returned home safe and sound” He gestured with his
arms open wide and a smile to match. “All is right in
the world!” With that dramatic display at an end, he
frowned, turned back to the desk and continued his
search in the adjacent cabinet.

“All right, I just came to deliver these documents
and tell you of the surprise I’ve arranged for Cass”

“Good gad, Edward! How could you possibly surprise her any more than you have?”

“I’ve found a new mount I think she’ll fancy. Going
to fetch the mare myself. Julian, you will be all right,
won’t you? You do plan on getting some sleep?”

“Sleep? Don’t be absurd. Of course I’ll get some
sleep. Later, later.” Julian heard the words coming
out of his mouth. They slurred, sounding as if he’d
been drinking. “I just have some work to finish up”

Sleep? He did not want to sleep. Closing his eyes,
he saw her. Cassandra. If he dared to fall asleep he’d
no doubt dream of her.

“What are you searching for?” Edward might have
been concerned for his brother but it was difficult for
Julian to tell.

The squire straightened and blinked. He could not
remember. He strode back to the hearth and dropped
back into his comfortable chair.

“Julian, really .. ” Edward sounded seriously fretful at his brother’s bizarre state.

“Leave me alone!” Julian shouted. “You’ve got
everything now. Don’t bother yourself with my doleful welfare.” The squire’s sedate gaze returned to the
grate and settled on the scenery of flickering flames.

It was very early the next morning when Maxwell
presented Edward with a letter. The trace floral scent
wafted to his discriminating nose. A missive from
the fair Victoria Perkins, if the butler was correct.

Edward broke the seal and read the contents. The
message sent a smile across his lips. “Maxwell, have
my horse brought ‘round. I’ve got to dash into town.”
He slapped his hand with the letter, sending waves of
the lavender scent through the air.

Maxwell acknowledged with a respectful nod and,
without a word, saw to the request.

“But a bit of sustenance before I leave” Edward
headed to the breakfast room. After visiting the sideboard no less than three times, the young master was ready to depart. He left the house without a word as
to where, or how long, he would be gone.

Maxwell noted that the squire, who had spent a second night in the library hard at work, occupied the sofa
this morning. One arm dangled onto the floor while the
other lay draped across his chest. One of his legs hung
over the back, the other fell over the arm of the divan.
As of yet, he had not seen the morning rays of the sun.

And Lady Cassandra had not come out from her
room. Nor had Maxwell expected that she would without sufficient motivation.

There was a strong knock on the front door. Opening the door, a young and noticeably nervous Jeffrey
Rutherford stood torturing the brim of his stylish hat.

“I’ve come to call on Miss Stewart,” he announced
in a soft and timid voice.

Maxwell stepped back, pulling the door wider to allow the young man to enter. Mr. Rutherford’s nervous
eyes came to rest on the silent butler, who held out the
salver for his pending action.

The young man fumbled around his coat pockets,
looking for his card. He placed one on the tray and
smiled with confidence.

“Would you care to wait in the front parlor, sir?”

“Why, yes of course”

Maxwell led Mr. Rutherford in the direction of the
yellow front parlor where he sat on the sofa and proceeded to study the room’s decor. Maxwell departed
to deliver the calling card.

Mrs. Upton answered the light rap at Lorna’s
door. Miss Lorna sat at her dressing table checking
each curl and making sure her flawless face was no
less than perfect.

“There is a young man belowstairs for you, miss.”
Maxwell’s words were evenly modulated, his tone
unpretentious.

“Oh! That’s Jeffrey!” Lorna stood in excitement and
raced for the card.

“I’ve put him in the front parlor.” Maxwell’s statuesque posture never wavered while he delivered his
message.

With a dreamy smile, she read the name engraved
on the card. “The Honorable Jeffrey Rutherford.”

Lorna gently placed the card next to her hair brush
and headed for her bonnet which was held by Mrs.
Upton.

“Now, now .. ” The governess pulled the hat out
of reach. “You mustn’t appear too anxious. And you
should make him wait. Just a bit.”

“Pish-tosh! Jeffrey said he would call at three and
it’s just that now,” she snapped, behaving quite missish. “I’ll not have him think I’m a spoiled brat!” She
snatched the bonnet out of Mrs. Upton’s hands. With
a lift of her pert nose, she turned for the door. “Do
you intend to come or shall I go alone?”

“Not as long as there’s a King of England!” the
governess bristled, and promptly followed. “I would
never hear the end of it if the squire found out you were unchaparoned,” she harangued, following her
charge down the corridor.

Mrs. Upton followed Miss Lorna to the parlor. Soon
the sound of clicking nails on the floor announced
Romeo’s arrival.

“You would make a splendid chaperone, wouldn’t
you, Romeo?” she quipped as though Mrs. Upton
were not present.

“Not likely,” the governess grumbled, but not so
quiet that Lorna could not hear.

Mr. Rutherford noticed Miss Lorna and Romeo
appear simultaneously in the doorway of the parlor.
He stood and made an extravagant, sweeping bow.

“Miss Stewart” A nervous smile danced on his face
but his devotion was genuine.

“Shall we be off?” Miss Lorna donned her bonnet.

“At this very moment?” Mrs. Upton balked at the
abruptness of her charge.