Andrea Kane (12 page)

Kassie was startled by Cyril’s sudden turnabout in attitude. “Why … thank you.” She gave him an uncertain smile.

“You are most welcome. But no thanks are necessary, for I speak the truth. You
are
refreshing.” He paused, studying her. He had to be sure. “It is difficult to believe you are very much a married woman. There is an innocence about you that contradicts that fact.”

He waited. Not even the hint of a blush rose upon Kassie’s ivory skin, and no spark of understanding flickered in her aqua eyes. Instead she laughed aloud, twin dimples showing in her cheeks.

“A ceremony does not alter a person so radically, my lord. Nor does a new name. I am as I have always been.”

“Yes. I can see that you are.” Cyril hid his vast relief with the greatest of difficulty. He was more than convinced. Nothing had happened. There was still time to rectify things, to undo a union that should never have occurred.

With that knowledge Cyril flashed Kassie a conciliatory smile and offered her his arm. “Come, Kassandra. I believe that I have been unforgivably rude to you this morning. I can only attribute it to a lack of fresh air. Let me make amends to you and improve my mood at the same time. We shall stroll through the gardens, and I’ll show you the breathtaking grounds of Sherburgh. After all, this is your new home. And I promise that you won’t be disappointed.”

Kassie accepted both Cyril’s apology and his arm with her customary grace and guileless charm. “I would be delighted to learn my way about and to see more of Sherburgh. Thank you, Cyril.” This time she did not falter upon speaking his name.

Cyril beamed his approval and led Kassie out into the sunlit gardens.

Kassie’s heart felt lighter than it had in days, alive with the hope that her new friendship with Cyril was a good sign for the future. Perhaps things would change … for the better.

The sun was directly overhead, signifying midafternoon, but the Grey house was cast in shadows. The drapes were tightly drawn to keep out the bright light, and a musty smell accosted Robert Grey’s nose as he staggered into the hallway, slamming the entranceway door behind him.

“James!” he bellowed, blinking to accustom himself to the darkness. “James Gelding! Where the hell are you?”

Silence.

Muttering under his breath at the incompetence of hired help, Robert headed toward his library … and his brandy. He entered the semidark haven gratefully, kicking the door shut. It was just as well that James was not about. The only assistance Robert needed was awaiting him in a crystal decanter.

He poured the drink with hands that shook so badly, much of the potent liquid was lost upon the rug. Robert hardly noticed. Greedily he gulped down the brandy in three swallows, then poured another. This one he took with him to the large oak desk, for his head was spinning too badly for him to remain standing. He flung himself into the heavy chair and placed the full glass before him.

“You are by far the most wretched creature I have ever seen.”

The clipped, angry voice brought Robert up with a start.

“Who is it?” he demanded, blinking.

“Whom did you expect?” was the venomous response.

Robert swallowed, unnerved despite his inebriated state.

“What d’you want?” He attempted unsuccessfully to rise.

The tall man came to his feet in one abrupt motion. “You know what I want, Grey.”

Robert’s watery eyes dilated slightly as he made out the form of the angry gentleman before him. “It’s too late. She’s already wed t’another.”

His visitor’s eyes flashed. “Do you think I don’t know that, Grey?” His fists clenched. “We had an agreement, you son of a—”

“James!” Robert called frantically, pulling himself to his feet by holding onto the edge of the desk.

“I sent your man away. We are quite alone,” came the taunting reply.

“You had no right—”

“
I
had no right?” The man leaned across the desk and grabbed Robert by the shirtfront. “
You
had no right, Grey. You reneged on our agreement, married your daughter off to another. What did he do, Grey? Offer you more than I did?”

“He
gave
me one hundred thousand pounds!” Robert burst out, his drunken bravado overcoming his fear and making his tongue loose. “And that’s only the beginning! I intend t’be well compensated, not only today, but for the rest of my life!”

The enraged visitor hesitated. “Meaning?”

“Meaning that Braden Sheffield has more money than any other man I know, including you. Money that now belongs t’my beautiful Kassandra as well. And I plan t’enjoy my share of that wealth … beginning today!”

The other man swore and let go of Robert’s shirt abruptly. “And you actually believe that Braden Sheffield will allow this?”

Robert sensed his advantage and smiled smugly. “He doesn’t have t’allow it. He doesn’t even have t’know about it. I will deal with Kassandra alone, away from her new husband. I couldn’t get in t’see her yesterday at the wedding, but I’ll do so today.” He swayed slightly on his feet, then regained his balance. Reaching into his desk drawer, he withdrew a stack of bank notes and thrust them at his adversary. “So you can just take your money and get out, my affluent
friend
,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his words. “No matter what you do t’me, it cannot change what has happened.”

Silently the other man grappled with his emotions, considering the best way to get what he wanted. At length he made a decision.

“This is not over between us, Grey,” he vowed, his voice deadly calm. “You will pay for your betrayal. Not here, not today. But you will pay.
That
I promise you.”

In a savage emphasis of his words he seized the glass from the desk and hurled it against the wall, where it shattered into hundreds of fragments, splattering brandy across the dingy, dark paneling. The echo of the crash was still reverberating through the room when the door slammed shut behind him.

Alone, Robert stared at the wall, watching droplets of dark liquid trickle down to the floor. He shuddered, sickened by the image it conveyed:

An image of blood.

Kassie leaned against the towering oak, smiling wistfully as Percy trotted by, looking adoringly up at his father beside him. Since their arrival at Sherburgh, when Percy was reunited with Hunter, Kassie had slowly reconciled herself to the fact that she was no longer the sole love of her dog’s life. While his loyalty to her had not wavered, he was equally attached to the silky-haired, lean beagle that was his sire.

It was as it should be.

Kassie more than understood her pet’s need to belong, to be loved and cared for by one of his own. It was a need she felt as well. Unfortunately, her need had yet to be satisfied.

She stared out over the vast acres of land that rolled endlessly before her. Sherburgh … a veritable castle that but a fortnight ago had existed only in her dreams.

Now … her new home.

For the remainder of the morning Cyril had been as charming as he had earlier been aloof. Together they had strolled through Sherburgh’s exquisitely sculptured gardens and perfectly manicured lawns. He had pointed out the enormous stables where Braden’s prize Thoroughbreds were kept, and Kassie had memorized every glorious detail she was shown.

Kassie welcomed Cyril’s friendship with all the eagerness of a young and innocent child. To her, acceptance by Cyril made her that much more a part of Braden’s life … of
her
life.

Kassie sighed. Her new life, her new home, her new title. All here.

Except her new husband.

Braden had remained conspicuously absent all day long. A few hours ago, when Kassie had forfeited her pride and inquired as to his whereabouts, she had been advised by Perkins that His Grace had gone to conduct business at the home of William Devon, the Duke of Lamsborough.

Kassie had no idea who the Duke of Lamsborough was, but judging from Perkins’s respectful tone, he was someone of great importance.

Now dusk began to overtake day, extinguishing both the sun’s light and the hope in Kassie’s heart. Apparently Braden had no intention of coming home and no desire to be with her. The realization created a physical pain in Kassie’s chest. Struggling to regain her earlier lightheartedness, she turned back toward the house.

“So here you are, daughter. I had hoped to find you about.”

Kassie spun about in surprise, recoiling instinctively from the disheveled man before her. “Father? What are you doing here?”

He laughed, an unpleasant sound. “What is this? Do I need a reason to visit my own daughter?”

Kassie didn’t reply but searched his face with experienced eyes, sizing up his degree of drunkenness. He appeared to be unusually sober.

Robert took a step toward her, and Kassie blanched with fear. Unfortunately, the grounds were deserted, and there was no assistance in sight. Quickly she glanced behind her, judging the distance between herself and the doors to Sherburgh. The great manor loomed several hundred feet away, close enough for her to attempt.

Seeing her intention, Robert hurriedly changed his tactics. “Please do not hurry off, Kassandra. I want only to apologize and to make amends.”

Kassie paused. The second person today who wanted to make amends. But she was not so naïve as to believe in her father. She knew him too well.

“I do not want your apology, Father. Please just go.” She took a hesitant step backward.

“I am still your father, Kassandra,” Robert reminded her tersely.

“I have a husband now, Father.” She continued to back away. “I do not need anything from you.”

“Maybe
I
need something from
you
.”

Kassie halted in her tracks. “What could you possibly need from me?”

Robert gave her an exasperated look. “Come now, my dear. You have married a very wealthy man. I have seen to that.”

Kassie ignored the blatant insinuation. “And I am quite certain you have been amply compensated for your trouble, Father.”

Robert knew by her words that Kassie had no idea of the enormous sum Braden had paid him. All for the better.

“The duke did settle some of my debts,” he said smoothly. “Unfortunately, there are many others as yet unsettled. I had hoped—”

“You are asking me for more money?” Kassie gasped.

“Merely a token sum.”

“You must think me a total fool, Father.” Kassie was on the verge of tears. “Whatever Braden paid you exceeded the seventy thousand pounds that my
other
suitor offered, else you would never have agreed to alter your arrangements.” She brushed her hand across her eyes in a defiant gesture. She would
not
cry. “Now please leave Sherburgh at once, before my husband finds you here and removes you himself.”

Robert’s control snapped. “Why, you ungrateful little …”

He lunged for her, but not fast enough. Having expected just such an onslaught, Kassie was already in motion, racing toward the house with an unnatural speed born of her fear. She dared not look behind her but continued to run, her breath coming in hard gasps, until she reached the front doors. Wildly she flung them open and hurled herself inside, slamming them closed behind her.

For long moments she stood, her heart beating frantically, staring unseeing at the empty marble hallway. Sanity returned slowly as, with practiced control, Kassie took deep, calming breaths, repeating aloud the words that had accompanied this ritual for as many years as she could remember.

“
You’re safe, Kassie. You’re safe
.”

“Y
OU ARE QUITE SAFE
, Braden.”

Charles closed the stable door and shot Braden a knowing look. “It is close to midnight, and the house appears to be in total darkness. You have exhausted every imaginable excuse to stay away. Wouldn’t you say it is time for you to go home?”

Braden scowled, wishing for once that his friend was not so astute. “I did not fabricate my business meeting with William Devon, Charles. It was scheduled long before I knew I was to be married this week. It was necessary that I attend.”

Charles raised a disbelieving brow. “Really? And was it also necessary for you to personally supervise the evening procedure at the stables?”

“Star was limping a bit after our ride. I merely wanted to check on him.”

“Was he? I hadn’t noticed.” Charles’s eyes twinkled, although he kept his expression impassive. “Neither had your groom, Dobson, who cooled him down for me.”

Braden’s jaw was set stubbornly. “Apparently it wasn’t serious. Still, I wanted to see for myself that he was well. He is often too much of a handful even for Dobson.” The knowing look on Charles’s face infuriated him. Turning on his heel, he strode off toward the house.

Charles fell into step beside him. “You will never be able to live this way, Braden,” he said quietly, all traces of humor having vanished. “It is unnatural and unhealthy for you.”

“For
me,
perhaps.” Braden ceased to pretend that he did not understand Charles’s words. “But what about Kassie?” He shook his head sharply. “No, Charles, I must stick to my resolve.”

“And go mad in the process.”

Braden came to a grinding halt. “What would you have me do? Frighten her? Hurt her?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then what? Go to another woman? I could never do that to Kassie. She understands nothing of a man’s … needs. It would hurt her terribly if she thought I had taken a mistress. Don’t you see? I’m caught in an impossible situation from which there is no escape. Kassie is safe now, from her father’s brutality and from the cruelty of her former life. The irony of it is that in giving Kassie her salvation I have created my own hell.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “But if abstinence is the price of Kassie’s happiness, it is a price I must pay.” Frustrated and troubled, he resumed walking, taking long, angry strides toward his home, his room … and his empty bed.

“For how long?”

The softly spoken question brought Braden to another rapid halt. Charles had asked the very question that had plagued Braden day and night, one that he had been pushing from his mind. How long could he continue this way, wanting Kassie, painfully aware that she was his wife, but not joining his body to hers? Last night had been hell, knowing that legally, rightfully, she belonged to him; that he had only to go to her, to demand his rights, and he could appease the excruciating ache in his loins.