Shackles of Honor (27 page)

“Thank you for allowing me to visit dear Cass. She and I have always been close. This will be a challenge for me…giving her up as I must,” Ellis remarked, gazing at Cassidy tenderly.

“There are far worse ways to give up a sister,” Devonna whispered, a tear trickling down her face. She brushed it from her face with a slow, graceful gesture of her delicate hand.

Cassidy felt an odd shiver travel up her back at Devonna’s utterance. There was something very meaningful in her words that Cassidy could not discern at that moment.

“Indeed, milady. It’s glad I am that I give her over to one such as Mason, for I hear great report of him. I hear also that he is away. I assume he will return before the grand event Saturday next.”

“Mercy! I’m certain he will have us all on our toes, no doubt choosing to arrive at the last possible moment.”

Mathias suddenly appeared from another room, lumbering in, panting delightedly
,
and jumping up to place his front paws firmly on Ellis’
s
stomach.

“A jolly man we have here,” Ellis chuckled, scratching behind the dog’s ears.

“No doubt he’s missing Mason as much as the rest of us. There’s no one to wrestle with him with Mason gone and my husband bedridden,” Devonna said, smiling.

“Well, I’ll give him a good go at it. But first, might I meet Lord Carlisle, milady? Or would another time be better?” Ellis asked.

“I have the strictest of orders to send you up as soon as you arrive, day or night,” Devonna answered.

Almost eerily
,
Havroneck entered the room. “His
l
ordship has heard voices downstairs and begs to know what is about, milady.”

“Well, then…let us tell him! He hates to be left out, the poor boy. Come Ellis, Cassidy. LaMont will be beside himself with curiosity. It’s one of his less virtuous traits.”



Ellis and Lord Carlisle fell into easy conversation
,
and after some time, Cassidy felt as if she were imposing somehow. Therefore, she arose, kissed Lord Carlisle lightly on one brow, as well as her brother, and excusing herself, she left to ramble about the house. Mathias appeared and fell into step at her side.

“You silly dog,” Cassidy whispered, smiling and reaching down to scratch behind one of his black ears. “You miss your master, don’t you, boy?” The dog only continued to pant happily, matching her stride. Cassidy felt some security in the knowledge that Mason’s dog had accepted her.

The clouds had begun to gather in the skies, graying them ominously
,
and Cassidy resigned herself to spending a lonely hour reading in the library as she waited for Lord Carlisle to finish with her brother’s attentions. Somehow, simply knowing that Ellis was in the house gave her great comfort. Still
,
she marveled at the odd sense of loneliness
that
lingered in her bosom.

Upon entering the library, Mathias went directly to the large carpet that lay before the hearth. He nestled himself snugly upon it, stretching his front paws out before him
,
and solemnly placed his head on them.

“A book, a book, a book,” Cassidy mumbled to herself as she stood before one of the walls of grand bookcases packed with marvelous choices of reading. Suddenly, her eyes fell to the word “Poetry” blazoned in fine gold lettering down the spine of one book. As she reached for it, she noted there was quite a collection of poetry books along this particular shelf. Most were of famous authors, others unfamiliar to her. Gently she removed the book
that
first arrested her eyes.
Immediately she noticed a piece of parchment marking a page in the book. Going to the sofa, she sat down and began reading.

’
Tis time I told you true, my love…

The secrets of my heart.

The bold imaginations of

M
y mind’s clandestine chart.

’
Tis time my mouth confesses

The want of yours to taste
,

Your lip’s sublime caresses

Mine own with passion laced.

’
Tis meant you are, forefated…

To warm within my arms
,

To keep the dawn belated

The captive of love’s charms.

And have you, I most surely will,

And every want, desire fill
…

For thus are we two whole.

Cassidy felt her cheeks turning crimson as she read the nearly inappropriate, rather intimate verse, to think someone would put to paper such intimate thoughts. Still, it was fascinating to read such perfectly penned emotion. As she began to turn the pages of the book, searching for another verse, the small bit of parchment slipped from the book and fell to the floor. Retrieving it to return it to its place, her attention was drawn to several handwritten lines.

I put not hand to you, I do not let my eyes linger on you, and I will not weaken toward you. For were I to touch you, to gaze upon your form and feature…I would be no more. Truth is thus—my mouth could quench not its thirst for yours…and who I am would be lost in the blissful sensation of your body near to mine.

Quickly Cassidy looked to the cover of the book to glean from it the name of its author. The name was unfamiliar to Cassidy
,
and she wondered, would her mother approve of her reading such epistles? Still, something in her curiosity, the romance natural in her woman’s heart
,
yearned to read the continuance of the verse quoted in pen on the slip of parchment. But as she carefully searched the remaining pages, she could find nothing to coincide with the handwritten verse.

“Oh, darling,” Ellis sighed heavily as he bent over Cassidy’s shoulders intent on seeing in what she was so engrossed. “Don’t tell me you’re lost in that sap again.”

“It’s not sap, Ellis. It’s someone’s thoughts, innermost heartfelt feelings put to pen and paper,” she scolded, closing the book quickly and returning it to the shelf.

“It’s sap.”

“Oh, Ellis. Haven’t you ever had things in your heart to say…things that…that your mouth couldn’t utter but that your mind could convey through your hand? I refuse to believe you’re as uncaring and insensitive as you’ve always pretended.
Someday a woman will warm your heart, Ellis, and you’ll be as enslaved to her will as I am to
—
”

“Nonsense,” Ellis chuckled. “There’s no such woman on earth who could enslave my heart and mind.”

Cassidy shook her head at her brother’s pompous attitude. “Therein, your determination, will be your greatest undoing
,
brother,” she said, smiling.

“Anyway,” Ellis continued with an obvious change of subject, “I like the old fellow. His resemblance to Mason is rather striking, don’t you think?”

“Yes. Lord Carlisle is wonderful. I believe he accepted me instantly. I even, dare I say it…I even think he has favor in me.”

“Who wouldn’t, darling
?
Who wouldn’t?” Ellis kissed Cassidy affectionately on the forehead and then linked her arm with his own. “Now, take me on a grand tour of your castle, Milady Carlisle.”

“Your ill attempt at wit does not become you, brother,” Cassidy scolded, giggling. “But I will show you Carlisle Manor. We shall begin with the hall of portraits. There happens to be a certain pirate there that you cannot neglect laying eyes upon, especially since you insist upon singing the praises of his virtue.”

“Ah! Do you mean to say there’s an actual history in portrait of the notorious pirate
Carlisle
?”

“Indeed! And it is truly a sight to behold.”



As they stood before the grand portrait of Mason in pirate costume, a broad smile spread across Ellis’
s
face. “I knew I liked the lad. By George, the man had the tenacity to do what he wanted, did he not?”

“Apparently,” Cassidy muttered, awestruck as always by the sheer magnificence of Mason Carlisle’s appearance.

“I mean to say—look, Cass! Look at the gold-hooped earrings at his ears! It is fascinating to see him thus.” Ellis shook his head from side to side, admiringly amused. “He has given them up then—the earrings
,
I mean?”

“Yes,” Cassidy answered plainly. Then, upon reflection, a doubt entered her mind
,
and she added, “At least, I assume that he has.”

“They look valuable. Mayhap he could gift them to you upon your official betrothal.”

“Again, your wit lacks intelligence, Ellis,” Cassidy sighed exasperatedly.

Then, unsettled by a sudden wave of loneliness, Cassidy turned from the portrait of Mason the pirate and looked for the first time at the portrait hanging to the right. At that moment, Cassidy realized on every prior visit she had made to the portrait hall since arriving, her attention had been so obsessed with the pirate portrait
,
she had not viewed several other portraits hanging nearby.

“She is magnificent!” Ellis nearly whispered as he too gazed up at the previously unnoticed portrait of a woman.

“Yes. Her beauty is beyond realism,” Cassidy confirmed.

“Well, surely this is Mason’s mother. There can be no other explanation for the resemblance,” Ellis offered.

“One would assume
. Y
et this young woman is fair-haired
,
and Mason’s mother is dark.”

“But one’s hair often tends to darken with age.”

“Jillian Devonna Carlisle,” Cassidy read aloud from the nameplate on the portrait.

“You see! It is Mason’s mother then,” Ellis confirmed.

“Wouldn’t the inscription read
‘Jillian Devonna
Something
Carlisle
’
?
Wouldn’t her maiden name be included here were it Mason’s mother?” Cassidy asked.

“Hmmm. Yes. Indeed it should,” Ellis confirmed. “You’ve heard no talk of Mason
’s
having a sister then?”

“No. Indeed, I’ve not met any such person or even heard tell of one.” The long silence that followed from Ellis captured Cassidy’s attention after a moment
,
and she turned to see him frowning rather mystified as he gazed on the portrait. “What is it, Ellis?” she asked.

“I’ve the oddest inner sensation, Cass…the sensation that I would have loved this girl,” he muttered.

A shiver traveled down Cassidy’s spine at his words. His gaze was so very sad and intense and his words so very soulful. “You speak so ominously suddenly, brother. Are you up to no good at trying to frighten me again?”

“No,” he said plainly.