The Accidental Countess (20 page)

Monroe looked as if he’d seen a ghost, something Julian was becoming more and more accustomed to when people recognized him. “Swift? By God, it’s you!”

“What’re you doing here?” Julian asked. “I’d sent a note over to your parents’ estate but when I didn’t hear back, I assumed you were in London.”

“I was. I only just came out a couple of days ago. I’m looking for our hostess but apparently she’s otherwise occupied at the moment,” Owen replied.

They turned the corner and walked together into the study. “Yes, well, I’m certain Lady Worthing is around here somewhere. She’ll turn up. Come have a drink. Let’s catch up.”

Julian led the way toward the study where the men of the party had been known to lounge around and drink during the afternoon.

Monroe’s brow furrowed. “Lady Worthing?”

Julian pushed open the door to the study and allowed Monroe to precede him in. “Yes, Lady Worth—”

Upton leaped up from the sofa, directly into their path, cutting off Julian’s words. The man looked as if he was about to spit out his brandy. Julian hadn’t seen Upton move so quickly in his life, and that included when he was being shot at on a battlefield in Spain.

“Monroe. What in the devil’s name are you doing here?” Upton said. His friend Lord Berkeley remained sitting on the sofa reading a book.

Monroe narrowed his eyes on Upton. “Mother and Father sent me over here to see what was going on.”

“Going on?” Julian snorted. “You make it sound as if a house party is sordid, Monroe.”

“Well, I—” Monroe barely got a word out before Upton clapped him on the shoulder.

“I had no idea you came out to the country anymore, Monroe. Thought you preferred the city.”

“Mother asked me to pay a visit. She’s worried about Cass.”

Julian sucked in his breath. “Is Cass here? In the country?”

“That’s what I was hoping to find out,” Monroe replied. “I was just looking for Luc—”

“Monroe. Monroe. There is time for introductions and all of that later. Come sit. Have a drink. This is a party, after all, isn’t it?”

Monroe gave Upton a narrowed-eyed stare, but he took a seat near Berkeley and waited while Upton crossed over to the sideboard and poured him a drink. He took it and downed a healthy swallow. Upton handed Julian a glass of brandy as well.

A drink sounded good after his mad afternoon with his supposed future bride trying to lie to him about her identity—of all the ludicrous things in the world—who in the hell would think that was a good idea? It was beyond idiotic. Thank God he’d had the sense not to shackle himself for life to such a ninny-headed woman. However, despite Penelope’s antics, she had been calm and levelheaded about the end of their engagement. He didn’t know why he’d been so worried about it. She obviously didn’t give a toss about him and never had. She’d barely written to him or spared a thought, most likely, in the last seven years. Finding out that she had been hiding from him had been a surprise. Apparently, she was no more keen on marrying him than he was her. He could almost laugh about it, actually, if it wasn’t all so ridiculous. Instead, he chalked up the entire encounter to a bit of good luck. After his near death on the Continent, he supposed it was high time for a bit of fortune.

He was free. Finally free. Free to do what he chose. And what he chose at the moment was to have a stiff drink or two or three with Upton and Monroe and then to find Patience Bunbury later tonight and finish what they’d started. Patience Bunbury was stunning and from what he could tell last night … quite interested. It didn’t matter that Monroe was here and might know where Cassandra was. No. He refused to ask another question about her. Cassandra was in love with another man. He was going to kiss Patience Bunbury, then he was going to leave for France, in that order.

Julian hefted his glass. “To old friends!” he announced.

Monroe, Upton, and Berkeley lifted their glasses in unison. “Old friends!” they all echoed.

Julian downed a hefty portion of his drink. He settled into his leather chair and eyed Monroe. “So, tell me, how’s your sister?” Damn it. He hadn’t even firmed his resolve to court Patience Bunbury for five minutes before Cassandra stole back into his thoughts. Very well. He’d only ask a question or two. Perhaps find out who she was in love with. Would her brother know?

“I’m not certain,” Monroe replied, taking a sip of his drink. “Mother wrote asking me to come out and see to her.”

Julian furrowed his brow. “I thought you said she wasn’t at your parents’ estate.”

“She’s not. That’s why I’m here.” Monroe turned to Upton. “Have you seen her?”

Upton looked as if he’d just swallowed something entirely disagreeable. “Me? No. Well, I mean I’ve seen her before, obviously, but I—”

Why was Upton acting so bloody nervous? Was it because he was in love with Cass, too? Julian fought the urge to ask them both outright. Were Upton and Cassandra engaged? Hunt hadn’t said that much, but where was she? And what was she doing? Now Julian was worried. Was Cassandra missing? Neither her brother nor Upton appeared to know where she was.

“Your sister hasn’t been at this house party,” Julian said. “That I can assure you.”

Owen looked at Upton. “She isn’t? But Mother said she was with Lucy, and I—”

“You know Lucy and Cassandra. They’ll turn up, eventually,” Upton said. “To reunion! Drink up!”

All three other men lifted their glasses again.

“Lucy?” Julian asked. “As in Lucy Hunt? Derek’s new wife?”

“Yes,” Monroe replied. “She and Cass are thick as thieves, much to the chagrin of my parents.”

Julian raised both brows. “Is that so?”

Upton, looking pale, stood quickly. “Monroe, old chap, perhaps I might speak to you in the corridor for a moment?”

Monroe shrugged. “I suppose.”

Julian settled back in his chair. It was none of his business why they wanted to have a private word. He’d stay and speak to Berkeley. The viscount seemed like a good enough chap. Julian took another drink. Where was Cassandra?

“Old gambling debt,” Upton whispered as Monroe stood, too.

“I hope we find Cass by morning,” Monroe said as the two men started for the door. “Mother and Father will be here by then, and I don’t want to have to explain why she’s not.”

This time Upton looked as if he’d just been struck by lightning.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Garrett swiped a pack of cards from the top of a table near the door on his way out of the study. He allowed Monroe to go ahead of him and followed him out. Thank God, Monroe had agreed to go with him. For one heart-stopping moment, Garrett had been convinced that Monroe was going to ask him what he wanted to talk about. That wouldn’t have been good. Not good at all. Then, he’d mentioned his parents.

Garrett groaned. And this was why it was better to not get involved in any of Lucy’s schemes.

But better to handle one problem at time.

Garrett knew three things about Owen Monroe. The man loved to drink, he loved beautiful women, and he loved to gamble. He’d gamble on anything. In fact, now that Garrett thought about it, Monroe was more the type who could be called a profligate rake—the moniker the smug Miss Lowndes was so quick to pin on Garrett at every turn. He might just point that out to her the next time she mentioned it. If Miss Lowndes wanted to see a profligate rake in action, she need look no further than Owen Monroe. He was a good man, but he did enjoy his vices.

Miss Lowndes was correct about one thing, however, and that was that Garrett enjoyed gambling from time to time as well. And while he wasn’t as avid a player as Monroe was rumored to be, he was a more successful one if those same rumors were true. Monroe played for the fun of it, whereas Garrett always played to win. And this afternoon, Garrett was certain he was going to have to bet high.

“Let’s go in here,” Garrett said, gesturing to a door several paces down the corridor. It opened into a drawing room, an empty drawing room, thank God.

Monroe gave him an inquiring stare but good-naturedly followed him in. They both made their way to the center of the room where Garrett tossed the cards on the table that sat in the middle.

“What are those for?” Monroe asked, arching a brow.

“I’ll get to that in a moment,” Garrett replied. “First I must tell you something. Something you may not like. I need your promise that you won’t leave this room, however, until you hear me out.”

Monroe narrowed his eyes on him. “I don’t like the sound of this, Upton. Not at all.”

“I don’t blame you. Believe me. Your promise?”

“Very well. I’ll hear you out, but depending on what you say, that’s all I’m willing to allow.”

“Fair enough.” Garrett gestured to a chair. “You may want to take a seat.”

“I think I’ll stand.”

“Very well.” Garrett paced in front of the door to the room, his hands behind his back, frantically searching his mind for the best way to explain all of this. If Monroe knew his cousin better, he might explain it all in one word: Lucy. But Monroe didn’t know Lucy very well and that was the problem. This entire escapade would take more than a bit of explanation.

Deciding expediency was the best policy, he began with, “Cassandra is here.”

Monroe’s eyes widened and he turned to face him. “What? Where?”

“She’s been here the entire time. But—”

“Why did Swift say she wasn’t?” A look of suspicion crossed Monroe’s face.

“Because there’s something quite unusual about this house party. Something Swift doesn’t know about.”

“With all due respect, Upton, what the devil are you talking about?”

Garrett sighed and scrubbed his hand through his hair. This wasn’t going to be easy, not easy at all. He spent the better part of the next ten minutes explaining as much about the charade as he thought Monroe needed to know. Understandably, Monroe asked a barrage of questions, and Garrett answered them one by one.

By the time it was over, Owen looked like a shell-shocked soldier on a battlefield, and Garrett was mentally exhausted. Lucy could certainly weave a complicated web when she wanted to. He’d give her that.

“I have just one more question,” Monroe said, staring at Garrett as if he’d completely lost his mind.

“Yes?”

“What in God’s name makes you think I’ll play along with all of this even for a minute?”

Garrett took a deep breath. He knew gamblers. Gamblers couldn’t say no to a bet, at least that was the wager he was willing to lay all his chips on at the moment.

He gestured to the cards scattered across the nearby table.

“I’ll bet you one hand of piquet. If I win, you play along. If you win, you don’t.”

Monroe narrowed his gaze on Garrett and then looked at the cards. He settled his hands on his hips and expelled his breath. “This is ludicrous, Upton, you know that? We’re talking about my sister here.”

Garrett nodded. “I’m certainly not about to argue that point. Ludicrous is an apt word for it.”

Monroe turned to look at the cards. Garrett could see the internal war he was waging reflected on his face. “Damn it, Upton. Deal.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

After rushing from the gold drawing room, Cass had been unable to find Julian. Instead, she’d hurried upstairs to see Pen, who was busily packing her bags, her maid and chaperone at her side.

“I daresay this is the quickest trip to the country I’ve ever made,” Pen said with a laugh.

“You’re leaving?” Cass asked, her mouth a wide O.

Pen waved a hand in the air. “Yes. The coachman says if we get back on the road right away, we should make it home before supper. It won’t be dark for a while yet.”

“How was your talk with Captain Swift?” Cass asked cautiously. Oh, she hated herself for having to pretend as if she didn’t know what had happened.

“It went much better than even I expected,” Pen said with a smile. “We both let each other down quite easily and pleasantly.”

Cass bit her lip and glanced away. “And you’re … all right with that?”

Pen’s smile was bright and genuine. “More than all right. I’m thrilled.”

“You don’t have to leave,” Cass said.

“I know that. I want to leave.”

“Because Patience Bunbury needs you?” Lucy strolled through the door, a catlike smile on her face.

Pen turned to face Lucy with a wide smile on her face. “Something like that. Oh, Your Grace, you won’t think I’m hideously rude rushing off like this, will you? I just … I haven’t felt so free in an age. I can’t wait to return to London.”

“Will you tell your parents that you won’t be getting engaged?” Cass asked, a lump in her throat.

“Yes,” Pen replied. “Captain Swift says he intends to formally tell them but I cannot wait to let everyone know I’m officially free.”

Cass had to smile at her. She would never understand her cousin but Pen and Julian didn’t suit. She’d known that forever.

“Your talk with Captain Swift went well, I take it?” Lucy asked.

Pen nodded. “Yes. Odd that he said he came here to find me. Getting shot must have made him a bit mad. No matter. I’m going back to London. There is a certain gentleman there I have my eye on.”

Lucy laughed. “Then, by all means, go and Godspeed.”

“Are you quite certain you’re all right?” Cass asked. She hadn’t been able to stop biting her bottom lip all day.

“You should be asking Captain Swift, not me. I’m fine. I’m relieved actually.”

“What do you think your parents will say?” The bottom lip remained firmly wedged between Cass’s teeth.

“No harm’s done. There was never an official engagement. No one need claim to have cried off.”

“But people knew you and Ju … Captain Swift were set to marry once he returned,” Cass said.

Penelope shrugged. “I’ll simply say I changed my mind. The heart is fickle, darling, don’t you know?”

Cass swallowed. No, she didn’t know. She didn’t know at all. Her heart had never been fickle.

In the end, Pen and her entourage bundled themselves back into the coach and left in the late afternoon having only stayed at the house a few hours. Cass watched her go with Lucy and Jane at her side.

“Now that was utterly convenient.” Lucy sighed. “There’s no other word for it.”