A False Proposal Page 5

  “Indeed. I saw you dancing together. Be careful there, friend. I’d hate to have to call you out.” Jack tossed back the rest of his drink and stood.

  From Jack’s expression, Adam could see he was only half kidding. A sister’s reputation was a precious thing, especially in Cass’s case. She’d barely weathered one scandal. Another would kill any chance of a decent marriage for her. Adam realized he’d better quash his attraction to the girl, before he got himself into trouble with the very person he needed to help him attain his goal.

  “No worries there. I have the utmost respect for Cass.” He pushed his chair back and got to his feet. “To be clear, I inherited money from my grandparents. I am not without resources. And Deborah has considerable funds of her own. I need your backing, which may entail a few trips to Surrey, but I don’t anticipate needing your blunt unless something unanticipated arises.”

  Jack looked amused. “As you say. I’ll get the letter off to Sir William this afternoon.”

  The two men claimed hats, gloves, and walking sticks and strolled toward the street to wait for their conveyances to be brought round. “Mother and I are hosting a house party at her country home,” Adam said. “She’s sending the invitations today.”

  “Ah,” Jack said. “We shall look forward to it.”

  Adam noted the confusion on his friend’s face, and the merest hint of hesitation in his voice. “We’ve invited Miss Farrington as well. No need to worry about that.”

  “Well, in that case, I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be. You have my support, Adam,” Jack said, gripping his friend’s hand. “I’ll help in any way I can.”

  Adam gave a decisive nod. “Thank you. You won’t regret it.”

  Chapter Six

  Cass stood nervously looking around the Grey drawing room, secretly studying the other guests. Secretly studying Adam, to be perfectly honest. She, Jack, and Louisa had been escorted upstairs by a footman, where Adam and his family awaited them. Jenny and her mother and father entered the room shortly thereafter. Cass was shocked to find Hugh there, but politely offered her hand. Also present were the Incomparable, Elizabeth Morgan, and her mother. Cass had felt painfully drab and old when she was introduced to them. Elizabeth in her virginal pastel, she in her spinster colors.

  What made her feel even worse was that, other than an obligatory greeting when he shook her hand, Adam had made no attempt to talk to her. She had to force herself not to stare at him, because from the moment she’d entered the room and clapped eyes on him, she realized with stunning clarity that he was the handsomest man she’d ever seen. He was wearing tight black pantaloons, which buttoned at the ankle, and a corbeau coat with covered buttons. His waistcoat was of pale green silk. Fortunately, her attention was diverted by Adam’s mother, who had made her way unobtrusively to Cass’s side.

  “Cassandra, how good it is to see you out in society again,” she said.

  Cass considered the older woman, trying to judge the sincerity of the remark. In the years when they’d been summer neighbors, no one in Cass’s family had seen much of Deborah, although Cass knew Adam had a great attachment to her. She hadn’t attended the balls or assemblies, according to Lady Linford; nor had she made calls. As a result, the other families who might have been in a position to do so did not call upon her. To Cass’s recollection, she’d only met Deborah once or twice during her childhood, and certainly hadn’t seen her since.

  “Thank you, ma’am. You have a lovely home.”

  “It belongs to Adam and Hugh’s father. He has allowed me to live here these past ten years and decorate as I wish.”

  So she referred to Benjamin Grey as “Adam and Hugh’s father,” rather than as her husband. Well, Cass supposed that made sense. Especially if the man was the “devil incarnate,” as Adam had confided to her at the ball.

  “Tell me what occupies you these days, my dear.”

  Before answering, Cass studied Deborah’s face. Adam resembled his mother. Although slightly faded and showing some gray, her hair had obviously once been the same rich gold as his. And her eyes were a brilliant blue. Cass couldn’t find in their depths anything foreboding. “I spend most of my time tutoring my sister, Philippa. She is without a governess at present.”

  “Oh, quite a challenge for you, I’m sure,” Deborah said merrily. “I’d nearly forgotten you had a younger sibling.”

  The entry of the remaining guests distracted them. “Pardon me, dear. I must perform my hostess duties,” Deborah said with a chuckle and a roll of her bright eyes.

  Cass’s jaw dropped when she caught sight of Lady Leonora entering the room. She took a step backward, and then another, hardly aware she was doing it.

  “You’re going to bump into me if you don’t stop,” Jenny said under her breath. “What is she doing here, I wonder?”

  Cass stopped in her tracks and whispered over her shoulder. “Didn’t you know? She’s always fancied Adam.” She couldn’t express what she really thought, which was that Deborah, and possibly Adam, too, had singled Leonora out as the hostess-cum-wife every politician needed. At the ball, Adam had fervently denied any interest in her when she’d waltzed past. They may simply be courting her for her money. It all amounted to the same thing, didn’t it? Surely Leonora wouldn’t give of her money unless she got Adam, too.

  Cass’s spirits plummeted even further, if that was possible.

  …

  Lord, Adam wished he didn’t have to play host. He wanted nothing more than to corner Cassie and spend the evening with her. Clearly, that was not going to happen. Nor would it be a good idea. If he repeated that to himself often enough, maybe he could quit thinking about her so damn much.

  She was wearing an evening dress of apricot crepe cut low across her breasts. Tendrils of hair hung loose about her neck. Had they escaped from the knot at the top of her head, or had her hair been artfully arranged? Adam felt a stirring in his loins and was grateful for black evening pantaloons. Given the frequency with which they’d been in each other’s company of late, he was spending a good deal of time feeling…stirred. And more alive than he’d felt in years.

  Oh, God, here was Leonora. Wearing a gown of vermillion, with plenty of décolletage showing, she was a stunner, no doubt about it. With her raven hair, the deeper colors suited her best, and she knew it. All self-assurance and beauty, she dominated the room. He approached, and when she offered her hand, he brushed a kiss lightly across it, hating himself for doing it, especially with Cass watching.

  “Lady Leonora. So happy you could join us.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

  Was he obligated to escort her into dinner, since she was the highest-ranking woman present? Or would Jack have the honor? He wanted to escort Cassie, if he could possibly maneuver his way over to her. By the expression on her face, he could see she’d been appalled when Leonora made her grand entrance. It might be wiser to avoid Cass right now, as he did not wish to be on the receiving end of one of her stinging remarks. Coward, his inner voice taunted.

  Deborah, to his relief, was organizing the pairings. Jack was, indeed, escorting Leonora. His mother meant for him to pair with Jenny, but he decided instead to come to Jack’s rescue. “Give your arm to your lovely fiancée,” he said. “Lady Leonora, may I have the pleasure?” She smiled and immediately removed her hand from Jack’s sleeve and placed it on his own. Before leading the procession downstairs, Adam risked a quick glance back. His mother’s friend and admirer, Frederick Cochran, was walking alongside Deborah and the Morgan ladies, and Jenny’s parents were arm and arm. Hugh, to Adam’s dismay, was escorting Cassie. She met Adam’s glance boldly but briefly, and then turned to his brother, who was leaning down to whisper something in her ear.

  Damn him to hell!

  …

  Deborah had said Adam’s father allowed her to decorate the townhome. Obviously, he hadn’t worried about expense. Either that, or she was wealthy in her own right. The dining room was splendid.
A gleaming mahogany table dominated the room, with chairs upholstered in striped silk at each place. One wall displayed landscapes, another, what Cass assumed were family portraits.

  Adam, flanked by Miss Morgan and Leonora, held court at one end of the table; Deborah at the other. And there sat Cass, stranded in the middle, Hugh on one side and Jenny’s father on the other. Good heavens, how was she to get through the lengthy meal trying to converse with those two? Not that she disliked Jenny’s parent, but he never had much to say to her. She had no notion if this was because she was a female, and therefore he thought her unable to speak intelligently, or if he was simply a reserved gentleman.

  At least Cass now comprehended her lack of consequence in Adam’s eyes. It couldn’t have been plainer if he’d had one of the footmen announce it as they entered the room: The insignificant Miss Linford will be seated between a debauched rakehell and an insipid elderly man, whilst Lady Leonora and Miss Morgan will enjoy the company of their attractive, and most eligible, host. A wrenching hurt settled somewhere in her chest, and she decided to make no effort at conversation. Let them try to engage her.

  She cast a surreptitious glance at Hugh, the brother Adam so despised. On the way downstairs he’d been whispering some nonsensical joke in her ear, which she could barely hear, let alone comprehend.

  Her contemplation of Hugh ended when Adam rose. “I have an announcement to make. A few of you already know what I’m about to say. I’ve decided to stand for Parliament, as one of the Members from Haslemere, down in Surrey. My good friend, Viscount Linford, has agreed to use his influence to help me achieve that goal. Jack, I’ll try my best never to cause you to regret your decision.” He paused until the laughter died down.

  Cass was taken aback. When had this all been agreed upon? Why hadn’t Jack told her? The hurt in her chest notched up a level.

  Frederick Cochran raised his glass. “To Viscount Linford.” Obligingly, they all drank. “And to Adam for having the gumption to join the fray!”

  Leonora said, “And which party do you ally yourself with, Mr. Grey?”

  Adam took his seat. “To answer your question, Lady Leonora, I’m more inclined to be Tory, but of the liberal sort. I am hoping, perhaps naively, to remain an independent man.”

  When had Jack and Adam formed their little men’s club? Cass wondered. Both of them knew she had a keen interest in politics, yet neither had bothered to tell her any of this, to seek her opinion or ideas. It proved what she’d feared. She was on the shelf in more ways than one. She’d become irrelevant. Of course, she hadn’t exactly been encouraging when Adam first mentioned his interest in standing for Commons. Jack controlled one of the seats, but Cass knew he was well satisfied with Richard Halliwell, the current member. Sir William Broxton, a baronet who resided in the district, owned the other seat. If her recollection was accurate, his man had been serving a long time.

  Cass was aware of her own voice, although she certainly hadn’t intended to speak. “Tell us, Mr. Grey, do you favor female education? Or do you believe women must tend to home and hearth…oh, and keep their tongues?”

  A few titters sprang up, and Jenny’s father harrumphed beside her. “No need to educate our girls. Reading and writing, that’s all they need to know.” Though his own daughters had been well educated, tutored right alongside their brothers.

  Adam looked nonplussed. “I have some thoughts on that, of course, but come, let’s enjoy our meal and save politics for later.” When his eyes remained fixed on her, Cass knew he could not have missed the obvious reference to the hurtful comments he’d made at Linford House. Although she tried to hold his gaze, she was first to drop her eyes.

  The meal, served a la russe, proceeded. Cass remained determined to eat in self-imposed silence. She sipped distractedly at her turtle soup, because her mind was anything but silent. Straining to hear the conversation between Adam and Leonora, she nearly missed Hugh’s question.

  “May I ask, Miss Linford, why a lady so lovely and charming as yourself is as yet unmarried?”

  You may ask, and I may choose not to answer. Was that forever to be the first question on the mind of any new acquaintance she formed? Fleetingly, it occurred to Cass that he might be having her on. He may well know what happened. On the other hand, Adam hadn’t known. But he’d been at war and traveling, whereas Hugh had merely been living in the country. Oh, what difference did it make? It wasn’t as if she was going to blurt out the whole sordid business right now.

  “After my parents died, I took on the responsibility of educating my younger sister. Philippa is only ten.”

  “The child does not have a governess?”

  “Not at present.”

  “Do you enjoy acting as a tutor? Does it not prevent you from doing other things young ladies take pleasure in? Shopping? Riding in the park, and the like?”

  “You forget, sir, that I’m no longer a young lady. I have done my share of those things.”

  “Ah. So serious you are. And so elderly. We must find you a companion…or even a nurse.”

  Cass couldn’t help smiling. “A very lowering thought. I may go into a decline at any moment.” She didn’t care to be the object of his attentions. It was time to cast the spotlight on him. “You live in Surrey most of the year, I collect. What do you do there?”

  As Hugh began to speak, she glanced toward Adam. Leonora was talking, Miss Morgan was giggling—actually, it sounded more like a cackle—but Adam was staring pointedly at her and Hugh, his expression one of barely concealed fury. She darted her eyes away, wishing she could get inside that head of his.

  …

  After an interminable dinner, Deborah rose, the signal that the men would now be left to their port while the ladies adjourned to the drawing room. Gratefully, Cass followed. Never had she been so happy to leave a table, although Hugh had turned out to be a better companion than she’d anticipated. Adam’s attentions to his dining partners in full view of her were grating on her nerves by the end of the meal, though, and she had no idea what that furious glare had signified.

  Too distracted when she first arrived, Cass had barely noticed the drawing room. It was lovely. Deep blue antique drapery, in the classical style that was fashionable among the ton, drew her eye. The color was stunning. A fire burned in the grate, and window embrasures opened up the room on both ends. Of course, the requisite pianoforte stood near the center of the room, and card tables were scattered about, as well as many chairs. Framed Etruscan engravings adorned one wall.

  Jenny hurried to Cass’s side and tugged on her arm, and she soon found herself huddling with the other girl near one of the windows. “Well?” Jenny demanded.

  “Well what?”

  “What’s he like? Adam’s mysterious, scary-looking brother?”

  Cass laughed. “Oh, Jenny, he was quite pleasant and not at all scary.”

  “You have to admit he has a certain aura about him. What did he talk about?”

  “He told me about their home in Surrey. Sadly, it’s falling to rack and ruin. It sounds pretty dire.”

  “But I thought they were wealthy.”

  Cass shrugged. “He did not elaborate on the reasons.”

  Just then, Deborah sought their attention. “Ladies, in a few days’ time, you will all be receiving invitations to a house party at my country home in Surrey, hosted by Adam and me. We do hope you will be able to join us.”

  Cass and Jenny stared at each other. Were they being invited to the home that was falling apart, according to Hugh? And everyone knew Deborah and Benjamin Grey were estranged.

  Their hostess laughed. “Don’t everyone look so shocked. You are invited to my personal home, which I inherited from my parents some years ago. Do please say you will come, or I shall be quite blue-deviled!”

  Talk and laughter broke out among all the ladies. Cass couldn’t help wondering if Deborah meant to invite her. She hoped not. Now that Adam had made clear where she ranked in his affections, she couldn’t see any reason tha
t he would have asked his mother to include her. Apparently Cousin Louisa couldn’t either, because she walked over to lecture Cass about it.

  “I feel certain the invitation does not extend to us,” the older woman began. “But even if it does, we shall politely decline. You cannot spare the time away from Philippa, Cassandra. But it should be delightful for you and Jack, dear Jenny.”

  Cass clamped her mouth shut on her anger, while Jenny looked embarrassed and could only manage a weak smile.

  Someone was playing Mozart at the pianoforte. Cass’s thoughts were in a muddle, and she fought against irritation with her cousin. Even though mere moments ago she’d convinced herself that she did not wish to be included, something about Louisa’s high-handed dismissal of the whole idea rankled. What right did she have to assert that Cass could not spend any time away from her sister? She’d looked after Philippa on her own for a few years now, dutifully tutoring her in academic subjects, as well as teaching her embroidery and watercolors. Yes, she’d left instruction on the pianoforte to a master, but that was only because Cass herself had never been very proficient. Now that she was re-entering society, surely she had the right to make decisions for herself. On the other hand… she didn’t particularly want to go. Not really. In all likelihood, the house party was planned by Deborah as a bride bazaar for Adam. She wouldn’t fit in, and besides, it was simply easier to remain ensconced in the safe, protected environment she’d carved out for herself. She simply could not risk further heartbreak.

  The butler carried the tea tray into the room, and the men followed in his wake. Instead of their usual high spirits, however, they were unnaturally quiet. The ladies, too, stopped talking, as if sensing something was wrong. Adam and Jack held a whispered conference, and then Adam stepped forward and said, “I bring you bad news. We’ve been informed that Prime Minister Perceval has been assassinated.”

  There was a stunned silence. Mrs. Morgan, the Incomparable’s mother, swooned and had to be carried off to one of the couches. Cass trembled with the shock. Even though she didn’t particularly admire the man, she knew he had a wife and several children. “How?” she asked, breaking the silence.