Part 13 (2/2)
”Apparently he set off for Kent in the middle of the night as soon as he received Lady Agnes's message. He provided the clothing as well as the valet,” Grey explained. ”Now where was I?”
He resumed kissing her, and this time sweetness deepened into fire. Her resolve to behave dissolved. She wanted to pull him down into the tropical flowers and rip off those well-tailored garments so they could take advantage of what little time they had left.
”Excuse me if I'm interrupting,” Kirkland's dry voice said. ”I'm glad to see you're undamaged, Ca.s.sandra.”
Ca.s.sie jumped as if she'd been caught in adultery rather than sharing a private, if indiscreet, kiss with her lover, while Grey turned rigid. ”Did my faithful hound track me down?” He bent to ruffle Regine's ears as she bounded from Kirkland's side and began twining between Grey and Ca.s.sie.
”She did, though I wouldn't want to wager what percentage of her is hound.” Kirkland's cool gaze met Ca.s.sie's. ”Shall we adjourn to the sitting area near the entrance so we can relax and discuss what comes next?”
”There's a way to ruin a previously good day,” Grey said with brittle humor. He rested his hand on the back of Ca.s.sie's waist and ushered her toward the sitting area. ”But the sitting part sounds good since I'm fatigued again.”
”You were shot twice yesterday,” Ca.s.sie pointed out. ”You are ent.i.tled to take things slowly for a while. If Lady Agnes summoned a surgeon, he probably told you to spend several days in bed.”
”Indeed he did, the tiresome fellow. I ignored him, of course. How can one rebuild one's strength without exercise?”
”I see your natural disdain for authority hasn't changed,” Kirkland observed.
”Disdain for authority is the bedrock of my character.” They reached the sitting area set among the palms and cascading blossoms. Grey folded into the loveseat, tugging Ca.s.sie down beside him.
When she was settled, he took firm hold of her hand, lacing his fingers between hers. She wasn't sure whether to be pleased or irritated at his blatant proclamation that they were lovers. Not that it mattered, since Kirkland had already figured it out.
Grey's tenseness made Ca.s.sie uneasy. He'd been fine until Kirkland appeared. Was he angry with his old friend? Or uncomfortable with everyone but her?
Willing to delay the discussion about his future, Ca.s.sie said, ”This conservatory was a magnificent gift. Ashton must have enjoyed his years here.”
”He did. We all did. Lady Agnes does more than teach Latin, rhetoric, and mathematics,” Kirkland said. ”She helps boys fit into their lives.”
That was a gift far beyond the ability to conjugate Latin verbs. Ca.s.sie wondered how Kirkland had ended up at Westerfield. She didn't know the reason even though she'd worked closely with him for years. Kirkland's reserve didn't encourage questions.
The other man continued, ”Wyndham, have you changed your mind and decided to go to Summerhill right away?”
”I have not,” Grey snapped. ”I have no idea how long it will take to screw my courage up. At the least, weeks. Perhaps months.”
Ca.s.sie stared at him. ”You want to delay seeing your family for that long?” She'd give anything to be with her family again for a single hour. ”I thought you got on well with them.”
”I do,” he said starkly. ”But I don't want to return to Summerhill until I'm more like the Greydon Sommers they remember.”
She understood his reluctance, though she suspected his mother would want him back right now no matter what condition he was in. Seeing his agitation, she kept her voice neutral as she asked, ”Have you any plans for how to make that happen?”
”None at all.” His hand tightened on Ca.s.sie's. ”But I will manage. In time.”
”Do you want to stay in a quiet country cottage somewhere until you get used to England again?” Kirkland frowned as he sought a solution.
Grey gave a twisted smile. ”Sounds delightful, but I'd probably never leave. Maybe I should stay here at Westerfield? I don't think Lady Agnes would mind.”
”She would love it,” Kirkland said, ”but you'd run the risk of being seen and identified before you're ready. Do you think you could stand London? My house is comfortable and you'd be more than welcome.”
Grey shook his head. ”Kirkland House is in a fas.h.i.+onable neighborhood. Every time I went outside, I'd run the risk of being identified by my mother's second cousin or my G.o.dfather or someone else who has known me since I was in the cradle.”
”That would be true anywhere in Mayfair,” the other man agreed. ”I imagine you don't want to be cooped up in a house.”
”Or anywhere ever again,” Grey said, his voice edged.
His words gave Ca.s.sie an insight as to why he was so skittish about returning to his own world. As heir to an earldom, he'd have wealth and a great deal of freedom, but he'd also be trapped in a gilded cage of responsibilities and expectations. When he was younger, he hadn't recognized the bars.
If he couldn't face an immediate return to his family, what would be a good alternative? ”You might be better off in London, but living anonymously. You can become accustomed to people while having a safe retreat whenever you need quiet. No one will flutter anxiously outside your door if you go to ground. When you're ready, old friends can come by one at a time.”
”Exeter Street,” Kirkland said instantly. ”That's brilliant, Ca.s.sie. The house was designed to be a sanctuary, and that's exactly what is needed.”
”What is Exeter Street?” Grey asked warily.
”The location of a house Kirkland owns near Covent Garden. It's a boardinghouse for his agents when they're in London,” Ca.s.sie explained. ”It's the closest I have to a home. The neighborhood is busy but not fas.h.i.+onable, so you're unlikely to meet anyone from your former social circles.”
Grey exhaled with relief. ”Perfect, if you'll be there.”
She bit her lip, thinking it would be wiser to disappear now that Grey had been delivered to Kirkland. He needed to manage without her-and she needed to consign him to the past so she could continue her work without distracted thoughts about pa.s.sionate nights. It was most unfair that he was so meltingly attractive!
But apparently it wasn't yet time for her to move on. And she wouldn't mind a little more time with him. Not at all. ”I'll be at Exeter Street for a fortnight or so.”
Grey relaxed. ”Good. I'm used to having you around.” Releasing her hand, he got to his feet. ”I'm tiring far too fast today, but tomorrow I should be fit for the trip up to London. Are you going upstairs now, Ca.s.sie?”
Before she could respond, Kirkland said, ”If you have a few minutes, Ca.s.sie, I have some questions about what you learned in Paris before going to Castle Durand.”
Such sessions were normal after a mission, though this time the questions would be more complicated. ”Of course. I have a message from one of your agents in Paris.”
”I'll see you later, then,” Grey said with a touch of acid. ”Feel free to talk about me. I know you will as soon as I'm out of earshot.”
Kirkland looked uncomfortable, but Ca.s.sie said tartly, ”Of course we'll talk about you. You're so utterly fascinating.”
”More of a nuisance than fascinating.” His smile was twisted. ”You would have been wiser to have left me to rot in France.”
Chapter 25.
Grey stalked off, Regine on his heels, leaving Ca.s.sie shaken. Kirkland looked equally uncomfortable.
When Grey was safely out of earshot, she said in her driest voice, ”Leaving him in France wouldn't have been wiser, but he's right that we're going to talk about him.”
”Of course we are. He's the reason we're both here.” Kirkland leaned forward, his expression worried. ”Can you tell me more about his ... his mental state?”
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