Part 17 (2/2)
”Am I that obvious?” he said tiredly.
Ca.s.sie's ”Yes” clashed with Grey's ”No.”
”I'm glad I can still mystify some people.” Kirkland accepted the cup of steaming tea that Ca.s.sie poured for him. After a deep swallow, he said, ”I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news, Wyndham. I've just learned that your father is critically ill.”
Grey's face paled. ”At Summerhill?”
Kirkland nodded. ”I don't know any details, but ... I'm told his life is despaired of. You might want to reconsider visiting your family as soon as possible.”
”I'll go tomorrow. Can you arrange a carriage?”
”I'll have one here first thing in the morning.”
Grey turned to Ca.s.sie, his gaze stark. ”Will you come with me? I can't manage this on my own.”
She gasped. ”I can't go with you to your family estate!”
Grey caught her hand. ”Please, Ca.s.sie! I need you.”
”If you need support, take Kirkland.” Ca.s.sie shot a burning glance at the other man. Wyndham was supposed to be Kirkland's project, not hers!
”It isn't me he needs, Ca.s.sie. But you've already done more than enough.” Kirkland rose from the table. ”I need to speak with the Powells, so I'll leave the two of you to sort this out.”
”Tactful of Kirkland to let us argue in private,” Ca.s.sie said after the door closed. ”But the answer is the same. Taking your mistress to your family home would be scandalous under any conditions, much less when your father may be dying.” Her mouth tightened. ”Nor will anyone believe a man like you with a woman like me.”
Grey looked blank. ”Why not?”
”Look at us! A gentleman and a washerwoman.” Furiously she stood and yanked on his arm, pulling him to his feet so they could see their reflections in the mirror above the sideboard. Grey was not only strikingly handsome, but in an aristocratic way. Ca.s.sie looked like an aging peasant, not fit to be even his servant. ”Unattractive men with money can easily find a beautiful woman, but handsome men with money don't choose plain, aging women.”
He studied their images in the mirror. ”Strange. I see a fractured man who can barely manage day to day, and a woman with the heart of a lion and more beauty than she allows the world to see.”
She bit her lip, fighting an urge to weep. ”You may believe that, but no one else will look at us as you do.”
Turning from the mirror to her, he said, ”I agree that you can't go as my mistress. That would be most improper. You must go as my fiancee.”
Ca.s.sie thought she was beyond shock, but at that, her jaw dropped. ”I told Kirkland that you weren't mad, but apparently I was wrong!”
He smiled. ”When you're better dressed, no one will question us being together.”
”But there isn't time for new clothing!” she said with exasperation as she thought of her wardrobe. There wasn't a single item suitable for wearing at a n.o.bleman's country estate. The plain dark clothing she kept here in London would have suited a middle-aged widow of modest means. Not a single garment could claim to be fas.h.i.+onable or flattering. ”Old gowns from a rag shop will not turn me into a plausible fiancee and there's time for nothing else.”
Ignoring her comment, he said earnestly, ”You don't have to marry me. Why on earth would you want to? Just pretend to be my intended bride for a week or two until I've come to terms with my family. Then you can end the engagement and return to London.”
”You don't know what you're asking.” She shook her head, her throat tight. ”My family was not of your rank, but I was raised to be a lady. I was a child when that life ended. I've lived as a farm girl, a prisoner, a peddler, a spy, a dozen other things. I would be as out of place at your home as that washerwoman.”
”I don't believe that,” he retorted. ”You have played many roles convincingly, and this one you were born to. It will only be for a few days, a fortnight at most. I hate that you will be uncomfortable, but I know you can do this.”
Perhaps. But the idea of acting as a lady terrified her, and pretending to be Grey's betrothed was even worse. ”The risk is too great for you,” she argued. ”What if I want to become a countess and claim that the betrothal is real? You'd either be stuck with me or caught in a dreadful scandal.”
”You wouldn't do that.” His dark-edged eyes turned thoughtful. ”Though I wouldn't object if you held me to it. I just can't imagine that you'd want to.”
Not want to marry him? Dear G.o.d, even thinking of the possibility muddled her mind. The fact that he still needed her so much that he was willing to obliquely suggest marriage was the wickedest temptation she'd ever known.
But if she took advantage of his present weakness, they'd both regret it. ”It would be so much easier if you'd just trust your family, Grey,” she said, trying to sound calm and reasonable. ”You don't need a stranger at Summerhill at such a difficult time.”
”I don't need a stranger, but I do need you, Ca.s.sie,” he said quietly. ”And you promised not to leave me as long as I need you. I swear I'll never ask anything of you again, but please come with me. You were right that it will be difficult with my father's life in doubt. If ... if the worst happens, a great deal of responsibility will come cras.h.i.+ng down on me. I'm much less likely to break under the strain if you're with me.”
She swore to herself, knowing that it had been a mistake to make such a sweeping promise. But she'd given him her word. Even if she hadn't, she couldn't abandon him now. ”Very well, but I'll need to find some fas.h.i.+onable clothing very quickly.”
A knock sounded on the door of the dining room. ”Is it safe to come in?” Kirkland asked.
”Come in. The golden boy has prevailed again,” Ca.s.sie said tartly. ”I'll go with Wyndham to Summerhill.”
”I'm glad you're willing,” Kirkland said, relieved. ”Tomorrow, not today?”
Grey nodded. ”We need time to get ready. Also, the extra day allows time for a message to be sent to my mother so she'll know I'm coming. She can decide whether or not to tell my father. I wouldn't want to kill him from shock.”
”I'll take care of it,” Kirkland said. ”What else can I do to help?”
”I'll need some more of your clothing.” Grey grimaced. ”Black. Just in case.”
Kirkland nodded. ”What do you need, Ca.s.sie?”
”Can you take me to Kiri Mackenzie's house when you leave?” Ca.s.sie asked. ”She's the most fas.h.i.+onable woman I know, and I'm praying she can render me respectable by tomorrow.”
”Of course. Anything else?”
Grey shook his head. ”I'm going for a long walk so I can think myself into the proper state of mind.”
Ca.s.sie's brow furrowed. ”Shall I go with you?”
His gaze was hooded. ”No, you need a wardrobe and I ... need to be alone.”
That made sense, given that they'd been together day and night since Castle Durand, but it felt strange not to be watching out for Grey. Kirkland, more pragmatic, pulled a sleek little pistol from under his coat and offered it to Grey. ”I trust you remember how to use one of these?”
”I do.” Grey studied the weapon without enthusiasm. ”I suppose I could use this if necessary, but the real purpose is that you'll feel better knowing I'm armed.”
”Exactly right,” Kirkland said. ”I'd also suggest a less expensive coat and hat.”
”Disguising myself even in my native land,” Grey murmured. He gave Ca.s.sie a swift kiss on the cheek. ”Don't worry. I'll be fine.”
She said lightly, ”Can't I worry just a little?”
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