“Is that an apple tree?”
“And an orange tree, and a lemon tree, and every other tree that youcan think of. They’re labeled,” Caroline explained. “Whoever sent them better have a good plan for how to get them out of here. Poor Davis is beside himself trying to care for all of this, especially when it came with all ofthat.” She gestured crudely to a towering stack of books in the corner. “They arrived this morning, with anote.”
Cassandra sighed.
“You’ve read it.”
“Clearly.” Caroline grinned and then whispered, “Who isS?”
Shivering, teeth chattering, Matthew entered the room and stopped.
“Is this a prank?”
“Matthew!” Caroline rushed to him. “Did we win?”
Matthew stood in front of the fire, crossed his arms, and snapped his gaze to Cassandra.
Caroline’s face fell, and she whispered, “…did we lose?”
Cassandra had to swallow past the knot in her throat as Matthew laughed. Tone as conversational as tea, he asked, “Why don’t you tell her, Cassandra?”
He slicked his hair back from his eyes and waited.
“No?Nowyou don’t want to talk? Fine. Shall we start with some good news?” He clapped his hands as if celebrating. “Cassandra is going to marry Mr. Reeves!”
“Truly? Congratulations! That’s wonderful!” Caroline gushed. Her head swiveled from one sibling to the other and she cautiously asked, “…isn’t it?”
Matthew barked a laugh.
“Isn’t it, Cassandra?” His voice grew bitter. “Isn’t itwonderfulthat you landed a rich husband who is going to solve all our problems? Isn’t itwonderfulto get what you want?” Standing too close to the fire, steam evaporated from his coat. “But let’s not forget about the contest!” Arms up, he turned to Caroline. “Here’s some sensational gossip for you, Caroline! Not only did welosethe contest, we weredisqualifiedbecause Mr. Reeves got into a knife fight after shagging your sister in a storage closet!”
Caroline sprung to her feet. “I should go.”
“Sit down, Caroline!” Matthew shouted.
Caroline sat as quickly as she stood.
“You want to be part of the family? Let’s have a family meeting. You should know that because of your sister, I had to sign a ten year contract with hernew husbandto make weapons for the military! I was only going to do this once, but now it’s my career. People will die because ofme, because ofyou,Cassandra.” He jabbed a finger at her. “You have damned us both.”
“Ten years…?” she whispered, now understanding the pain on Seth’s face when he said the wordslong term. Matthew—who valued life above all else—sneered at her silence.
“Reeves didn’t bother to mention that? I guess you weren’t doing a lot of talking with his tongue down your throat.” He faced Caroline again. “You should also know that our reputation is inshambles.By tomorrow morning, all of London will know that I thrashed Lord Bolderwood’s bastard within an inch of his life after finding him naked in your sister’s bedchamber!”
Caroline squeaked and clasped her hands over her mouth, wide eyes darting between her siblings. Fists clenched, Cassandra grit her teeth. She had really done it if she shockedCaroline. Humiliation burned her face.
She was through with being punished.
Cassandra stood. “You overreacted! If you had given Seth a chance to—”
“Oh, it’sSethnow?! I should have buried him! If he steps within five feet of you I will shoot him with his own rifle! Fordefilingyou—”
“Defiling?! You’re such a hypocrite! You can’t tell me thatyou’rea virgin! Why would it matter what I do with my body? He had alreadyproposed! It wasn’t his fault, I was the one who—”
“Donotfinish that sentence! All of this coming from the champion of propriety! It matters because you’re mybaby sister,Cassandra! It matters because you broke your promise! You lied to my face, repeatedly!Bothof you! And Reeves—damn it, I ought to kill him!” Matthew’s eyes narrowed to slits and his voice lowered to a growl. “If there’s a baby—”
“Ababy?” Caroline’s shrill voice pierced the room.
“There won’t be a baby! He—” Cassandra clamped her hand over her mouth.
