He ignored her snort, launched himself from the carriage, and bounded after his wife. He caught up to her at the Hall’s front steps. He hardly recognized her. The Cassandra he knew had disappeared again behind a smile even more frightful than the one she’d worn at the Wexfords.
“Shall I prepare us tea?” she asked brightly. “But of course not. Vivianneneedsyou.” She turned out her palms and widened her eyes. “What choice do you have but to go?”
He growled as he grasped her elbow and hustled them both into the Hall.
“Leave us,” he barked at the porter.
The porter and every servant present immediately heeded his command, and the commotion in the courtyard had drawn quite a few to the front-facing windows.
“So”—Cassandra blinked innocently—“you also failed to mention receiving letters from Lady Pennington?”
“Lord, Cassie,” he whispered harshly. “I didn’t know who was sending the letters.”
“Did you think you hadanotheradmirer?”
“They weren’t those kinds of letters.”
Her brows went up. “What kind of letters were they?”
“They suggested Anderson was not to be trusted. They warned me if I did not hire a new steward, unrest would come to the estate.”
“So, let me see…” She tapped the sole of her half boot against the marble floor. “An unsigned letter warned you your steward was not to be trusted and yet you became angry with me this morning when I suggested the same?”
“I wasn’t angry with you. I was uncomfortable because you were getting too close to the truth, and I hadn’t yet decided how to tell you. I hoped the letters were a prank.Anyonecould have sent them. Also, my father held Anderson in the highest esteem. I didn’t want to put the wealth of historical knowledge he possesses at risk. Besides, I owed Anderson…”
She lifted her brow.
“No matter what has happened since, in my youthful folly, I nearly ruined his daughter.”
“I’m so very glad you grew out of your youthful folly,” she quipped, “before you could, say, nearly ruinanother lady’s reputation. Why, you might even have ended upmiserablywed.”
“Cassie,” he grasped her upper arms, “marrying you was the best choice I ever made.”
She closed her eyes, absenting herself in spirit even as he held tight to her person.
I love you. The words clogged his throat, stealing his breath.
But if he said them now, she wouldn’t be able to feel them. She might not even be able to hear them. He let go of her arms and,instead, cradled her cheeks. As he lifted her face, her bonnet once again fell away. Her lids fluttered, leaving him to gaze down at her dampened lashes.
At least her tears indicated she was not as immune to his entreaties as she would have him believe. He touched a lingering kiss against her forehead, silently willing her to understand, to forgive.
“I am sorry, love,” he apologized again. “But I need to find out why Anderson’s mysterious departure would cause Vivienne and Mrs. Grant such distress. I must find out what has been going on…not for her sake, or even for his, but for my own and for the estate.”
“I know.” She exhaled, sounding weary. “Go, Harbury. Go and do whatever you must.”
“Promise me you will be here when I return.”
She lifted her lids. Blankly—mutely—she gazed into his eyes. Every second of her silence thrust another lance deep inside his heart.
Finally, she spoke.
“I will be here when you return.” Her voice was spiritless, carefully even. “You may release me now.”
“Yes.” He dropped his hands. “Yes, of course.”
She turned away.
As he watched her climb the stairs, part of his spirit snapped. He was being torn asunder. His yearning for her had taken such deep root, releasing her had felt like giving up a part of his very body. A bone. Arib.
