He would likely consider it a lucky escape.
Cassandra could not ignore the sense of disappointment that settled over her upon imagining the lord walking away, never to turn his head back.
She sighed heavily.
Lady Marksworth and the dowager played a quiet game of cards at the table nearby. Cassandra noted the dowager’s glance.
She smiled and said, “I am only tired and think that even so I might have trouble sleeping. I wonder if I might take a glass of wine and retire?”
Lady Marksworth nodded. Before the footman had time to fetch it, the dowager said to him, “Make it Canary, and a large one. That is the most soothing, I find.”
The footman did as he was bid, and quite a full glass of Canary was brought to her. The dowager nodded her approval and Jimmy blushed up to his ears, always pleased and embarrassed when the dowager acknowledged him.
Cassandra suppressed a smile. Every servant in the house had fallen prey to the dowager’s charm and was determined to carry out her instructions to the letter. They were at once in awe of her and fond of her, as she was in the habit of showing her approbation generously.
Cassandra drank the wine rather more quickly than was her usual habit, hoping the effects of it would send her to sleep.
She rose and bid her aunt and the dowager good night.
“Sleep well, my dear,” Lady Marksworth said.
After she’d left the room, Lady Marksworth said, “I do not know what is to come of all of this.”
“Fear nothing, Lady Marksworth,” the dowager said in all confidence. “It is only two people discovering their own hearts. One, my idiot grandson, has discovered it first. Your niece will discover her own in time, though I am very encouraged by how often she looked out the windows this day.”
*
Cassandra did sleepthrough the night, the wine and her own tiredness helping her on her way. She might have woken later than she did, had it not been for the commotion both indoors and out that penetrated the walls of her bedchamber. She could hear May and George barking like mad below her, and noticed that her door was slightly ajar. May had finally discovered how to let herself out.
She slipped out of bed and pulled the curtain aside to discover the reason the dogs so enthusiastically raised the alarm.
It was only ten o’clock, and yet the street was congested with carriages. They were not tradesmen’s carriages, nor carriages for hire, but well turned out private carriages.
Though the branches of a tree blocked some of her view, she could see two things clearly.
Lord Hampton was back on Lord Dalton’s steps, this time ensconced in a chair as if he never intended to leave, and the various occupants of the carriages were pointing and laughing.
They laughed at Lord Hampton, who appeared entirely unconcerned. But they also laughed and pointed at her own house.
Somewhere far below, she heard Racine shouting, “Move along now! There is nothing to see here!”
Cassandra rang for her maid. She must be dressed in all haste.
*
Peggy had helpedher mistress into her clothes with nary a complaint on her choice. Cassandra hurried down the stairs.
She found Racine appearing rather haggard in the front hall. He did not speak to her, but rather, pointed to the drawing room.
Cassandra hurried in and stopped short.
The drawing room was filled with bouquets of red roses. They were in every available vase, bunches were laid on tables, and some even propped up on windowsills. In the middle of it all, the dowager and Lady Marksworth sat at tea.
The dowager, appearing rather gleeful, said, “They are all from my idiot grandson and they all say the same thing—I am sorry. They were left on the doorstep in a pile so high that poor Racine had a time of it getting them all indoors.”
“That accounts for the mayhem out of doors,” Lady Marksworth said. “Racine tells us that some fellow informed him that Lord Hampton camping out across the road was talked of everywhere last evening. It has become some sort of event to rouse oneself and drive by to view the scene.”
“And now half of them have seen all of this on your doorstep!” the dowager said, waving her arm at the roses.
