Page 50 of Dare to be Wicked

To his amusement, she looked smug, the little devil.

“I’m glad you approve.”

“Oh, certainly. A goddess always approves such shows of devotion. Didn’t you know?”

Cassius snorted, pulling her against him as he leaned down and kissed her.

“Wretch,” he said affectionately.

“Well,” came a cool voice from the doorway as they leapt apart to see Eliza staring stonily at them. “At least I’m not the last person to know this time.”

With that, she flung the leather portfolio to the floor of the school room and turned and walked away.

Chapter 16

Dearest Eliza,

I am so profoundly sorry. Please, won’t you come out and talk to me?

―Excerpt of a note from Lady Charlotte Adolphus to her sister, Lady Elizabeth Adolphus, slid beneath her bedroom door.

The afternoon of 15th July 1838, Holbrook House, Sussex.

“Come in and sit down, please.”

“But, Mama, I….” Lottie began, frantically searching for a reason to escape as her instincts prickled, telling her that her mother wanted to speak about something very specific.

“Now, please,” the duchess said, her tone brisk and no-nonsense as she opened the door wider and gestured for Lottie to go in.

Lottie’s instincts proved to be spot on as she took a reluctant step inside the room and stopped. Cassius was standing by the fireplace, looking about as awkward as a man could, and Eliza sat in the chair by the fire.

“Now, then.” Mama closed the door and ushered Lottie to the chair opposite her sister. “I think we need to have a little chat, don’t you?”

“Really, Mama,” Eliza said, her most polite expression fixed on her face. “I do not see—”

“Elizabeth Minerva Adolphus, unless you are prepared to speak honestly and openly to me, you may sit there in silence and listen.”

Eliza gaped at her mother, colour burning high on her cheeks.

“Now,” the duchess said, folding her arms. “You may think me a witless old woman, but I assure you I am not. I was young once—and not so very long ago as you may suppose—and I am well aware of all the recklessness and idiocy involved in affairs of the heart.”

“Really, Mama,” Eliza protested, shifting in her seat. “I do not think that I need—”

Her mother sent her an incinerating glance and Eliza snapped her mouth shut.

“This morning, Cassius called on your father,” she continued, addressing Lottie. “And asked for your hand in marriage.”

Lottie gasped, her hand moving to cover her poor heart which was beating erratically now. Her gaze flew to Cassius, who sent her a small smile and then they both glanced at Eliza, who was very carefully not looking at either of them.

“W-What did Papa say?” Lottie ventured.

For a moment her mother’s face softened. “He said yes, of course, you little fool. We have long hoped that Cassius would be a part of our family, only….”

Eliza gave a mirthless snort and they all turned to look at her. She put up her chin, folding her arms and glaring back.

“Quite,” their mother said. “It has come as something of a surprise to all of us, I think, that it is not Eliza he is marrying.”

“I don’t wish to marry him either,” Eliza retorted.