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‘Believe me, Cassandra,’ he said with feeling, ‘I would never have carried you off if I thought you were prone to the vapours!’
The sound of the wheels changed as the carriage drew off the highway into a flagged courtyard. Guy helped Cassandra down and glanced up at his coachman. ‘You have not seen this lady tonight, Jacques.?
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‘Bien sur, monsieur.’ The man shook the reins and drove the team on round the corner of the house towards the stables.
A sleepy porter opened the door and was swiftly dismissed with an order to send for the count’s valet. ‘You can sleep here,’ Guy pushed open a bedchamber door. ‘It is my room. If you need anything, I will be in the dressing room next door, changing into riding clothes. I will go to an inn tonight as soon as I have spoken to the housekeeper about you.’
‘Yes, of course,’ Cassandra said thankfully, looking at the bed. How wonderful just to climb in and sleep for hours, forget all that had happened tonight.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Cassandra peeled off her long gloves, tossed her reticule onto the bed and began, with difficulty, to unhook her dress.
Nicholas was in the act of untying his neckcloth when the door opened and his mother swept in.
‘Mama? What is wrong?’
‘Read this.’ She thrust a letter into his hand and waited impatiently while he read it.
Nicholas swore, then pulled on his coat again. ‘The little fool! I don’t believe a word of this. Although why she…’ He broke off with a taut smile for his mother. ‘Don’t worry, Mama, go to bed. I will bring her back.’
‘But, Nicholas, whatever did you do to drive her away and into the arms of this Comte de Courcelles, or whatever his name is?’
‘I don’t know, but there is some misunderstanding here,’ he said grimly. ‘I will get precisely what I deserve if she does marry him. Try not to worry, she may be safer than you fear. Guy is not the reprobate he likes to be thought. Or perhaps I am comforting myself. But there is no time for speculation now. I will bring her back.’
As he strode to the door, the Countess called, ‘But how will you find him?’
‘He will have signed the Embassy guest book with his name and direction. I will start there. I cannot believe she intended this madness from the start, therefore they will have to make some preparation.’
He was gone before his mother could respond.
After a considerable time, Cassandra finally managed to free herself from her ball gown and perched on the edge of Guy’s bed, unlacing her shoe ribbons.
She sat wriggling her aching toes, almost too weary to make the effort to roll into bed. Without warning, the quiet of the mansion was shattered by a thunderous knocking at the front door, and the sound of raised voices.
‘Milord! Stop! You cannot… my master is not receiving.’
‘The devil he’s not. Stand aside.’
Heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs. Guy, in his shirt sleeves and breeches, flung open the dividing door from the dressing room.
‘What is happening?’
‘It’s Nicholas,’ she gasped, her mouth dry.
‘Mon Dieu. Events are moving faster than I expected.’ He strode over and put a protective arm around her shoulders as she sat on the bed. ‘Your godmother must have found your letter at once. Your Nicholas, unless I am much mistaken, is out for my blood.’
‘Oh, Guy,’ Cassandra clutched his hand, terrified of what Nicholas would do when he found them like this. She was acutely aware of her bare legs and shoulders, of her flimsy petticoats and Guy’s own half-dressed state.
The chamber door opened with almost maddening slowness to reveal Nicholas, his face taut with anger. Through her fears, Cassandra felt her heart surge with joy at the sight of him. He was here and, for whatever motive, it seemed he cared enough to come after her.
‘A very touching scene,’ Nicholas remarked, eyeing the pair of them as they sat on the edge of the bed.
‘Nicholas, it is not what it seems,’ Cassandra began.
‘That I can well believe,’ he retorted. ‘I suggest you take your arms from around Miss Weston, Count. This farce has gone quite far enough.’
‘I have no intention of leaving the side of my affianced wife,’ Guy said, with some panache. ‘Leave my house immediately, you are distressing Miss Weston.’
