Secrets of a Spinster (29 page)

He sighed and sat back a bit. “Yes, it is.” But he didn’t look convinced. “It was considerate of Felicity Wyndham to write Cassandra about it.”

Mary nodded, feeling grateful for one friend of Cassie’s who was not casting her off. “She has always been a sweet girl, without the presumption of her family. She must obey their restrictions, naturally, but she makes every effort she can where Cassie is concerned. I cannot imagine what they must be feeling at this time.”

“What will happen now?” he asked quietly, looking back at Mary. “Will the feelings against Cassie become worse?”

Mary sighed and rubbed at her head. “More than likely. I had hoped that my little scheme might help to smooth over some of those feelings, but now this…” She shook her head. “I’m not even sure I can bear to know.”

Geoff smiled sadly at her. “I know. I’ll do what I can, you know that.”

She returned his smile. “You always do.”

He shrugged one shoulder nonchalantly. “What will you do?” he asked her, turning serious. “Have you made any plans?”

She shook her head and looked towards the doorway. “I’ve been thinking about it all night, and I can’t decide. Part of me wants to rush her off to the country right this minute, and part of me wants to wait and see. But waiting… I’m afraid waiting might make things worse.”

“But you are determined to leave?” he prodded.

She looked back at him. “That was always the plan. Enjoy the season, and then leave for the country. George’s house in Hampshire is available while they tour the continent.”

“That’s not so far away,” he murmured, nodding slowly.

“The more I think about it,” she said on a sigh, “the more I think we should just leave now, as soon as we can. Things are only going to get worse for Cassie, and I have no ties to bind me here.”

“Not even your splendid conquests?” he teased with a grin.

She laughed softly and shook her head. “No, there was never anything serious. I thought perhaps there might have been, but…” She shrugged. “Nothing ever went beyond a surface flirtation.”

He made no comment, which was probably wise, given their history of disagreements on the subject, but she distinctly saw a strange light steal into his blue eyes for a moment.

She cleared her throat. “Not to say I didn’t enjoy myself, because at times I did.”

“I know you did,” he murmured, smiling. “I could see it.”

“But not all the time,” she admitted, feeling the color in her cheeks rise again, remembering all the times she had intentionally spurned him, how he had glowered at her, how they had fought.

“No, no, no,” he scolded, shaking his head at her. “We’ve already discussed this. None of that.”

“I was horrid,” Mary protested, wringing her hands in her lap. “I was the worst sort of creature imaginable. I was vain, and cruel, and frivolous…”

“And I was rude, inconsiderate, and heartless,” he interrupted firmly, looking faintly exasperated with her. “Not to mention immature, inappropriate, disrespectful, disloyal…”

“Stop!” she said with a laugh, covering her ears. “No more, no more.”

He grinned, and sat back.

She removed her hands, and gave him a warning look.

“And I made a complete arse of myself, as Colin would say.”

Mary couldn’t hold back a laugh and clamped a hand over her mouth. Geoff didn’t laugh, but she could see the mirth in his eyes.

“Would he really say that?” she asked when her laugh had subsided.

Geoff snorted. “He did say that.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

“It was very distressing to find that all of my friends were on your side of the matter,” he said with mock-annoyance, smiling a little.

She couldn’t help it; she smiled back. “I’m sorry, Geoff.”

He shook his head and held up a finger. “As I’ve told you, I’m the one who needs to be sorry.”

“Well,” she said, “it’s all behind us now, and all is forgiven.”

“Is it?” he asked, looking at her with concern.

“Of course,” she replied simply.

“It shouldn’t be this easy,” he scolded with a stern look. “I have a lot to make up for.”

She heaved a sigh. “Very well, I begin with reversing your ban on being in the house. We’ll start there.”

He nodded, fighting a smile. “Excellent, I’d hate to think I’m breaking rules by being here.”

“And… you must help me pack up the house.”

He sobered considerably. “Completely?”

She nodded and shrugged. “I see no reason to leave it open at this point. We’re the only ones who use it, and none of my nieces or nephews are old enough to desire to come to London yet. It won’t be good to anybody until then.”

“Yes,” he said slowly, “yes, I suppose you are right. Very well, I will help you, on one condition.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “What condition?”

“Don’t look so suspicious!” he laughed. “I only ask that you give yourself a little bit of time. Cassie will need to be strong before you remove to Hampshire. See how she does, and allow yourself a little bit of amusement. Not quite the extent as before,” he warned, a teasing half-smile on his lips, “but a little.”

Mary pretended to think it over carefully.

“And if you do,” Geoff added, leaning forward, “then I will personally help with your removal to Hampshire and will have my friends assist as well.”

“Even Colin?” she asked dubiously.

He quirked his brows. “Especially Colin.”

“Hmm…” she mused, tapping her chin. “I agree to your condition, upon one of my own.”

He tilted his head in query, but said nothing.

She smiled shyly. “Would you agree to be my escort once more? I need to laugh more, and nobody makes me laugh the way you do.”

The smile that spread across his face would have made the sun seem gloomy, and it made her toes tingle.

“That I can most certainly agree on,” Geoffrey said, holding out his hand.

Mary took it, and shook firmly. “Done.”

“Done. Now, you need to sleep yourself,” he said as he stood and pulled her up.

“Oh, but I…” she tried.

He silenced her with a look. “You are dead on your feet. You need rest.” He pushed her towards the stairs and shooed her up. “Go on, be off with you.”

She started up, then looked back at him. “What are you going to do?”

He grinned and shrugged. “I’m going to rest myself. If I am going to be your escort, and I have to help you pack up the house, I’m going to need all the rest I can get.” He bowed very smartly then turned for the door. “I’ll call on the both of you tomorrow. Let me know if I am needed sooner.”

“And if you are?” she asked, not entirely sure why.

He turned slightly and looked at her in surprise. “Then I’ll come, of course. I am yours to command.” He bowed once more and departed with a smile.

Mary remained on the stair for a moment longer, staring at the door. Then, almost without her noticing, she smiled too.

C
hapter
E
ighteen

“I
don’t want to go.”

“Mary, nobody turns down the Rivertons once they have already accepted.”

“I don’t want to go!”

Geoff growled rather uncharacteristically. “Mary, so help me, if you are not in the carriage in five minutes, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you out myself.”

She looked up at him, her blue eyes narrowing. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

She frowned, then looked towards the door and sighed. “I don’t want to leave her.”

Geoff resisted the urge to sigh himself. They had been arguing over this event for the past two days, mostly because Mary couldn’t make up her mind. One minute she wanted to go, the next she didn’t. They had been over this time and time again, and up until half an hour ago, he thought it was settled. He had arrived to fetch her only to be told that in the middle of getting ready, she had yet again changed her mind. Now he was standing in her private sitting room while she fidgeted and paced around fully dressed, but hair only half done. It actually looked rather becoming, now that he studied it. The top half of her hair had been twisted up and pinned, while the bottom half hung long and loose down her back.

It was actually
very
becoming…

He forced himself to look away and clasped his hands behind his back, just in case he were more tempted than he already was to reach out and touch.

“She’ll be fine,” he reassured her kindly. “She is sleeping better, she ate a full meal today within my view, and I presume she ate others?”

Mary scowled, but nodded. “Yes, she did,” she mumbled as she paced.

He gave her a look. “Then I think we can safely leave her for a few hours. Mrs. Evansdale is here, Winston is here, and I have asked Christian to stop by this evening and read to her.”

That stopped Mary in her tracks. “You did?”

He nodded, unable to stop a smug smile from appearing. “I did. He has plenty of experience reading, you know. Our nieces and nephews beg for it often.”

“Do they?” she asked, her voice ringing with suspicion.

“Would I lie to you?”

“Yes.”

He chuckled and spread his hands out. “I promise you, he really does read well. We thought it would entertain her for a bit. If nothing else, they can play cards.”

Mary chewed her full bottom lip in indecision.

He looked away then as well. Just to be safe.

“Mary?”

Both Geoff and Mary turned to see Cassie in the doorway, looking pale and small, but her eyes were clear and her long hair braided over one shoulder. Her shawl was wrapped around her tightly, though it was a warm evening. Still, she looked a good deal better than she had this morning, which was a good deal better than she had looked the day before.

Cassie stepped further into the room. “Mary, you should go.”

Mary watched her with sad, concerned eyes. “Cassie…”

She shook her head. “I don’t need a nanny. I’ll be fine. Go to the Rivertons. Geoff is right, no one refuses them. It would be in very poor taste.”

Mary stared at her sister for a long moment, her eyes searching her face and expression. Then, at last, she sighed and her shoulders relaxed. “Very well. I’ll go.”

Geoff nearly sighed himself with relief. Not that he was particularly desiring to go dine with the Rivertons, but he did have something to accomplish that would be much easier to do if he were there. And he much preferred to spend an evening with Mary without being reminded of the pall that was on Cassie during this time.

“Shall I prepare a report for you?” Mary asked, a small smile on her lips.

Cassie tried for a weak smile. “That would be lovely.”

“Right,” Geoff said, clapping his hands once. “Fix yourself up, Mary. You have five minutes or it is the shoulder for you.”

Mary glared at him, then spun back into her room, her hair flying behind her.

He grinned and looked over at Cassie, who met his eyes.

“Make her have fun, Geoff,” Cassandra told him softly. “I know she’s thinking of moving us to Hampshire for a while, and being cooped up with me in George’s house will hardly be enjoyable for her.”

Geoff sobered at the thought, and he looked at Cassandra with a newfound appreciation. She was more astute than he had expected her to be. Perhaps a bit of Mary was rubbing off on her sister after all.

“So please,” Cassie continued, “make sure she enjoys herself while she can.”

He smiled and nodded. “That I can do, Cassie.” He went to her and pressed his lips into her forehead, which earned him a smile. “Christian will be here in an hour,” he informed her, patting her hair. “So pick your most disgraceful novel for him to read aloud and scold him soundly if he does not do it justice.”

Another weak smile flickered across Cassie’s face and she nodded, making her way out of the room.

Geoff smiled fondly after her, then turned to leave the room himself. “Four minutes, Mary!”

“Ten!” she hollered.