The Visitor (30 page)

Lizzy could only stare up at him. She was completely motionless when he bent a little further and brushed her lips with his own. A moment later he let go of her hands. Henry was returning with the letter for Cassandra. Morland bid them both goodbye and went on his way. Lizzy didn’t remember taking a breath for the rest of the day.

Chapter Fourteen

The coach’s speed began to decline, but at first Cassandra didn’t notice. She had been dozing, not wanting to think about what she was doing, but when it began to bounce to a stop, she sat up and put her head out.

“Is there trouble?”

“No, Miss Steele,” their faithful coachman, Bernard, said. “You have a visitor.”

Only then did Cassandra see a horseman dismounting and coming toward her.

“Morland!” she exclaimed in shock and surprise. “Is everything all right?”

“At home? Yes,” Morland answered as he pulled himself inside and put his fist to the roof to send them on their way. “In this coach, I’m not so sure.”

Cassandra’s personal maid had gone up on top when Morland climbed in, but Cassandra almost wished for her presence. She had started this and would finish it, but Morland’s appearance made her doubt.

“Did Lizzy and Henry send you?”

“No. I offered to catch up with you and make sure you arrived safely at your sister’s.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I did, Cassie. Lizzy is very distressed, and you must know I can’t stand to see that.”

Cassandra nodded. She felt so selfish, but she didn’t know what else to do. She closed her eyes against the image of Tate’s face looking at her with disappointment and surprise. Her stomach rolled at the thought.

“Did he ever tell you he loves you?” Morland came right out and asked, breaking into her tortured thoughts.

“No.”

“Did you tell him you love him?”

“No.”

“So your fear of rejection is great.”

“Very great. I never thought myself so weak, but I am.” Cassandra took a breath. “He’ll return to London, and when he does, Lizzy will send for me and I’ll go on as before.”

“I’m going to marry Lizzy someday, Cassie. She won’t be at Newcomb forever.”

“But I’m happy there with Henry,” Cassandra reasoned. “He and I will do well together. I won’t pine for someone of my own.”

His look was so skeptical that Cassandra lost all patience.

“What am I to do, Morland? He’s never seen me! I think he might very well be in love, but it’s not with me. It’s with the woman he imagines me to be!”

Morland easily read the pain and frustration in her face and eyes, and his heart turned over. Hadn’t he known that very pain when he returned and Lizzy was as she’d always been, distant and uncertain around him? Even knowing how she felt didn’t instantly change everything.

“Are you angry with me?” Cassandra asked when he remained silent.

“I’m not, Cassie, and I didn’t catch up with your coach so I could dissuade you. I’ve come to see that you arrive safely at Charlotte’s. That is all. Oh!” Morland remembered the letter. “Henry sent you this.”

Cassandra took the missive from his outstretched hand but knew she couldn’t read it right then. Her satchel was nearby, and she tucked it in there.

Morland watched her and was again reminded of how close this action was to desperation. He thought to change the subject by asking her about the book in her hand, but tears came to her eyes when she answered, and he settled back to ride in silence.

Pembroke

“I had forgotten the beauty of this stained glass,” Tate told Harriet as he walked slowly through Pembroke, seeing it for the first time in years. “It’s magnificent.”

“Thorpe’s favorite window,” Harriet remembered fondly as they stood before the huge stained-glass window at the end of the upstairs hallway. It was an unusual spot for the art, and all the more eye-catching because of it. “I never did show Cassandra around Pembroke, but I know she would love to see it.”

“Thursday,” Tate said with a smile. “I’ll show her Thursday.”

“Is that what day she’s coming to see you?”

“No, I told her in my note that I would come to Newcomb Park, but I’ll bring her back here for lunch. Does that work for your schedule?”

Harriet agreed, looking into eyes that she’d waited so long to see—smiling eyes, eyes that loved her, eyes that looked at everything with a boyish new interest. Eyes that couldn’t wait to see the woman he loved.

Fairfax Hall

“Oh, Morland,” Charlotte said, the morning he prepared to climb back into the Steele coach for the ride home. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“It was my pleasure, Charlotte. Tell Cassie to take care of herself and that I shall see her when she arrives home.”

“Indeed, I shall.”

Giving his own word of thanks, Barrington shook Morland’s hand and then stood with his wife to wave the coach on its way.

“Are you angry?’ Charlotte asked of her spouse the moment they were alone.

“Why would I be angry?”

“We’ve only just arrived home, and we were looking forward to being alone.”

“Wanting to be alone or not, how could I take one look at Cassie’s heartbroken face and be angry?”

Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears. “How could anyone not love her?”

“We have only her word that he doesn’t, and I for one tend to believe that he loves her very much.”

“You’ve never met the man. How could you possibly know that?”

“I’m in love with one of the Steele sisters,” he said simply. “I know how irresistible they can be.”

Barrington kissed her surprised lips and caressed her waist before slipping a possessive arm around her to lead her inside. And only just in time, for Cassandra was awake, dressed, and looking for her sister. That she had already been crying was only too obvious.

The newlyweds made no comment, however, but set about showing Cassandra around their home, feeding her a fine breakfast, and making her feel as welcome as she was.

Cassandra enjoyed the time immensely. She was quite willing for any distraction that would take her mind from Collingbourne and a man whose eyes she’d never seen.

Pembroke

“I can’t tell you how much the sermon notes meant, Pastor Hurst. It is indeed a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m very glad to hear it, Mr Tate, and news of your recovery has brought joy to many.”

“I know the church family was praying for me. I plan to be in church this Sunday. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.”

“Will you be returning to London soon?”

“My plans are not confirmed at this point. I’m in no hurry.”

“We hope you’ll be with us for a time. August can be rather warm, but most summers here are very nice.”

Pastor Hurst did not stay overly long, and it gave Tate great pleasure to walk him to the drive and wave as his small buggy took him away.

The pastor gone, Tate did not hurry back inside. He hadn’t seen the view from the front door of Pembroke in many years. He spotted a flower bush of unusual color, one he’d never seen before. Going over to study it, he made mental plans to show it to Cassandra on the morrow.

Newcomb Park

“She is well?” Henry questioned.

“Yes,” Morland answered, thanking Lizzy for the glass of water. “I didn’t see her the morning I left, but I know she’s in good hands. Charlotte was very glad to have her, as was Barrington.”

Both Steele siblings exchanged a look. They had not wanted to worry but had given in to that temptation. They wanted Cassandra home with them immediately, but knowing that Morland had seen her safely to Charlotte’s was the next best thing.

“I will confess to you that I am rather weary.” Morland had finished his water and set the glass aside. “I think I will head to my aunt’s now.”

“Thank you, Morland,” Henry said again. “Can you join us this evening for dinner?”

“I would enjoy that.”

Lizzy watched him leave, thinking she had never seen him so tired. The moment he was out the door, she went in search of Cook. Whatever they had for supper needed to be special.