Forcing the unpleasant thoughts aside, Honoria put her hand over her sister’s. “I am fine. It’s just that… all relationships have their ups and downs.”
“Yes, but lately I seem to sense more down than up.” Cassandra gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s a pity, for I thought the marquis was adjusting rather well to having a family all of the sudden. George certainly seems to look up to him. Honoria, what happened to turn things so suddenly? Did you argue?”
“No.” Deathly silence could not be called an argument. She absently patted Cassandra’s hand. “We’ll be fine. We just need some time.” Time to stop feeling. That’s exactly what she needed to do, stop feeling so much. But she couldn’t help it; she loved Marcus though he didn’t return her sentiments. Oh, she was certain that he cared for her in some way, but it was not enough. Every day that fact was becoming painfully obvious. Soon, there would come a time when she’d have to act, to preserve her own peace if nothing else.
She caught Cassandra’s worried gaze. “Never mind about me! How have you enjoyed your season? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen so many cards or invitations.”
Cassandra’s cheeks pinkened. “It has been quite amusing, although…” A shadow passed over Cassandra’s face.
“Yes?”
“I don’t know. I rather thought I’d enjoy it more. I’ve certainly met some nice people, but—” She sighed.
“Have you met any nice
men
!”
Cassandra’s flush deepened. “Some. There was one—” She shook her head. “But he’s not— It’s not important.”
Honoria blinked at her sister’s rather shuttered expression. This was something indeed. “Cassandra, who—”
A masculine voice sounded in the hallway, raised in seeing disagreement. “Ye gods,” Honoria said, frowning in the direction of the voice. “That doesn’t sound like Treymount. He’s more apt to growl than yell.”
The voice sounded again, closer to the door this time. Cassandra surged to her feet, her gaze locked on the door. “That
isn’t
Treymount!”
“Then who is it?”
As if in answer to her question, the door burst open and a well-dressed young man strode into the room. Honoria recognized him. She’d seen him at several events. Once, he’d even danced with Cassandra. At the time, Honoria had thought they made a beautiful couple, both so fair and accomplished looking. Of course, Cassandra danced with everyone. She was much in demand. Still… Honoria glanced at her sister and then froze. Cassandra was looking at the gentleman with an expression of almost extreme rapture.
Jeffries rushed in, pausing when he realized the room was not empty. “My lady! Miss Cassandra! I apologize, but this gentleman has come uninvited—”
The man rounded on Jeffries. “I have been here three times to see his lordship, and each time you tell me he is not here! I must see him!”
“His lordship is not receiving anyone,” Jeffries said rather coldly.
Honoria winced. It seemed to her that Marcus spent more and more time locked away in his study. And it was all her fault.
“But he told me to come to him when—” The young man fisted his hands at his side. “I must see him.”
Jeffries frowned. “Lady Treymount, Miss Cassandra, I apologize that you were so rudely interrupted.” He glanced over his shoulder at the footmen who were now assembled at the door. “Remove him.”
The gentleman raised his hands into fists. “I’ll not go without a fight! Not this time!”
Cassandra stepped forward, her color high. “Jeffries, Lord Melton has come by invitation.”
The butler stiffened. “He is not on his lordship’s preferred list.”
“He is on mine.”
Honoria blinked at her sister. There was steel in Cassandra’s words; it was not a tone she usually used.
Jeffries seemed conflicted. He looked from the young man to Cassandra and then back.
Cassandra inclined her head at Lord Melton. “How kind of you to accept my invitation. Won’t you have a seat?”
Surprise flickered over the man’s face, and it dawned on
Honoria that he was as astounded by Cassandra’s intervention as she was.
Melton quickly regained his balance. He inclined his head, a faint smile touching his handsome face. “Thank you, Miss Baker-Sneed. I would be delighted.” With that simple utterance, in the space of a mere moment Lord Melton went from being an uninvited intruder to being Miss Cassandra’s guest. He approached the small grouping of chairs by the fire and then waited for Cassandra.
Her head held high, she crossed to where he was and took a chair. Honoria, feeling bemused, did the same. Immediately, Melton claimed his own chair.
“Jeffries,” Cassandra said softly.
The butler drew himself up. “Yes, miss?”
“Some tea for my guest, please.”
That did not sit well with the butler, but years of good training overcame his irritation. He took only a few seconds to gather himself before bowing. “Of course, miss. I shall bring some tea immediately.”
While they waited for Jeffries to leave, Honoria looked more closely at the young man. Lord Melton was decidedly young, but he was as handsome as the day was long. Which was unfortunate, for in addition to a very pleasing visage and form, he also possessed a sense of rather reckless ardor.
Honoria glanced at her sister and found that Cassandra seemed to have lost her earlier starch, for she sat with her hands tightly clasped in her lap, her gaze locked on the tips of her slippers. It was left to Honoria to make the requisite small talk.
She cleared her throat. “Lord Melton, I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. Is there some way I may assist you?”
He pulled his gaze from Cassandra with obvious effort. “Assist? I don’t—” He paused, his dark gaze regarding her seriously. “Perhaps you can.”
“And so I will, if you will tell me what you need.”
“I must see Lord Treymount, but he has not been available.”
Honoria’s chest ached anew. “I’m afraid his lordship is a very busy man.”
“Yes, but he told me to come to him when—” Melton broke off, glancing uneasily ay Cassandra. His color rose slightly. “I cannot tell you why I need to see him, only that I must.”
Honoria shook her head. “If you cannot tell me why you need to see Treymount, then I am afraid I am powerless to assist you.”
His gaze flickered once more to Cassandra, a deep flush staining his cheeks. “I can’t tell you! It’s personal and—”
“Thank you for visiting,” Honoria said, standing swiftly.
Cassandra finally looked up from her slippers. “Honoria, please… give Lord Melton some time. I’m sure he will explain himself well once he’s had time to consider it.” She gifted the young lord with a look brimming with gentle light. “You will, won’t you? Explain everything to us?”
No man could have withstood such a gentle, plea. Honoria sank back into her chair, waiting as Melton went from red to pale.
“Miss Baker-Sneed, I—” He swallowed, the sound painful in the silence.
Cassandra leaned forward. “We will not betray your confidences.”
“I didn’t think you would,” he replied just as seriously. “I never thought you would.” Melton glanced at Honoria and gave a surprisingly bitter laugh. “I’m a fool, Lady Treymount. A horrid fool. I had a fortune—not a large one, but enough, and…” He spread his hands wide. “I lost it.”
“All of it?”
“More than likely.”
“I don’t understand.”
He sighed. “I inherited my title at a rather young age, both of my parents succumbing to smallpox while I was on the continent with my tutor, doing the Grand Tour. I’m afraid, what with the shock of my parents’ death and the fact that I was so young—I did not handle things well at all. In fact. I was a fool of the worst sort. I didn’t stay at the family seat, but came to London and found myself consorting with the wrong kind of people. With no thought but pleasure, I began to work my way through my funds at an alarming rate.”
“Did you have no one to guide you?”
“A distant relative had been named trustee, and he did what he could. But I was young and foolish and I didn’t understand how things were. Frankly, I didn’t want to. I just wanted to enjoy myself, to forget that my parents were gone. I—I’m afraid my behavior was far from what it should have been. Eventually, I had markers all over town.” Cassandra paled slightly. “You gamble?”
“Not anymore,” he said quickly. “That is all in the past.”
“Good,” Cassandra said, smiling encouragingly. Honoria frowned. “I’m sorry, but how does Treymount play into all of this?”
“He purchased a goodly number of my markers and offered to settle them all if I would but sign over the family seat and lands.”
“Heavens!” Cassandra gasped. “That doesn’t seem fair.” Melton grimaced. “To be honest, it is more than fair. The lands and house are not in good repair, and the amount I owed—it was a generous offer, though at the time, it seemed horrid. I didn’t want to take it. So I asked Treymount if he would give me some time to think of another way out of this mess, another way to find the funds to purchase the markers myself.”
Honoria leaned forward. “What did Treymount say?”
“He said no at first. But something made him change his mind, and so he offered to let me find a venture where I could
make
the funds back providing I will no longer gamble.”
“Have you stopped?” Cassandra asked.
“Yes. Completely.” A rueful grimace accompanied Melton’s words. “I have to say, it was something of a release. I would tell myself that I was not going to gamble, but I knew I owed so much—there seemed no other way to regain my fortune. So I gambled and hated every moment of it.”
Cassandra beamed. “Good for you.”
“Thank you,” Melton said. For a long moment he and Cassandra just looked at one another.
A flicker of alarm traced through Honoria. Did Cassandra harbor a tendre for this man? She cleared her throat. “Lord Melton, you still have not told us why you must see Lord Treymount.”
“Because he offered to let me find my way out of this mess, if I could think of a way to earn it. And I have.”
A smile touched Cassandra’s face. “Which is why you are here, arguing with Jeffries.”
His gaze softened as he looked back at Cassandra. “Yes.”
“Lord Melton,” Honoria said with some firmness, “what is your idea?”
He tore his gaze from Cassandra. “There is only one thing I do know—horses.”
“Ah,” Cassandra said. “How exciting!”
“Yes. There are some excellent stables at my property, and I already own two likely mares. All I’d need to get is a stud and—” He suddenly seemed to recall who he was talking to, for he flushed and shook his head. “This is not an appropriate conversation. I’m sorry.”
“Oh it’s no problem,” Honoria said smoothly. “I can see why you are anxious to speak to Lord Treymount.” She stood. “If you will wait here, I will fetch him.”
He stood as well. “Thank you so much! I cannot express how much this means to me.”
She looked at Cassandra. “Perhaps you should find Portia and then take Lord Melton to see the fountain. I will send in one of the footmen to accompany you.”
Cassandra’s color rose, but she stood. “That would be lovely. Lord Melton, I think you will enjoy our garden.”
“I am certain I shall.”
Cassandra sent him a pleased smile and then left to find Portia.
The second Cassandra was gone, Melton turned to Honoria, a troubled look in his dark eyes. “I must admit something.”
“Yes?”
“I was planning on regaining my fortune ever since the marquis offered me this chance. But then I met your sister—” He flushed. “I don’t wish you to think ill of me, but it has made me think. I—I know I don’t have a chance, but if I can straighten out the mess I’ve made—”
“Lord Melton, Cassandra is her own person, and she will decide who she wishes to be with. I can only say that she is very mature and responsible. I cannot see her being with someone who is not the same in that aspect.”
A determined light entered Melton’s eyes. “Lady Trey-mount, you will see that I am a changed man. I will do what I must to be worthy to call on her.”
Honoria smiled, though her heart ached at the determination she saw in the young lord’s eyes. Why hadn’t Marcus been so quick to answer her when she’d needed him to?
Cassandra returned, Olivia in tow, since Portia was engaged in placing a pattern for a small silk suit for George’s frog for their new play,
The Frog Prince.
Honoria saw them off into the gardens, Olivia chatting away while Lord Melton gazed in admiration at a blushing Cassandra.
Honoria sent a footman to escort them all and then made her way to Treymount’s study.
Marcus was sitting at his desk, half listening to Donaldson wax on and on about some obscure aspect of his holdings in Yorkshire. It was annoying, but for the last week he could not seem to concentrate. Thoughts flitted in and out of his mind and made him shift restlessly in his chair.
Honoria loved him. It was odd, but he wasn’t quite sure why the admission bothered him so. Surely it was normal for a wife to love her husband… and surely it was normal for that to be discussed. If only he could figure out why the thought of holding her affections made him feel so conflicted.