Chapter Thirty

Gordon read a note that his mother wished to see him when convenient. A few hours later, he entered her suite, dressed for dinner. He found her seated in a French chair of tone-on-tone silk. He went to greet her. “You wished to see me, Mother? You do look attractive in blue silk.”

Her smile was a soft one. “Please sit opposite me. You cannot imagine how good it is to have the ability to speak. Cassandra has explained to me my type of head injury wasn’t as severe as a stroke, and after the swelling was reduced, the blood dissipates. I do believe the word she used was occludes. With repetitious speech exercises, that is why my recovery has been expedited.”

“Cassandra is a remarkable woman, Mother. We owe her much. Every day I marvel at how efficient she is, not to mention she has a beautiful countenance. She’s been an angel with regard to your care. It pleases me to see you back to your ways.”

He settled himself in the chair, crossed his legs and waited for the reason for his summons.

“I have a need to tell you Cassandra is packed and intends to leave for the nanny cottage. She’s requested the staff clean and prepare for her arrival tomorrow.”

“Surely you joke. What have I done?” He face frowned and his eyes narrowed and lent him a stern expression.

“I would speculate, Gordon, it’s more what you haven’t done…or said. Men are such dolts, and you are no different than your father. I practically had to strike him on the head with a sledge hammer before he proposed to me. In fact, I encouraged another gentleman to court me to make him jealous. It worked.”

“Mother, you deviate. Is she not happy here? I have showered her in jewels, gowns, coins, all she could need. Why isn’t it enough?” He arose and paced. “I’ll go in right now and dress her down.”

“No, you won’t,” the dowager was quick to add. “Cassandra is not in her room. She’s in the kitchen with Cook.”

It then occurred to him Cassandra mentioned that, in any crisis in her life, she found solace in the kitchen.

“Then tell me why, Mother? I’ve given all of me to her. Most of all, I’ve been faithful. Is it possible she didn’t notice?”

He walked to the window and saw a willowy scarf wrapped around Cassandra’s head battle the ocean breeze.

“With my recovery, she expects you to dismiss her and arrange for her separate space. It’s hard for such a strong-minded woman to accept rejection, therefore, she’s chosen to leave before you terminate her services.”

“No. That was before…” This was a delicate matter a gentleman didn’t discuss with his mother.

“Before what?” she asked at his apparent discomfiture.

“Before I…she…we—” He couldn’t continue.

“Consummated the marriage? Is that what you wish to impart? It’s part of the process and I am aware of that, Gordon. I do remember how my two sons were conceived.” She removed her lace handkerchief from her sleeve and held it in her hand.

“Mother, you are too modern for these times.”

“Your father used to say that about me all the time. He rather liked how I shocked him.” She laughed. “The woman is in love with you. It’s plain to see. You, on the other hand, are not, shall we say, romantic enough?”

“I beg your pardon, Madam. I am a rake who knows how to seduce a woman with words.” He went back to the window and watched Cassandra standing tall and still. Did she wait for the god of the ocean to come to her? Damnation. Why did she need Neptune when she had him?

“Perhaps the words you choose to seduce, as you refer to them, are not the ones she desires to hear. Has it ever occurred to you she needs to know how much you care for her?”

“I do more than words, Mother. I show her. I wish this conversation to end and will not discuss it further. If she wishes to leave, she may do so. That is my last word on the subject.”

The dowager stood. “My last words on the subject are that you are an idiot. The woman carries my grandchild. For an intelligent man, you are in danger of the loss of her love. All she wants is to hear three little words from you. Can you guess what they are?” She pointed a finger at him, her face contorted.

“I can guess, Mother. They have never been in my litany of words with other women.”

“Cassandra isn’t like other women. She’s soon to be the mother of your child, my grandchild.”

Restless and out of sorts, he pulled on his lace cuffs, one at a time. “Did I hear you correctly? My wife expects a babe?” He exhaled and sat, shoulders down, head in his hands.

“Your child. You heard me. Perhaps she wants you to miss her and beg her return. Whatever it is that will make it better, Gordon. I hope you will not let manly pride stand in your way. Good women are hard to find these days. Cassandra is the best of the best.”

“I can see that, Mother.” He covered his mouth with his hand.

“It’s true you’ve given her security, money, clothes, jewels—those material items aren’t as important to her as the secure knowledge you love her. You’ve cheated her of that joy. You cannot treat her in the same way you have your paramours who were with you for what they could get. Shame on you, son. You may have lost her for good.”

“I do believe you’ve spoken too much, Mother. Why would she not tell me such glorious news? Yet she told you? Did she think I wouldn’t revel in the joyous news? Perhaps I’m a fool.”

“I can vouch for that. We should go down to supper. You aren’t supposed to know about the baby. I gave my word I wouldn’t tell you. May God forgive me betraying her confidence.”

“How can I know such news and not mention it? First, I don’t want her to go on horseback rides.”

“Cassandra doesn’t like to ride.”

“Nor should she over exert herself with strenuous duties.”

“Then you should get her assistance, so she can rest. She is inundated with duties.”

“Yes. I’ll do that tomorrow. What reason would I give if I can’t mention our child?” he asked. “I’ll think of something for the moment.”

He turned to his mother, “Nor should she stare at the sea without a proper warm pelisse and a wool scarf.”

“Then you should be more attentive when you’re here. I’m sure after she is gone, you may mention your child. Expectant mothers are sometimes unreasonable.”

“When is the babe to be born?” he asked.

“In six months time, we believe.” Cassandra isn’t quite sure when the baby was conceived. She can only guess.”

“She will have to see a medical expert. Damnation, that’s why she was unwell last night.” He didn’t delineate further. That’s why she wouldn’t stay with him in his bed. He wasn’t sure if it was evening sickness or morning sickness or whatever the medical profession chose to call the malady. “I will have the physician attend us.”

“Let’s not allow supper to cool, Son. Remember, you do not know about the child.”

“I’m not the world’s best actor when it comes to such events, but I will do my best.”

“See to it. I will stay with her a few days until everyone gets acquainted with their new quarters. It is a fine nanny house, but there’s Cassandra, two children, the dogs…”

“What dogs?” His tone firmed.

“Runt and Giant, of course. The children asked me to stay with them because they don’t want to be lonely. They are so precious. They aren’t content about leaving you.”

“Mother, I’m your son. How dare you conspire with my wife and my children against me?” He shook his head. Had he said my children?

“I do not engage in a conspiracy against you. Cassandra has no idea of my plans to—”

“What, Mother? Plans to what?” he insisted.

“To reconcile the both of you.”

“I need time to think, and I plan to get drunk tonight alone in my room soon to be abandoned by all those I love.”

“That wasn’t so hard to say, was it, Gordon? Such a pity it fell on deaf ears.”

They descended the stairs and walked toward the dining room. He seated his mother and sat at the head of the table fully cognizant of the fact Cassandra’s usual chair near him was unoccupied. She’d elected to sit at the extreme end of the table opposite him—the start of their estrangement. The gauntlet was laid down.

He instructed the servant to bring him a decanter of cognac. He would need its false courage this night.

“I was about to wonder about the two of you,” Cassandra broke the silence.

The servant returned with the decanter and snifter glass.

“Fill it to the brim,” he ordered, his voice gruff as a storm-filled wintry day on an angry ocean.

Althorn took a gulp of the liquor, braced his lips, and said, “My mother informed me you desire to enforce the terms of your foolish agreement by your decision to occupy the nanny cottage on my estate tomorrow.”

“Yes,” she answered, her fingers clutched the spoon in mid-air. “Allow me to remind you it was our business arrangement.”

He took another deep swig from his glass. “I would venture to refresh your memory. There was a lot more than business between us.” His voice held anger in check—barely.

“Althorn, not in front of your mother. It’s disrespectful.” Her face turned a vibrant shade of red.

“Why not, my dear? She seems to know more about you than I.”

“You aren’t my confessor, nor are you God. Women do have their secrets,” she shot back.

“True, yet some secrets are revealed in the light of day.” His eyes stopped at her stomach.

Her hand fell to her lower body and shielded his view.

Cassandra looked at Lady Madelaine in question.

His mother concentrated on the food before her. “The way the two of you conduct your conversation is similar to a championship game of lawn tennis or pugilistic bouts. May we partake of this lovely meal without hurtful remarks?”

She motioned to a servant for the next course.

“Yes, Mother. You are correct. My apologies, Cassandra. Should you wish to leave tomorrow, I will not stop you.”

Much as he would like to drag her upstairs and repeat their business arrangement as he suckled her breasts and penetrated her with his large arousal that ached for her molten warmth, he inhaled a deep breath.

“Thank you, Althorn. I’ve no wish for rancor between us.” Her eyes lowered to her plate.

What he wished was that the only thing between them would be at the juncture of her thighs.

“The King’s final ball is two days hence. I’d appreciate your company. You, too, Mother. You’ve come such a long way in your recovery. Surely, you’ll converse with your old friends?”

The dowager nodded. “It would be pleasant to be out in society again.”

“Yes. It will be an end to a grand season here.” Cassandra took a bite of the crusted lamb with mint jelly.

“An end?” Or so you think. He had significant other plans for both of them.

“I didn’t pack any ball gowns. I thought I wouldn’t need them,” she whispered softly, and then sipped at a glass of water.

It was time he schemed, too. “I’ll select a gown for you, if you like. I’ll be proud to have my two duchesses by my side in their jeweled tiaras. Your maid will bring all to you as befits this special occasion. The King’s ball demands no less of us.”

“Thank you.” A smile curled her lips, her eyes glistened. “I appreciate there is no ill will between us.” She turned her face away.

“You’d be surprised at how much more there’ll be between us, my wife.” He turned to the dowager. “I do believe my mother tires.”

“Shall I have a servant escort you, Mother?”

Before she could offer to leave the table with Lady Madelaine, his brow arched in contained fury; his gaze shot across the length of the table. Cassandra’s lips stilled.

“Thank you, Gordon.” The dowager arose and a servant walked behind her as she took to the steps.

He simply stared at Cassandra, perused her body, and how her generous bosom invited his attention even in the simple frock she wore. His face couldn’t hide his anger.

“You have left my bed of your own accord. That is a serious dereliction of duty on a wife’s part in England, punishable by beatings…and other dire measures.”

“It wasn’t the intent of our agreement to chain me to you and your bed.”

He poured more cognac into his snifter. “Now that conjures a seductive thought—perhaps you would enjoy such activity?”

“Stop it, Gordon. You are like a two-sided coin. One side is gracious and the other side is lascivious.” She clasped her hands in her lap.

“Did you expect me to jump for joy at the prospect of your early departure from my house on a permanent basis? After all we’ve shared, Cassandra? Did it mean nothing to you? Did you simply use me as a connoisseur of decadent lingerie?” He rose from his chair, glass in hand and walked the long length to her position.

“No, but I did not expect you to display fits of anger. It couldn’t have been a surprise to you.”

“Cassandra, allow me to recollect. You proposed the agreement. I originally refused and because I took pity on you, I agreed to our business arrangement, as you put it.”

“You took pity on me? Is that what changed your mind? I didn’t need you as much as you needed me to care for your mother and get her well. You ass.”

“I might well be an ass since I trusted you, but you have stolen from me, my wife.”

She stood and faced him with defiance. “I have stolen nothing and only taken those items that were mine. Gowns, jewelry, coins, all are left behind.” Her napkin dropped from her lap.

“You are a thief, Cassandra. You have stolen the love of my mother, stolen the love of my dog, stolen the affection of my staff, and you claim you’re not a thief?”

“I did not steal them. It was theirs to give and I accepted—all to please you. You’re a dolt.”

“Hmm, did you take the lingerie you designed?”

“Yes, they were mine. I paid for them before I met you, Gordon.”

“Do you intend to put them to future use?” he asked, and moved an alcohol-braced whisper’s breath away from her.

“How do I know? If you want them, I’ll leave them for you to lavish on one of your other women.”

His hand slid around her waist. “There have been no other women since I met you. You are aware of that fact, aren’t you?”

“I hadn’t given it a thought. You’ve kept me so occupied, I don’t have free time to think.”

“I believe you lie to yourself, however, I indicated I wouldn’t stop you if you wished to leave, and that is so. Yet, I wonder if you would entertain one last night with me for a final end to a four month marriage of convenience that has suddenly turned inconvenient.”

“I’d rather sleep in a stable than by your side,” she spat.

“I would never force myself on you, but perhaps you could be coaxed to have mercy on your poor husband who’ll be left without any conjugal rights available to him?”

“No.”

“Then one last kiss? The memory of it will warm me on cold nights.”

“If you do take to cold nights, a servant can bring you a warm brick, and perhaps you can strike yourself on the head with it.”

Then a simple thing happened. They laughed. He extended his arm. She accepted as they walked out of the room. Together.

As they ascended the steps, there were snickers and smiles. He pointed Cassandra to her chambers, opened his bedroom door, and closed it.

He would win her back, if it killed him.

Besides, the King’s Ball had many balconies, and they were dangerous together in such an atmosphere. How he loved a challenge. And the chase.