Chapter 3

Heavens. The clouds were dark above Cassy and Lord St. Giles as they stepped into the south gardens, a foreboding grey that stretched across the sky in a most ominous way. She shivered slightly as the same trepidation she’d felt at first seeing Castle Keyvnor washed over her again.

Lord St. Giles patted her fingers that were tucked into the crook of his arm. “Are you all right?”

Was she? Keyvnor was the last place in the world she’d ever want to be, and she might very well have lost her mind to go anywhere with the rakish baron who was far too handsome for his own good, or perhaps for her own good. An intelligent girl should keep her wits about her around a man like him, but a tingle shot through her at his touch anyway. So much for what intelligent girls should do. Cassy tried to shake the sensation away as she gestured to the sky above them. “At the risk of sounding stuffy, walking the gardens doesn’t seem the best plan at the moment, my lord.”

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little rain.” His brow lifted in question. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Was he serious? “We’ll be drenched,” she replied. It did look as though a deluge was about to open right above them. Or, she supposed, it was possible ominous clouds always hung above Keyvnor without ever releasing a drop of rain, though that hardly seemed likely. “We’ll be soaking wet.”

The corner of his mouth tipped upwards, though he seemed to bite back a smile. “Should you become wet, my dear, it’ll be my pleasure to take care of you. Happens to be a specialty of mine.”

What in the world did that mean? Something naughty by the twinkle in his silvery eyes.

Cassy shouldn’t encourage him, she really shouldn’t. But she couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her anyway. “I have a feeling you’re even more wicked than I’d first thought.”

“Me?” St. Giles blinked at her as though he was completely innocent of the charge. “My dear Lady Cassandra, I feel you’ve misjudged me.”

That she highly doubted. “Have I?”

“Mmm.” He agreed with a nod of his head. “A stroll through the gardens hardly sounds wicked.” Then he dropped his voice a bit. “Though I could always suggest we lose ourselves in the hedge maze for an hour or so, if we feel like being the tiniest bit wicked.”

She spotted the maze off in the distance and an uneasiness that had nothing to do with the rakish baron’s suggestion rippled through her. The idea of being lost anywhere at Keyvnor was enough to make her skin crawl, but the maze in particular seemed rather menacing. Cassy shook her head. “I’d rather not be lost anywhere here.”

A slightly perplexed look flashed in his eyes but then he smiled, which did send a thrill through her. Foolish girl that she was. “Whatever you desire, my lady.”

He squeezed her fingers once more and led her down a path with a hedge on one side and lovely Cornish daisies and some purplish-blue flowers she wasn’t familiar with on the other. Panting, Oscar happily followed in their wake.

“What are you doing at Castle Keyvnor?” Cassy cast him a sidelong glance. It didn’t, after all, make any sense that he’d be there for the reading of her late-great-uncle’s will.

“Walking the gardens with the loveliest girl in all of England,” he replied evenly, though he didn’t take his eyes from the path.

Cassy’s cheeks warmed a bit at the compliment. Still, that wasn’t what she meant, and he well knew it. “Are you a distant relation of Banfield’s of some sort?”

Lord St. Giles shook his head. “Just thought to keep Michael company. We were enjoying ourselves at Newmarket when he got the summons.”

“So you’re just being a good friend?” she asked, not quite believing that at all.

“Are you suggesting otherwise, my dear?” he returned smoothly.

Before she could reply to that, Oscar barked behind them. Cassy slid her hand from the baron’s arm and spun around. Her dog barked again, focused on a spot in the nearby daisies like there was something hiding amongst the plethora of white flowers.

Lord St. Giles’ hand settled at the small of her back, startling her with his familiarity, yet it was soothing at the same time. “Does he often do that? Bark for no reason?”

No, he never did. Cassy shook her head. “Perhaps there is something there.”

“Something in the flowers we can’t see?”

She glanced away from Oscar to find Lord St. Giles’ gaze firmly focused on her. “Perhaps.”

His brow lifted in question.

Blast it all. He was going to think she was ridiculous, just like her family did. Cassy heaved a sigh. “This place doesn’t feel right to me. I can’t put my finger on it, but I sensed it as we arrived. Have you truly noticed nothing?”

A crease marred Lord St. Giles’s handsome brow. “Is this because of the fellow who was scowling at you?”

Cassy supposed the angry man in black did have something to do with her uneasiness, though she’d been uneasy about this visit ever since Papa had been summoned to attend the late earl’s will reading. “The idea of Keyvnor has always made me uncomfortable and being here in person has only made me more so.”

And then a loud roar sounded directly behind them.

Cassy stumbled backwards and would have fallen to the ground if Lord St. Giles hadn’t grasped her waist and kept her upright. Before she could even let out a wail, the sound of Toby’s familiar cackling reached her ears.

“Did you think Great-uncle Banfield was here to murder you, Cassy?” her rotten little brother howled with glee.

“Heavens, Toby!” she breathed out. “You took five years off my life!”

Jack made certain Lady Cassandra was steady on her feet before he turned his full attention on the troublesome lad who seemed quite pleased with himself. “Friend of yours?” he muttered to the lady at his side.

“My brother is the furthest thing from my friend,” she grumbled.

Something Jack’s older sisters might very well have said about him more than once over the years. “St. Giles,” he said to the lad. “And you are?”

The gleeful little bastard tipped his head back regally. “Toby Priske.”

“Well, Toby, I believe you owe your sister an apology.”

The boy’s dark eyes sparkled with something akin to mischief and he shrugged. “Since I’m not sorry…”

Lady Cassandra breathed out a sigh. “You’re wasting your breath, my lord. Toby only ever apologizes when Papa forces him to do so.” Then she glared at her younger brother. “I believe his last threat was to have you drawn and quartered. I shouldn’t wish to be you when he finds out about this.”

The boy shrugged again. “He said if I annoyed you again in the coach. We’re not in the coach any longer.”

Normally, domestic squabbles wouldn’t be something Jack would trouble himself with; however, if he was honest, he’d once tormented his sisters in much the same fashion as Toby Priske was doing now. If he should find a way to curtail the lad’s plans, or perhaps redirect him in a more useful way, he might just gain Lady Cassandra’s favor. And having her favor was something Jack would be quite glad to have.

To that end, he laughed. “You do remind me of myself, Toby.”

Lady Cassandra cast him a sidelong frown. She’d forgive him in a minute. He’d make certain of it.

“I was plagued with three older sisters.” Jack shook his head. “Three. Can you imagine all the squabbles over ribbons and dresses and other such inanities?”

“Sisters are the worst,” the boy agreed, seeming quite pleased to have Jack on his side.

“They are, indeed.” Jack nodded. “Unfortunately, my backside was forever sore as my humorless father never saw the genius in any of my schemes. At least until…”

Toby Priske leaned a little closer. The whole thing was almost too easy. “Until…” he prodded.

“Well, until I learned one little detail that got my schemes rewarded instead of punished.”

Lady Cassandra watched him just as closely as her brother was, but Jack forced himself not to smile lest he give his current scheme away.

“What did you learn?” the boy asked.

Jack glanced around the gardens as though he was making sure they couldn’t be overheard. “You may not believe me, but on my word it’s the truth.” He tipped his head toward the beautiful brunette who’d drifted in and out of his thoughts for more than a year. “Your sister is quite breathtaking.”

The boy gagged, and Jack managed not to laugh. Had anyone told him that about any of his sisters when he was Toby’s age, he might very well have become ill himself.

“Believe me, I felt the same about my sisters.” Jack gestured to Lady Cassandra. “But look at her. Now I don’t expect you to see the girl I see. But take my word for it. Your sister has beautiful dark hair some fellow would love to caress. The prettiest eyes some men would fight each other to drown in. And the softest lips more than a few duplicitous rakes would love to kiss. Simply put, your sister is beyond beautiful.”

Lady Cassandra’s cheeks turned a very pretty pink, though Jack continued to focus his attention on her younger brother.

“I don’t see any of that.” The boy turned up his nose at the picture Jack was painting.

“I certainly never saw it with my sisters either,” Jack agreed. “And yet, it’s the truth. And as her brother, it is your duty to make certain black-hearted scoundrels keep their distance from her. Did you realize that?”

“There aren’t any scoundrels who want her.” Toby shook his head in disbelief.

Jack couldn’t resist winking at Lady Cassandra as he said, “Oh, I can assure you there’s at least one.” Then he refocused his attention on her brother. “Instead of pestering her, you should be devising ways to thwart the plots of scurrilous blackguards who have her in their sights.”

“Thwart their plots?” the lad echoed, his brow scrunched up a bit.

“Of course.” Jack nodded. “I can’t image your parents would ever get angry with you for keeping your sisters safe. I know my father was quite pleased with my efforts to do so.” He grinned at the boy. “Suddenly all of my plans were rewarded once they were focused on my sisters’ suitors, not that they ever thanked me for my troubles on their behalf; but sisters, as you know, are an ungrateful lot.”

“Mmm.” The boy nodded in agreement. “So you plotted against their suitors?”

And just that easily, Jack had redirected the boy away from making trouble for Lady Cassandra. And should he happen to scare off any of her other suitors in the process, all the better for Jack. “This one time,” he confided, “I splashed some ink into the tea of one of the fellows who was chasing after my oldest sister. Completely blackened the man’s teeth and he wasn’t seen in public for sennight.”

Toby cackled. “That’s brilliant!”

“My lord!” Lady Cassandra touched a hand to her heart in apparent mortification.

But Jack only grinned at her brother, his new partner in crime. After all, if he was suddenly the boy’s confidant and helped supply him with ideas to thwart other fellows, Toby Priske wouldn’t use those same plots against Jack, and if he tried, Jack would see it coming from a mile away. “I have hundreds of ideas,” he told him. “And I’ll be happy to share them with you if you notice some other fellow chasing after her skirts. I’m sure your father will thank you for your efforts.”

“You’re too kind to help my brother, my lord,” Lady Cassandra narrowed her eyes on him.

“Well—” Jack shrugged “—we younger brothers have to stick together.”

Her brother preened at that; and unless Jack was mistaken, there was a little glint in her eyes as though she’d just sorted him out.

“You’ll let me know if you notice anyone hanging on her every word? Or paying her too much attention, won’t you?” he continued.

“Of course,” the boy agreed. “And you’ll give me ideas to help me dispense with them?”

“It would be my pleasure,” Jack assured him. “But as I am keeping watch over the lady now, you can safely run along and enjoy your time at Keyvnor. No need to worry about her when she’s with me.”

Toby nodded. “I’d best go see if there are any inkpots in the study.” And then he took off at a sprint.

“My father will not thank you for that,” she said at his side.

Jack shrugged. “It’ll keep him from tormenting you.”

“And hurt my chances with some decent fellow.”

At that Jack laughed. “My dear, what would you want with some decent fellow, when you have me?”

She seemed to bite back a smile, which Jack took as a great victory. “Are you never serious, my lord?”

He tucked her hand back into the crook of his arm again. “Only when it’s absolutely required.”

“And when is that?”

“Usually when dealing with my father. Or whenever I’m picking out the right jacket to catch my eyes,” he teased. “Did this blue do the trick?” Then he dipped his head down so she could directly meet his gaze.

She shook her head, though her hazel eyes were twinkling just like he’d hoped. “You are mad.”

Jack winked at her. “I’ve been called worse.” He leaned in to press his lips to hers, but before he could kiss her, a large raindrop landed on her nose.

She released his arm and leapt backwards in surprise. “Oh!” she squealed.

And then thunder rolled overhead.

“Come on, Oscar!” Lady Cassandra lifted the edge of her skirts and started back toward the castle.

Jack blew out a breath as he watched the lady and her little black poodle rush back for the safety of Keyvnor’s shelter. Damn it all! He’d been so bloody close to tasting those lips.