Chapter 10

True to his word, Jack slid from Cassy’s chambers as the first bit of color stained the horizon. It was a monumental feat leaving the comfort of her warm bed, of her lithe form pressed so perfectly against his, to head out into the chilly corridors of Castle Keyvnor.

At least he’d left her sleeping peacefully. He smiled as he thought about her wrapped up in her counterpane as he’d left and was glad he’d been able to bring her a little solace through the night.

Jack rounded a corner and nearly ran right into Redgrave of all the damned people at Keyvnor. “Beg your pardon,” he said and tried to step around Cassy’s overprotective cousin.

“You’re up early.” Redgrave narrowed his eyes on Jack.

“Yes, well, no need to keep Town hours when one isn’t in Town.” Jack moved again to pass the viscount, who stepped into his path once more.

“Isn’t that the same jacket and waistcoat you wore yesterday?”

Damn the man straight to hell. Jack forced a grin to his face as he replied wryly, “I had no idea you kept such a keen eye focused on my fashion, Redgrave. I’m sure my tailor would be honored. Shall I send you his direction?”

“Where’ve you been?” the humorless viscount returned.

Jack heaved a sigh. “Long night, couldn’t sleep and ended up walking the castle.”

“Alone?”

The obnoxious prig.

Jack shrugged. “To hear Michael tell it, no one is ever truly alone at Keyvnor.”

The man heaved an irritated sigh. How unpleasant it must be to be so serious all the time. If he’d just get his knob polished more often, he’d probably be a much more likable fellow. Probably.

“Now see, here, St. Giles,” Redgrave finally began, “I don’t care one whit that the female half of the species seems to find you charming for some reason. But do keep your distance from my sister and my cousins.”

“You’ve already said as much.” Jack breathed out a sigh of his own. “I’m sure there’s some other fellow wandering about that you could be threatening in my stead. Perhaps one who hasn’t already heard your dire warnings.” He then pushed the viscount aside. “Do excuse me.”

Time to change clothes before anyone else spotted him in yesterday’s jacket and waistcoat.

Heavens! It was freezing. Cassy snuggled deeper under her covers, missing the comfort of Jack’s warmth. She had no idea how long he’d been gone, just that he wasn’t there any longer and the heat he’d brought with him last night had long since vanished. She sighed at the memory of being held against him, the strength of his chest at her back and safety of his arms wrapped around her. He was, in a word, perfect.

“Absolutely perfect,” she whispered to the empty room. “Don’t you think so, Oscar?”

But there was no little black bundle of fluff at the foot of the bed like there usually was. Cassy frowned as she stretched her arms over her head to wake up.

“Oscar?” she said again.

But there was no barking, no whining, no thump of an overzealous tail. Usually her little poodle woke her quite early so he could be let outside, but…Well, where in the world was Oscar? He should have had her up hours ago.

Cassy pushed up on her elbows and scanned her borrowed chambers. “Oscar!”

Where could he be? He’d been with Jack and her last night. She knew that for a fact, but…Jack! He must have taken Oscar with him when he left so she could sleep. The wonderful man.

A smile spread across her face as she collapsed back against her pillows. Yes, perfect. Jack was most definitely perfect.

After a moment, she pushed the counterpane from her and scrambled out of bed and over to the bell pull in the corner of her chambers. Time to bathe and dress and hurry down to the breakfast room in hopes of finding Jack and Oscar.

Although after a quick glance out the window while she waited for Betsy to attend her, Cassy noticed the sun was quite high in the sky. She’d already slept through breakfast, most definitely.

As Devon Lancaster finished his brandy and departed the billiards room for parts unknown, Jack decided quite fervently that his friend had lost his mind. After all, the man was in desperate need of an heiress bride, and while there were several ladies in residence at Keyvnor who would do nicely, Lancaster had spent nearly every waking moment this last week mooning over a penniless vicar’s daughter instead. It was almost as though he wanted to live in a poor house.

How fortunate Jack was that marrying for money was not something he’d ever had to contemplate for himself. With as tightfisted as his father was, the coffers of the Margate dukedom would be near to overflowing by the time he did finally inherit the title.

Jack lined up a shot, even though he was now quite alone in the room, and struck the ball with his stick. The ball bounced off the far cushion and rolled back toward him rather nicely.

There was no harm in practicing for a bit, especially as Lancaster, Lockwood and Blackwater were otherwise engaged, and he had no idea where Michael had hidden himself. He’d seen his friend at breakfast, but sometime that afternoon the man had disappeared. So what else was Jack to do but line up his shots and perfect his game while he waited for Cassy to come down for the day? Honestly, it was later than he’d expected, but as she’d tossed and turned most of the night, he did hope she was resting peacefully.

He lined up the white ball again.

“Have you seen Oscar?” Toby Priske asked from the threshold just as Jack struck the cue ball, which promptly jumped the cushion, thudded onto the rug and rolled toward the little boy.

“Oscar?” Jack straightened and placed his stick on the billiard table.

“Cassy’s dog,” the boy replied as he snatched the cue ball up in his hand. “Can’t seem to find the little beast anywhere.”

He was probably knocking over more vases somewhere in Keyvnor that Cassy would have to apologize for later. “Sorry. Haven’t seen him. How long has he been—”

And then Cassy appeared in the doorway beside her brother, like a vision come to life. Sleeping beauty finally awakes. “Jack,” she breathed out. Her golden gown with a nicely scooped bodice made the flecks in her hazel eyes shine ever so brightly. On his life, Jack had never seen a prettier girl, and she was just as beautiful inside as she was out.

“You can’t find Oscar?” he asked, unable to pull his gaze from her.

“I was hoping—” she glanced down at her little brother as though wishing he wasn’t there “—you might have seen him this morning.”

That morning when he left her bedchamber? Had her poodle been missing all that time? Jack tried to remember seeing the little ball of fluff, but nothing popped to mind. “I don’t recall seeing him,” he said slowly. Though he probably wouldn’t have noticed Oscar one way or the other as his mind had been firmly focused on the girl whose bed he’d just slipped from. “I did bump into Redgrave this morning. Perhaps he spotted him.”

She winced. “Anthony saw you?”

Not coming out of her room, but Jack couldn’t say those exact words , not with her little brother present. “We chatted while I was walking the castle.” Hopefully that was enough to put her worry at rest.

She smiled slightly. “Well, I would ask him, but I haven’t seen any of my cousins today.”

Neither had Jack, not since breakfast. “I’m happy to help you look for the little fellow. Perhaps a bit of pheasant might do the trick.”

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“Where have you looked?” Jack asked as he started for the threshold and offered Cassy his arm.

“I’ve gone through all the public rooms,” she replied. “There’s no sign of him.”

Jack gestured to Toby. “You take the bedchambers. He might have gotten trapped if a maid shut him in someone’s chamber by accident.”

“You want me to go into people’s bedchambers?” The boy gaped at him.

“It would be much more scandalous if either your sister or I did so.”

Toby blew out a breath. “Mother will be furious if I get caught.”

“Then try not to get caught,” Cassy said. “You’re clever enough at home. What if poor Oscar is trapped in someone’s chambers?”