A False Proposal by Pam Mingle Page B

Fleetingly, it occurred to Cass that he might be having her on. He may well know what happened. On the other hand, Adam hadn’t known. But he’d been at war and traveling, whereas Hugh had merely been living in the country. Oh, what difference did it make? It wasn’t as if she was going to blurt out the whole sordid business right now.
    “After my parents died, I took on the responsibility of educating my younger sister. Philippa is only ten.”
    “The child does not have a governess?”
    “Not at present.”
    “Do you enjoy acting as a tutor? Does it not prevent you from doing other things young ladies take pleasure in? Shopping? Riding in the park, and the like?”
    “You forget, sir, that I’m no longer a young lady. I have done my share of those things.”
    “Ah. So serious you are. And so elderly. We must find you a companion…or even a nurse.”
    Cass couldn’t help smiling. “A very lowering thought. I may go into a decline at any moment.” She didn’t care to be the object of his attentions. It was time to cast the spotlight on him. “You live in Surrey most of the year, I collect. What do you do there?”
    As Hugh began to speak, she glanced toward Adam. Leonora was talking, Miss Morgan was giggling—actually, it sounded more like a cackle—but Adam was staring pointedly at her and Hugh, his expression one of barely concealed fury. She darted her eyes away, wishing she could get inside that head of his.
    …
    After an interminable dinner, Deborah rose, the signal that the men would now be left to their port while the ladies adjourned to the drawing room. Gratefully, Cass followed. Never had she been so happy to leave a table, although Hugh had turned out to be a better companion than she’d anticipated. Adam’s attentions to his dining partners in full view of her were grating on her nerves by the end of the meal, though, and she had no idea what that furious glare had signified.
    Too distracted when she first arrived, Cass had barely noticed the drawing room. It was lovely. Deep blue antique drapery, in the classical style that was fashionable among the ton , drew her eye. The color was stunning. A fire burned in the grate, and window embrasures opened up the room on both ends. Of course, the requisite pianoforte stood near the center of the room, and card tables were scattered about, as well as many chairs. Framed Etruscan engravings adorned one wall.
    Jenny hurried to Cass’s side and tugged on her arm, and she soon found herself huddling with the other girl near one of the windows. “Well?” Jenny demanded.
    “Well what?”
    “What’s he like? Adam’s mysterious, scary-looking brother?”
    Cass laughed. “Oh, Jenny, he was quite pleasant and not at all scary.”
    “You have to admit he has a certain aura about him. What did he talk about?”
    “He told me about their home in Surrey. Sadly, it’s falling to rack and ruin. It sounds pretty dire.”
    “But I thought they were wealthy.”
    Cass shrugged. “He did not elaborate on the reasons.”
    Just then, Deborah sought their attention. “Ladies, in a few days’ time, you will all be receiving invitations to a house party at my country home in Surrey, hosted by Adam and me. We do hope you will be able to join us.”
    Cass and Jenny stared at each other. Were they being invited to the home that was falling apart, according to Hugh? And everyone knew Deborah and Benjamin Grey were estranged.
    Their hostess laughed. “Don’t everyone look so shocked. You are invited to my personal home, which I inherited from my parents some years ago. Do please say you will come, or I shall be quite blue-deviled!”
    Talk and laughter broke out among all the ladies. Cass couldn’t help wondering if Deborah meant to invite her. She hoped not. Now that Adam had made clear where she ranked in his affections, she couldn’t see any reason that he would have asked his mother to include her. Apparently Cousin Louisa couldn’t either, because she walked