Shackles of Honor by Marcia Lynn McClure

note from Gavin begged for a meeting between them, and Cassidy hurried to the dense forest that bordered the west gardens. Still, with every footstep drawing her nearer to this man she had been so sure she loved, she felt guilt at not having thought of him once that day until his name was mentioned. She hesitated for a moment, uncertain that she could face him with such news as she bore. Upon seeing him waiting anxiously for her amid the trees, however, Cassidy thought angrily of Mason’s warning and ran to Gavin, throwing herself into his arms and the safety of his embrace.
    “Gavin, Gavin!” she cried against his shoulder. “Oh, Gavin! What is to become of me?”
    “Cass? What is it?” he asked, obviously unsettled by her unexpected emotion.
    “The stranger,” she began, looking into his dazzling blue and innocent eyes. “The master of the bay…”
    “Yes? What is it?”
    “His name is Mason Carlisle. He has come here…he is here to…” She couldn’t force the words from her throat.
    Gavin’s frown was deep and anxious as he studied her face. “What, Cass? Why is he here?”
    “Gavin…” she stammered. “I am…I’m to return to his home with him. I…I’m to marry him, Gavin.”
    The horror, the utter horror , on Gavin’s face was all too apparent. Cassidy rebuked herself silently , for it was only at that moment she realized what she had done. She had known, known all along , that she could never belong to Gavin. She had known that she wasn’t certain that she wanted to. She had been living in a dream —t elling herself she would be allowed to make her own choices, even though the mantle of her social position demanded otherwise.
    “What?” he breathed in disbelief. “Marry him? A stranger unknown to you? You knew nothing of this?”
    Cassidy could only shake her head. “He’s so angry all the time…so cruel in his manner toward me. How will I ever endure it?”
    Gavin’s jaw clenched tightly , and Cassidy could see the jealousy in his eyes, the instant hatred of Mason Carlisle burning in them. “He can’t have you, Cass. Tell your father that you refuse to…”
    His words were lost as Cassidy hung her head guiltily. “I…I’ve already agreed to it, Gavin. It is what my parents want. It’s — ”
    “You agreed to it? You mean…you had a choice and you — ”
    “Not really. They…my father would’ve given me the choice , but I…I couldn’t fail him. Not when it seemed of such great importance to him. ”
    Gavin took Cassidy’s shoulders between his strong hands and looked determinedly into her eyes. “Listen to me, Cass. We will run away together. By the time they find us, we’ll have wed , and it will be too late.”
    Cassidy shook her head slowly. “No, Gavin. I…I should never have let you think we would — ”
    “Drop your hands from that girl, boy!”
    A shiver surged through Cassidy at the sound of Mason’s voice behind her, at the look of hatred in Gavin’s eyes as he looked up and beyond her. Whirling around, Cassidy found herself staring up at Mason Carlisle astride his violent bay. His hair was windblown and mussed ; his shirt hung untucked from his trousers, completely unbuttoned , and blowing behind him with the breeze. His eyes were blazing with anger and his jaw set firmly.
    “Ride on, man,” Gavin ordered. “I have no desire to spend my life rotting in prison for murder.”
    “Nor do I,” Mason growled. He dismounted immediately and strode to stand before Cassidy. “She has told you of what she is bound to do?” he asked Gavin.
    “She has. And she is loath to do it,” Gavin muttered.
    “Gavin!” Cassidy scolded, irritated that he would speak her feelings for her.
    Mason glared at Cassidy, but his words were still directed at Gavin. “Such is the plight of society.” He then looked to Gavin and spoke again. “I can beat you into the dirt this minute, boy . O r … ” A nd Mason Carlisle produced a large roll of paper currency from his