pocket and tossed it on the ground at Gavin’s feet. “Twenty thousand to turn and leave her without ever thinking on her again.”
Cassidy gasped at Mason’s crude offering. Certainly Gavin was no mere man who could be bought! She was appalled at Mason’s flaunting his wealth and position. She watched in agony as Gavin bent, retrieving the roll of money from the ground at his feet. He would take the money offered for her? He would betray her heart for a rich man’s wealth? But she was proud once more when he tossed the roll at Mason, who caught it swiftly in one powerful fist.
Spitting disgustedly on Mason’s left boot cuff, Gavin growled, “Put your filthy money back in your coward’s pocket , and ride on! I will think on her always! But I will keep from her be it for her own sake…for I’ll not be cause to dampen her good name.” Then, releasing Cassidy, he said to Mason, “ ’ Tis grateful I am…that I was born a common man and will not have to buy a wife.”
“ ’ Tis grateful you should be,” Mason spat , “ f or were you in any way my equal, your blood would be soaking the ground this minute.” Turning his attention to Cassidy, he mounted and slipped back, sitting firmly on the horse’s back quarters, and motioned to her, saying, “Come now, chit. You’ll return to the home of your father and consider on this boy no more.” Holding out his hand to her, he gestured that he would help her to mount his horse. Her pause gave him reason to say, “Do not provoke me further, Miss Shea. My anger cannot be exacted on you , thereby leaving your little lover boy to bear the brunt of it.”
“Go on, Cassidy. I’ll keep you in my heart always. Forever,” Gavin told her, nodding sadly.
With no other venue before her , Cassidy made ready to mount the beast of a horse. “Help me to mount at least, Gavin,” she asked, knowing the feat was impossible alone.
“You need no assistance other than my hand, girl,” Mason growled. Lifting her skirt and petticoats, Cassidy placed her foot in the stirrup. With one powerfully swift movement , Mason took hold of her arm and hefted her into place before him. Taking the horse’s reins tightly in hand, he looked to Gavin and threatened, “It will be your head on a platter if I see you near her again.” Then he shouted to his mount , and the horse lurched forward and into a gallop.
Cassidy’s balance was taken from her in the startling motion, but Mason’s arm was instantly about her waist to steady her. It was overly tight, his grip on her, nearly painful, but she would not admit to him were he to ask. Not once did he slow the fiery steed’s gallop , and upon reaching the stables, he pulled the animal to an abrupt halt. The horse reared once in its excitement , and when it stood firm once more , Mason let Cassidy slip from the horse’s back quickly. She glared up at him, unable to say anything for the burning anger in her throat.
The horse circled once, sensing its rider’s anxiety. “Inform your family that we leave on the morrow for Carlisle Manor. There is no good consequence from lingering here longer,” he growled. His eyes were filled with angry pride. It had vexed him to find her with Gavin. This gave Cassidy a sort of morbid pleasure.
“Please endeavor to make yourself presentable before dinner this evening, Mr. Carlisle,” Cassidy commanded.
His eyes narrowed , and he clenched his jaw tightly. Cassidy’s eyes widened in astonishment as he fairly tore his shirt from his body and ceremoniously tossed it at her feet. Never had she seen a man in such a state of undress. It was alarming to say the least—somehow corruptively fascinating. Cassidy g asped twice in quick succession: o nce at the sight of his magnificent torso bare before her and next as his hand reached down and took hold of her chin tightly.
Leaning down so that his mesmerizing features were only inches from her own, he growled, “Do not make to order me about, Miss Shea. I
Cassidy gasped at Mason’s crude offering. Certainly Gavin was no mere man who could be bought! She was appalled at Mason’s flaunting his wealth and position. She watched in agony as Gavin bent, retrieving the roll of money from the ground at his feet. He would take the money offered for her? He would betray her heart for a rich man’s wealth? But she was proud once more when he tossed the roll at Mason, who caught it swiftly in one powerful fist.
Spitting disgustedly on Mason’s left boot cuff, Gavin growled, “Put your filthy money back in your coward’s pocket , and ride on! I will think on her always! But I will keep from her be it for her own sake…for I’ll not be cause to dampen her good name.” Then, releasing Cassidy, he said to Mason, “ ’ Tis grateful I am…that I was born a common man and will not have to buy a wife.”
“ ’ Tis grateful you should be,” Mason spat , “ f or were you in any way my equal, your blood would be soaking the ground this minute.” Turning his attention to Cassidy, he mounted and slipped back, sitting firmly on the horse’s back quarters, and motioned to her, saying, “Come now, chit. You’ll return to the home of your father and consider on this boy no more.” Holding out his hand to her, he gestured that he would help her to mount his horse. Her pause gave him reason to say, “Do not provoke me further, Miss Shea. My anger cannot be exacted on you , thereby leaving your little lover boy to bear the brunt of it.”
“Go on, Cassidy. I’ll keep you in my heart always. Forever,” Gavin told her, nodding sadly.
With no other venue before her , Cassidy made ready to mount the beast of a horse. “Help me to mount at least, Gavin,” she asked, knowing the feat was impossible alone.
“You need no assistance other than my hand, girl,” Mason growled. Lifting her skirt and petticoats, Cassidy placed her foot in the stirrup. With one powerfully swift movement , Mason took hold of her arm and hefted her into place before him. Taking the horse’s reins tightly in hand, he looked to Gavin and threatened, “It will be your head on a platter if I see you near her again.” Then he shouted to his mount , and the horse lurched forward and into a gallop.
Cassidy’s balance was taken from her in the startling motion, but Mason’s arm was instantly about her waist to steady her. It was overly tight, his grip on her, nearly painful, but she would not admit to him were he to ask. Not once did he slow the fiery steed’s gallop , and upon reaching the stables, he pulled the animal to an abrupt halt. The horse reared once in its excitement , and when it stood firm once more , Mason let Cassidy slip from the horse’s back quickly. She glared up at him, unable to say anything for the burning anger in her throat.
The horse circled once, sensing its rider’s anxiety. “Inform your family that we leave on the morrow for Carlisle Manor. There is no good consequence from lingering here longer,” he growled. His eyes were filled with angry pride. It had vexed him to find her with Gavin. This gave Cassidy a sort of morbid pleasure.
“Please endeavor to make yourself presentable before dinner this evening, Mr. Carlisle,” Cassidy commanded.
His eyes narrowed , and he clenched his jaw tightly. Cassidy’s eyes widened in astonishment as he fairly tore his shirt from his body and ceremoniously tossed it at her feet. Never had she seen a man in such a state of undress. It was alarming to say the least—somehow corruptively fascinating. Cassidy g asped twice in quick succession: o nce at the sight of his magnificent torso bare before her and next as his hand reached down and took hold of her chin tightly.
Leaning down so that his mesmerizing features were only inches from her own, he growled, “Do not make to order me about, Miss Shea. I
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