‘And he is that,’ her brother assured her. ‘There is no scandal attached to his name or his family. He is loosely connected to two titles, though unlikely to inherit them. Wealthy, as well. He just purchased some fine horses at Tattersalls, and a new carriage.’
‘He has informed me,’ Cassie said, gazing out the window again.
‘I am only telling you so that you know I approve,’ Julian said, a little more gently.
‘And I am telling you that his favourite topics of conversation are other people and himself,’ she said. ‘The horses were a closethird.’ Then, because she could not help herself, she added, ‘And who is Harriette Wilson?’
There was an awkward pause as Julian and Portia exchanged glances. Then, Julian said, ‘As you said just now, it is rude to speak of other people. Especially women like her.’
‘Wellington’s mistress,’ Portia said, then looked at Julian and shrugged. ‘And your brother is right. We shouldn’t speak of her. Ladies aren’t supposed to know such things.’
‘And yet, it is clear that they all do,’ Cassie said, disgusted. ‘I don’t know what I dislike more about the people of London, their despicable behaviour, or the lies they tell to hide it.’
Or the way they could seem like the sweetest most misunderstood man on Earth, and then, just a few hours later, act exactly the way everyone assured one that they would. She would meet him tomorrow for the last time and tell him what she thought of him. Then, she would return his stick pin and take the next mail coach back to the Cotswolds.
Chapter Twelve
At five past two the next day, Sebastian was waiting at Hyde Park corner, trying and failing to hide his nervousness. With each minute that passed he grew more sure that Cassie was not coming. Or worse yet, that she would arrive on Balard’s arm and offer nothing more than a chilly smile as she passed him.
He had hoped to speak with her after the play, to explain that the brief visit from Harriette had meant nothing. She was an old friend, albeit a very close old friend. Too close, perhaps. Judging by the look she had given him, Balard had told her far too much already.
It was another five minutes before Cassie arrived, alone except for her maid.
‘Miss Fisk,’ he said with a formal bow. ‘How delightful to see you. It is a delightful day as well, is it not?’
‘Indeed, Your Grace,’ she replied, looking past him into the park.
He stepped into her line of sight so she could not ignore him. ‘May I escort you along the Serpentine?’
‘That would be most kind of you, Your Grace,’ she said, without smiling.
They walked in silence until they reached the keeper’s lodge, where he bought a bag of corn for Bessie and sent her off to feed the swans in the water. Then he found a bench for the two of them and invited Cassie to sit.
She did so and fumbled in her reticule for a moment before withdrawing her clenched hand and holding it out to him.
He placed his open hand beneath it, puzzled.
‘I have come to return this,’ she said, dropping the amber stick pin into his palm.
‘No,’ he said, automatically.
She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, as if challenging him to disagree.
He took her hand and pressed the pin back into it. ‘I will not accept it. You are not even sure where it came from, are you?’
‘I think we both know perfectly well,’ she said.
‘There was no signature on the note. Nothing that anyone can reproach you with. And the pin is a simple thing. There is no obligation attached to it. It was meant as a token of friendship and you can keep it as such. If your heart is pledged to another, tuck it away in your jewel case and take it out on days when you are feeling sentimental and want to remember the past.’
She was silent, giving him ample time to regret his words. What sort of a fool was he to let her go like this, without a struggle? He should be apologizing, even though he’d done nothing.
Not recently, at least.
And he could not exactly say he was sorry for the things he’d done before he met her. It was far too late to take them back.
Slowly, she closed her hand around the pin and put it back in her purse. Then, she said, ‘My heart is not pledged to anyone.’
He let out a sigh of relief.
