“How?”
“I have not decided yet,” Cassandra admitted. “But I cannot allow this to continue unchallenged. Every day here is a performance, and I cannot do it for the rest of my life.”
Anthea’s grip tightened slightly on her arm. “You understand the consequences.”
“I understand that if I do nothing, I will disappear.”
They reached a stand of trees and paused. Anthea turned to face her fully. Cassandra waited for the lecture, but it did not seem to come.
“I will not tell you that this is wise,” she said. “Nor will I pretend that it will not hurt.”
“I did not expect you to.”
“But,” Anthea continued, “I will support you. I know that you will be pleased with any outcome as long as it was your doing.”
Cassandra exhaled, some of the tightness in her chest loosening for the first time since she had arrived.
“That is enough,” she said quietly. “More than enough.”
Anthea smiled, small but resolute.
“Then tell me what you have already done.”
Cassandra hesitated, then allowed herself a brief, crooked smile.
“Nothing as yet,” she said. “Though I did speak rather untowardly to Lady Sylvia.”
“I see,” she laughed. “Well, that is to be expected. If you ask me, she should remember who she is being unkind to in the first place.”
“But I did not tell you about that.”
“You did not need to. I know that you would never attack unprovoked.”
The relief she felt was palpable. Whatever came next, Cassandra knew one thing with absolute certainty: she would not face it alone.
Cassandra left Anthea with reluctance.
The comfort of her friend’s presence lingered, but it did nothing to solve the immediate problem. She needed to speak to the Duke about what had happened the night before, while the house still held the quiet of early morning.
If she were to sabotage anything, she would need clarity first. She would not act blindly. Whatever he believed of her, she would not become reckless for the sake of spite.
A footman passed her in the corridor.
“Is His Grace awake?” she asked.
“Yes, my lady,” he replied. “He was searching for you.”
Cassandra frowned, wondering why he would wish to speak with her. A maid paused nearby, curtseying.
“If you seek His Grace, my lady, he stepped out into the gardens moments ago.”
Of course he had.
Cassandra thanked her and turned again, irritation beginning to prickle beneath her resolve. The estate seemed determined to frustrate her at every turn.
She descended the back staircase, skirts gathered in one hand, and emerged near the side entrance. She scanned the paths, but there was nothing.
A groom hurried past, and she stopped him.
