Where had he come from and why was he in the Sacred Grove so early?
More importantly, why did he appear so angry or at least determined?
Chapter 12
Shouldn’t Eugenia be more concerned with her children marrying than the boy she took into her home and raised but was of no blood relation? That was the one question that had plagued Cassian through the evening before and his first thought this morning, and why he was determined to arrive at Nightshade Manor before anyone else had awakened. He wanted to talk to Eugenia alone, and knew it was her habit of rising early. Not with the sunrise, but earlier than most and he had spent many quiet mornings with her in his younger years when they talked about many things and it was through her that he learned to appreciate the peacefulness of an awakening day.
It had been impossible to speak with her last night because right after they had dined, everyone gathered in the drawing room to celebrate Mother’s Night. He had heard the stories a dozen times but still enjoyed them and if he had not been irritated or worried that Eugenia was attempting to match him with Samantha, he likely would have gotten more enjoyment from the evening.
The only person he thought he might encounter so early was Samantha, but he had not seen her either, which was for the best because he would have been distracted from his purpose and he needed to speak with the woman who had raised him.
When she finally appeared, he stepped forward. “Might I have a word, Eugenia.”
She frowned, then nodded before she followed Cassian into the parlor where he shut the door.
“Is something the matter?”
“Why are you trying to match me to Samantha?”
Her eyes widened slightly as she pulled back. “Whatever do you mean?”
She was trying too hard to claim innocence and Cassian knew her too well.
“Why have me escort her to the Sacred Grove and then into Bocka Morrow to shop? She is a guest in this house. You have a daughter and nieces who could have seen to the task, yet you sent her…with me.”
“She is one of Antonia’s dearest friends and wants to be of assistance for the celebrations planned.”
He had not heard Samantha make such a claim. Then again, Cassian wasn’t around her constantly.
“She is a lovely girl. What do you have against her?”
“Nothing, but she is not for me,” Cassian answered.
“Truly? I thought the two of you were getting on quite well.”
“What gave you that idea?” he demanded.
“You have been watching her since the ball. Not in a way that would make one concerned, but as someone with a heightened interest in coming to know another person. You both enjoy rising early to watch the sunrise, you enjoy her music, you took her to have her past revealed, and you took her to see dolphins. One may assume that you have entered into a courtship.”
“We most certainly have not. Further, we are ill-suited.”
“I do find that difficult to believe for I have watched the two of you.”
He really did not want to argue with Eugenia, but he would if he must. “Even if I wished to pursue Lady Samantha, which I am in no way admitting, I cannot.”
“Whyever not?”
“What do I have to offer her or any woman? It is why I remain a bachelor.”
“You can offer the same as my other sons,” she answered. “Only Chedworth will receive more because he is the heir.”
It was true that Cassian had been treated no differently than her other children even though he was not hers by blood. Cassian had been appreciative when he was younger but suffered from guilt for accepting so much now that he was older.
“The quarterlies are certainly sufficient enough to support a wife for when the time comes,” she added. “You even have the advantage over the others by already having a cottage.”
“It is not something I own but am allowed to live in.”
“It is the home you made for you and your sister. Nobody will ever take that from you.”
