Before long, Cass, Gwyn, and Kitty were dressed in riding habits as they headed downstairs to the coat closet to find warm outer garments. As soon as they’d chosen cloaks and scarves, they were joined by Heywood and his brother Sheridan, the Duke of Armitage. Cass would have known the duke anywhere since he was a thinner, more serious version of Heywood, with greener eyes and browner hair. Heywood performed the introductions, though it seemed to Cass that the duke was too distracted to pay them much mind.
Heywood, however, seemed cheerful, and helookedquite different in daylight. Now she could see that his brown hair was actually sun streaked and, like his tanned skin, spoke to his long sojourn in Portugal. Last night it had also been too dim, even in Armitage Hall, to see that his eyes were of a hazel so warm it mirrored his smile.
So warm that it made her heart race, which couldn’t possibly be healthy.
“I trust that you ladies slept well?” Heywood asked, though he was staring right ather, turning her insides to mush.
Before she could answer, Sheridan snorted. “I’m not sure howanyonesleeps well during an abduction.”
Her gaze narrowed in on Kitty, who blushed. “I-I know we weren’t supposed to say anything, but I was tired and the duchess was so kind. . . .”
Heywood gave a rueful shake of his head. “Turns out you were right, Cass. Mother got the truth out of her. This morning the entire family threatened me with bodily harm if either of you finds yourself embroiled in scandal as a result of my actions.”
“But they know the situation, right?” Cass asked, unaccountably disturbed at the idea of his family criticizing him.
“We do,” Sheridan put in. “And we’re more than happy to support the tale that you and your cousin were coming home from the ball when you were caught in the snowstorm.” He stared at his brother. “Are youcertainMalet won’t ruin their reputations by revealing the truth?”
“Not until he’s sure he’s lost any chance with Kitty. And since he knows by now that I took them, he also knows that I will tear him apart publicly if he even attempts to smear them. I knowhissecrets, too, after all.”
Kitty smiled weakly. “At least we’ll get a sleigh ride out of this mad affair, right, Cass?”
“Indeed.”
“The two of you are far too forgiving,” Gwyn said. “If it had been me, I would have entered this house screeching bloody murder.”
“We know, Sis,” Heywood said dryly. “You screech bloody murder if Thorn cuts your allowance by a single guinea.”
“Not true!” she said in mock protest. “It has to be two guineas at the very least.”
Sheridan rolled his eyes. “On that note, I believe I will go.”
“You’re not joining us for the sleigh ride?” Gwyn asked.
“Afraid not. I have too much work to do. The sleigh only fits two, anyway, and Heywood is more than happy to carry each of you around one at a time.”
Gwyn sniffed. “I don’t need Heywood to drive a sleigh. I can drive one of our guests around myself.”
“Ooh, take me!” Kitty cried. “You said you would show me the ruins.”
Cass stifled a groan. That leftherto ride with Heywood alone. What the devil was her cousin up to now?
“If we’re going to the ruins,” Gwyn told Kitty, “we’ll need much warmer outer garments than we’d planned.”
“In that case, while you and Kitty paw through the closet some more, Cass and I will take the first go-around.” Heywood looked at Cass. “That’s assuming you didn’t have your heart set on touring the ruins, too.”
“I merely want to see how the snow looks in sunlight. And to test your sleigh’s mettle, of course. I don’t care about the ruins.”
He grinned. “That’s good, since I have no clue how to find them. After all, I’ve only been at Armitage Hall a few days.”
“Why, sir,” Cass teased him, “I believe you’re the first man in England to admit that he gets lost occasionally.”
“Oh, don’t let him fool you!” Gwyn called out from the coat closet. “He’s as irritable as any other fellow when his navigational prowess is challenged. He used to drag us all over Berlin—on foot, mind you—while insisting he knew where he was going.”
“Ididknow where I was going,” Heywood said, sparing a wink for Cass. “You lot simply couldn’t appreciate the value of taking the scenic route in order to tour the city.”
Gwyn emerged from the closet with a fur muff in one hand and a wool scarf in the other, which she held out to Cass. “You’ll probably need these, too, especially if Heywood decides to take any ‘scenic routes’ in the sleigh. It’s cold outside.”
As Cass wrapped the scarf about her neck and put her hands in the muff, Heywood snorted. “You’re just jealous that I’m a better driver than you, Gwyn.”
