“No one is going after them,” Cass said. “If they’re in love, then that’s enough.”
The duchess looked shocked. “But my dear, if he’s a fortune hunter—”
“He’s not. I know Mr. Adams very well. His father was solicitor to my aunt and uncle before the young Mr. Adams took over. For the first two years he worked for the Nickmans, he stammered every time Kitty entered the room. Now that I think about it, he was clearly smitten even then. He’s about ten years her senior, just enough to be a settled fellow who will give her a respectable life, but not so old that she won’t find him appealing.”
Gwyn stared at her. “You’re sure he’s not after her money.”
“I’m notsure,but I don’t think so. He has money of his own. His father’s business is well established, and he has picked up the reins admirably.”
Heywood glanced around at the group. “Then I suppose we must bow to Cass’s greater knowledge of what Kitty might want.” The others nodded in acknowledgment.
“Thank you,” Cass said. “At least she’ll be safe from Mr. Malet. Which, I suppose, means that it’s time for me to go home.”
“Nonsense,” the duchess said. “It’s very near dark and far too dangerous for you to travel, even if Heywood and Sheridan go with you. You might as well stay here tonight and tomorrow. You won’t want to travel on Christmas. Every coaching inn will be closed.”
“Yes, you should remain here,” Heywood said in a low rumble that tugged at her heart.
“Very well.” But there was a catch in her throat. She wasn’t at all sure she was doing the right thing. She might just be setting herself up for more misery.
Still, it made her think. Perhaps sheshouldtell Heywood about her fortune. Kitty had given up everything to be with the man she loved. There was no guarantee that Aunt Virginia would approve of her choice after the fact, and if she didn’t the couple might not be given anything—no dowry, no inheritance. Yet Kitty had risked it.
Meanwhile, Cass was hedging her bets, asking Heywood to give up all his hopes in order to be with her. Was that fair?Shewasn’t giving up anything. Perhaps she should follow Kitty’s lead and go after the man she loved.
Loved?
Yes, she loved Heywood. She loved his protectiveness and his many kindnesses. She loved that he appreciated her wit. She loved that he had first become attracted to her through her letters.
By expecting him to be willing to give up his future for her, was she being too exacting? Perhaps. It was probably as unfair as it was to expect Mr. Adams to wear sackcloth and ashes because he wanted a woman who happened to have a fortune.
Well, no more. She would do her best to gain Heywood. And if it meant telling him everything? Then she would do that, too. Because even if he did want her fortune, she would still rather be married to him than anyone else.
She wanted Heywood. And that was that.
* * *
It was nearly midnight when Heywood headed up the stairs, intending to go to bed. He’d hoped to find a moment alone with Cass, but that hadn’t happened. First, there’d been the tree decorating. Cass had seemed very enamored of the custom and had thrown herself into it with great enthusiasm. Not wanting to lose a single minute with her, he’d stayed to watch, though he could have bowed out.
Normally they would have opened their presents next, but with half the family having still not arrived, Mother had commanded that the gift giving be done on Christmas morning. That suited him just fine. He still hadn’t had the chance to talk to Cass alone, which dictated whether he gave her a ring or something less significant. He could almost believe that his mother, half sister, and brother had conspired to keep him and Cass apart, but that seemed very calculated, even for his family.
His other siblings, who were supposed to be traveling from London, had sent word by a footman that they would be at Armitage Hall in time for Christmas dinner tomorrow but couldn’t promise better than that because the roads still made for slow going.
To his surprise, however, as he passed Thorn’s room he spotted Cass standing in the middle of it, staring at nothing. The fire had been lit, probably by some servant who hadn’t heard that Thorn had been delayed, but no candles were burning. Still, he could see that Cass wore only a nightdress and a wrapper.
God help him. How was he to endurethattemptation? “What are you doing?” he asked from the doorway, not wanting to spook her.
She faced him with a dazed expression. “I don’t know. I was trying to sleep, but I couldn’t get Kitty out of my mind. So I came here, hoping to find another letter from her. Or something to explain why she would sneak out without even telling me.”
Ah, yes, Heywood had forgotten that Kitty had been sleeping in Thorn’s room. Mother had planned to move her today, but her elopement had put an end to that.
Cass flashed him a rueful smile. “I think it has just sunk in that she’s gone off with Mr. Adams.”
He walked into the room. Cass needed someone to listen. Surely he could be that person, no matter how flimsy her gown and wrapper. No matter how gorgeous her hair, now that it was tumbling from beneath her mobcap and down over her shoulders like froth in a bowl of syllabub. “I doubt she purposely left you out of the decision. Adams probably didn’t give her much opportunity. They saw we were preoccupied and took their chance to elope.”
She shook her head. “You don’t understand. Kitty and I tell each other everything. Yet when she made the most important decision of her life, she didn’t confide in me.”
“Your cousin doesn’t strike me as the sort to think through decisions. She just leaps.”
“That does sound like her.” Cass tucked an errant curl up under her mobcap. “But how is it I never even guessed that Mr. Adams was . . . in love with her? Or she was in love with him? Perhaps if I had—”
