Of course, he should be used to how his father dealt with his two wayward sons. Between Collin and his younger brother, Adrian was the one who had gotten into trouble more. Still, Father had decided to buy a manor to house his sons in hopes that the brothers would get along and become responsible adults.
Again, Collin thought Adrian was the one who needed this lesson more. He wasn’t looking forward to returning home and finding his belongings had already been moved into the new manor. Nor was he hopeful that he and his brother would become closer. The distance between them was what kept them both alive.
The coach’s wheel hit a rock, making the vehicle tilt slightly, snapping Collin from his thoughts. Although he didn’t want to think of his father’s disturbing news, he wouldn’t mind imagining being with Cassandra again.
He had sorely misjudged her, even though he had her family pegged right from the start. However, Cassandra was vastly different. She actually wanted to portray a well-bred lady, whereas the rest of the family showed Collin that they had somehow lost their upbringing during their impoverished time.
He enjoyed Cassandra’s company, and he would cherish the sound of her playing the pianoforte even if they never saw each other again. Although she hadn’t said anything about it to him, he could see her love for music. He could relate to this emotion,and he wouldn’t mind talking with her about it. A few times while she played, her eyes closed, and the pleasant expression on her pretty face let him know how much she enjoyed the piece.
And at the table, during their brief conversation, he noticed how well-mannered she was, and certainly well conversed. Another thing he noticed was that she watched him even though she tried to pretend she didn’t. Knowing that she shot him invisible daggers with her glare after they first met, and then to catch her studying him, had caught his interest.
Most women fell all over themselves and were complete ninnies to meet him and capture his attention, but Cassandra was exactly opposite. At first, it had bothered him, since he had finally met a woman who didn’t like him right away, but then as he communicated with her more and she started to smile, he wanted more. It was too bad that Kentwood had remembered a function they needed to attend…
Wait. That wasn’t right.
Collin snapped alert, trying to remember his and Kentwood’s agenda this evening. He and his cousin Lloyd had planned their holiday to Bath together, but Collin didn’t think they had anything to do tonight. In fact, he recalled his cousin telling him they would just find a gaming hall and play cards.
“Kentwood?” he asked, pulling his focus from the window to stare at the man sitting across from him.
Lloyd’s eyes snapped open, and he straightened. Apparently, Collin’s cousin had fallen asleep.
“Yes?”
“Refresh my memory, but what other engagement do we have tonight?”
Lloyd scratched his chin. “What do you mean?”
Collin rolled his eyes. “You told the Featherstones that we had a previous engagement, did you not?”
“Indeed I did.” Lloyd folded his arms and leaned back in the seat again. “I needed to say something to get us away from those ill-mannered people.”
“Ill-mannered?” Collin shook his head. “If you thought that way about them, why did you agree to have supper with them? After all, you were the one who answered for both of us.”
Lloyd blew out an irritated breath. “Because I knew we needed to be fed before we left. We have a big game tonight, and I didn’t want to waste time finding a place to dine for the evening meal.”
“I could have been just fine without the game. You know I don’t enjoy gambling.”
Lloyd snickered. “That is only because you aren’t good at it.”
“It is because I have never been interested in the sport.”
“Well, nevertheless, I needed to say something to get us out of there.” Lloyd shrugged. “Besides, I could tell Miss Featherstone was aiming her sights on you. I didn’t want you to be her next conquest.”
“If you must know, cousin, I was enjoying myself with her.”
Lloyd shook his head. “Which is another reason I needed to get you away. Women like that are only good for two things, and marriage isn’t one of them.”
Collin fisted his hands. He wished his cousin would start thinking of other people’s feelings once in a while. “Miss Featherstone isn’t like most women. In fact, I might return to visit with her again.”
Lloyd narrowed his eyes. “Mark my words, if you do, she will trap you into marriage. I have seen it done too many times, and the farther away we get from women like that, the better we are.”
Not often did Collin disagree with Kentwood, but this would be the exception.
Chapter Eight
Cassandra stared ather reflection in the mirror and scowled. What was Aunt Frances thinking to have her brother’s lowly family attend a masked ball at the old woman’s country manor? She knew they couldn’t afford new clothes, which meant they would show up wearing rags, while everyone else in attendance would be dressed in fine silks and satins.
When Father had received the invitation a week ago, Cassandra tried to argue with her parents that they should not go. She hated to be seen in public anyway, especially at the social events that they were rarely invited to. She didn’t like how people looked at them—the same way Collin Worthington had looked at her when she opened the door and let him and his cousin inside the house two days ago.
