Her heart sank. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about that man? She had been despondent since he and Lord Kentwood left. Although it had been refreshing to receive such wonderful attention from the handsome lord, now that they were gone, she realized—more than ever—that she would never fall in love. She and her sister would become spinsters.
She wished the lords hadn’t graced the Featherstone house with their presence. Then she would have continued on with her humdrum life of being satisfied with her future. But now she wanted more.
Sighing heavily, she frowned and gazed over her gown. Mother had tried to fix one of Cassandra’s old gowns for the ball, and although it didn’t look as horrendous as the one she wore while Lord Hanover and Lord Kentwood were there for dinner, tonight’s gown wasn’t fancy enough to wear to a masked ball, either.
She blinked away the tears threatening to spring forth. Crying wouldn’t make things any better, so why waste the effort? It wasn’t as though she craved riches, but if only they had enough money for new clothes once in a while, or at least for good food. They didn’t have to live like kings, but she was tired of living like paupers.
Inhaling deeply, she slowly smoothed her palms along the deep blue gown as she tried to breathe away her frustration. Black lace trimmed the heart-shaped bodice and off-the-shoulder sleeves as well as the hem of the gown. She fixed her hair in ringlets instead of coiling it in a bun. Because the bulk fell past her shoulders, she was certain the curl would be gone within an hour.
Her grandmother’s gold locket circled her neck, and matching gold earbobs hung from her earlobes. These pieces of jewelry were the only things of value because they came from the grandmother who had been the world to Cassandra, but died seven years ago.
She sighed again as her frown deepened. Aunt Frances would never be embarrassed with her penniless relatives in attendance. Several times, Cassandra had heard the old woman tell her snooty friends that she washelpingher poor brother and his family. Cassandra’s family was nothing but her charity, according to Aunt’s Frances’s friends, who looked up to the woman for being so generous. Cassandra was just itching to tell them the truth. The old woman had never given them a shilling.
Sadly, it didn’t matter to Cassandra’s parents. This was their only time to hobnob with nobility.
Her name was called from downstairs. The family was ready to leave and waiting on her. Why couldn’t they see that they would be a laughingstock once they arrived at Aunt Frances’s manor?
Groaning, she turned and grabbed her cloak before exiting her room. As always, her brothers were bickering about some mundane thing, and her sister stood by the window, dreamily looking out as she twirled a ringlet of hair around her finger.
“Oh, there you are,” Mother said. “Let us leave. I hate to be late.”
Cassandra would rather be late than early. The more people who were at the party, the more she could make herself invisible.
The ride to the party was miserable, since she had to listen to her sister’s excitement. Although this was the first masked ball they had been invited to, it wasn’t the first gathering at their aunt’s manor. Why was Cassandra the only one to see what their aunt’s true purpose was for inviting the family who had fallen away from Society?
Once they reached their destination and the coach stopped, she climbed out with the assistance of Jacob and waited as her parents exited the vehicle. She scanned the manor looming before her, knowing she would never be mistress of such a fine home. But it didn’t matter, just as long as she was the mistress ofsomehome, married to a good man, and they could raise children.
As they waited with the crowd of invited guests gathered in front of the manor, preparing themselves to enter, Cassandra heard her name called. She swung her head toward the carriages, wondering who would have called for her.
Wearing the servants’ livery of a driver, Stuart Burrell waved to her as he walked closer. The smile she had lost earlier todaysprang to her face as happiness filled her. It was good to see one of the servants her father had had to let go because of his lack of funds.
She rushed toward the man she had once thought of as an older brother. “Stuart. It does my heart good to see you again.” She motioned to his clothes. “And you are a driver now.”
The tall, thin man with receding brown hair nodded and grinned. “Indeed. I have come up in the world and wear fancy clothes.”
She grasped his hands and squeezed. “Whom do you work for?”
“I work for a hackney company. I’m hired out to drive the gentry wherever they wish to go.”
“Oh, Stuart. How wonderful for you.” She released his hands and motioned toward her family’s vehicle. “My family is just over there if you would like to greet them.”
“I might have to do that later. The lords who paid me to drive for them this evening don’t know how long they will stay, so I must be ready at all times for whenever they wish to leave.”
She arched an eyebrow. “What? They are not going to stay for one of Aunt Frances’s famous parties? Why, her gatherings are the talk of the Season.”
“These lords do not live around this area. They are only here on holiday.”
She hitched a silent breath. She knew of two lords who were on holiday in Bath. Then again, many people traveled to Bath for some relaxation from their hectic lives. Although she was positive the men in her mind wouldn’t be here, she just had to ask.
“By chance, is one of these men Lord Hanover?”
Stuart’s eyes widened. “Indeed, that is one of them. The other is Lord Kentwood. Do you know them?”
She laughed lightly, trying to hide the excitement rushing through her. She would see Lord Hanover again. But now that they were withhisclass of friends, would he treat her like the rest of thetontreated her family?
“Yes, Stuart. My family met them two days ago.”
A look of concern crossed his face. “Take care, Cassandra. These men are first-class rogues and nothing less. I pray you do not get tangled in their wayward lifestyle.”
