Cassandra wished her sister would stop placing these doubts in her head. “Will you trust me? I know what I’m doing.” She paused. “But I will need your help. I’m meeting Collin at one o’clock this afternoon, and after I leave, I need you to tell Father where I’m going. Just tell him that I’m meeting secretly with Lord Hanover.”
Olivia nodded as her frown deepened. “I shall help, and I will pray that things work out.”
“Thank you.” Cassandra hugged her sister. “Being Collin’s wife, I’ll be able to help the family. Of course, I’m not going to give Father any money to gamble away, but I will make certain everyone has new clothes and good food to eat.”
“I don’t dare believe in such a miracle, but I shall try.”
Cassandra kissed her sister’s cheek. “I’ll make it work. I promise.”
Olivia turned and hurried away. Cassandra sighed heavily as relief swept through her. But there was still that niggle of doubt that something might go wrong.
She shook her head. She deserved happiness, and her family deserved to mingle with thetonwithout feeling ashamed for their father’s sinful habit that had ruined them.
The next two and a half hours, she worked inside the house and constantly watched the clock. She hadn’t seen Olivia since they talked while feeding the chickens. Cassandra hoped her sister didn’t disappear just to avoid telling their father about the secret meeting.
Time seemed to drag. Of course, she tried not to rush through her chores, because that would make her done faster, with nothing to do but count the minutes until she saw Collin. As she cleaned, she imagined what would happen when they finally met. She couldn’t wait to be in his arms, kissing him to distraction. She also hoped they would spend time talking. She’d enjoyed being with him last night and getting to know him better.
Finally, she made her way to her room, walking as calmly as she could. Well, shetriedto look calm, but her stomach was roiling and her limbs shook from her nerves. She walked inside and closed the door, breathing a sigh of relief that her mother hadn’t tried to stop her.
Cassandra stripped off her clothes and took a quick sponge bath before finding another day dress to wear. This one was baby blue, with bell-shaped sleeves, and trimmed with white lace. Although it wasn’t one of her nicest gowns, Collin had mentioned how well she looked wearing blue. Since it was her favorite color anyway, she knew she had to wear it just for him.
She brushed her hair out of the coil it had been in, pulled the bulk of hair away from her face, and tied it with a ribbon that matched her dress.
As she studied her reflection in the mirror, she realized she didn’t have to pinch her cheeks to bring color to her face. She was certain his compliments, as well as the memory of when they last kissed, would have her face pink most of the time anyway. Besides that, the excitement inside her would keep the blood rushing to her face.
When she left the room, she crept down the stairs, listening for sounds of her parents. As she neared the door, the only conversation she could hear was that of her brothers in the kitchen.
Cassandra opened the front door and left the house, trying not to let anyone hear her. Her heart pounded against her ribs so hard, she feared they would break. She couldn’t get caught yet. Then again, if it was her father who noticed her leaving, she was certain he would let her go to Collin. After all, her father wanted her to doanythingnecessary to secure a husband.
As she moved toward the stable, she noticed the clouds were darker than before. She prayed the storm would stay away until after she reached the cottage. Then again, with their getting wet last night, their time together had been that much better. It was almost too bad that her father hadn’t caught her and Collin together last night. Indeed, she would be getting married soon if that had happened.
She saddled one of the horses before mounting and taking off. The closer she came to the abandoned cottage, the harder her body shook. Doubt tried to sneak into her mind, but she quickly ushered it out. Collin had admitted to being a rogue, but she had found a tender, caring man underneath his disguise. He would make her happy, and she would do all she could to make him feel the same way. Passion between them would be wonderful, and things couldn’t get better than that. However, at the cottage, she needed him to take their steamy moment a stepfurther than he had done last night, especially when her father found them together.
When she reached the cottage, she didn’t see another horse. Perhaps she was early. Hopefully he would be coming shortly.
She tethered her horse to a tree and slowly walked into the cottage. Prickles of awareness crawled up her arms and her back, letting her know that she was not alone. Had Collin hidden his horse to be safe?
“Is someone here?” she asked in a shaky voice.
She moved from one room to the next, peeking inside. Listening closely for any sounds, she realized her ragged breaths kept her from detecting any other noise in the cottage.
“Collin? Are you here?”
After checking every room on the bottom floor, she climbed the stairs. Dust coated the banister and rubbed off on her gown. When she reached the top, she brushed off the dirt.
“Collin?” she asked again, moving toward the first bedroom.
Just as she entered, the floor squeaked. Seconds later, out of the corner of her eye, there was a flash of someone rushing toward her. She turned just as two strong hands clasped her upper arms. And when she stared into the eyes of a man who was not Collin, her heart sank. Panic tightened her chest.
“Lord Kentwood?” she gasped.
The evil glint of his eyes, and the overpowering stench of alcohol, warned her that things were not going as planned. Her mind screamed, even though no words left her mouth. She must get out of this situation…or pray that Collin quickly came to rescue her.
“Ah, Miss Featherstone. Your timing couldn’t be more impeccable.”
“Wh—what are you doing here?”
“I should askyouthat question.”
