Devil take it, she didn’t even know her fate yet.
Devlin swallowed convulsively. “I have to go to Aldridge House and—”
“What the hell are you playing at, Crawford?”
Devlin turned in response to the curt tone and found himself face to face with a very angry looking viscount. Not just any viscount though. This particular one was named Aldridge, and he was Cassandra’s older brother. He was also one of Caleb’s best friends, so Devlin generally addressed him by his given name, which was Robert.
“I, um…” Devlin wisely stopped himself before uttering something truly idiotic like, I misspoke. Instead he squared his shoulders and met the other man’s hard gaze head on. “Your sister is a remarkable woman. I hold her in the highest regard and look forward to the prospect of marrying her.”
Robert didn’t move. His expression remained like stone, hardening even further when he spoke. “Is that why you chose not to ask my father for her hand? Because of how eager you are to make her your wife?”
His accusation struck Devlin firmly in the gut, but what was done was done and the only thing to do now was make the most of it. And frankly, the notion of asking Vernon for permission to marry his daughter would not have entered Devlin’s mind even if he’d decided to do things properly. “Considering the lack of understanding your parents showed Cassandra when they learned she was pregnant, I hardly think either of them deserves a say.”
“What about me then?”
“Well…um…” Devlin scratched the back of his head.
Robert narrowed his gaze. “She doesn’t know about any of this yet. Does she?”
Devlin’s shoulders slumped and he sighed heavily. “No.”
“He was trying to defend her honor,” Monty said.
“Lady DeVries was being disgustingly cruel,” Caleb added.
“I won’t bother asking how that could possibly lead to you announcing your engagement to Cass,” Robert said to Devlin, “but you ought to know that I am not about to make her marry you if she doesn’t want to.”
Devlin stared at Robert. “But there will be talk if we don’t go through with it now. Her reputation will be ruined.”
“No more than it already is, I’ll wager.” Robert straightened his back. “You forget that when she refused to do as our parents suggested, which was to marry quickly so she could pass her child off as somebody else’s, I supported her decision. I bought a house for her in Cornwall where she could live the peaceful life she desired. And as I understand it, she has been very happy there these past thirteen years.”
“I will have to convince her then,” Devlin said. An odd pain squeezed at his heart. Having recovered somewhat from his spur of the moment decision to do what he’d never intended to do, he rather liked the idea of marrying Cassandra. Curiously, the chance of getting out of it didn’t excite him as much as it ought to. On the contrary, he was starting to hope she’d be amicable to the idea, which could only mean that the madness he’d suffered while facing down Lady DeVries still lingered.
“Do that and you’ll have my blessing,” Robert said. “I’ve always liked your family, so being related through marriage would not be the worst. As long as this is what Cass wants. Her happiness is paramount, Devlin. Understand?”
Devlin nodded and gave his agreement. He then shook hands with Robert and promised to call on Cassandra the very next day. He’d have to bring a cartload of flowers to make up for what he had done. And even then he feared it would not be enough.
“What on earthare you on about?” Cassandra asked when she woke the next morning to find both her brother and sister-in-law sitting at the foot of her bed. The first words out of Robert’s mouth the moment she’d opened her eyes had included marriage, Devlin Crawford, and a Baroness De Somethingorother. Yawning, she pushed herself into a sitting position, blew a stray lock of hair out of her eyes, and leaned back against the headboard. “I didn’t think Devlin wanted to marry.”
“There’s still a chance he doesn’t,” Vivien said with a strange look of sympathy in her eyes. Robert shushed her, which was also incredibly strange.
“Then why would he get engaged to a baroness?” Cassandra asked. Her brain was slowly waking up, and she was starting to feel more herself.
Vivien and Robert shared a concerned look. Robert took a deep breath. “You misunderstand, Cass. Devlin isn’t marrying the baroness.”
“Oh. I see.” She frowned, then shook her head. “Actually I don’t. I thought you just told me—”
“He says he’s marryingyou!”
Cassandra stilled. And then she laughed, because really, nothing could possibly be more ridiculous than Devlin announcing he’d marry her of all people. At a ball, no less, without her there and without having gained her approval. Only, when her laughter died down and she looked at Vivien and Robert, neither was smiling.
A tremor of unease slithered down Cassandra’s spine. “You are joking, are you not?”
“Sadly not,” Robert said. “But if it is any consolation—”
“I cannot believe he would do such a thing!” Whatever humor she’d found in her brother’s earlier words was gone. In its place was extreme irritation along with the awful feeling of having been used in some foolish show of masculine power. What else would compel a man to act so high handedly, without any thought to her wishes?
“Robert says he was trying to defend your honor,” Vivien said.
