“Even though I practically coerced her?”
“She might not have fancied the way you went about the whole thing, but on the other hand, I doubt the two of you would have gotten married without a little disaster to nudge you along.”
“And by disaster, you mean my own stupidity.”
“What? I thought it very gallant of you to defend Cassandra’s honor,” Caleb said with a glint of amusement in his eyes.
“Hmm…I’m not so sure she saw it that way.”
“Nevertheless, there’s no denying she likes you – no, don’t argue with me on this, Dev. I’ve seen the two of you interact over the years. There’s definitely more between you than the connection you share to Mary and Emily, and I’d say that’s a pretty good start.”
Devlin glanced out the window. They were almost at the church. He frowned. “I hope I can make her happy.” It hadn’t even occurred to him until that second that he was afraid of not being able to do so.
“You will,” Caleb told him quietly, “because of the man you are. I know you’ll do everything in your power to make sure she doesn’t regret becoming your wife. That’s a lot more effort than most husbands make, of that I can assure you.”
Bolstered by his brother’s words, Devlin felt his confidence surge. This was the right decision for him and for Cassandra. Not because they loved each other or because they felt destined to be together, but because this was about more than them – it was about protecting a young girl’s reputation and ensuring she’d have the future she deserved.
And as Devlin watched Cassandra walk up the aisle toward him later, he gave Penelope a quick glance and silently thanked her. Surprisingly, she’d turned out to be the key to a dream he hadn’t even known he wanted. Even if the dream was a little pricklier than he’d have liked, he mused when it was time for him to kiss his bride. She deliberately moved her head at the very last second, ensuring his lips touched her cheek instead of her mouth.
“Vixen,” he muttered when they drew apart and his eyes were able to lock onto hers.
Brazenly, she arched her brow and held his gaze. “I did say we couldn’t do that ever again,” she whispered.
Naively, he’d thought he’d be able to force the issue when they were standing in front of a whole congregation, but she, cunning creature that she was, had managed to sidestep the matter entirely. He was certain he ought to feel affronted, angry even, yet the only emotion swirling inside him was excitement – rather like the thrill one might feel when faced with a sport one had yet to master.
“Touché,” he replied beneath his breath as he started leading her out of the church. His lips quirked with humor. If this was how she wanted it to be, then by all means, he’d play the game and do his utmost to win it.
The wedding breakfast,held at Camberly House, was a lovely affair with only the closest family and friends present. Cassandra’s parents, however, were not in attendance. Although she had—most grudgingly— issued an invitation, they chose to remain absent. Not that she minded. In fact, she was relieved to know she would not have to face them on her wedding day.
“I must confess I’m a little jealous of you,” Emily told her once they were finished eating and they’d adjourned to the parlor for tea and cake. “You get to travel the world and see things the rest of us only get to read about.”
“It’s so exciting,” Mary agreed, joining the conversation. “Devlin has always brought back the most fascinating gifts from faraway places. Makes me wish I could go there myself and experience it all first hand.”
“You could suggest a holiday to your husbands,” Cassandra said.
“Yes. I suppose so. But it will have to wait a few years.” Mary placed one hand on her belly. “I don’t think it wise to veer too far from what I am used to with a young infant.”
“Neither do I,” Emily said with a twinkle in her eyes.
“What? You too?” Cassandra gasped.
“Shh…” Emily grinned while holding one finger to her lips. “We only just found out about it and wanted to wait with an announcement until later so as not to overshadow your big day.”
“Thank you for that. And congratulations to both of you.” Cassandra took another sip of her tea and tried not to wonder why Emily’s comment caused her to look at Devlin. He was standing near the fireplace, conversing amicably with his brothers.
His eye caught hers and Cassandra’s heart bounced. Heat flooded her cheeks and she instantly dropped her gaze. “It will be lovely for you to welcome another child into the family.”
“Speaking of children,” Mary said, “I had a word with Katherine earlier and have promised her that Caleb and I will be here to help with Clearview if she needs us.”
“Thank you.” Cassandra had managed to find a young woman named Felicity who was ready to move in right away, but knowing Mary – who was familiar with the running of Clearview – was also willing to assist was reassuring. “I believe Katherine’s sister plans to visit with her for a while as well, so all in all, it should be all right.” But it had been one of Cassandra’s greatest concerns since Clearview had always been hers. Leaving it with no intention of returning to the life she’d had there was strange indeed.
“Of course it will be,” Emily said. “You mustn’t worry about that. Now is the time for you to enjoy yourself.”
“I must confess I’m a little concerned about Penelope. I mean, she’s terribly excited to travel, but what if it’s not as wonderful as she’s expecting?” Cassandra pressed her lips together, then added, “From what I gather, life on a ship can be difficult, and once we’re on it, we can’t exactly change our minds and decide to get off.”
“That is true,” Mary said, “but I also think you’re worrying over something that’s sure to turn out fine. Penelope has always loved reading adventure stories, and her favorite thing to do when she was younger was study the globe in the Clearview library. If she’s keen on the idea of travelling, I’m confident she’ll enjoy the experience. And consider all the things she will learn. It’s truly incredible if you think about it.”
“I suppose so,” Cassandra agreed. She glanced across at Devlin again and could not help but notice how happy he looked. Apprehension tightened her stomach. Perhaps it wasn’t so much her concern for Penelope that made her nervous. Maybe that was just an excuse and the real issue was the idea of having to keep Devlin’s company for – she blinked – the rest of her life. Tamping down the panic that threatened to rise, she gave her attention back to her friends. “I went to the cemetery yesterday. I haven’t been in a while.” She’d hoped the visit would give her some peace of mind. Instead, it had made her feel worse.
