Caleb bent to press a kiss against her cheek, then straightened and smiled. “You have to make sure she’s at the ball.”
Mary didn’t even try to pretend not to know to whom her husband referred. Three friends, two of whom had each married a Crawford brother, made it reasonable to surmise that the third would marry the last. Although…
“Cass has no intention of getting married.”
“Neither does Dev,” Caleb said as he offered his hand to Mary and helped her rise. “So they already have that in common.”
She grinned. “You’re terrible, you know that?”
“Terribly handsome?” he asked right before he pressed a kiss to her mouth. “Or terribly wicked?” he asked as he pushed her silk robe off her shoulders.
Mary simply sighed and gave herself up to her husband’s caresses. There would be more time for logical thought and party planning in the morning.
Chapter 2
The last placeCassandra Moor wanted to be was at a ball. Not only because she considered it to be a colossal waste of time, seeing as she wasn’t looking to marry and frankly hated dancing, but because it was one of those grand affairs to which every member of thetonhad been invited. Which meant her parents were in attendance.
Hovering near the refreshment table where she could be somewhat obscured by a pillar, Cassandra peered through the throng of guests at the spot where Fiona and Charles Moor, the Earl and Countess of Vernon, stood. Since they were conversing with friends, Cassandra doubted they’d noticed her presence, which was just as well. The last time she’d seen her mother, the lady had crossed the street in order to avoid an embarrassing encounter with her ruined daughter. While Cassandra could appreciate the fact that she had gone and done the unthinkable by getting herself pregnant outside of wedlock, she’d always believed her parents should have loved her no matter what.
“Who are you hiding from?” a familiar voice asked.
Cassandra turned in response to Mary’s question and saw that both she and Emily must have approached without her realizing. Jutting her chin a little to the left, Cassandra indicated the spot where her parents stood. “Who do you think?”
A sympathetic glimmer touched Mary’s eyes. “I’m sorry about that, but they are the Earl and Countess of Vernon. It would have been bad form not to invite them.”
“I know,” Cassandra grumbled. She turned more fully toward her friends. “Had it occurred to me, I would have stayed away.”
“Then it’s a good thing it didn’t occur to you,” Emily said with a smile. “The evening wouldn’t be the same without you.”
“Thank you. I suppose.” Cassandra rolled her eyes when both her friends chuckled. “I’m not really in Town for this sort of thing, however, and in a way I feel as though I’m being too lavish by coming here. It did require purchasing a new gown.”
“And what a lovely gown it is,” Mary said.
“You’re allowed to pamper yourself every once in a while,” Emily added. “At Clearview you hardly ever get the chance.”
That was a bit of an understatement, Cassandra decided. The last time she’d attended an event near Clearview that even remotely resembled something as grand as this was six years ago when Caleb had been staying with her, Mary, and Emily under an assumed identity.
“Speaking of Clearview,” Mary said, “have you managed to work out an agreeable arrangement for the twelve-year-old girl who wrote to you?”
“Yes. Her aunt has finally released her into my custody.” Like most of the children Cassandra had cared for over the years, Rosemary Clarence was an orphan. She’d written to Cassandra two months ago to inform her that her life had become intolerable after her father died and that she hoped there might be room for her at Clearview.
Cassandra frowned at the memory of what she’d discovered when she’d first gone to visit the girl’s home. “That woman treated poor Rosemary as if she were her slave, not caring one whit about me being there. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you managed to wrestle Rosemary away from her evil clutches then,” Emily said.
“How did you manage to do it?” Mary asked.
“How do you think?” Cassandra gave them both a meaningful stare. “I paid her a handsome sum of money.”
“Well. I’m sure it’s money well spent,” Emily said. She moved to where a large pitcher of lemonade stood on the refreshment table and began filling three glasses. “Clearview will be good for someone like Rosemary who’s been treated unkindly.”
“How are things at Clearview going by the way?” Mary took one of the glasses Emily had filled and handed it to Cassandra. “You’ve been so busy while in Town, we’ve barely managed to talk. Hence my reason for insisting you join us this evening.” She added a smirk then sipped her drink.
“All is well. As you know, Katherine is a tremendous help.” The daughter of the Marquess of Stanhope, Katherine Donahugh, had fallen for one of the footmen in her father’s employ. A child, now five years of age, had been the result, along with Stanhope’s assurance that he wanted nothing further to do with Katherine or her bastard child. And since Katherine’s fate was so similar to her own, Cassandra had sympathized deeply with her plight and offered she come live with her.
Together, they’d continued helping orphans until they reached the age of fourteen and required a more demanding education than the two women were able to provide. At this point, the children would move to Montvale Manor where Mary and Caleb took over, assisted by the tutors they’d hired.
“It is always a relief to hear you say so,” Emily said. “Leaving you at Clearview by yourself so I could go off and get married has always made me feel guilty.”
