Devil's Embrace (Devil 1)

“My boat is not at all rickety, my lord. And as for my imitating a sea nymph, I will doubt your honesty if you say that you were displeased.”

“Cass, I trust you were wearing something while you were swimming.”

“She was like Venus coming from the sea. Quite a lovely prospect, I must admit.”

“I was wearing a shift,” Cassie said, gazing from her brother’s raised brows to Edward. She rose gracefully and shook out her skirts. “Now that you know the extent of Lord Delford’s brazen behavior, Eliott, I shall leave you to deal with him. Do not let him escape, brother, else I shall have to take my shredded virtue and hie myself to a convent.”

After Cassie left the library, Eliott turned to Edward in some embarrassment. “She is ever forthright to a fault, but of course you know that.” He tugged a moment at his collar. “You did not, that is, Cassie did not—”

Edward blinked in surprise, and said in an amused voice, “She was wearing a shift, Eliott, a very wet but quite modest shift. My intentions are honorable, you know, so there is no need to call me out. I want to marry her, but I must admit I am uncertain what to do about her London Season. She flatly refuses now even to consider it. As well as being forthright, she is headstrong.”

“Stubborn as a mule once her mind is made up.”

“True. Still, if you insist that she spend the Season in London, then between the two of us, we should be able to rein her in.”

“She has never wavered in her affection for you, Edward, though I believed for some years that it was naught save hero worship for a brave—and absent—military man. If you wish to wed her now, I’ll not cast a rub in your way.”

“Such support will likely result in Cassie naming our first son after you.”

“Cassie a mother.” Eliott shook his head, bemused. “It seems but yesterday that she was a child herself, intent only upon learning how to bait her hook. Yet I remember the time I crammed my horse over a fence and broke my leg. She was motherly, bullying me and forcing all manner of vile potions down my throat.”

“I am glad that I did not return to England when I was laid up with my shoulder wound.” Edward smiled gently at the still-bemused Eliott. “What do you say, Eliott, can we arrange a wedding in, say, two months?”

“Captain Lord Delford moves quickly once he is on the attack, I see. I can see no problem. Becky will take charge and see that everything comes off aright. Speaking of Miss Petersham, it is better that I deal with her myself.”

“As you will, Eliott. Now, my friend, there is much I wish to discuss with you. How has Eliott Brougham found life as the fourth Baron Tinnsdale?”

Chapter 3

Eliott Brougham smiled down at the agitated Miss Petersham. “Come now, Becky, Edward Lyndhurst is one of my oldest friends and a man of honor. If Cassie wants him, I’ll not kick up a ruckus.”

“She just turned eighteen, Eliott. She’s but a girl and can’t know her own mind. Her dashing viscount comes galloping home, dripping with countless stories of his exploits, no doubt, and practically begs her to fall into his arms.”

“You’re off the mark there, Becky. If I know Cassie, it is she who very likely encouraged Edward to fall into her arms. It’s certainly not as if Edward were a stranger—after all, they’ve written to each other for the past three years.”

“They have what?” Miss Petersham drew in an appalled breath.

Eliott had the grace to look sheepish. “Now, Becky, Cassie and I decided not to tell you, for you’d have disapproved.”

“You mean that Cassie decided not to tell me and you, you wretched boy, fell in with her. You are four years her senior, and her guardian since his lordship’s death.” Miss Petersham groaned and took several perturbed steps about the room. “Promise me, Eliott, that you will not let her wed him until after her Season in London.”

Eliott shook his head. “I cannot understand why you are not content that Cass is making a love match. Lord knows that there are few enough of them nowadays. And you must admit, Becky, that she has shown nothing but indifference to all the young pups who have gathered about her like bees to a honeypot. All she would find in London, I daresay, is more of the same. I have given my approval and they want to marry in two months.”

“Two months. Oh no, surely not.”

Eliott set about soothing her. “It’s not as if you’re going to lose her to some gallant who lives God knows where. Delford Manor is but two miles away and I fancy that all of us will continue much as we always have.”

Miss Petersham drew a deep breath to calm herself. “I suppose what’s done is done. I only wish that I had known sooner.”

Eliott patted her plump shoulder, not without affection. “You know when Cass gets the bit between her teeth there’s no stopping her. I daresay with your genius for preparations, we shall be able to pull off the wedding as if we had had six months to plan it.” Eliott beamed at her, thankful that the weight of all responsibility was to be on Miss Petersham’s capable shoulders.

Miss Petersham gave him a thin smile. How many times she had thought that Eliott should have been the girl and Cassie the boy. While Cassie was strong, quick-witted, and an expert in getting what she wanted, Eliott was guileless and malleable, clay in his sister’s hands.

“Spare the rod and spoil the child,” she said obliquely. She tugged at her lacy cap and left the drawing room, her black skirts swishing with each brisk step.

Eliott drew a sigh of relief and looked up to see his sister peep her head around the door.

“Is it done? You have told her, Eliott?”