Page 49 of A Highland Duke to Claim Her Heart

She could not say for sure that he would retreat. But his silence at dinner yesterday, the distance in him in the parlor, the way he had left early…

It did not bode well.

“I am glad to hear that,” Christopher said, his smile sunny again. “My brother was always a bit sullen and bookish, but if that has not been too boring for you, well…” he shrugged. “Let me know if you ever need a gentleman to dance with. I know society is not my brother’s strong suit.”

Cassandra’s jaw tightened, and she nodded. “Thank you,” she said. “I shall let you know.”

And without another word, she turned and left the library. She did not care if she was being rude. She did not owe Christopher anything. He had abandoned her right before their wedding, and she was already worried about how he would disturb the fragile peace she had built here.

Just as she was coming out of the library, however, she almost ran right into her husband, who was walking down the hall.

“Ewan!” she cried in surprise, almost falling backwards in her haste not to collide right into him. “W-what are you doing here?”

Ewan frowned at her, then reached out a hand to steady her. “I was just returning from a ride,” he said. “I thought—”

But then his words faltered. He was staring over her shoulder, at the door to the library, which Christopher had just followed her out of. The moment he saw his brother, his face shuttered, and she realized what he must be assuming: that they had been alone together in the library.

Well, theyhadbeen alone together in the library.

But not for any tawdry reason.

“Ewan,” she began quickly, “I want to speak with you, I have been eager to discuss some things with you—”

But Ewan was already backing away. His face had become as expressionless as a wall, his body rigid.

“I have much work to attend to,” he said curtly. “Please excuse me. Good day. To both of you.”

And he turned and disappeared down the corridor before she could say another word.

Behind her, Christopher sighed. “What did I say? Always sullen and bookish. I suppose some things have never changed.”

Cassandra did not even look at him. She turned and stormed away down the corridor in the opposite direction. She had to get out of Calder Castle.Now.

Thankfully, Christopher did not follow her. Outside, it was cool and crisp, and she was grateful for the breeze as she made her way around the house and out into the forest. She needed to think straight, and the wind, with its sharp chill, peeled away the fog.

It did not take long before she was in her clearing again. Her garden, really.Hergarden. A place that was safe, that Christopher did not know about, that was her own to tend and nourish.

Without hesitating, she seized some of the tools that they had left behind in the makeshift tool shed several of the groundskeepers had put up, and began to work in the earth. It felt good to get her hands dirty, to feel the soil between her fingers.

She felt most like herself when she was like this, using her body for something, tending to something, making herself useful.

Maybe that was the hardest thing about being a gentlewoman. One did not always feel useful. She had hoped that as duchess she would have more use, if even just to produce heirs, but since Ewan did not seem overly concerned with this, she did not know what her use here truly was.

But this garden. This could be how she preoccupied herself. How she stayed away from Christopher.

But how long would he stay for? And would he attempt to renew his attentions? Surely, that would be mad. She was married to his brother.

And yet, she had seen the way he had looked at her, the desire that flickered in his eyes, the closeness with which he had approached her. And she wondered, too, if even taking her to the secluded library had been purposeful.

She would put nothing past him at this point.

He had abandoned her. Disappeared. And now reappeared, as if by providence. All of it left her with a queasy feeling, although she was not entirely sure why.

She lost track of time, and the sky was just beginning to darken when she heard someone approaching the clearing. At once, shestiffened, but then she recognized the slither of skirts across the grass and relaxed.

It was a woman.

Moments later, Lillian appeared before her, holding a lantern. Although it was not yet fully dark, the light was welcome, casting a yellow glow over the freshly tilled earth, and over Cassandra, who knew she must look an absolute state with her arms and hands covered in dirt.