Page 56 of Impetuous

When the luncheon was over, Lady Neville retired to the carriage for a discreet nap, and the twins, Olivia and Georgette began a lively game of tag. Joanna, dimpling, begged Sir Philip to escort her on a walk. Cassandra watched them set off, Joanna’s skirts swishing in the grass. She felt a sudden, intense hunger for a beautiful dress, something that was not made over or out of style, something in a rich material sewn up by a fashionable modiste.

Cassandra turned and strode away from the party, not much caring where she went, only wanting to distance herself from the others. She struck off down a narrow path, finding, to her surprise, that it led to a pleasant stream. She sat down on a large rock beside the stream, watching the water burble soothingly over mossy stones. She reminded herself of all the reasons why it did not matter that Joanna was pursuing Sir Philip so avidly—or even that she might catch him. All she herself needed from the man was his help in finding the Spanish dowry.

She tried to concentrate on the treasure, imagining how it would feel to find the missing map, how they would search for the treasure and find it. It would be so wonderful to pull out the old strongbox and know that they had located the treasure. She could picture herself touching the golden leopard, trying on a ring or a bracelet. Philip’s eyes would glow, his smile curving in pleasure. She would turn to him, and a look would pass between them. And he would…

“Woolgathering?” Philip’s actual voice intruded on her daydream, and Cassandra jumped.

She whipped around and glared at him. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you,” he admitted easily, strolling over to sit down on the large rock beside her. “Sorry I startled you. I thought you heard me coming. You must have been very deep in thought.”

“I was thinking about finding the dowry.” Cassandra hoped a blush would not betray where her thoughts had led.

“It appears we have quite a task before us. I hadn’t realized what slow going it would be, looking through the library.”

“It will take some time.”

“Hopefully we shall not have many more outings like this to delay us.”

Cassandra smiled faintly. “I am surprised to see you here. I thought you were walking with Joanna.”

“I was. Thank God she got tired, so I whisked her back to the blanket with Mother.”

A giggle escaped Cassandra’s lips. She could well imagine her cousin’s outrage when Philip had done that. Cassandra had no doubt that Joanna had timed her “tiredness” to coincide with a cozy spot where she and Philip could be alone.

Philip allowed himself a smile. “Yes. Miss Moulton was not too pleased, I’m afraid. How can you be related to her?”

“I didn’t notice you running very hard from her last night in the drawing room.”

He shrugged. “I was feeling out of sorts.”

Cassandra stopped. She did not want to pursue that subject, for it led straight back to what had happened in the library yesterday. She pressed her lips tightly together and turned her attention back to the stream.

“What have I done?” Philip asked after a long moment. “How have I offended you? When we were traveling here, you… Well, it was entirely different. What has happened since then? Is it your cousin’s flirting? Surely you must know that I had nothing to do with—”

“It is not Joanna.” Cassandra turned away from him, speaking toward the water rather than him. “I— Well, we need to concentrate on finding the map. That is what is important.”

“It is not the only thing in our lives.”

“Perhaps not. But disgracing myself is nothing I want in my life, either.”

“Disgracing— Cassandra, what are you talking about?”

“I think you know.”

“I would never do anything to harm you! Surely you know that. Do you still distrust me? Think I am trying to steal your treasure from you? I assure you that it is the farthest thing from my mind. I don’t care if—”

“It’s not that! I am not worried about losing the dowry.” Cassandra got agitatedly to her feet. “Please, could we go back to the others?”

He rose, too, taking a firm grip on her arm. “Not until you tell me what is wrong.”

“Nothing is wrong!” She pulled her elbow from his and began walking away.

“Do you take me for a fool? Suddenly you hate me, and you say that nothing is wrong?”

“I do not hate you.”

“Then why are you running from me?”