Page 23 of Enchanted by the Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #93)
C assandra sat in her carriage in silence as she contemplated all the turn of events that had brought her to this point in her life.
With the Marquis of Saxton’s help, Cassandra had purchased a new townhouse in an area of town that would bring no question as to the restoration of her reputation.
In fact, her association with her friends who had made incredible matches with some of the ton’s most elite only helped her on her way to becoming respectable.
Who would have ever thought that a simple act of kindness toward her lady friends would lead to her own good fortunes?
Her time with Valentine Pierce had also come to an amicable end.
He had been more than pleased to learn that Lucius had finally come to his senses.
Valentine had all but claimed his part in making certain Lucius learned what he would be missing out if he continued to be a stubborn lout where love was concerned.
His debt fulfilled with Mrs. Dove-Lyon, the earl had thanked Cassandra profusely and she knew she had a friend on her side if she ever had a need to call upon him.
She hoped one day that Valentine might also allow love to enter his heart.
He may be another rake at heart, but Cassandra could also see the potential in him as some lucky lady’s future husband.
Lucius continued to keep her abreast of his investigation into Barlow and how he most likely had taken advantage of Cassandra’s grief and innocence.
He had but recently admitted that anything linked to her parent’s demise had turned up as a dead end, and although disappointed they could learn nothing from it, it still angered her that a murderer was still out there, possibly wreaking havoc with other people’s lives.
Still, she had to admit that she enjoyed their meetings at the Saxton residence on the few occasions that he called upon her there.
He had been the perfect gentleman and was doing his best to hold true to his word that she could trust him.
Dinners and the theater, escorting her to balls, and even attending charity events she was involved in caused her to believe him.
Even the hostesses could not complain after he continued to make a sizable donation to their causes.
His efforts made her fall in love with him all the more.
And then there was the package he had delivered to her wrapped in pretty paper with a lovely pink bow.
She had carefully unwrapped the box, took off the lid and found a copy of Pride and Prejudice .
His lovely note had mentioned it was a gift she was sure to enjoy and a love story worth reading.
He really was a dear man! Just as she always believed he could become.
“You’re lost in thought, Cassie,” Patience exclaimed, taking hold of her hand. “Worried about moving or is it something else?”
She squeezed her dear friend’s hand. “Oh, just reminiscing about my life. There have been so many changes of late that it’s hard to pinpoint what may happen next.”
Patience smiled. “Well, if we’re lucky, we’ll be celebrating the announcement of your engagement! I never thought I’d see the day when the Earl of Blackthorn was smitten by a lady from the Wicked Widow’s Club .”
“I will be happy when that title is no longer associated with any of us.” Cassandra chuckled softly.
Patience sighed. “I suppose. But wasn’t it fun to be the center of attention, at least for a little while?”
Now Cassandra laughed aloud. “You only say that because your name was mostly muffled from the scandal of the rest of us.”
“I still enjoyed the wee bit of fame it offered. I always felt like I was left in the background while others were more notorious,” Patience declared with a shrug before she turned her head to gaze out the window.
“You were never in the background, Patience, and should never talk down about yourself. Why, I don’t know what I would have done without your friendship all those years ago.
You never once turned up your nose at me as though I was unworthy of anyone’s help or kindness,” Cassandra answered with a sincere heart.
“Now who is putting herself down? If it wasn’t for you, none of us would have made such advantageous marriages,” Patience declared with conviction.
“I have to admit that I was thrilled when they all turned out to be a love match. Reformed rakes do make the best husbands,” Cassandra said smiling.
“Speaking from experience, dear sister?” Patience asked winking.
“Well, he did need a bit of convincing, but came around in the end. He hasn’t proposed as yet, but I’m convinced it’s only a matter of time.”
“I’m sure you’ll be happy to put your past behind you, Cassie. Being able to sell your townhouse to Emily was a stroke of luck. Now everything is all falling into place.”
“She needed to get out of that seedy part of town. I’ve been very worried for her safety ever since she was accosted in the street,” Cassandra admitted.
“It was kind of you to allow her to stay at your place.”
Cassandra shrugged. “She needed a place to stay where she would be hidden if the man was trying to find her. It didn’t hurt that my townhouse was closer to the place where that man almost accosted her and we could get her there much quicker than we could her own home.”
Patience leaned forward in her seat. “Well, we’re about to pull up to your old place. I’m certain Higgins will be happy you’re here to organize the move, including getting settled in your new home.”
“I think Higgins is just happy he will soon be able to perform his normal duties for me. That man is one of the most loyal servants I ever had.” As the carriage began to slow, Cassandra gave a heavy sigh. “There were a lot of good memories in this house with all of you in it.”
“We’ll make new memories, Cassie.”
The footman came and let down the step. Cassandra descended and began to make her way to the door.
She had almost reached the portal when it was violently pulled open, causing a loud bang to ring out as it hit the wall.
She gasped, never expecting the one man who had tormented her in her past to now be leaving her home.
A harsh laugh left his lips before he found his voice. “You haven’t changed over the years, my pet,” Viscount Hollingsworth sneered.
“What in the world are you doing here?” she asked.
“Slumming,” he laughed as he looked over his shoulder back into the house. “They’ll let anyone, even those of no worth, into the neighborhood it seems.”
“You are not welcome here, Forbes,” Cassandra declared, pushing Patience behind her.
Hollingsworth took hold of her arm. “Since I heard you were selling the place, you don’t have much say on the matter.”
“The ownership of this house is still under my name until all parties have agreed to the terms of the sale. I repeat, you are not welcome here,” she fumed, yanking her arm away from him.
He shrugged, adjusted his waistcoat, and then peered down his nose at her. “No matter. I’ll be back soon enough.”
Cassandra held Patience back as Forbes strode around them. As he left, she heard crying coming from inside. She picked up the hem of her dress and hurried into the front parlor where Higgins was helping Emily from the floor.
“Good heavens! What did he do to you, Emily?” Cassandra shouted as she rushed forward.
“It’s nothing,” Emily answered turning away, but she could in no way hide the red mark across her cheek.
“He hit you!” Patience exclaimed.
Cassandra moved to Emily, reaching and gently turning her face so she could see the mark. “Higgins, call for a constable to come here at once.”
“No!” Emily shouted, pulling away from Cassie before she lowered her voice. “That won’t be necessary. It may actually cause more harm than good.”
Cassandra shook her head before addressing her butler. She knew better. “That foul man doesn’t step one foot in this house again. Is that understood, Higgins?” she ordered.
“Of course, Mrs. Vaughn,” Higgins replied with a bow. “I tried to bar his entrance, but he was most forceful.”
“I didn’t mean to suggest you weren’t performing your duties, Higgins,” she replied.
On closer inspection, Cassie realized that the older man, too, was a victim of Forbes’ forceful and violent nature; his usual pristine suit had a tear on one of the elbows and his hair was mussed.
“Did he knock you down? Are you all right?”
He reddened and tugged on the bottom of his jacket. “It was nothing, madam. I just wish I was able to stop him before he reached Mrs. Yates.”
With her fingertips, Cassandra touched his sleeve. “It’s not your fault, Higgins. You did the best you could.”
“Perhaps some tea might help calm Mrs. Yates’s nerves,” Patience suggested and Higgins left to see to the refreshments.
Cassandra took Emily by the hand and helped lower her onto the settee. “What was that all about? Was he the man who accosted you in the street that day?”
“I’d rather not say, Cassandra,” Emily replied but her face revealed much.
“You’re not telling me something. What did he want from you?” Cassandra continued to pry.
Emily burst into tears. “I didn’t want to do it, honestly, I didn’t, but Forbes all but forced my hand. He said he’d ruin any chances of me ever finding a benefactor again unless I complied with his demands.”
Patience sat in a vacant chair. “He’s blackmailing you?”
Emily nodded. “What else could I do but comply? I can’t afford to live on my own, without the help of a gentleman to help with expenses.
Not to mention the cost of this house. While I do have sufficient funds to close this deal with you Cassandra, I do still have to hire servants and have enough funds left over to live. My money will only go so far.”
Cassandra gave a heavy sigh. “We should still call the authorities. We can’t have that foul scum continuing to harm or bother you once you move your things in. Let us help you. You just have to tell us all the details of what’s going on.”
Emily burst into tears. “I… I can’t and I don’t want to talk about it anymore!”
Before anyone could stop her, she ran crying from the parlor and Cassandra could hear her bedroom door slamming shut on the upper level of the house.
“There’s more going on than that little tidbit she told us. What could he possibly hold over her in order for her to comply with his wishes?” Patience exclaimed with a frown.
Cassandra nodded. “Maybe we can convince her to reveal everything once she calms down. We’ll let her be for now. In the meantime, we can begin to organize what needs to be moved, which is basically everything.”
“Hopefully we can coordinate with the new staff that Emily hires so she’ll have her own things around her once you move your things out,” Patience said.
“Yes. I think Emily is going to have a lot to deal with especially if the viscount is planning something involving the lady,” Cassandra answered before making her way across the room.
She pulled the bell cord and when a servant entered, she asked for tea to be brought to Emily’s room.
Whatever Emily was hiding from Cassandra, she had the distinct feeling she wasn’t going to like it.
Forbes was a scoundrel of the worse sort and based on her brief conversation with him on her doorstep, she didn’t think she had seen the last of him.