Page 25 of Enchanted by the Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #93)

C assandra wiped her hands on a linen and gazed one last time around her boxed-up library.

She supposed she could have had a servant pack everything up for her but for whatever reason, it gave her some satisfaction that she herself was putting her past behind her.

It was a good thing she was responsible for it as she spotted one last remaining book, left on a table beside what had been her usual reading chair.

She would have been devastated if she’d forgotten to pack the book, a leather-bound book of poems, with the others.

She fondly remembered the day Rupert had gifted her the book.

It had become a favorite of hers and it was, in fact, the book the maid had put into the one bag Cassandra had been able to carry from her home.

Even now as she moved to pick it up and press her fingers against the leather, she was grateful the maid had recognized its importance to her as the only thing she had left of Rupert, and had made sure it was packed.

She thought it would be nice to peruse the pages once more and decided to take it with her to be sure it wasn’t forgotten.

The chiming of the grandfather clock in the foyer reminded her of the lateness of the day.

If she hurried, she still had time to return to Moriah’s to change for this evening’s ball.

She tucked the book under her arm and went down the hallway calling for Higgins.

Instructing her butler to have her carriage brought around, she informed him she would wait outside to enjoy the last bit of sunshine the day still offered.

She placed her precious book of poems inside the front pocket of her apron when a maid quickly came to assist Cassandra with her bonnet and pelisse.

She slipped her arms into the garment, placed her bonnet on her head, and tied the ribbons beneath her chin.

She realized she would indeed need to hurry home.

Rushing from the townhouse, she made her way down the walkway to the curb to wait for her carriage.

Looking back at the house, she prayed Emily would soon confess what Forbes was blackmailing her with.

If the lady’s recent accident with the thug on the streets had anything to do with the viscount, the situation was more dire than anyone could predict.

She was so deep in thought about Emily’s predicament that she didn’t hear the gentleman and his horse until they stopped directly in front of her at the curb.

The man quickly dismounted and her breath caught at whom she saw.

It had been more years than she could remember since she had last seen Barlow Vaughn.

Physically, life had not been kind to him, and he appeared far older than his years.

His gaunt face with its sunken cheekbones only added to his lean frame and his entire appearance bespoke of hard times.

But it was his angry expression that told her to beware.

She stepped back with the intention of going back up the stairs and into the townhouse, but he grabbed a hold of her arm to keep her in place.

“It’s been a long time, Sandra,” he sneered, pulling her close.

Hearing the nickname she had gone by in her younger days shook her to her core, but it was nothing compared to seeing Barlow now confronting her, touching her, and breathing his foul breath directly into her face.

“Let go of me,” she ordered, trying to tug her arm from his grasp to no avail.

“You’ve been busy of late, Sandra,” he hissed into her ear. “For a woman who was nothing but a whore for many years, you now keep company with the upper elite of Society.”

“It’s none of your business how I lead my life. And allow me to remind you that you are the one who is responsible for making me alone and on the streets in the first place,” she retorted hotly.

“How else was I to get rid of you? You always were a bother. Why my brother decided to marry you was beyond me,” Barlow proclaimed with another sneer of contempt.

“Be that as it may, I was your brother’s wife. If nothing else, I should have had respect from you then, and I demand it now,” she retorted bitterly as all the old hurt came rushing to the forefront of her mind.

“Respect? You never earned my respect and the fact that I even bothered to stop to engage in this conversation should tell you much if you are wise enough to figure it out.”

“What the devil do you want, Barlow?” she finally asked wondering why after all these years he did indeed not only stop to talk to her but accost her as she left her soon-to-be former home. Obviously, he knew where she had been living.

“I stopped to give you a warning, Sandra. Call off the man you or your newest lover hired to follow me, and I may just let you live to see another day,” he ordered. “You won’t like what happens next if you don’t heed my warning.”

“Is that a threat?” she asked while she quickly surmised that Barlow most likely saw Lucius leaving earlier and thought he was her latest lover.

He peered down at her from his towering height. “As a matter of fact, yes, it is, and you best listen to my words if you know what’s good for you.”

He roughly let go of her arm and proceeded to return to his horse. He mounted and took up the reins before he pointed a slim finger at her. “You’ve been warned.” He started away.

Cassandra noticed movement at the window of the townhouse.

Emily stood there frowning before stepping quickly away as if trying not to be seen.

Cassandra turned back to the street to watch Barlow retreating into the distance.

Puzzlement formed on her brow as she again turned toward the townhouse. Had Emily encountered Barlow before?

She was torn between her evening obligations and the mystery of Forbes, and now possibly Barlow, had to do with Emily’s predicament.

She was about to go back inside when the sound of the wheels of her own conveyance rang out as it rounded the corner from the mews behind her townhouse.

When the footman jumped down from his perch and let down the step, she quickly retreated into the seat while she felt completely overwhelmed and upset with Barlow’s threat.

Her world spun around her as she felt the onset of a headache.

Three things were abundantly clear. First, she needed to confide in Lucius about Barlow’s visit and also let him know about Emily’s visitor in the form of her ex-benefactor.

The second was her concern that perhaps Emily had had an altercation with Barlow given the tears she was certain Cassandra saw from the poor lady.

And finally, and more importantly, she needed to let the man she loved know that she felt her life was now in danger.

She had no idea how she would manage to make it through the social regimes of the night!