Page 26 of Enchanted by the Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #93)

L ucius watched Cassandra skip to the patterns of the dance with Valentine, but he could see for himself that something was off with the lady.

While she performed the steps to perfection, the delight he usually saw reflected in her features were only a mask put in place for others to see.

That he could tell something was terribly wrong with the lady only proved to himself that he had slowly fallen in love with the woman.

Who would have thought such a thing was even possibly for him?

Certainly not himself, but clearly Mrs. Dove-Lyon had everything to do with the match.

The clever biddy , he mused thinking of the Black Widow of Whitehall and all she had knowingly done to ensure he fell into her clutches.

No matter her motives, he was grateful for the woman’s knowledge that even he hadn’t known he needed at the time.

Infatuation had become love in a matter of just a few months.

Now he couldn’t imagine his life without Cassandra in it.

He was looking forward to a private moment when he could confess all to her.

“I had really hoped you might be interested in making a match with my sister, Anne. But I can see for myself that your interests lie elsewhere,” Orlando Barlingham muttered with a heavy sigh. “I suppose I’ll need to find another man who will be suitable for her.”

Lucius gave the man a nod. “I’m certain the right gentleman will come along when he’s meant to. Your sister is a beautiful woman, and you shouldn’t have a problem finding her a suitable husband.”

“You say that easily enough, but have you seen the eligible men available this Season? Half of them look as though they’re right out of the schoolroom. The other half have one foot in the grave,” Orlando complained before he cast his gaze at Lucius’s brother. “Perhaps you might be interested?”

Leopold laughed. “I hardly think Lady Anne would settle for a second son with no title,” he said with a lopsided grin. “Besides, I have no intention of marrying just yet.”

Orlando grumbled beneath his breath. “I suppose you’re right,” he said reluctantly. “If you gentlemen will excuse me, I need to steer my sister away from Viscount Hollingsworth.”

“Wise choice,” Lucius said in agreement as they watched their host leave to attend to his sister.

Leopold stepped closer to his brother. “That reminds me, I forgot to tell you something.”

Lucius raised one brow. “About marrying?”

Leopold chuckled. “Me? Heavens no. You, on the other hand, are closer to wedded bliss than I,” he said before lowering his voice. “I meant to tell you I saw Forbes about a week or so ago. Not the best part of town, if you take my meaning, but he appeared to be up to his old antics.”

A half-laugh, half-snort left his lips. “Not surprising, but what the hell were you doing in—as you said—not the best part of town ?”

Leopold looked uncomfortable for a moment before he responded. “Does it matter?”

Lucius raised one brow. “Most likely, but instead tell me why I should care what Forbes does or where he goes?”

“Well… he used to be your friend,” Leo proclaimed.

“Past tense, as you just pointed out. Again, why should I care?” Lucius prodded.

“I don’t know the identity of the man he paid off while sitting at the tavern but given our earlier conversation about your recent visitor who works for the law, it might be important. Hollingsworth would be a likely candidate to wanting to get even with you.”

“As could any number of individuals from my past,” Lucius answered, while watching Valentine return Cassandra back to the Saxton’s. “What did the other gentleman look like?”

“Scrawny, at best. His clothing wasn’t the best cut, if that detail matters. The tavern was dark, so he was hard to make out. There wasn’t anything about him that necessarily stood out, other than he seemed to fit in there.”

“Meaning you didn’t recognize him as part of Society?” Lucius asked.

“Definitely not.”

Lucius raised his hand to his chin as he contemplated his brother’s words.

He supposed such a description could be about anyone, but why did he have the sudden notion that Barlow Vaughn was this same man?

Smythe had given him a similar account in his report, but this could all be coincidental.

Lucius would still listen to that inner voice telling him to be wary.

Now he noticed Forbes lingering far too close to Cassandra for his comfort level. Lucius’s instincts kicked in.

“I’ll look into the matter. In the meantime, if you’ll excuse me, brother, I have a lady who appears to need rescuing,” Lucius said giving Leopold a nod.

He began making his way across the room until he reached his lady’s side.

He tossed Forbes a knowing glare and watched his old friend leave the room.

Lucius leaned down to whisper in Cassandra’s ear. “I must speak with you.”

She turned her head to stare up at him. “I need a private word with you as well.”

Lucius offered his arm. “Excuse us, Saxton, but I need to have a word with Mrs. Vaughn,” he said politely.

Trying to stroll casually through the crowded room proved a challenge as they were halted to engage in small talk with several people. Lucius was at last able to make it to the balcony where he continued onward down the marble stairs and into the garden below.

“I think we’re far enough away from prying eyes, Lucius.”

He looked around into the night and continued onward into a maze of neatly trimmed hedges. When he finally reached the center and saw that they were alone he finally felt it was safe to talk.

“We have a problem,” he confided as he escorted her to a nearby bench.

“Yes, we do,” she said taking a seat. “I’m now totally lost inside this maze.”

He heard her teasing tone but Lucius was too irritated to sit so he paced instead. It tended to keep his head clear until her words sunk into his mind. “What’s happened?”

She patted the place on the bench next to her and he took a seat. “You first, or if I tell you my news you may go running to right a wrong and leave me here to find my way out. It will certainly take me hours.”

“Now I am worried.” His voice filled with concern as he raised her hand to his lips.

“I have to admit the incident did rattle me,” she confessed, squeezing his hand.

Lucius pulled her closer. “Tell me what happened today after I left.”

“I became lonely for your company?” she teased again in an obvious attempt to lighten the mood.

“Cassandra…”

“Very well but promise me you won’t run off to seek revenge.”

“I can make no such promises if it concerns your wellbeing, my dear.”

She gave a heavy sigh. “I had an encounter while I was waiting for my carriage to be brought to the front of the townhouse,” she began before sneaking a glimpse at him before continuing. “It was Barlow, giving me a warning to call off the investigator you hired. He thinks you’re my lover.”

“What!” he yelled out.

“Calm yourself, Lucius, or you’ll be letting everyone within hearing distance know of our little liaison here in the gardens. As you can see, I survived the incident without harm,” she explained.

“He must be getting desperate if he’s accosting you right in front of your own house,” Lucius fumed, rubbing the back of his neck. “What else did he say?”

Cassandra shrugged. “I’m not certain the rest bears repeating.

Let’s just say he felt I was moving up in the world and that I didn’t deserve my place among Society.

But I’m also concerned that Emily may have had an altercation with him before as well considering the look of terror she had on her face as he rode away.

I saw her in the window; she drew away before she knew I saw her. ”

He continued watching Cassandra intently and he could see for himself that there was more that she wasn’t telling him. “What else?” he demanded, trying to hold his temper in check.

“It may be nothing,” she said sheepishly.

“All the same, from your worried expression, please tell me what else happened today,” he urged softly.

“When Patience and I arrived at my townhouse this afternoon, an unwelcome visitor was leaving,” she began before fidgeting with the fan dangling from her wrist.

“And…”

She drew in a deep breath and exhaled before continuing.

“He was an ex-lover of mine from years ago,” she confessed, putting her hand on his arm.

He didn’t care to hear about her past lovers, but he certainly was well aware that they had both had had them in their lives.

“He wasn’t there to see me, Lucius, but Emily. ”

“Emily?” he asked wondering what turn this conversation was going to take next.

“She refused to go into the details, but we found her on the floor in the front parlor. He had slapped her,” Cassandra declared with a shudder. “I know from personal experience Forbes has a tendency toward violence and this is the reason why I quickly ended our association.”

Lucius jerked his head upright. He didn’t know of anyone else in his circle that had Forbes as a first name other than his old friend and enemy. “Viscount Hollingsworth?”

“You know him?” Her brow furrowed until she shook her head. “Of course you know him, he’s a member of the ton .”

Lucius couldn’t believe how everything in this talk with his lady was coming full circle.

“We were friends growing up and at school together. We had a falling out when I tried to warn him of investing in a business deal that was sure to fail. When it did, he blamed me for some blasted reason. We’ve been enemies ever since. ”

She reached out to place her hand on his cheek and gave him a small smile of encouragement. “And…”

He gave a chuckle, even though this course of events was hardly humorous. “So, you know me so well that you’re aware there’s more to reveal?”

Her thumb moved in a gentle caress across his cheek before she replaced it with a kiss. “There’s no reason to keep any secrets between us. I don’t ever want to hide anything from you, Lucius. I know I can trust you.”

“As I trust you. We both have a past that needs to stay there so we can move forward together,” he answered.

“I like the sound of that,” she whispered giving him another smile. “Tell me what else happened to you lately that has you concerned.”

There was no point of putting off the inevitable. He gave her a quick kiss on her lips, although what he really wanted to do was explore all she had to offer. “I had a visit from a constable investigating not only Emily’s incident but Virtue Darling’s as well.”

Cassandra frowned again. “I wasn’t aware that Virtue had an incident but then I don’t know her that well and haven’t been living at the townhouse of late. What happened to her?”

“She was accosted on the street, much like Emily,” he declared before coming to a stand and beginning to pace again to clear his head.

“What does all this have to do with you?”

“From what I could gather, I’m a person of interest,” he grumbled.

“That’s preposterous. What would the constable think you have to gain by harming your ex-mistresses?”

“Clearly, I’m being framed,” he huffed in annoyance.

“All of this makes no sense, Lucius. Why is this all happening now?” she asked. “Is it because you began investigating Barlow?”

Lucius stopped his pacing. “It could all be coincidental.”

“And maybe everything is related in some odd way.”

Lucius’s conversation with his brother jumped to the forefront of his mind.

“My brother Leopold did see Forbes meeting with a man in a tavern recently. He couldn’t see his face but the man was very lean.

Forbes was paying him off. I suppose that could have been Barlow, but I have no proof that he was the same man. ”

“That could explain why Emily appeared terrified of both men,” Cassandra added but was clearly still worried.

“I’ve asked the investigator I hired to continue his search for information. We’ve come this far trying to possibly right the wrong done to you. I won’t stop now although your safety is of the utmost importance, especially since you’ll be moving into your own residence soon.”

“I’ll be perfectly safe. You don’t have to worry about me,” Cassandra declared in encouragement.

“I will always worry about your safety. I will reach out to Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Perhaps she can recommend one of her men to stand guard over you until this whole issue is settled.”

“You’re becoming my knight in shining armor,” she said with a smile.

“My armor may have been a bit rusty from my past, but I plan on polishing it to be worthy of you, my dear,” Lucius replied, grinning. “You have to know, Cassandra, that I’m falling in love with you.”

“That makes me so very happy, Lucius. I love you too.”

Cassandra came to stand in front of him and when he opened his arms she moved into his embrace without hesitation.

He enjoyed holding her close and his anger cooled.

She seemed to be a comforting force to soothe his troubles, able to calm him out of any predicaments they might face together.

And with that last thought, he leaned down and sealed his fate with a kiss.