Page 33 of Enchanted by the Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #93)

L ucius’s manor home was full to the point of being overcrowded with members of the ton who were here to celebrate their engagement.

Cassandra watched him from across the room as he stood with his friends Saxton, Wickes, and Asher.

His brother was also by his side along with Valentine.

There were other men in their circle. Josephine’s brother Simon was laughing at something Asher’s brother Gideon had said.

All were handsome devils, Cassandra thought and one day the single men of their group may one day be just as happily coupled with a lovely lady… that is, if they could be as lucky.

Her eyes skimmed the crowd and she noticed Prudence and Abigail Danvers whispering behind the fans they held up to their mouths.

Cassandra didn’t realize they were on the attendance list but she supposed to exclude them would offend their mother.

Still… the way they were inspecting everyone in the room, she had the feeling those two would contribute some bit of gossip to the Teatime Tattler in tomorrow’s edition.

“Do you suppose there is any way at all that I could ask the Danvers sisters to leave?” Cassandra asked her friends.

Moriah took a sip of her wine. “At least we won’t be the reason behind any more of the tittle tattle they feed the editor to whom they report. Samuel Clemens is relentless for news and the sisters are more than happy to provide him what they learn.”

Josephine sighed. “They must be getting paid a substantial amount of money for them to be so thorough, even if some of their tales are lies.”

Patience nodded. “How else do you think he sells so many papers? Lies or the truth, Society just gobbles up whatever that rag puts in print.” She put her empty glass on the tray of a passing servant.

“Which reminds me… Our Wicked Widows Club has come to an end. What are we going to call ourselves once Cassandra is finally wed?”

“Happy?” she asked smiling. Cassandra pulled Patience to her side linking her arm through her friends.

The other two women did the same until they formed a circle.

“Through all the hardships of our lives, I am indeed thankful that our friendship has survived all these years. I don’t know what I would have done without you and your support. ”

Moriah wiped at a tear in her eye. “Nonsense. You’re the one who took us in when we were basically left out on the streets. We’re the ones who will be forever grateful for your friendship.”

“And for paying such a huge sum to Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find us husbands,” Josephine added. “That in itself is a debt I can never repay.”

Cassandra smiled. “It was money well spent, my dearest sisters of my heart. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I need to rescue Lucius. There are a few women who are becoming a little too forward if you take my meaning.”

Patience gasped before a frown marred her brow. “If Lady Maribel doesn’t take her hand off my husband’s chest, I’m going to pull her hair out,” she said, scowling and turning to Josephine. “You better rescue Gyles as well from Lady Juliet’s advances.”

Josephine almost choked on her wine. “I don’t know why she continues to try to annoy me and Gyles. She knows he’s a married man.”

Moriah gave a light laugh. “That’s probably the point. Let’s go help our men. We can be the knight in shining armor for a change.”

Cassandra led the way over to the group and as each lady took hold of her husband’s arm, the other single women in the group turned their attention to Simon, Gideon, and Val.

Cassandra’s only thought was for the man she would soon marry.

She gave a gentle tug on his sleeve before nodding her head toward the door leading outside.

Once there, he pulled her around the corner into the shadows of the night where they could have a private moment together.

He leaned down and nuzzled her neck before whispering in her ear causing her body to shiver in delight as his hands roamed over her body. “Did you miss me?” he asked huskily.

“Terribly,” she answered before placing her hand on the back of his neck.

He lowered his head and kissed her as if Society’s elite wasn’t right around the corner in the next room.

She pushed her body into his and heard his groan.

Two could play at the game he’d started when he had touched her in all the right places.

She would make sure he never doubted that she wanted him each and every day for the rest of their lives.

He broke off their kiss and she realized it was because they could be discovered at any moment.

The last thing they needed was to be seen in such a compromising position before they were married.

But maybe that made their little encounter all the more exciting.

“I adore you,” she said in a breathy whisper.

“As I love you with all my heart and soul, my dearest love,” Lucius said kissing her lips again. “I swear you breathe new life into me each and every time we are together.”

“If only you had given in to those initial feelings when we first met,” she teased. “You could have saved us months of torture waiting to fill the emptiness of not being together.”

“I was a complete fool to deny my feelings for you but those days are now gone. If it takes the rest of my days I promise to make it up to you.”

“And your nights, too?”

“Most assuredly. I cannot wait to be able to claim you as my wife.”

“It took you long enough to come around to my way of thinking,” she replied laughing.

“As I said, I was a fool but I know you’ll forgive me,” he declared with a wink.

“Oh? You think so, do you?” She tried her best to keep the smile from her face.

“Of course… because you love me.”

“Yes, Lucius, I do.”

She stared up into Lucius’s green eyes and saw all the love he had for her reflected within their depths.

It was the only thing she had ever wanted for herself.

The love of a good man was worth all the hardships she had faced in her life.

She continued searching his features until she felt a tear slipping down her cheek. He reached up to wipe it away.

He leaned down to kiss each cheek, her forehead, and then her lips. When her eyes met his again the smile he gave her melted her heart. “You seemed so intent staring at me, my love. What did you find, my sweet?”

“You, my darling Lucius. Only you.”

He pulled her back into his arms to take possession of her mouth and she gladly returned his affection.

Yes… she had found the man she always knew Lucius Ford could be.

She didn’t care about his title or wealth.

She only cared for the man who she knew could be her everything.

The man who would love her no matter her past and who might one day be the father to their children.

And as they went back into the ballroom to celebrate their engagement, Cassandra realized that all her dreams had come true. She had become enchanted with a lion of a man and she gladly would be spellbound to him for the rest of her days.