“Two men?” A frown formed. “Why, no, he didn’t. What two men?”
“A man attacked me as I left my aunt’s house. I don’t think they meant to attack
me
, you understand. I was just in the way. I suspect they were lying in wait for Griffin.”
“No,” she said faintly, her hand to her throat.
I thought what a shame it was that Helena would never be on the stage, and continued. “Later, when we were in the park—”
“You were in a park?”
“Yes. Helena, I am afraid someone
is
behind these accidents your brother has been having lately.”
The color drained from her lovely face.
“Furthermore, I believe Griffin suspects that as well. It was my impression that the two thugs who followed him last night were the same two who attacked him in your house.”
“Who could want to hurt Griffin?”
“I couldn’t say. I suggest you ask him about it.”
“Oh, yes, I will. He must take precautions. He must leave for his trip immediately!” She saw my face fall and tried to comfort me. “If he is out of the country, he will be out of harm’s way.”
“I hardly call travelling to far away, uncivilized locations out of harm’s way. Besides, do you not agree that it would be safer for him to stay here, where he has the assistance of his family and friends, not to mention that of the police?”
“That’s true. I hadn’t thought of that—he must stay home. You must make him see that. But Cassandra! He’s gone to see you this morning to apologize for Harold’s unkind comments. You haven’t seen him?”
“No. I left early to go to my aunt’s house. He probably arrived after I left.”
We stared at each other for a moment.
“Romantic misunderstandings, mysterious attackers, flights in the night…honestly, Helena, sometimes I think I’m caught up in one of those old gothic novels my grandmother used to read,” I said, unable to keep from laughing.
She giggled with me, and after we collected ourselves, I rose. “As long as we are here, we shouldn’t miss the meeting. They will be deciding about the future of the Union.”
We did miss a good portion of the meeting, but managed to be present for Maggie’s debate. A brilliant orator, she once again swept the audience up with her vision of women’s suffrage, playing on our sense of duty, adventure, and outrage. I did my best to keep Helena’s feet planted firmly on the ground, but I could not do the same for the other women in attendance.
The meeting ended in confusion, nothing having been decided although sides were clearly being drawn. The future of our protest at the upcoming election speeches at Exeter House was in question, with both sides claiming proprietorship.
We left the meeting hall still debating the merits of each side. As we arrived at my sister’s house, Helena suddenly stopped her argument, and placed a hand on mine. “You will explain the misunderstanding to Griffin when he comes to you?”
“
If
he comes to see me, and
if
he gives me the opportunity, I shall certainly set him straight on the subject, have no fear.”
“And you will talk him into staying home, where he can be safe?”
“I will try, but I doubt if my opinions carry much weight with him.”
She waved good-bye, and I entered the house with some foreboding. Mabel pounced on me as soon as I took off my hat and coat. “Cassandra! Where have you been? I have been frantic with worry!” She frowned as we walked upstairs to the sitting room. “Mr. St. John came to see you. We were alarmed when we could not find you. And Cousin Freddy is here to see you. He is in the library with Joshua.”
“I’m sorry, I had no idea anyone would be looking for me. I was at a meeting with Helena.”
“Really, Cassandra, I think you might have a little more concern for us. We were worried about you ever since that horrible episode last night.”
“I felt the need to apologize to Aunt Caroline.”
She sat in a comfortable chair and picked up her needlework, a pinafore she was embroidering for one of the girls. “You might have left word that you were leaving. What Mr. St. John thought—he looked most hurt and distressed.”
I hardly thought hurt and distressed would describe Griffin’s feelings, but I endeavored to retain a charitable thought towards him.
“He came especially to see you. That brother of his! I’ve never seen such abominable behavior. Whatever you and Helena St. John might have done, I don’t believe there was any cause for such an outburst, and in the middle of a dinner—”
This was a slight exaggeration, however, since I wanted to avoid seeing Freddy, I let Mabel chatter on.
“—I really do not know what he could have been thinking. But, Cassandra!” She put down the pinafore and looked at me steadily. “Whatever else you may say about him, Mr. St. John was very unhappy.”
I listened to her lecture hoping that while it lasted Freddy would leave, but as luck would have it, he found me at last. Mabel gave me a pitying look and excused herself. I stood with my arms crossed and a stern, unyielding look on my face, hoping to intimidate my would-be swain.
“Dearest cousin,” he said, taking my hands to kiss them. He was his usual handsome self, his eyes filled with warmth and concern that I suddenly found suspicious. “I heard about last night. Are you all right? Uncle Henry said something about you being escorted home by St. John, but I could not rest until I had seen for myself that you were not harmed.”
“I’m fine, Freddy, thank you. It really was nothing, just a little contretemps, and then I took a silly notion to leave without anyone seeing me.” His fingers tucked a loose curl behind my ear. I suppressed a grimace at the touch, and moved over to the couch. “I appreciate your visit, but I’m afraid it’s must be a brief one. I have an engagement that I have to dress for—”
Freddy dropped to his knees. I sighed.
“Beloved Cassandra, most precious of all women, this time you cannot refuse me, not after last night.”
“Freddy, please, not again.”
He took my hand in his, his eyes glowing brightly. “You must see that you have no other choice. Without me at your side, you will continue to be vulnerable. I can offer you much, beloved one, not just my protection, but my heart, my devotion, my life if you wished it.”
“I’m sorry, Freddy, I can’t think of how to say no in a manner that you will accept, so I will simply say this: I have given my heart to another. I will never marry you.”
His fingers tightened painfully around mine. I tried to pull my hand back, but his grip was too strong. “You would be wise to think twice about refusing me.”
“Are you threatening me?” I asked, shocked.
“Of course not. I would never do such a thing,” he said smoothly, his face earnest, but his eyes calculating.
“No, but you would talk to a man in a rabbit suit shortly before I was attacked,” I said slowly.
“Rabbit suit?” He did a very good job of looking surprised. “Attacked?”
“Yes. At the St. Alban’s ball the other night. I saw you speaking with the man who later attacked a friend and me. I heard you mention my costume to him before that.”
“My dearest cousin, you do me grave injury,” he protested. “As if I could do anything to harm you. I mentioned you to several people at the ball that night. Many of my friends had very complimentary things to say about your outfit. That is no doubt what you overheard.”
It wasn’t, and we both knew it, but I didn’t feel in possession of enough facts to challenge him on the subject.
“I am appalled that you were attacked, but this does prove the validity of my concerns about you. You must see that to deny me any longer is the sheerest folly.”
“I see nothing of the kind. I won’t have you, Freddy, and that’s final.”
There was a curious flat expression in his eyes that sent a sudden chill of horror skimming down my back. I had seen that look before, usually just before my father inflicted some new form of punishment. “I have it in my power to make you a very happy woman—or one who will think back to your days with your father with longing. Heed me, Cassandra. You
will
be mine.”
“Not in this or any other lifetime.” I went to the door, threw it open, then marched out of the room and up the stairs. To my great relief, he did not follow, but gathered up his coat and hat and departed.
I hurried back down the stairs and poked my head into the library to inform Joshua and Mabel that it was safe to come out.
“Did he ask you?” Mabel inquired.
“For the umpteenth time, yes. And I refused him. Please don’t let him wait for me again,” I said, trying to calm my wildly beating heart. “He did not take my refusal well. I would rather not be alone with him.”
The air in the house felt tainted by Freddy’s anger, so I rounded up the two dogs and took them to the square across the street for a walk. We played in the park, chasing squirrels, leaves, and each other. Out of breath from the romp, I had to call them to me when a half-dozen indignant pugs invaded the square. After a brief scuffle with one of the more objectionable little pugs, I leashed the hounds and returned home.
A familiar motor was sitting in front of the house. I looked at it briefly, then turned toward the house and squared my shoulders. I would have to face the man at some time; it was better that it be in my sister’s house and not in some public place.
After all, there were definite advantages to privacy.
I was attempting to remove the leashes from the dogs when the library door opened and out walked Joshua and Griffin.
“Ah, there she is,” Joshua said happily.
The dogs, which had been racing around me in excited circles, succeeded in entangling me and throwing me off balance. One of the hounds, elated at the sight of Griffin, leaped up to kiss him. As I had one leg off the ground in an attempt to disentangle myself from the leash, the dog’s sudden movement knocked me flat onto my back. My head hit the marble floor and I saw stars for the third time in a week.
“Ack!” I yelled incoherently, trying to push the dog back as it wiped its tongue on me. I kicked my legs in an attempt to free them from their bonds, but as the dogs were still attached to the leashes, I could not get my feet loose. The second dog, assuming I was desirous of more play, joined in the fun.
“Get off!” I bellowed in a very unladylike manner. The dogs jumped back, wagging happily as I struggled to a sitting position. Griffin leaned against the wall, doubled up with laughter. I glared at him and Joshua, who was trying very hard to not laugh and not succeeding in the least.
“Well, one of you might at least help me!” I said with as much dignity as I could muster.
The first dog, concerned by the tone in my voice, came up to show his affection by licking my face.
“Off!”
Finally, wiping tears from his eyes, Griffin unleashed the dogs. Joshua helped me to my feet and untangled the leashes from my limbs. With head held high I walked with a slight limp into the library. Griffin followed, still smiling, and after glancing at Joshua, closed the door behind him.
I lifted my chin in anticipation of a battle, but it was not a battle Griffin had on his mind as he scooped me into a fierce embrace. My knees buckled from the passion of his kisses. I was breathless, crushed to his chest, unable to move (not that I was complaining). His lips scorched mine, his mouth and hands and body starting a familiar burn deep within me. I was just about to return the affectionate greeting when he released me suddenly and scowled. “What the devil do you mean, scaring me like that?”
“Like what?” I gasped, clutching my ribs in an attempt to locate any broken bones.