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Jealousy and vindictiveness pulsed in the madam’s veins If Mrs Crandall had played a part in the scandal, then she was likely to find other ways to hurt Cassandra Panic burst to life in Benedict’s chest Until the ht
“I should return to Jer the threat But soths to cause a scandal Without knowing the villain’s motive, it was impossible to predict his next move “While I’m confident the aim was to ridicule the Earl of Worthen, what if the culprit is intent on punishing Cassandra?”
“Your objective should be to protect your wife” Wycliff’s serious stare sent a chill down Benedict’s spine “The attacks will co her the cut direct She will quickly come to learn what it was like to walk in your shoes before you found an inner strength”
Benedict stood and tugged the cuffs of his coat “She may look like she has a backbone of steel, but inside she is as fragile as the woo—ill-prepared for what is to couided notion of what is important and suffered in the process”
Wycliff caripped Benedict’s shoulder “Perhaps there is hope for you both yet You defend her with the sa passion you do when you pretend to despise her”
Oh, when it ca Cassandra Mills, he was an expert at pretending “I want to despise her to the depths of my core I want to punish her, make her pay And I want to make love to her, care for her always” God, he was a bloody mess of contradictions
Wycliff smiled “The road to fulfilment often involves a perilous journey Somehow you will reach your destination”
On his return to Jermyn Street, Benedict discovered his wife had co roo He bathed, changed his clothes and retired to his study to exa a clue to the sender’s identity
Nu the day he crossed paths with Cassandra They passed pleasantries, spoke about the fact she had brought dinner forward by two hours, a co late She looked happy, carefree, as if the tragic events of the last few days had never occurred It was an act, another mask to hide behind because neither kne to behave, how to be themselves
They dined at seven, and he was surprised to find a bill of fare enough for a party of six The menu, more lavish than he preferred with dishes of quail and Parisienne tarts, rehts spiralled into maudlinaway the covers and serving the room
They settled into chairs in front of the fire She took sherry as her digestif He took port It was all very structured Civil Had they ined they would have locked the door, tore off their clothes and made love while the heat from the fire’s flames danced over their bare skin Now, the emptiness inside seemed worse when in her company than when apart
As they sat in silence, staring into the hearth, he tried to think of so they had in common was their need to find the brute who’d ruined her life
“Perhaps we should discuss your attendance at Lord Craven’s ball if you feel
able”
She ju his voice “Yes, I’ve spent the entire day trying to piece together the fraght”