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more uncaring, unfeeling, human being in my
life.”
    “You make him sound positively odious.” Loma
straightened, clearly upset by Cassie’s forthright
opinion.
    “Pray, excuse me, I did not mean to offend you” Cassie was sorry her words had hurt Lorna but she
spoke the truth. “I do, however, beg that you prove
me wrong.”

    “He does mean well,” Lorna said in his defense
then stared into her plate. “It is not his nature. He
didn’t … you just don’t understand him.”
    Returning to her plate, Cassie cut into her meat as
if it was his flesh. After causing sufficient injury to
her entree, she set her utensils on the edge of the
plate with a sense of satisfaction. Lifting her napkin,
she dabbed each side of her mouth and remained
seated until Lorna finished. She did not have to wait
long.
    After dinner, Cassie declined a game of cards, wishing only to be alone in the quiet and solitude of her
room. Her first day at Stewart Hall had been long, very
full, and emotionally draining.
    Changing into her chemise, she drew on her robe
and pulled it tight at the waist. She retrieved her book
of Byron’s poetry and moved to the settee near the
crackling hearth, warming herself. Cassie read for
ten minutes and found it impossible to keep her eyes
open. Soon the book lowered and found its final resting place on her chest, just under her chin.
    Cassie woke a bit disoriented the next morning. It
took a few minutes of staring at the unfamiliar heavy,
deep-red curtains of her four-poster bed to remember
where she was and what she was doing there.

    Despite what she had thought, despite what she
had hoped, it had not been a dream.
    “Finally, you have awoken! It eez such a beautiful
morning!” Layette entered with a breakfast tray and
set it on the table near the bed. “I am told that you
have several gowns arriving for ze ball ce soir.”
    Cassie could manage only a nod. Layette handed
her a cup of chocolate.
    “Mademoiselle Lorna et Romeo are in the jardin.
I believe she loves ze little dog as much as you!”
    And it was clear to Cassie that if Romeo did not
feel the same for Lorna, he would not be spending so
much time with her. Cassie smiled, remembering how
the two of them were running across the back lawn
yesterday. “They do enjoy one another’s company,
don’t they?”
    “You must dress and join them. The air, she eez
good for the lungs” The maid pulled the untouched
cup of chocolate from Cassie’s hands.
    “I really am not looking forward to facing the people below.” Cassie slid her legs over the side of the
bed. She hadn’t meant everyone, just him.
    “Everything, everyone eez new-we are strangers
here. But you must not let them frighten you. Votre

pere-”
    Yes, Cassie’s father wanted this for her. But did he
really? Losing her home, marrying a man she hardly
knew, making near-strangers a part of her family cannot be what he truly wanted. She felt so miserable and unhappy while away from Hedgeway Park and the
only way, it seemed, that she could return as its rightful owner was if she married Edward Stewart.

    “-you must show zem you are not frightened of
zem. Especially za squire.” Layette paused and her
gaze met Cassie’s. It was clear they shared the same
opinion of him. They needn’t say another word, they
both understood quite well.
    That horrid man.
    Layette was right, Cassie decided. She needed
to show she wasn’t afraid. Cassie intended to keep
Hedgeway Park and she would do whatever was
necessary-even if she had to put up with the squire.
Marrying Edward would be the easy part.
    “I am ready to dress.” Cassie stood, regained possession of the cup of chocolate and headed for the
dressing table.
    The clinking of dishes and utensils attracted
Cassie’s attention upon her arrival downstairs. She
approached the breakfast room to find Mrs. Upton
watching the morning’s fare being laid out on the
sideboard.
    “Ah, Lady