Free A False Proposal by Pam Mingle Page B

sake, these were the thoughts of a lovesick mooncalf. After a few more swallows, he reached for his candle and made his way to his bedchamber, trying to summon the strength to put all thoughts of her out of his mind.
    …
    At half eleven the following morning, Adam summoned Deborah to the library to confer about the house party. After a general discussion of pastimes and outings the group might undertake, Deborah said, “And a ball. We must host a ball at the end of the week!”
    Adam groaned. “I suppose you won’t hear any arguments against that idea?”
    “My mind is quite made up, dear. The ladies will expect it. Talking about their gowns and jewelry and hair makes for lively discussion all week.”
    “And the men will tolerate it.” Adam smiled. “Very well, have your ball.” He hesitated before broaching a more difficult subject. “Mother, I don’t want you to invite Lady Leonora.”
    She looked nonplussed. “Why not, dear? She has a certain mystique about her. One always runs the risk of boredom among the guests, and Leonora would spice things up a little.” She paused a moment. “Quite comfortably circumstanced, too.”
    “So you’ve said.”
    “It doesn’t hurt to have wealthy friends when one is seeking political office, Adam.”
    “I don’t want her as a friend, and if I have to beg the likes of Leonora for money, I’ll give up the whole scheme.”
    “What has riled you, Adam? What happened?”
    “She said some cruel things to Cass last night and I happened to overhear. Then she made the mistake of repeating them to me privately after Cass had left the room.”
    “Perhaps a momentary lapse in good judgment?”
    “No, Mother. That is her character, and I refuse to condone it. If other people in society wish to welcome her, I’m powerless to stop them. But I won’t have her at any event we are hosting.”
    Deborah nodded. “Then we must not invite her.”
    Adam glanced at the ormolu clock on the mantel. Although it was currently only a few minutes past noon, it seemed their talk had been going on for at least a few hours already. He pushed on. “And I don’t want you to invite Cass, either.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “You heard me. I don’t want Cass there.”
    “Adam, I really must protest! Her brother and his fiancée will be invited. It would be rude to exclude her.”
    “Nevertheless, that is my wish.”
    “Without both Cass and Leonora, the numbers will be off. Too many gentlemen and not enough ladies.”
    “I’m sure you’ll work it out.”
    His mother stepped closer. “Whatever your reasons are, when weighed against the hurt you will cause Cass by excluding her, are you certain it’s what you want? To be so heartless? Cassandra is still vulnerable. Mere moments ago you revealed you are sensitive to that.”
    That broke down his remaining resolve, and he held his arms up in surrender. “Oh, very well, invite Cass if you must.”
    “You still haven’t explained why you don’t wish her to be there.”
    “Nor will I, so don’t push me. Send your invitations, and include Cass.”
    “Her existence is rather mundane, you know. She tutors her younger sister, no governess for some reason, so the child’s education is on Cass’s shoulders. And that relation of hers who trails her about—” Deborah shuddered dramatically.
    “You’ve made your point, Mother. You may leave now. I have some work to do.”
    Uncharacteristically, she didn’t utter another word. She simply dropped a kiss on his cheek and quietly left the room.
    As much as it galled him to admit it, she was right. Excluding Cass would have been cruel. How could he have even considered it?

Chapter Eight
    Cass sipped at her chocolate, more than a little preoccupied. She’d slept poorly last night. Over and over, she had re-lived the scene in the library, Adam’s kiss, and her own wild urge to devour—and be devoured—by him. Lord above, what had come over her? An indefinable feeling had taken up