Free Cupid's Mistake (Cupid Regency Romance) by Karen Harbaugh Page B

Wollstonecraft." Her voice faltered slightly at the end.
    A hard, hot anger seized Blytheland 's gut, and his hands clenched, bringing the horses to a stop.
    " Lord Blytheland?" Cassandra's voice sounded tentative.
    His fingers were digging into his gloved palms. He loosened them, and the horses went forward again.
    "Your father allowed you to read such nonsense?" He could not help the sneer that came to his voice.
    An angry light entered Cassandra 's eyes. "It is not nonsense—not all of it You need only look about you to see that there are people who are not happy in their marriages."
    " It is not necessary that people be happy or unhappy in their marriages. It is a thing one does to continue the family."
    Cassandra felt as if a chill had come over her, and she pulled her shawl tighter around her. "I daresay many people think that. But I believe it is best that a marriage be a loving one. If one cannot have one such, it is better to remain unwed, and even better, find a useful occupation so as not to be a burden on anyone."
    For one moment an uncertain expression crossed Lord Blytheland 's face. Then he smiled coolly.
    " You are an idealist, Miss Hathaway. As you said, there are no guarantees about one's husband or wife. The best anyone can do is to rub along amiably."
    Cassandra gazed at him doubtfully. Before the uncertainty, anger had marred his expression. Something she had said had caused him to be angry, but she did not know what it was.
    "And how would you know, Lord Blytheland?" she asked. She supposed he must base his opinion upon his own family, but she had heard nothing scandalous of either his father the Duke of Beaumont, or his mother the duchess. The reports were that they were always amiably disposed toward each other, at least in company. Although, this was not saying much, to be sure, for she rarely listened to gossip and probably would not have remembered if she had heard it.
    He smiled coolly, then looked past her. "Ah, I see Lady Amberley waving to me, and her most charming daughter is with her." He nodded to a carriage coming toward them.
    Cassandra smiled to herself. So, that was one of his set- downs. It comforted her in a way, for it was one more puzzle piece she had gathered for a better picture of his nature. Lord Blytheland was not the sort of person she was used to . . . there was a part of him that seemed hidden somehow. She was used to being able to assess easily those she met and pin down the pattern of their behavior. Once she understood, it was a little easier to refrain from saying things that would offend them. She sighed. But oh, people did become offended at the most innocent things! And the fact that the marquess was not so easily assessed, disconcerted her. How was she to know what would offend him or not? The only way was to speak what she thought and see how he responded. If he became offended, then she would know enough not to speak of things that offended him.
    Cassandra made herself smile in a friendly manner at Lady Amberley and her daughter Sophia when Lord Blytheland introduced them, though she felt rather abstracted. She was still puzzling over the marquess. For one moment she felt a little guilty. Perhaps it was not a very well-mannered thing to do, making people reveal themselves. She sighed. But what else was she to do? Men, she found, were the most contrary sort of people of all. One could not always use much logic with them, for all their claim to be the more logical sex. They tended to become quite emotional when one reasoned with them—and how logical was that? Not at all, to be sure.
    But it did seem, at least, that in such things as discussions, Lord Blytheland was as other men. As a result, she was that much closer to knowing more of him. And she did so wish to know more of Lord Blytheland. Not, of course, because she wished . . . well, what she wished, she was not certain.
    " Do you stay in London long, Miss Hathaway?"
    Cassandra turned her attention to the young