Seducing the Ruthless Rogue (26 page)

“Sir Graham, at first when Cass…Miss Graham was shot, I thought the bullet was meant for me.
 
Now, I am not so certain.”

“It matters not.
 
I know my daughter, McKenzie, and she will continue to write as long as she believes she is forcing a change.”

“Even if her life is in danger?”

“She cares not.”

“You need to take your daughter in hand, Sir Graham.”

“Is that what you think, young man?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know how old my daughter is, Director?”

“No.”

“Old enough to make her own decisions and choices.
 
Her mother and I prided ourselves on teaching our daughter to be independent and live her own life.
 
So, no, Director McKenzie, I will not get involved in this matter between you and my daughter.”
 
The older man stood to leave.
 
“I will caution you though, that you are going to have a battle on your hands.”

“You should marry her off, Sir Graham.
 
Let some poor man be stuck with trying to keep her from harming herself and others.”

“Are you volunteering for the job, Director?”

“No,” Mack burst out.
 
Sir Graham actually laughed as he left the office.
 

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Sir Graham ran into the Duke of Hawkescliffe.
 
“Lord Hawkescliffe, I understand that your lovely wife is hosting a party, and my daughter is attending.”

“Yes, she is, Sir Graham.”

“I hope it would not be too presumptuous of me, but I would be most appreciative if I might be able to attend as well.”

“I didn’t think that you cared for those types of things,” Hawkescliffe stated, a note of curiosity in his voice.

“Normally, I don’t, but I think that this one might be very interesting indeed.
 
Besides, I would love to see my daughter dressed up for a change.”

“Of course.”

“And I need to personally thank your wife for taking Cassie under her wing.”

“Mikala has enjoyed it.
 
We will look forward to seeing you.
 
I will have Mikala send you an invitation.”

“Wonderful.
 
Thank you, Your Grace.”
 
The two started to part ways.
 
“Oh, and please don’t mention this to Director McKenzie.”

“All right,” Hawkescliffe agreed, a look of confusion on his face.

“Good day, Your Grace.”

“Sir Graham.”

As he left, Sir Graham smirked and rubbed his hands together gleefully.

***

“Where have you been?” Cassie asked her father when he came ambling into the house later that afternoon.

“Out,” he replied evasively.

“That’s not like you.”

“I have been known to go out and see people,” he teased.
 
He laughed when she gave him a look that questioned what he had just said.
 
“Perhaps it has been a while, but I used to be quite popular back in my younger days.”

“I’m sure you were.
 
Supper will be ready shortly so do not go out to your workshop yet.”

“Yes, my dear.”

They quietly ate their meal, and after Cassie and Chang cleared the dishes and washed everything, they all three went their separate ways.
 
Sir Graham disappeared into his workshop to tinker on who knew what.
 
Chang retired to his room to meditate.
 
Cassie went into the study to work on her writing.
 
She had been at an impasse all day and hoped she could settle down enough to continue working on her story.

Every time she came to a part where the heroine came into contact with the dark hero, images of Director McKenzie popped into her mind.
 
Mack.
 
She would attempt to bring herself back to the present, but instead would find herself lost in thought once more, thinking about him.
 
How could one man irritate and distract her so much?
 
When she thought about him, her stomach felt like butterflies had been set loose inside.
 
Those kisses they had shared, the way he had touched her…

Something pinged against the front window.
 
Cassie stood and crossed the room, stretching as she walked.
 
She pulled back the curtain and looked outside.
 
The moon cast a silver glow on everything.
 
The wind blew papers down the street in front of their little house.
 
The small plants that were planted around the house swayed in the breeze.
 
Other than that, everything looked as it should.

“You need to relax,” Cassie instructed herself.

She found herself making a pot of tea instead of returning to her writing.
 
Cassie loaded a tray with biscuits, cups, and the tea, then went out the back door.
 
She knocked on her father’s workshop door, as she carefully balanced the tray.
 
Cassie hoped to spend a little quality time with him after such a long separation. She also hoped to ease the tension between them after their altercation.
 
The wind whipped her hair about.
 
When he didn’t answer her knock she entered his domain, calling out, “Papa, I brought tea and dessert.”

“Come in, girl.
 
The wind is picking up out there.
 
We’ll have a storm upon us by morning.
 
Be sure and have Chang fix you his storm potion.”

“I will.
 
Papa, I’m sorry about the other day.
 
I shouldn’t have argued with you like I did.
 
All of this just has me out of sorts.”

“You know, I love you no matter what, my girl, even if I don’t always show it or say it.”

“Yes, Papa.
 
Now, let’s enjoy this tray of goodies, and you can tell me all about what you’re working on.”

***

The week passed slowly.
 
Cassie felt like she had been sentenced to life in prison, and her home had been turned into a cell.
 
McKenzie had not responded to any of her notes.
 
When she questioned her father, he only told her she worried too much.
 
He would remind her that the director had protected him and just do as he instructed because he had his reasons.

The only time she had been able to escape was when Mikala had come around to collect her for the final fitting of her dress.
 
When they arrived at the dressmaker’s shop, Cassie was already feeling much better.
 
She and Mikala walked inside and were eagerly greeted by Mrs. Garrett.
 

“Ladies, sit and I will retrieve the dress.
 
It turned out beautifully, if I say so myself,” the seamstress beamed.

“I can’t wait to see it,” Mikala said excitedly.

Cassie twisted her hands nervously. She watched as the woman came from the back carrying a gorgeous red gown.
 
“There must be some mistake,” Cassie said.
 
“We had picked out the pale blue fabric for my dress.”

“Well, I sent a note around to Mrs. Garrett and asked her to make it out of the red fabric.”

“But you said we shouldn’t fight society’s rules about this.”

“And I remembered how much fun I had defying society.
 
Besides the people that are going to be at my party would not care what you showed up in.
 
Now, go try it on and let’s see what you look like in it.”

Cassie followed Mrs. Garrett to the back of the store.
 
The woman helped her out of her old dress and into the new one.
 
The fabric felt luxurious on her skin.
 
Mrs. Garrett did up her buttons in the back, then turned Cassie around.
 

“Oh my, you look absolutely beautiful,” the dressmaker said.

“Don’t keep her back here where I can’t…” Mikala stopped when she flung the curtain back.
 
“Cassie, you look absolutely gorgeous.”

“Truly?”

“Yes,” Mikala replied, reached for her hand, and pulled her in front of the cheval mirror.
 
“Look,” she turned Cassie to face the mirror.

Cassie stood in awe, staring at herself.
 
The upper part of the dress shimmered a beautiful, rich red in the light.
 
Sheer black fell from just below her breasts to the floor.
 
The front of the sheer material was split, giving glimpses of the red fabric beneath every time she moved.
 
Cassie turned every which way she could to see what the dress looked like all the way around.

“We will pin your hair up with little tendrils framing your face.”

“It’s just so beautiful,” Cassie said in awe.

“How does it fit,” Mrs. Garrett asked.

“Perfect,” Cassie whispered.
 
“Everything is perfect.
 
Thank you so much, Mikala.”
 
Cassie threw her arms around the other woman.

“You are so very welcome.”
 
They spent the rest of the time deciding what accessories she would wear.
 

Now, a scant two days later, she stood in a bedroom in the Duke and Duchess of Hawkescliffe’s house with a maid helping her dress for the party.
 
She looked like a fairytale princess who had been given a small window of time to live out her dream.
 
Her stomach fluttered crazily at the thought of going downstairs and facing all those people.

Her hair looked just like Mikala had described it.
 
The maid had piled it on top of her head and then pulled tendrils free.
 
Because her hair was so straight, the maid took a short metal rod and heated it in the fire.
 
Then she took pieces of Cassie’s hair and wrapped them around the metal for a few seconds and released it so that curls bounced like springs.
 
The maid added just a touch of rouge to Cassie’s cheeks and lips and a bit of kohl to her lashes.

“There you go, miss.
 
How do you like that?” the maid asked when she finished.

“Is that truly me?”
 

The maid giggled her answer.
 
She helped Cassie put on her gloves and the pieces of jewelry Mikala had sent for her to wear that evening.

Cassie was pleased to see that between the sleeve of her dress and her gloves, the bullet wound was covered.
 
She heard repeated knocking on the door for the last half hour.
 
People must already be showing up for the party.
 
“I suppose I’m ready,” Cassie said and walked to the door.
 
The slippers were so different than the hearty shoes she wore.
 
It almost felt as if she were going barefoot, and they matched the color of her dress.

“You’ll be fine, miss,” the maid encouraged her.

“I do hope you’re right,” Cassie said.
 
She started to leave the room, then paused as nervousness overtook her.
 
“I need just a moment.
 
By myself,” she told the maid.
 

“Of course, Miss Graham,” the maid seemed to understand and left Cassie in peace.
 

Cassie shut the door, walked across the room, and opened the window to let in some fresh air.
 
The fading rays of the sun were turning the sky shades of pink and lavender.
 
She heard an owl hoot somewhere nearby.
 
What was that silly superstition about owls?
 
Oh, yes, if you hear one during the day, sadness will befall you before the night is over.
 
It was a good thing Cassie did not believe in superstitions.
 
She took one more deep breath of fresh air before crossing the floor again.

She left the room and made her way down the stairs.
 
She followed the din of noise to a large room at the back of the house.
 
There were a line of people going into it.
 
What are all these people doing here?
she thought wildly.
 
Mikala had told her that would only be a small party with a few family members and friends invited.
 
As the line inched forward, Cassie could see Mikala greeting people.
 
When Mikala spied her, she said something to someone and then came towards her.

“Cassie, you look beautiful,” she took her hands and squeezed them tightly.

“Thank you.
 
I thought you said this was going to be a small party.”

“I might have gotten carried away.”

“I can’t do this.
 
This is too many people.”

“You can, and you will do it,” she heard a familiar voice say.
 

“Papa?” Cassie asked. She spun around and saw her father walking up to the line.
 
He wore his best suit and cravat, both of which had seen better days, but still made him look dignified.
 
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” She threw her arms about him when he reached her.