The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(15)

But this was Cass’s chance, her one chance. She was courageous. She was confident. She was Patience Bunbury! She nodded resolutely and turned to face her friend.

Lucy spread her arms wide, indicating the entire back half of the drawing room. “And here is where we shall play cards after dinner,” she said, turning in a circle and clapping her hands together once. “Of course I shall seat you next to Captain Swift at every opportunity.”

Cass turned in a circle, too. “Seems you’ve thought of everything.”

Lucy nodded. “Of course I have.”

Cass made her way over to the wall and traced a finger along the edge of a portrait hanging there. “Is Jane coming?”

“Absolutely. She says this is one Society event she’s actually looking forward to. In fact, Jane is one of only a few guests I’ve invited. She’s never met Captain Swift, which, of course, is of the utmost importance.”

“When did you plan all of this?” Cass asked, shaking her head.

Lucy grinned. “I was in a flurry of writing letters two nights ago after we spoke with Captain Swift.”

“Who else did you invite? Garrett?” Cass asked, referring to their fourth good friend, Lucy’s first cousin, Garrett Upton. Garrett lived nearby as well. He and his cousin were fast friends and the three of them had grown up together, riding horses and playing games across the neighboring estates.

Lucy’s only brother had died of fever when he was a child. So Garrett, her father’s only brother’s son, stood to inherit Lucy’s father’s earldom because his own father was dead. In fact, Cass suspected that now that she was without the prospect of a husband again, her own parents had turned their marriage-minded gazes toward Garrett Upton. Garrett, of course, was nothing more than a friend to Cass, but because the Upbridge estate bordered the Morelands’ estate, Cass’s father had mentioned upon more than one occasion how much he liked the idea of uniting the two families in land and matrimony.

Lucy turned to face Cass and pursed her lips. “No, ah, not exactly.”

“Not exactly? What do you mean?”

“With Garrett it’s a bit … complicated.”

Cass narrowed her eyes on her friend. “Why?”

Lucy flourished a hand in the air. “Oh, you know Garrett. Always wanting to do the right thing and tell the truth, et cetera, et cetera. I’ve told him I’m a bit indisposed.” She lowered her voice so Mrs. Prism wouldn’t hear. “He thinks I’m with child and stopped asking questions. It’s perfect. I doubt he’ll come looking for me.”

Cass’s mouth dropped open. “Lucy! You didn’t allow him to think that.”

“Yes. I did.” She winked at Cass. “What? It’s the perfect excuse.”

“You’re completely incorrigible.”

Lucy blinked. “You say that as if I don’t already know it.” Then she turned her attention to the housekeeper. “We’ll meet you in the pantries in ten minutes, Mrs. Prism.”

Mrs. Prism nodded and left the room while Cass made her way over and plopped down on the sofa. She pulled a throw pillow onto her lap and hugged it tightly against her middle. “Who else will be coming to the house party?”

Lucy tapped her finger against her cheek. “I invited Lord Berkeley.”

“Lord Berkeley?”

“Yes, Berkeley.”

Lord Berkeley was one of Garrett’s old friends from school. He was a viscount who lived in the north and rarely came down to town. The friends had met him in Bath last summer where he’d unsuccessfully attempted to court Lucy. Apparently, Lucy had remained on good terms with the viscount.

“How did you manage to convince Lord Berkeley to come down for this?” Cass asked.

“I simply informed him that he owes me a favor after shamelessly pretending to write me beautiful letters last summer.”

Cass’s jaw dropped open. “You did not say that to him, Lucy!”

“I most certainly did. He agreed wholeheartedly and sent his acceptance immediately. And the best part is, he has never met Captain Swift, either.”

Cass pulled up the pillow to her chin. “Nothing you do should surprise me but it does.”

Lucy had wandered over to the far side of the room where she was inspecting some apples in a bowl. She turned back to Cass and called, “Oh, Patience.”

Cass didn’t move. She remained staring blindly into the crackling fireplace.

“Patience!” Lucy said more loudly, slapping her slipper against the marble floor.

This time Cass turned her head. “Yes.”

Lucy put both hands on her hips. “That was a drill. You must get used to responding to that name.”

“Oh, Lucy. What am I going to do? I cannot speak to Julian as if I don’t know him. What if I slip and say something only Cass would know?” Cass said, allowing the pillow to fall back into her lap.

Lucy turned over one of the apples and then stared at it as if its precise placement was of the utmost importance. “Hmm. I suggest you keep quiet if you think you might be tempted to do that.”

“What if Jane or Lord Berkeley mistakenly call me Lady Cassandra?”

“Pretend as if you didn’t hear them and give them a stern look.”

“What if Garrett or Owen or my parents arrive?” Cass asked.