The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(40)

He glanced back at her and the solemn, serious look on his face was quickly replaced by his irrepressible grin. “Yes, Cassandra. I know a great deal about guilt and here is my advice.”

She scooted forward until she sat on the edge of her seat, staring at him, waiting for his words. “Yes?”

“If there’s any way you can dispel it, do so, as quickly as possible.” He looked her in the eye. His hazel eyes had turned a dark mossy green. “Otherwise, it will destroy you.”

Cass nearly fell out of her seat. Garrett, fun-loving, happy Garrett, she’d never seen him like this. But something told her he was quite serious and quite right. “You think I should tell Julian the truth?”

“At your first opportunity,” Garrett breathed.

Cass nodded. “I know. You’re right. I want to. I—”

Garrett narrowed his eyes on her. “But you’re not going to, are you?”

Cass bit her lip and glanced away. “You don’t know how much I want to.” She couldn’t look at him. If she weren’t such a coward, she would have asked him what happened in Spain. If she weren’t such a coward, she would ask him if he felt something other than brotherly love for her. If she weren’t such a coward, she would tell Julian the truth. In fact, if she weren’t such a coward, she never would have allowed herself to be trapped in this untenable position to begin with.

“Thank you, Garrett,” was all she said. “I truly value your advice.”

He nodded.

She took an unsteady breath and searched her mind for something simple to say to restore their usual lighthearted camaraderie. “Tell me, what did Jane promise you to get you to agree? Lucy and I are absolutely on tenterhooks to find out.”

Garrett’s grin returned in full force. “She promised me that she would keep her mouth shut and not barb me during the house party. I’d say that’s worth any amount of playacting. In fact, I wasn’t entirely certain I was coming, but I couldn’t pass up such an opportunity.”





CHAPTER NINETEEN


Julian had been standing with his back against the cool marble wall in the corridor outside the library wondering where he might find Miss Bunbury. He’d already checked the terrace and the conservatory with no luck. The library door swung open and Garrett Upton strode out of the room.

Julian narrowed his eyes on Upton. He’d have to question the chap later about his possible involvement with Cassandra. Why did that thought make him jealous? But his next thought made him jealous, too. Was Miss Bunbury in the library? Had she been speaking to Upton privately?

Julian strode over to the door to the library and stepped inside.

It was dark in the room. Only a brace of candles stood on a small table in the far corner. He squinted, adjusting his eyes to the dimness.

“Miss Bunbury?” he ventured.

“Yes,” a small voice answered.

She was here. She had been speaking to Upton. “Seems you and I are drawn to the same locations. I do hope you are not beginning to believe I am following you. Though I must admit that I was seeking your company this evening.” He smiled at her.

He could see her now. Sitting on the settee in the center of the room, she smiled back at him. “I believe you, Captain Swift.”

“Do you mind if I join you?” he asked.

“Please do.” She gestured to the open space next to her.

He made his way over and sat beside her. “Did I see Mr. Upton leaving the room a few moments ago?”

The unspoken question hung in the air. What were the two of you doing in here together?

“Yes, we spoke briefly.” It looked as if she’d winced. “I do hope you don’t think it overly forward of me to have been speaking alone to a man in the library,” she murmured. “But we seem to be doing the same thing ourselves now, aren’t we?”

Julian clenched his jaw. She was right. And he had no cause to judge her or doubt her intentions when he was forcing his company upon her now as well. For all he knew, that’s what Upton had done. Why was Upton making him jealous all of a sudden? “Do you know him? I mean, have you met him before?” What in God’s name had made him ask that question?

She shook her head. Was that another wince? “No. He’d just come in here looking for a book to read before bed. I think he left because he didn’t want to disturb me.” She glanced away.

“I do hope I’m not disturbing you,” Julian said.

“Not at all,” Miss Bunbury replied. “I just wanted to be somewhere a bit more quiet for a few moments. I don’t much like large crowds.”

“Neither do I.”

“I know.”

He squinted at her. “What was that?”

She cleared her throat. “Oh?”

“I want to apologize to you, Miss Bunbury,” he continued.

She turned to look at him. “Whatever for?”

“For burdening you with my secret last night. It was extremely ill-mannered of me. I apologize.”

She bit her lip. “Captain Swift, I haven’t written to Penelope. I—”

He nodded. “I understand. I shouldn’t have asked you to. Another attempt to burden you with my problems. Please accept my apology.”

She smiled at that. “No need to apologize, Captain. And I do hope you believe that I have no intention of telling anyone … what you told me about Penelope … or your brother.”