Tonight, oh tonight, everything between them would change, and she had more hope than ever that this was the right path. A kiss would seal their fate.
Returning home, after leaving the charity baskets at the vicarage in the care of Mr. Hughes, Cassie wanted to linger in the hall with Sidney and prolong every moment. However, her brother appeared and pulled Sidney away.
The moment by the fence faded all too quickly, but she refused to let go of the hope that was born there. She went to her room and ordered a bath to prepare for tonight.
Inspired by a look from one of the more fashionable ladies of the ton, Cassie had ordered a special dress and mask just for this masquerade. An emerald-green satin dress that hugged her curves, displaying her breasts in a tasteful yet decadent way, but she would hide the expanse of skin with a fichu. Her mask was covered in peacock feathers that fanned high on one side, curving around her head, but until her moment with Sidney, she would wear a plain black mask more appropriate for her age. More feathers would be tucked into her hair, and she had a matching fan, but those too would stay hidden until she revealed her intentions to Sidney with her new style. The green of her dress gave her hair a deeper hue, and her eyes appeared brighter behind the mask.
After a long soak, she powdered and perfumed herself, her nerves finally catching up with her. Her maid helped her dress and style her hair, declaring her the loveliest she’d ever been.
“You’re sure to meet your match tonight under the Mistletoe,” Mary said as she pinned the final curl in place.
“I hope so,” Cassie said, reminding herself not to forget the peacock feathers and other adornments she would need to alter her costume. She still needed to get through dinner with her family.
“Do you have a special gentleman in mind?”
Cassie bit her tongue. She’d never revealed her true feelings about Sidney to anyone, and Mary could be quite chatty in the kitchens. “No. If it is meant to be, it will be.”
“I’ve never known you to put so much faith in fate. You’re a young woman of action.”
Cassie smiled at Mary. They’d been together since Cassie had graduated from the nursery to her own room in the family wing. But this plan was more action than Mary would approve of. Cassie had pushed limits all her life. She hated being excluded, and when she compared her life to her brothers, her brother’s was far more interesting. She was taking control, just as Sidney had said. Of her future and her heart.
Arriving at the ball, her brother quickly bid his adieu to stalk the card room, but before they parted, Sidney requested the last dance before supper. Cassie hesitated. She was going to have a footman slip Sidney the note before supper. She couldn’t do that without being seen if she were with him on the dance floor.
“I’m sorry, I can’t.”
His brow furrowed just barely, a rare show of confusion.
“I’ve already agreed to dance with Mr. Matlock.”
“We’ve just arrived,” he said, his voice flat.
Cassie floundered. “He asked me yesterday, in the market.”
He nodded. His expression turning into emotionless granite, his usual facade. Under the plain, black silk mask he wore tonight. Amazing that she could read him with half his face covered by the plain black silk mask he wore tonight, but it wasn’t that she could see his thoughts. Rather, she felt them, like invisible rain drops before the true deluge began.
But it wasn’t like him at all to be so transparent. Even with her. Especially not with her.
“I’m sorry.”
“I take no offense, I assure you. I was only doing a duty in place of your brother. He did not ask you, so I thought I should. Enjoy your evening.” And then he turned with a swirl of his cape, disappearing into the masses of disguised guests.
Cassie’s stomach quivered with uncertainty. Her father had taken his leave, and unaware of Cassie’s turbulent thoughts, her mother ushered her toward a set of chairs and familiar matrons. There Cassie would have to sit until a suitable gentleman asked her to dance. She’d be allowed to leave the chairs only in the company of no more than three women her age or by escort of a gentleman to either the dance floor or the refreshment table. She was on strict orders that if a gentleman were to escort her to the refreshment table, she was to return promptly to her mother with a glass of champagne. Her mother loved champagne but only indulged at balls.
And Cassie was her champagne fairy.
Cassie had learned that it only took three glasses for her mother to become delightfully amused and oblivious to Cassie’s comings and goings. Therefore, Cassie’s immediate goal was to promptly supply those three glasses, freeing herself for the evening. Her father never noticed this. He spent the bulk of his time in the card room. He would emerge before supper to collect his wife for prime seating and then retreat back after one obligatory dance with his wife.
Cassie caught the eye of Mr. Matlock, a kind fellow who might be the safest gentleman here. He wore an elaborate ruby red mask and a coat made of draped red satin to look like…a rose?
He bowed before her. “Lady Cassandra?”
“Very discerning, Mr. Matlock.”
“And what, pray tell, is your costume?”
“I’m…” Drat. She was a peacock, but she wouldn’t be a peacock until her moment with Sidney.
“I’m undecided,” she said, “and you are?”
He ruffled his shoulders. “Why a blooming red rose.”
“Red is quite becoming on you.”
“I know it.” He peeked at her mother. “Would you like some refreshment while the punch is cold?”
Her mother turned their way, having been eavesdropping from the start. “Darling, would you be so kind?”
“Champagne, of course, Mother.”
Cassie rose and accepted Mr. Matlock’s arm. “Like a well-tuned clock,” Cassie murmured.
“Predictable? And you’ve learned to take advantage of it,” Matlock returned.
“It’s boring to sit around and wait for a man to come to you.”
“I came to you.”
“You don’t count.”
He snorted and tossed his golden locks, his blue eyes piercing her. “Why is it that I don’t count?”
“I know you have no interest in me, Mattie. We’re friends. We get along, and I don’t try to flirt with you. You said it was my best quality.”
“’Tis true. I should probably marry you for that reason alone. You don’t question my lack of interest.”
Cassie faced forward and blinked. “Don’t say that word within hearing of others. It will get back to my mother.” But there was something about his words that puzzled her. He was a fop, through and through, with a decadent taste for all things fashionable, but he derided the attention he gained from women.
“Where did your brother run off to? I suppose I shall dance with you since he never does.”
“I should tell you that you’ve already claimed my pre-supper dance, but we shall not be dancing.”
He turned to face her as they arrived at the table bearing champagne flutes, punch, and an assortment of desserts.
“Why? What are you planning?”
Cassie had never told him of her infatuation with Sidney, though she suspected he knew. “I can’t tell you.”