Chapter 30

'Cass,' Damien said tenderly, 'are you awake?'

Cassie murmured sleepily, as she slowly lifted her head and smiled at him. The gentle rocking of the carriage, to and fro, as it made its way briskly along the country lanes towards London, had lulled her to sleep. When she had been woken by Damien's gentle voice calling her name, her body had been leaning against him, and her head had been resting on his shoulder. 'Are we stopping to change the horses?' She said as she stretched out her arms in front of her to relieve the tension that had built up in her neck and shoulders. It was now late morning, and Cassie realised that they must have been travelling for several hours. 'Even though this is a well-sprung carriage, and your shoulder makes a fairly comfortable pillow,' she said, 'I really could do with stretching my legs.'

They had risen very early that morning, just as the first, faint light of dawn began to glow, with orange and red hues, on the distant horizon. Damien had got out of the bed that they shared that night, and had quickly dressed, putting on the same clothes as he had discarded the night before. Once he was dressed, he left Cassie to ready herself for the long day's journey to London. Looking out of the window of the bedchamber, Cassie watched him disappear down the drive on foot. As she watched him leave, she was in no doubt that he would return to her. All the animosity that she had briefly felt for him the previous afternoon, after Delaney's visit, had vanished. It was a sobering thought to realise that he loved her. Not with a selfish love, like the love that Ellington had professed to have for her at Hadlands. It was a love shared between two people who regarded each other as equals.

Cassie did not have to wait long for him to return, and in less than an hour, when the sun had just begun to peep above the horizon, he had returned to Abbotgate, along with his rather grand looking carriage and smartly dressed coachman. It was slowly dawning on her, that she was about to enter a different world; a world full of wealth and privilege. She smiled, as she thought to herself, that only yesterday, a change in her circumstances would have put a cold fear into her heart. But, she was not frightened of the future anymore, and, what surprised her most, was that she was not intimidated by the spectre of Ellington's return to her life. The only difference was that today she knew that whatever life had in store for her, she would always have Damien by her side.

'Not yet,' he said, as his gentle voice brought her back to the present. 'By my reckoning, we will stop in about an hour.' He laced his fingers through hers and placed her hand on his lap. 'Are you hungry?' Damien asked as Cassie put her head back on his shoulder, 'it is nearly time for luncheon, and we started our journey very early this morning without any breakfast.'

'Yes, I am rather hungry,' Cassie replied, 'but what I would really like, above anything else, is a nice cup of tea. In fact, I would be willing to give away half my kingdom for a cup.'

Damien laughed and kissed the top of her head. 'I think some tea can be arranged at the next stop,' he said, 'but I will not expect you to give away your kingdom, just a kiss.'

'When I get my tea,' she said mischievously, 'I will let you kiss me.'

'Ah!' he said, with a chuckle, 'but that is not the bargain. You will have to kiss me before you get your tea.'

They had travelled in silence for a few more miles when Damien broke the silence. 'Cass,' Damien said, as he leant his head against hers, 'when we return to London, I am going to procure a special license. We can be married in a few days.'

'Oh, Damien,' Cassie said, as she lifted her head to look at him, with a serious expression. Even though she loved him, and she knew that he loved her, she had to ask him the question one more time. 'Are you absolutely certain that you want to marry me? I will not hold it against you if you decide to cry off. Nothing is yet official.'

'Cass,' Damien said firmly, 'unless you have changed your mind, we will marry in the next few days.'

Cassie nodded and smiled. 'Where are we going, when we arrive in London?'

'We will go straight to our new home, Limington Place. It is the official London residence of the Earl of Silverton, and it will be our new home when we visit London.'

'Where is Limington Place?' Cassie asked curiously.

'In Mayfair,' Damien said, 'I must warn you, it is very grand. I find the house and staff intimidating, and I've faced the French in battle.'

They, once more, fell into a companionable silence, and the gentle rocking of the carriage, as well as the warmth of Damien's body, almost lulled Cassie back to sleep. 'Cass,' Damien said, breaking the silence, 'do you remember that I mentioned a Miss Cavendish to you.'

'Yes,' Cassie said sleepily, as she raised her head to look at him, 'if I remember correctly, she is the daughter of the odious Sir Henry Cavendish?'

'Yes,' he said. 'Do you remember, that I told you she came to me early yesterday morning, without her father's knowledge, and told me everything? It was not until she described your miniature that I remembered you.'

Cassie nodded. 'I will always be in her debt,' Cassie said earnestly, 'she did not have to betray her father and tell you anything.'

'Her father, like yours, owes Melrose a substantial sum of money. That was why Sir Henry wanted me to marry his daughter. He thought he could pay his debt, using the money he could raise from his daughter's marriage settlements.'

'Oh no,' Cassie said, with concern, 'if her father still owes Melrose money, then Miss Cavendish could be in grave danger. Lord Melrose will stop at nothing to recover her father's debts. I would not want Miss Cavendish, after all, she has done for us, to have to experience what I went through.'

Damien squeezed her hand and smiled at her. 'Do not worry,' he said reassuringly, 'she is not in any immediate danger. I left her at Limington Place, with strict instructions not to leave under any circumstance. She will be quite safe until we return.'

Cassie smiled at him. 'I should have known you would have made provision for her safety,' she said. 'What will become of her? I do hope that she has somewhere else to go. Sir Henry sounds like he does not deserve to have a daughter.'

'She told me that she has an aunt in Hertfordshire, who, by the sounds of it, does not like Sir Henry,' he said.

'She sounds like she is a very sensible woman,' Cassie replied.

'Indeed,' Damien agreed. 'After our wedding, I would like to contact her aunt and arrange for Miss Cavendish to have a prolonged visit with her. Would you mind, my love, if she stayed with us in Limington Place, until it can be arranged?'

'Of course not,' Cassie said, with a smile, 'after everything she has done for us, we must help her.'

Damien turned around and kissed her lightly on the cheek. 'Thank you, my love,' he said tenderly.

✽✽✽

It was early that evening when the carriage finally drew up outside Limington Place. Cassie had known, due to Damien's new status in society and what he had told her about the house earlier that day, that his London residence would be grand. But, as she took her first look at the building's façade from the carriage window, she realised that nothing could have prepared her for the actual grandeur she observed. Limington Place was not a house at all; it was a mansion.

'Welcome to your new home,' Damien said to her as the carriage came to a halt outside the biggest and grandest house that was situated right in the centre of an impressive row of similar houses.

Cassie stared out of the carriage window and said, looking at the white limestone steps that led to a large, black, shiny front door, 'it is so...'

'Massive,' Damien said when Cassie did not finish her sentence.

'I do not think that it is massive,' she said, as the coachman pulled out the steps and opened the carriage door, 'it is gigantic. How many rooms does it have?'

'I do not know,' he said as he took her hand and helped her down onto the pavement, 'I ran out of fingers and toes when I tried to count them.' Cassie laughed, but she looked a little nervous as a smartly dressed liveried footman opened the large front door. 'Miss Stanford,' Damien said, with a flourish, as he offered her his arm to lead her into the house, 'please let me escort you into your new home. I hope that you will find it satisfactory.'

'It seems to be a little on the small side, my lord,' she said, with mock hauteur as she took his offered arm, 'but, I suppose it will do.' Cassie then walked sedately with Damien up the steps and through the open front door, into a large hallway that contained a sweeping staircase that went up both sides of the room. Cassie looked at Damien and smiled as she thought of how the pair of them must look. Her, in her pretty, but worn sprig muslin dress that she had purchased in Brussels, and Damien in the crumpled clothes he had been wearing the day before. She tried to suppress her laughter, but, however much she tried, she could not.

'What is so funny?' Damien said looking at her, smiling broadly as Cassie laughed.

'Look at us, then look at this place,' she said, 'I think that the footman almost had an apoplexy when he saw us coming up the steps. Poor man.'

But, her laughter was cut short, when the stern looking butler appeared, from what seemed to be nowhere. He bowed and said, in a loud, deep voice, that reverberated around the hallway, 'good evening, my lord.'

After the butler had addressed Damien, in his voice that told her he was not in the least bit amused by the intrusion, Cassie stopped laughing. The deficient nature of her clothes that had amused her up until now, suddenly made her feel inadequate. How was she, she thought to herself, to become the mistress of such a large household? But Cassie had faced worse adversaries in her life, than a mere servant, who appeared to look down his nose at her. Cassie stood up straight and looked the butler in the eye. She had decided that she was not going to shrink away from his hostility, she was going to be the mistress of this house, whether he liked it or not.

'Saunders,' Damien said, in an authoritative voice that took Cassie by surprise, 'this is Miss Stanford. She is to be my new countess and mistress of this house.'

'Very good, my lord,' he said in a flat, low voice, that was devoid of any emotion. 'I will inform Mrs Hodgkin, the housekeeper.'

'Where is Miss Cavendish?' Damien asked, as Cassie still held onto his arm.

But, before the austere Saunders had a chance to reply to his master's question, a young woman appeared at the top of the stairs. 'Oh,' she said, her voice full of excitement, 'it is you, my lord. You are back.'

She began to run lightly down the stairs towards them. Once she had reached the bottom of the staircase, she continued to run, with small ladylike steps, over to them. 'Oh,' she sighed, looking at Cassie, 'Lord Silverton found you.' Her eyes then welled up with tears, 'I am so happy. I was afraid he was going to be too late.'

'He found me,' Cassie said smiling at the young woman, who was only a year younger than her. 'And it was all thanks to you,' she added, smiling at her, as she held both of her hands.

'You are even more beautiful in real life,' Miss Cavendish said, as the tears continued to flow down her cheeks. 'I can understand why Lord Silverton fell in love with you.'

'Miss Cavendish,' Damien then said, bowing slightly at the young woman, 'may I introduce to you, Miss Stanford.'

Cassie held out her hand and said, 'please, Miss Cavendish, call me Cassie. I always find Miss Stanford far too grand.'

'Yes, of course,' she replied eagerly, 'and you must call me Julia.'

'Miss Stanford, Miss Cavendish,' Damien said to both women, once the introductions had been made, 'I am afraid I am going to have to leave you for a few hours. I would like you both to make yourselves at home. I should not be long, but please do not delay dinner for my benefit.'

Cassie looked at him, with a look of panic in her blue eyes. 'Cass,' he said tenderly, as he took her hands in his and looked into her eyes, 'I will be back very soon. There is some urgent business I must attend to, and it has to be tonight.'

Cassie nodded. 'Of course,' she said, trying not to sound too disappointed about his absence, 'I will enjoy spending the evening making a new friend.' Even though Cassie knew that she could, with hard work and time, become a successful mistress of this household, she did not want Damien to leave her alone in it, so soon after their arrival. But, she soon realised that this was a very foolish thought. She knew that in order to have any authority over the household in the future, she should not allow herself to display any weakness in character to the staff she would one day manage.

Julia took her by the hand, and said excitedly, 'follow me. I will take you to the drawing-room, and we can ring for tea.'

Cassie then followed Julia up the stairs. Once she had reached the top of the staircase, she glanced back at Damien, who was now standing by the door, ready to leave. Before he disappeared onto the street, he raised his hand and smiled reassuringly at her.

Once the tea tray had been brought to the drawing room, and the two young women were sitting opposite each other, sipping tea from delicate porcelain cups, Cassie began, at last, to relax. She soon discovered, much to her surprise, that she enjoyed Julia's company. Since she had left Hadlands, her family home nearly four years ago, Cassie had not had a close friend of her own age. In fact, it had been such a long time, she had forgotten how important it was to just have a lighthearted conversation with another woman. She found, to her surprise, that a discussion, regarding books and fashion, did not have to be in the least bit superficial.

It came to her as a surprise when the clock on the mantelpiece chimed ten o'clock. It had been a long day, and Cassie was very tired. She was just about to retire when the door of the drawing-room finally opened. 'Cass,' Damien said, as he came in through the door, 'I am glad to see that you are still up. I have someone here, who is eager to meet you.'

A tall, elegantly dressed woman with light red hair, followed Damien into the drawing room. As soon as she saw Cassie, her face lit up, and she ran over to her. 'Cassie,' she said, as she flung her arms around her and hugged her tightly. 'My dear, dear Cassie.'

'It cannot be,' Cassie said in a whisper, as she responded to the embrace, 'Verity.'

'Let me look at you,' Verity said, drawing away from her, but holding her hands in hers. 'You have not changed. You are still my own dear, beautiful sister.'

'Oh, Verity, Verity,' Cassie whispered, 'I am sorry.'

'Listen to me, Cass,' Verity said seriously, squeezing her hands tightly, 'you have nothing to be sorry for. I thought, after I last saw you in Brussels, that you were dead. James, my husband, has spent the past few months tirelessly looking for you.'

'You are married?' Cassie said, smiling at her sister.

'I hope I am. I would find myself in a bit of a fix if I were not,' Verity laughed as she looked down at her swollen stomach. 'You see, I am in, what polite society calls, an "interesting condition".'

'Oh, Verity,' Cassie said, hugging her sister once more, 'I am to be an aunt.'

Verity turned around and smiled at a very handsome gentleman, who was standing next to Damien. 'This is my husband, Colonel Mitford, but he is now your brother, so you must call him James.'

James came towards her with his arm outstretched and shook her hand. 'Cassie,' he said warmly, 'it is indeed a pleasure to meet you, at long last.'

Verity then turned back to her sister. 'Lord Silverton, has told us that you are planning to get married in a few days, by special license.'

Cassie glanced over at Damien and smiled, as a faint blush crept into her cheeks.

'Cassie, my dear,' Verity said, still smiling at her sister, 'you cannot live here with the bridegroom, that will never do. You must come and stay with us until you are married.'

'But, Verity,' Cassie said, a little flustered, 'I could not impose on you and James. You are...'

'My dear sister,' Verity said, holding up her hand and using her most authoritative voice. 'If you are going to mention my "interesting situation," as an excuse, I will not be in the least bit amused. I have never felt better, and I will enjoy having you all to myself for a few days. You cannot deny me the pleasure of helping you prepare for the most glorious day of your life.'

'But, I cannot leave Julia, I mean Miss Cavendish, here by herself,' Cassie said, turning around to look at Julia, who had been watching the tender scene between the two sisters.

'Of course, you cannot. Miss Cavendish can come and stay with us as well. We have plenty of room for both of you. I am confident that Miss Cavendish would enjoy accompanying us on our essential shopping trips.' Verity turned around to Julia, and said, 'we must kit out my sister with the finest bridal clothes. Will you help me?'

Julia smiled, and a few tears ran down her cheek. 'Of course,' she said, 'I would love to help.'

'That is settled,' Verity said, looking at Cassie, 'will you come and stay with us?'

'I will,' Cassie said, as Verity hugged her once more.

'I would like to introduce you to Lady Harrington. She was our mother's best friend, and she has become a dear, dear friend to me. I know that she would love to meet you as well,' Verity said.

Damien and James walked over to the two sisters, who were still standing by the fireplace. 'Come, my love,' James said affectionately to his wife. 'I think that you have had more than enough excitement for one day. We should go home and prepare a couple of bedchambers for our honoured guests.'

Verity smiled at Cassie. 'I am married to a tyrant,' she said, as she glanced affectionately over to her husband.

Cassie had a lump in her throat as she saw the look in Verity's eyes as she looked at James. She knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that her sister was in love with her husband. 'A tyrant indeed,' Cassie said, laughing.

✽✽✽

Three days later, on a bright, sunny morning, in the last week of May, Damien was standing nervously by the altar at the front of a small church in a fashionable suburb of London. Standing next to him, was his best man and soon to be brother-in-law, Colonel Mitford. The congregation, at the request of the bride and groom, was very small and select. There was no one seated on the groom's side of the church, and on the bride's side, only two women, Julia and Lady Harrington, were sitting next to each other, their handkerchiefs at the ready.

Damien had met both Lord and Lady Harrington, for the first time, two days ago, at the hastily arranged betrothal celebrations at the home of James and Verity. After the very stylish middle-aged woman, had hugged both Cassie and himself until his ribs ached, Lord Harrington had slapped him on the back and told him that he was a very fortunate young man.

Damien, who had been so busy over the past few days, had not even had time to think, and he suddenly began to feel nervous. As he stood in silence, at the front of the church, it was the first time he had had a chance to reflect on the solemn ceremony he was about to undertake. It struck him, that today, was a very special day, probably the most important of his life so far. It was the day when he was going to marry the woman he loved. He felt a lump in his throat when he realised that he had begun to love her the first time he had seen her in that filthy basement in Brussels. His love for her had only grown stronger over the past year, when they had first become friends and then more recently, lovers. His only regret, as he stood waiting for her, was that Joe and Betsy were not here at the church to witness their marriage. They were thousands of miles away, on a different continent, fighting yet another war.

'She is here,' James whispered to him, as the organ began to play.

Damien, his mouth dry, turned around and took his first look at his bride. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, standing at the back of the church holding onto Lord Harrington's arm. She was dressed in a plain, but very stylish, pale blue muslin dress. The slightly darker blue bodice contrasted beautifully with the pale blue of the skirt. She clasped a small bouquet of bluebells, that was held together with a blue ribbon that matched the blooms perfectly. Her face was framed by a small straw bonnet, and her hair had been arranged, so that a few golden, ringleted tendrils fell artistically down across her shoulders.

The anxiety, he had felt as he was waiting for her, vanished in an instant as she smiled broadly at him. She really was lovely, he thought to himself and deserved a happy ending. But, standing there, looking at her at the back of the church, he knew that would not be an easy task. The memories of her past, and what she had been through at the hands of Ellington, would not be easy to erase. During the two and a half years she had been imprisoned by Ellington, she had experienced a lifetime of pain. Perhaps those scars would be etched on her soul for the rest of her life. But, he would do everything he could to help her put the past behind her. It was his turn to give her the life that she deserved. A life of comfort and stability, and, of course, the most important of all; a life full of love. He had no doubt that there would be times of hardship and sorrow. No one's life could ever be without some pain, but as long as he had breath in his body, he would be there with her, standing by her side, every step of the way.

As the organ music began to swell, Cassie started to walk slowly, but confidently, down the aisle towards him, her small steps in time with the music. She smiled broadly at him, as she marched sedately towards him, with Verity, her maid of honour, following closely behind her.

When she reached the altar, the parson stepped forward and addressed the select congregation in a loud, clear voice. 'Dearly beloved,' he began, 'we are gathered here to witness the marriage of...' As the parson pronounced their full names, Damien found it difficult to believe that he was not dreaming. Cassie, his beautiful, wonderful, Cass, was standing next to him, and she was about to become his wife.

The ceremony may have been brief, but both parties spoke clearly when directed. At last, when all the vows had been exchanged, the parson said, with a warm smile, 'you may kiss the bride.'

Damien then took Cassie by the hand and leant towards her, so that their bodies touched. He tenderly brushed his lips against hers. He felt that familiar warm feeling of pleasure mingled with contentment, as his lips lingered over hers. When he finally withdrew, he smiled at her as he saw a faint blush creep into her cheeks. 'Lady Silverton,' he said, with a flourish, 'please, take my arm. We have a wedding breakfast to attend.'

ogue

August 1817

'It is beautiful,' Verity said as she looked out across the parkland. 'I have never seen such a magnificent view.'

'I knew that you would love it,' Cassie said as she looked at the delighted expression on her sister's face.

The baby that was perched on Verity's lap gurgled and flapped his arms up and down, before looking up at his mother and then his aunt. 'Charles loves it as well,' Verity said as her son grinned at them both in turn.

'And, we all love Charles,' Cassie said as she tickled her nine-month-old nephew under the chin. Charles gurgled again, and then unceremoniously hauled himself of his mother's lap. Once he was free, he began to crawl purposefully towards his aunt. When he reached her, Cassie picked him up and kissed his cheek. Then she sat him on her lap and, much to his delight, she bounced him up and down.

Even though it was nearly the end of September, it was a warm and sunny day and felt more like a summer's day in June. It was the middle of the afternoon, and the two sisters had decided to take advantage of the unusually warm weather by sitting outside on a rug, under the shade of a large cedar tree on the lawn just outside Silverton Grange: the main country seat of the Earl of Silverton, in Norfolk.

'I cannot believe it has been over a year since you got married,' Verity said as she looked at her sister, who was still bouncing her son up and down on her lap.

'It feels like only yesterday,' Cassie said smiling at her sister, 'yet so much has happened over the past year. Damien has made his maiden speech to the House of Lords, Lady Harrington launched me into London society and, most important of all, I became a doting aunt to a handsome nephew.'

'It has been a busy year,' Verity said in agreement.

After a long silence, as both sisters looked at the fluffy white clouds that were slowly ambling their way across the sky, Verity, at last, broke the silence. 'You are happy, are you not?' she said as she touched her sister's arm.

Cassie smiled warmly at her sister. 'Yes, Verity, I am. I have never been happier.' But Cassie knew that this was not the question her sister wanted to ask. She had seen the look of concern in her sister's eyes. 'I know that you are worried about me,' Cassie said, looking down at baby Charles, who was sitting in her lap happily gurgling away to himself. 'But you must not be,' she then added, 'I have been fortunate. I have found something not everyone can find during their life. I have found love.'

Verity smiled and touched her sister on her arm and said, 'anyone, with any sense, can see that.' Then after a short silence, Verity said, with a look of concern on her face, 'do you still think about what happened to you when you were under the control of Ellington? I can only imagine how difficult it can be to forget something like that.'

Cassie sighed. This was the conversation that both sisters, over the past year, had avoided, but it was something that they both needed to discuss. 'I would not be telling you the truth if I said that I have never thought about it,' Cassie said as she smoothed the baby's soft, wispy hair. 'I sometimes dream I am still there,' she paused, as she looked into the distance. 'But I soon become aware that it is only a dream. And, when I do eventually wake up, Damien is there, with his arms around about me, comforting me.'

There was another long silence as both sisters looked towards the horizon. 'Reggie was sorry for what he did to you,' Verity said, a little hesitantly. Cassie said nothing in the short silence that followed. In truth, she could think of nothing to say. Did it really matter what Reggie thought anymore? It has been over two years since his death, and during that time she had barely given him a second thought. 'He matured during those weeks leading up to Waterloo. Before he went with his regiment to the battle, he wrote me a letter. He wanted you to know that he was sorry for everything he did to you. If he had lived, I do believe he would have made an effort to put everything right.'

Cassie felt a lump develop in the back of her throat. Maybe it did matter, she thought to herself. Perhaps forgiving her brother was indeed the key to her future happiness. 'I do not blame Reggie,' Cassie eventually said, as a tear fell down her cheek, 'he fell under Ellington's spell in the same way that I did. It was hard not to be charmed by Ellington. And he was the first person that made our brother feel like a man, and not at all like the boy we all thought he was.'

'I am relieved,' Verity said, looking at her sister, 'I do believe that if he had survived, he would have faced up to his responsibilities towards you. James managed to get him away from Ellington's influence. He told me that with time, he would have grown into a good man.' Verity whispered. 'His body was buried in Brussels,' Verity said, her voice full of sadness, 'it is one of my regrets that I was not able to attend his funeral. But, I was planning on having a plaque commissioned, as a memorial to him, in the village church close to Hadlands. I was hoping that you would help me choose the text to place on the plaque, and perhaps travel back to the church once it is on display.'

'Yes, Verity, I will help,' Cassie said decisively, 'I need to go back to lay to rest the ghosts of my past.'

'Cass,' Verity said, after a long silence. 'If you could go back in time to that stormy night, the night when you first met Ellington on the doorstep at Hadlands, and you were given the opportunity to relive your life. Knowing all that you know now, would you do it?

This was not a question Cassie could answer immediately. As she thought about her sister's question, she bounced baby Charles on her lap, until he let out another gurgle of laughter. As she amused Charles, she began to ask herself several questions: If she had not gone to Ellington's bedchamber that night, would she have gone meekly to Scotland and become a governess? Would she have been happy closeted away from the world teaching young children for the rest of her life? Would she have eventually found the true love that had made her life worthwhile? These were all questions she was finding difficult to answer. How could one tell how one's life would turn out if the decisions one took were different?

'No,' Cassie said firmly, shaking her head, 'no, I do not think I would.' Cassie readjusted Charles so that he sat more comfortably on her lap. 'If I had not had an affair with Ellington, and if I had not gone with him to France and then Brussels, my life would have been very different.' She then said smiling at her sister, 'it is funny how life works out. If I had not been in that brothel in Brussels, and if you had not asked James to help me, I would have never met Damien. Without the pain and the suffering, I would never have found love.'

Verity reached over and gave her sister a hug. 'Oh, Cass,' she said, as she began to cry, 'you are not just saying all those things to make me feel better? I feel responsible for what happened. I should have stopped you.'

Cassie put her hands on Verity's shoulders and looked at her. 'You must not feel any guilt. When I was seventeen, I was far too headstrong to take advice from anybody. I was proud and arrogant, and I thought I knew best. There was nothing you, or anyone else, could have said, or even done, to convince me that Ellington was using me. I had to make that mistake and find out what he was really like.'

Charles, who was still sitting on his aunt's lap, looked up at the two women, flapped his arms and then crawled unsteadily out of Cassie's lap onto the rug. 'You will make a wonderful mother,' Verity said, 'Charles does not like just anyone.'

'I cannot have children,' Cassie said, looking at Charles, who had rolled over onto his back.

'Oh, Cassie, are you absolutely certain,' Verity said, 'you have only been married just over a year. There is plenty of time.'

Cassie shook her head and told her sister about what had happened to her when she first went to London. She had told her that Ellington had organised their unborn child's termination.

'Cass,' Verity said as she reached over and hugged her, 'I am sorry.'

'I am sad for the child I lost,' Cassie said, 'and I also regret that I cannot have any more children. But I cannot spend my life grieving for something that is beyond my reach. I have got to learn to be content with my life, just the way it is. I have a nephew, and in the future, you will make me an aunt again. I will love your children as much as I would have loved my own.'

A large cloud obscured the sun, and it suddenly became chilly. 'We had better get back to the house,' Cassie said, looking up to the sky, 'we do not want Charles to catch a cold.'

When the two sisters had stood up, Verity took Cassie in her arms and gave her another hug. 'I do love you,' she said, 'and I want you to be as happy as I am.'

Cassie held onto her sister tightly and said, 'and I love you, my dear, dear sister. And please, believe me, I have found the same happiness as you. I love him, Verity, I love him so much that it hurts me to think of what life would have been like without him.'

'I understand,' Verity said as she looked up once more to the sky. 'I do believe that it is going to rain.'

As large droplets of water fell from the sky, Verity picked up Charles and said, 'let us go back inside and find our husbands.'

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