Cupid's Mistake (Cupid Regency Romance) by Karen Harbaugh Page A

doorknob.
    "I shall be at Lady Marchmont's ball."
    She turned to look at him and found he had followed her up the steps. This time she could not help the hope and joy that rose in her heart and made her smile. "I am glad," she said.
    Lord Blytheland stared at her for one moment, his expression serious. "Will you save a dance for me?" he asked. There was an intent air about him, as if he were holding his breath.
    It was a ridiculous thing to be so happy over such a small thing as a dance, Cassandra thought. But she was happy, and she felt sure she looked like an idiot, grinning so widely as she was. "Oh yes!" she said, then firmly reined in her feelings. "Yes, thank you, my lord."
    The marquess took her hand and kissed it. "I shall definitely look forward to it, then." He gave a brief smile, bowed, and went down the steps to his carriage again. Cassandra watched him as he touched his hat to her in another bow and drove off.
    Cassandra turned and stared at the door of the house as she went up the stairs. She missed the doorknob at first when trying to open it, then shook her head at herself for being in such a daze. How silly she was!
    She sighed and went up to her room to change her dress. Silly indeed. There was no depending upon a man's interest, really. No man had been all that interested in her before, and there was no reason why Lord Blytheland should, either.
    But he has paid more attention to you than any other man , whispered a little voice that crept into her mind.
    Cassandra pressed her lips together and took the little voice to task. Well, there! she told herself firmly. She was becoming foolish over a thing that was wholly insignificant. So what of Lord Blytheland 's attentions? That he had paid her more attention than any other man was an insignificant thing. He could very well stop at any time, as did the others. Besides, he had only been with her one or two times.
    It could be three or four or five . . . said the little voice.
    And what was the use of "could be" in such matters? she argued. One was best served by placing one's reliance on what was and what should be.
    A clock tolled the hour and Cassandra hurried up the rest of the stairs. It was almost time for the meeting of the Society for the Rescue of Climbing Boys. She had done very well, she thought, in speaking in general terms about her charitable pursuits. Mama would be quite pleased that she had not mentioned climbing boys at all during the ride with Lord Blytheland.
    She hastened into her room; she would have to change her clothes quickly. Most certainly she could not wear this spencer and dress to the meeting! She glanced down at the dress and blushed—it had become disarrayed even more than before. Heavens! She would give the spencer away to Psyche, for whom it would be a little large and certainly not as indecent. What could her mother have been thinking?
    The little voice began to speak up, but Cassandra quashed it as firmly as she shut the door to her room.
     
     

 
    Chapter 5
     
    Miss Hathaway was definitely not the sort of woman he usually liked. Lord Blytheland smiled at his reflection in his chamber's mirror as he adjusted his neckcloth. Slowly he let down his chin upon the folds of cloth. Satisfied, he turned to his valet and put on his coat.
    No, Miss Cassandra Hathaway was too blunt for him, too impetuous in her speech, and she blurted out whatever happened to be in her mind. She had little finesse, though in general her manners were good, and she was inept in company. Further, it was clear she was a bluestocking, and worse, a believer in that Wollstonecraft woman 's ideas.
    Like Chloe.
    A hard, hot anger surged in his chest, and for one moment his hand stilled before he drew his jacket together. He took in a deep breath.
    No, to be fair, not like Chloe. He let out his breath and frowned slightly. Chloe had had a great deal of charm, and a sparkling wit. She would never inadvertently insult anyone. He remembered suddenly a smiling