"Splendid. Now, pour me another brandy."
Cassie stopped just inside the veranda door to gather her composure. She should not have let his criticism disturb her so much. She did not care what he thought of her.
You won't get her by playing in the sand and dreaming about it.
Those were the words that had struck home. Had she been dreaming like a child instead of acting to make her vision of a horse farm come true? She had made several attempts to find the mare, but had she tried hard enough? Had she used Papa as an excuse to avoid venturing forth? There had seemed no hurry, and she had let time drift by…
"Are you ill? Perhaps you should go back to your room."
Cassie looked up to see Lani coming down the hall, a concerned frown on her face.
She smiled with an effort. "I'm fine. I was just coming to look for you."
"I was in the kitchen trying to keep Uma from hitting Clara with a pot and going back to her village." She grimaced. "It wasn't easy. Clara is being more difficult than usual about the meal preparations for the English. She was raving about heathen servants and people who got in her way while she was doing her duty. I gathered the last volley was aimed at you."
"I didn't stay in the kitchen very long."
"Long enough to annoy her." Lani looked beyond her to the veranda. "If you're not ill, then you're upset What did they say to you?"
She should have known she could not deceive Lani. "Nothing important." To distract her, she said quickly, "Is supper ready?"
Lani nodded. "Clara sent me to inform our honored guests."
Cassie's stomach clenched with apprehension and dread. "Then let's do it."
"Wait." Lani's gaze was on her face. "You're sure you're well enough?"
"Of course." She turned and moved toward the veranda. "It's only dinner. It will be over before we know it."
It was a strained meal that seemed to go on forever. Neither Cassie nor Lani were eager to speak. Jared was fastidiously polite and cool as the North Star. Bradford was affable but gave up after a few attempts at conversation and devoted himself to the food.
Clara Kidman marched into the dining room after Uma had removed the main course. "I hope everything met with your approval, Your Grace."
Cassie looked at her in amazement. It was the first time she had seen Clara in Danemount's presence and was bewildered by the servility in her manner.
"It was absolutely delicious." Jared smiled. "I've not had such a fine meal since I left London. But it's only what I expected. I could tell the moment I met you that you had the reins of the household firmly in your hands."
A faint tinge of color flushed Clara's cheeks. "I know it's not what you're accustomed to, but it's the best I could do with only these heathen islanders to help me."
"Uma is not a heathen," Lani said quietly. "She studied with me at Mrs. Densworth's school."
Clara met Lani's gaze. "It takes more than a few lessons to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
"You have a fine cook," Jared interjected quickly. "But I'm sure it was your expert supervision that carried the day."
"The meal was adequate," Clara said grudgingly. "But I couldn't trust the dessert to anyone but myself. I'll have it brought in at once."
"Thank you, but I seldom eat dessert."
Clara frowned in disappointment. "It's my own special lemon syllabub."
Cassie lifted her brows in mock surprise. "Perhaps he would rather trust his digestion to the heathens, Clara."
Jared's lips tightened as he met Cassie's challenging stare. "Nonsense." He turned to Clara with another brilliant smile. "I'd be delighted to try your syllabub."
Clara gave Cassie a triumphant glance and hurried from the dining room.
"Charming woman," Bradford said, looking at the doorway through which Clara had disappeared. "Am I supposed to compliment the witch on this delicacy?"
"With fervent enthusiasm," Jared said. "She may still prove useful."
Bradford shifted his stare to Lani. "I think not. You do it, Jared. It would stick in my throat."
"Because the old woman insulted me?" Lani asked coolly. "There's no wound. I'm accustomed to her venom."
"And Deville permits it?"
"She doesn't do it when he's here."
"But does he know?" Bradford probed softly. "That's the question."
Lani shrugged. "Why should I bother him with something he cannot change?"
"She's a servant," Jared suddenly bit out with leashed violence. "He could change it if he wished. Why do you defend him?" He whirled on Cassie. "Why do either of you defend him, dammit?"
"Here it is!" Clara sailed into the room with Uma trailing behind her bearing a tray. "I'll wager you won't find anything tastier even at Brighton. It has a fine, tart bite."
Jared pulled his eyes away from Cassie as Uma set the plate before him. "I'm sure you're right," he muttered. "Tartness appears to be the rule of thumb on this island."
"You could hardly expect anything else," Cassie said.
"I expect nothing." He dipped his spoon into the syllabub and tasted it, then smiled at Clara. "Excellent."
She beamed. "I told you. My mother taught me the recipe. She was a cook for the Earl of Belkarn."
Cassie experienced another ripple of surprise. Clara had never spoken of her background before. "I didn't know that."
Clara's smile faded and her expression became guarded. "Did you think I would have been accepted into your mother's household without proper recommendation? I grew up in service."
"Wonderful," Jared said. He glanced meaningfully at Bradford. "Try it. It's superb."
Bradford hesitated, then shrugged and began to eat the dessert.
Clara looked at him expectantly.
"Very good," he said without expression. He eyed Cassie's untouched dessert. "You're not eating."
"She and Lani have no liking for my cooking," Clara said. "And no manners to make the pretense."
"We're more accustomed to island fare now," Cassie said. "You seldom honor us with your efforts."
"No doubt you've noticed her deplorable lack of civilized schooling. I've done the best I can but to no avail. I've told her father he must send her to a convent in England."
"An interesting solution," Jared said impassively. "But not one I'd judge entirely suitable."
"My father refused to send me away from him." Cassie defiantly met his gaze across the table. "He cares as much for me as I do for him."
He smiled coolly. "We shall see."
He meant that if her father truly cared for her, he would walk into the trap, she realized with a shiver. It would not happen. She would not let it happen.
"More syllabub?" Clara asked, hovering over Jared.
Cassie held her breath.
He shook his head as he finished the last bite. "Too dangerous. I'm afraid I'll become too spoiled to enjoy even the most elaborate repast when I return to England."
Cassie's breath expelled in a rush, and she jumped to her feet. "I'm going to my room. I'm suddenly feeling tired. Lani, will you come and help me?"
"Of course." Lani stood up and followed Cassie to the door.
Both men rose to their feet.
"Good night," Bradford said. "Pleasant dreams."
Jared bowed slightly.
Cassie said over her shoulder, "Clara, perhaps you could serve the gentlemen their after-dinner brandy on the veranda? They seem to find it pleasant out there."
"I don't need your suggestions. I was going to do just that."
"Of course you were," Cassie murmured, and fled the room.
Lani caught up with her as she reached the door of her room. "What's happening?" she asked. "And don't tell me nothing when you're shaking like this. You wouldn't have put us through an evening this uncomfortable without reason."
"Come!" Cassie pulled her into the room and slammed the door. She collapsed against it and took a deep breath. "I need your help."
"That's why I'm here." She wrinkled her nose. "And clearly not to help you into bed. You're going to your father tonight?"
"Can you distract the two seamen watching the house?"