Emerald and Sapphire by Laura Parker

Author:Laura Parker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION/Romance/Regency
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2013-11-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Fie on all the demons that be!” Meg called dramatically as she swept into the tiny parlor of her home in the alley off Lewknor Lane. Still in her powder and paint after an evening’s performance at the theater where she had landed a bit part, she looked quite the elegant lady as Cassandra’s genteel tones tripped lightly from her lips. With a second dramatic gesture, she swirled one edge of the cape she wore up over a shoulder. It was a borrowed stage prop of royal-blue velvet, rubbed shiny in places after years of quick changes, but that did not affect the flattering picture Meg presented to her audience of one.

“You look lovely, Meg,” Cassandra said as she laid aside the knife with which she was peeling potatoes.

Meg arched a brow. “Come, Cassie, you must have had a handsome wardrobe, being gentry and all.”

After two weeks in Meg’s company Cassandra knew well that the woman’s curiosity would not be satisfied until some tidbit had been extracted. “No. My family had little besides a few dusty portraits and a bit of rocky ground.”

“Still, you had enough to be dowered,” Meg suggested helpfully, but Cassandra shook her head. “Nothing went with me into my marriage.”

“A love match!” Meg cried delightedly, her eyes rolling back in her head in a manner that regularly earned her a scolding from the theater director. “Was your husband tall and handsome as anything?”

The remark caught Cassandra off guard and she replied without thinking. “I thought him the kindest, most beautiful man on earth.” The description hardly applied to the rage-distorted face of her husband that rose quickly to mind. That image drew a trace of a shiver across her sensitive skin and gooseflesh sprang up. “I was wrong,” she finished quietly.

“Poor wee soul. It gives a girl a turn to learn she’s not what the butcher ordered.” Meg gave her a sideways glance. “I mean, Merlyn did say your husband never bedded you.

“Of course, ‘tis none of my business,” Meg continued, seeing the girl’s expression change and close against her. “Our Merlyn’s an odd sort, don’t you agree? He’s a loner, thinks too much. Why, once, after a particularly bad review of his new play, he sat right beneath this very roof and drank Blue Ruin till he couldn’t unlock his jaw. Took more than two quarts to put him under,” she said, admiration strong in her voice.

Cassandra knew Merlyn had been an actor. Meg had told her he was not a leading man—his deep voice and eyepatch made him too wicked a figure to play heroes—but was a respected villain of some renown. When he’s not stealing jewels or people, Cassandra reminded herself. He was like a many-faceted gem in the ring he’d given her, reflecting different colors and patterns, never the same twice. Instinctively, her hand rose to touch the ring pinned inside the neck of her gown, but she stilled the impulse. Meg saw too much for her comfort.

“A fortnight

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