Almost Perfect Read Online Free

stairs. A pair of hostlers dressed in brown jackets and stained breeches, bits of straw clinging to their hats, came trotting around one corner. The footman made his dignified way down the steps, skirting his employer, then opened the coach door and helped Cassie down.
    “You’re here at last!” Aunt Philana cried, holding out her arms in invitation to her former niece-by-marriage. Her plain, age-lined face creased even more as she smiled. A lace cap covered her gray curls while an equally lacy shawl draped her shoulders. Philana’s day dress was cut in the current high-waisted style, but made of yesteryear’s fabric, a heavy gold and white striped brocade.
    Ignoring her aching legs and back, Cassie sprinted up the steps to wrap her arms around the smaller woman. Philana leaned back in Cassie’s embrace. Welcome filled her bright blue eyes.
    “I thought you’d never arrive,” she said.
    “It seemed as if we never would,” Cassie replied, breathing in Philana’s reassuring presence. “Our axle cracked two days ago and Papa didn’t think the repair would hold.”
    “I’m glad it did.” Philana reached up and caught Cassie’s face between her hands. Her palms were papery, her skin warm and her touch infinitely appreciated.
    Much to Cassie’s horror the urge to tell her aunt the whole sordid tale of Lord Bucksden’s death filled her. She swallowed it. That was one thing upon which all three of the Conningsbys agreed. Philana could not be told, nor could they borrow so much as a farthing from her to use for purchase of their passage. Doing so might lead to Philana being accused as their accomplice.
    “What is it, sweetheart?” Philana asked, releasing Cassie. Her silvery brows lifted in a promise to listen.
    Cassie only shook her head. “You know too well what plagues me.” Philana was the only one outside the family who knew just how desperate their straits were. It had been their financial problems that spurred the old woman to offer an open ended invitation to join her at Ettrick House.
    Philana’s eyes narrowed. Cassie readied herself to parry the next question, but her aunt never had the chance to ask as Eliza and Roland started up the steps.
    “Sir Roland,” Philana said a little coldly to their father. She’d more than once written to Cassie that she could have no respect for a man who squandered his daughters’ dowries and futures.
    Bright color flushed into Roland’s cheeks. “Lady Forster.” He offered a brief bow then climbed the final stair and made his way toward the door. Cassie watched him stop beside the opening. Unlike Lord Bucksden, Roland had better manners than to enter without an invitation.
    Philana’s attention was fully on Eliza. “Who is this beauty and what happened to the darling babe I met at my nephew’s wedding?” she asked, laughing as she took the girl’s hands in hers.
    Eliza bobbed. “How good to see you again, Lady Forster.”
    “Pish,” Philana said with a chiding look as she maneuvered Eliza around her until she could wrap an arm around the girl’s waist. “I’ll have none of that. You’ll call me Aunt Philana as your sister does. Now, we’ll hie ourselves inside for a moment or two while my coach is brought around. If you want your coach with you at the house party, Sir Roland, you’ll drive it there yourself. I have only one coachman and he must handle my team,” she called to Cassie’s father.
    “Where are we going?” Cassie asked in surprise.
    Philana shot her a startled glance. “Where else but to take up residence at Ryecroft Castle?”
    “Take up residence? But I thought we were staying here for the duration of the party,” Eliza said, her voice reflecting Cassie’s confusion.
    Because Ettrick House lay less than two miles from the earl’s home, the plan had been for them to reside here, then ride to Ryecroft Castle each morning and return to Aunt Philana’s house every evening.
    There was something sly in the smile that curved