Page 102 of Miss Vincent’s Vow

“And yet bear it he must, and all we can do is to stand by and watch, and help when we are able. But—”

He hesitated, staring into her eyes, looking for an answer, but she wasn’t sure what the question was. Was he unsure of what he was going to say, or merely uncertain how his words would be received?

At her prompting, he continued.

“But maybe it is not for us to give him a reason to live. Perhaps someone else will do that. The love of a good woman might lift him from despair—”

“Or cast him down even further if he is rejected again,” Cassandra retorted.

Jethro acknowledged the truth of her words. “To love is always a risk.”

Cassandra could not believe her ears. When had her husband become so romantic? She couldn’t remember hearing him talk of love before.

Except on the day they married, when they had promised to love each other.

But there had been nothing sentimental about those promises. They had each made a choice, and they were fulfilling their vows. He was looking after her and she was being a dutiful wife.

She supposed that marrying a stranger had been a risk for both of them. Is that what he meant, or was he talking of something else?

They were already heading back to Weymouth before Cassandra realised she had devoted the entire trip to Jethro and all but ignored her brother.

She moved down the boat and sat beside him. “What does it feel like to be out on the water again?”

“It feels much the same as it did the first time I saw Eugenia after she had married Frampton. I was there, with my old love, but she was unattainable. So it is with the sea.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, laying her hand over her brother’s. “Would it help to talk about it?”

Xander let out a harsh bark of laughter. “No. Nothing will help. Can’t you see, Cassandra? I’m grieving, and this loss is greater than the first. I accept that I’m better off without Eugenia. She would not have coped with this,” he said, slapping his thigh, even though it made him howl with pain. “But the sea? I’m nothing without her.”

Cassandra bit her lip, her eyes watering as she gazed at her brother’s downcast face. There was nothing she could do to resurrect the life he loved. She felt utterly helpless.

She returned to Jethro’s side. “If only there was something I could do. He seems so lost.”

“Have you asked him about the dinner party with Mr Wade yet? I promised the man I would invite him, and I won’t renege on my word, but I wish it hadn’t been extracted from me. I can’t think Xander’s presence will benefit anyone.”

He sounded as though he would have said more, but instead, looked behind him to where Xander sat, staring blindly at the sea.

Cassandra heard the unspoken words—the note of desperation in her husband’s voice.

“I’ll ask him now. I’m sure he’ll say no.”

She moved back to sit beside her brother. Uncertain how to introduce the subject gently, she launched right in.

“Jethro and I have been invited to a dinner party later this week. The invitation was extended to you, but I will give your apologies.”

Xander said nothing. He didn’t even look at her.

“Eugenia and her husband are the only other guests. It would be most uncomfortable for you—”

“I’ll come.”

Cassandra thought she must have misheard. “You want to see Eugenia again, in such limited company?”

“Yes.”

This was not the answer she expected or wanted. “I don’t think that would be wise. This dinner is important to Jethro. To his business.”

“You said I’d been invited. Are you going to un-invite me now?” he growled.