“No.” Seth took a deep breath. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”
“All right,” Cassandra soothed. She rubbed his upper arm, walking perhaps too close, but her presence was like stepping into a warm bath. He relaxed into her touch before releasing her when they came to the street with food vendors.
Spotting their friends in the distance, Cassandra waved her hand in the air to grab Lady Jasmine’s attention. Cooper noticed them first. With a grin plastered on his face, he carried two overflowing mugs of ale, droplets hitting his boots as he approached.
“No excuses now, my friend!” Cooper thrust a mug into Seth’s hands and slung an arm around his shoulders. “Consider your sobriety officially ended!”
Seth shrugged his arm off, but accepted the ale. Nose flushed, with a slur to his words, Cooper seemed like he had a mug or two in him already.
How long had they been gone?
Lady Jasmine held two piping cups of mulled wine, spiking the airwith the scent of cloves and autumn. Delicately, she handed one to Cassandra. Mr. Sanderson carried a load of pasties wrapped in wax paper as he led the way to a sizable beige blanket, one of many in the town square.
Cooper dropped to his knees on the blanket and raised his mug. “To victory!” he crowed. “And to my best friend, the man who is going to save my hide tomorrow! You deserve the world!”
“Are you going to cry again?” Seth raised a brow.
Cassandra and Lady Jasmine giggled.
“Tears ofjoy, Reeves!” Cooper corrected tersely. “I’m about to be exceedingly wealthy.”
Cooper took a deliberate swig of ale, drinking a quarter of the liquid in one go.
As the sun began its descent, more musicians gathered in the square. Two fiddles and a flute played a fast-paced melody.
“Oh-oh-oh!” Lady Jasmine proclaimed, moving to her feet. “I’m going to go dance! Watch my food!”
“Jasmine!” Cassandra called to her, but Lady Jasmine was halfway across the square.
After a second, Cooper shook his head and laughed. “That girl. The four of you,” he pointed at Cassandra and Seth, “stay put! Neither Cassandra should be on their feet—”
“I’mfine—”
“Zeke, you’re with me.” Cooper squinted as a set of town lads spoke to Lady Jasmine. He furrowed his brows. “I’ll need backup.”
Seth blinked.Zeke?
In two large bites, Mr. Sanderson finished his pasty, took a long gulp of ale, and followed Cooper, his shorter legs trailing fast after him.
Alone once more, Cassandra smiled. “She doesn’t know when to quit.”
Cooper approached Lady Jasmine and loudly proclaimed the lady had promisedhimthe first dance. With an exaggerated bow as if in a ballroom, Cooper extended his hand. Lady Jasmine swatted at him, but pulled him into lively steps.
And Lady Jasmine calledhima ruffian.
She was more wild than he would ever be.
“They’re always like that,” Cassandra said, watching them. “The two of you have been as well. Thick as thieves.”
She took a sip of her wine, the burgundy liquid stained her lips.
“Cooper can get along with anyone,” he said. Cooper released Lady Jasmine to pull a blushing town’s girl into his arms, her red face visible even in the fading light. Making good on his designs to be a rake, after all. Lady Jasmine pointed at Mr. Sanderson, who waved his hands in promptly ignored protest as the lady tugged on his arm, forcing him into movement.
“Seth?”
He brought his attention back to Cassandra.
“Do you truly believe you’ll win?” she asked, fidgeting with her gloves. It would never have occurred to him how much she would need reassurance.