Shackles of Honor Read Online Free PDF

scolding glare from his father gave him cause to sigh before taking his sister’s hand and kissing it in greeting. “Good morning, Cass.”
    “There’s much to discuss, of course,” Cassidy’s father announced, not unexpectedly. “Much that you will both want to say. Many questions you have to ask. Many. Some that I may answer and some that I may not. But first, let us breakfast together calmly so that our stomachs will not upset.”
    Ellis assisted Cassidy into her chair and then, seating himself, immediately said, “So where is our honored guest this fine spring morning?”
    “Ellis,” his mother warned.
    “Mason is out and about on his mount this morning. No doubt he had experienced enough of your and Cassidy’s version of Shea hospitality,” their father boomed.
    “I see no reason to be hospitable toward him. He comes like a thief in the night to — ” Ellis began.
    “He does not approach as a thief, Ellis!” their mother exclaimed suddenly. Both Ellis and Cassidy were surprised by such an unprecedented outburst from their mother figure. “It has been seventeen years that he has prepared himself for this! It was, no doubt, like walking straight into a den of starving lions when he arrived yesterday, knowing what your estimation of him would be…what Cassidy’s reaction would be. A lesser man would not have done it. A lesser man would’ve refused this —f or his father does not threaten disinheritance or banishment. He is here because he is all that is honorable in a good man!” She paused, looking intently at Ellis. Then quietly she declared, “I hope that you would act so honorably were the situation reversed.”
    “You know you have no consequence to doubt me, Mother,” Ellis growled defensively.
    Cassidy shook her head in frustration. Why? Why was her father so silent in the matter? Never had she seen him take such a passive manner in any dealings. Especially something of such magnitude.
    “You sit there, Mother, Father…expecting this of me. Ellis, though I cherish your defense of me, your brotherly chivalry…’tis I that must suffer through this. ’ Tis only I. How can any of you, though you be my beloved family , my most treasured belongings…how can you sit and argue over what only I must endure?” All eyes were on her sympathetically. She continued, “I am she who will leave the only home she has ever known to reside with complete strangers—live in odd, unfamiliar surroundings—wed a man who cares no more for me than the mud that collects on his boots! I’m the one who will endure his attention, bear his children.”
    Her words caught in her throat as she and everyone else in the morning room heard the sharp closing of the door that led from the veranda to where they gathered. Cassidy felt the hair at the back of her neck prickle ominously as she turned to face none other than the very topic of their conversation.
    “Good morning, Mason,” Cassidy’s father greeted.
    “Sir,” Mason responded. “Milady. Ellis. Miss Shea,” he said, nodding his head at each one in turn. The discomfort hung thick in the air. Each member of the Shea family felt guilt at having been so obviously discovered discussing their houseguest. Likewise, Mason Carlisle’s pompous pride at having the upper hand in the situation was manifest in his countenance.
    “Twelve,” he stated, taking a chair next to Ellis.
    “Twelve?” Cylia repeated questioningly.
    “Twelve children.” Mason reached forth , taking a muffin from its basket and buttering it generously before leaning back contentedly in his chair. “I, being the ogre that I am, expect no less than twelve children.”
    No one said a word. Looking about her, Cassidy could see that no one, including herself, knew whether he w ere in earnest.
    “You see, that way, Miss Shea…you can begin counting down the persecuting number of times that you will have to endure my horrid attentions. ” Still everyone sat in silence as he quietly and very