"Yes, thank you," Cassandra murmured as Lex came to her aid. Smiling apologetically at their host and hostess, she add, "I truly am terribly sorry to cut our evening short."
She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smirking softly at the disgruntled way in which Macnair stood as Lex helped her to stand. Uncouth clod. The man actually seemed appeased by the ridiculous idea women were so weak, even nodding solicitously and waving away her apologies with a rough 'not at all'. Well, if he was going to be fooled by such a simple act of deception perfected by ladies for centuries, Cassandra would not complain.
Taking Kat's hand, she squeezed it tightly as she bestowed the appropriate air kisses of farewell upon her friend's cheeks. "Thank you again for a lovely dinner, Katherine, Mr. Macnair. I'll owl you in a couple days about the invitations for the Autumn Picnic."
It wasn't until she had 'allowed' Lex to 'lead' her from the house that Cassandra let herself breathe easily again. She'd done what she could here. She only hoped Kat took the hint.