Caspian came to a sudden stop and turned on his friend. Ironvale was of similar proportions to Caspian, so the effect wasn’t meant to startle him. Rather, Caspian wanted the man looking into his eyes when he told him the reason.
“As far as my contractual obligations with Lord Donmere are concerned, I do not give the faintest damn. If he was so concerned about me marrying his daughter, he would not have allowed that fiasco to take place to begin with.”
Ironvale snorted. “Have you told him that?”
“And as far as my own contract is concerned, I have already seen to finding myself a new bride. One who, I am quite sure, will happily walk down the aisle, announce herself as my wife, and then do as I expect of her.”
Ironvale blinked. “A new bride… already? Who?”
About to answer him, Caspian’s gaze drifted over Ironvale’s shoulder where it found a young woman hurrying down the street as if her gown was on fire; behind her raced the woman’s personal maid, begging to slow down as she tripped and stumbled through the crowds.
It was funny how fate worked sometimes, because that’s what this was. A reminder, Caspian thought to himself, of what was at stake.
“See for yourself.” He indicated to the woman.
“See for…” Ironvale turned and found the woman to whom Caspian was referring. “Her?” he pointed right at her.
“That’s the one.”
“Why does she look… oh!” Ironvale laughed. “Do not tell me. Caspian!” He slapped Caspian on the arm. “You know, just when I think that you are the most serious fellow I have ever met, you go and do something like this. Good show!”
“I assure you that this is not a joke.”
“It is from where I am standing,” Ironvale laughed.
The woman who was hurrying down the street was none other than Lady Thalia. She did not see Caspian watching her, far too busy focusing on each store that she passed, no doubt searching for something specific.
Caspian watched her for a moment, unsurprised by her haphazard wanderings, the frantic nature that she rushed by with, and the look of extreme discomfort on her face as if the task of shopping was akin to having her nails pulled out.
Perhaps my friend is right to judge me? Had someone told me even two weeks ago who I was set to marry, I might have punched them in the face for daring to joke about such things.
Lady Thalia was not the type of person who Caspian would usually waste his time with. Having been raised in a strict household, Caspian liked things done a certain way. He did not like fuss. He did not like surprises. He liked plans, and action, and knowing what to expect so he could account for it.
His wife-to-be, he began to believe, was the opposite of this. She was stubborn. She was antagonistic. She was the type who liked to argue simply for the sake of it, happy to burn down the house just so that she could be proven right about a point that she did not want to win in the first place.
The two of them were a dangerous pairing, Caspian knew.
Not that any of this mattered, and he reminded himself of this often. This marriage was done with a singular purpose, there was no need to worry himself with the aftermath, and he was quite sure that even one as temperamental as Lady Thalia would not dare oppose him.
All he needed to do was remain calm around her, remind her of what he wanted, and this marriage would be an effortless thing. It had to be.
“Lady Thalia!” Caspian called to her as she came near.
Lady Thalia came to a sudden stop when she heard her name. Her face then dropped, her eyes then widened, and when she looked up and saw Caspian standing just a few feet away, the look that overtook her visage was nothing short of disgust.
Were Caspian the type to do so, he might have laughed.
“What a pleasant surprise.” He walked toward her, not wasting time with a smile because he didn’t see the point. “What brings you here?”
Her lips curled as she watched him come. “What do you think?”
“I wouldn’t waste my time with guessing.”
“If you must know…” She rolled her eyes. “I am shopping for a gown for our…” Her lips somehow curled further. “For our wedding. You do remember that you are forcing me to marry you?”
“Nobody is forcing anything,” he said simply. “You are still welcome to say no.”
“Is that right?” she scoffed.
