“You joining me for supper,” she said. “I can’t remember the last time that you did.”
“This is the first,” he said simply. “I felt that it was appropriate.”
“Oh?”
“It is our one-month anniversary.” He was looking right at her as he spoke, but it wasn’t with his usual sense of coolness and detachment. His expression was slightly harder than usual, his brow tight, his hands folded on the table before him.
Thalia felt a spike of energy bursting inside of her. Was that excitement? Was it nerves? She could not tell. What she suspected, however, was that as nervous as she was feeling, Caspian was the same.
She tried to look at him, while trying also not to let her thoughts show on her face. “So… tonight.” Her tongue grew thick in her mouth. “I take it that… you wish to…” She started to sweat as the nerves increased. “We have not spoken about it and I –”
“Nor do we need to,” he cut her off.
“We… we don’t?”
A half-smile took his lips. “I am aware of what tonight means, as you clearly are. But there is no need to ponder on it, because I fear that will only make things worse.”
“Worse?”
“More awkward,” he confirmed. “For now, it is enough to know what is expected of tonight, and to possibly…” His half-smile grew. “… enjoy one another’s company. If such a thing is possible?”
She laughed, but it was more to dispel the nerves than anything else. “It is for me. You, however…” She raised a questioning eyebrow at him. “I am not so sure.”
“I will do my best,” he said with humor.
It was the best that Thalia could hope for. She had never truly expected the Duke to forget about this evening, or to not want it anymore. And strangely, she did not want him to. They had grown closer this last month, he was fulfilling his side of the promise, and she owed it to him to do the same.
So, they ate supper together as any married couple would do. The conversation was minimal, but that was expected. Importantly, it was not awkward or tense. Thalia spoke of her childhood, Caspian did not shy away from the odd personal question she proposed, and all the while the finality of what would happen when they finished supper hung over their heads.
Neither of them shunned the wine. It flowed and loosened lips and lowered inhibitions. Enough that by the time their last course was eaten, Thalia was glowing, her body was flushed warm, and she could not stop her eyes from searching her husband, looking at him in ways she rarely did but knew that she must.
He was tall and strong. He was powerful and dominant. There was a darkness in the way he held himself, but she knew it didnot represent who he was. In her mind, he was kinder than he let on, more caring, and he certainly did not hate her.
I might even go so far as to say that he likes me… that he is pleased that I am who he married, and not Rosaline.
That thought alone brought a smile to her lips.
“Dessert?” Caspian asked once their plates were cleared. “I did not ask the kitchen if they had made any.”
“Oh, I don’t think I could take another bite of anything…” She leaned back in her chair and rested her hand on her belly. “I might explode if I try.”
“And we wouldn’t want that,” he said with soft laughter.
Silence again. It came as his laughter faded, which left them both stewing in silence as they looked at one another, then away, and then back on each other again. The tension started to build. The air became thick and heavy. And Thalia’s heart pounded in her chest as the moment dawned on them both.
“Shall we?” Caspian pushed back his chair and rose.
“Yes,” she said. “I think we shall.” She stood and Caspian took her hand, leading her around the table.
Caspian’s hand was warm to the touch, and when it wrapped around her own, Thalia felt comfort like she had never before known with him. When she looked at him, he offered her a smile, and she felt it in her chest. Her knees wobbled. Her breathing was heavy. And excitement started to filter through it all.
This was happening. One month ago, Thalia had been repulsed by the idea, but now she was excited. Curious. Eager to see if she was right about her husband and their relationship and what the future might hold for them.
That was where her mind went, to the future. Once they lay together. Once she was with child. And once they both accepted how they felt about one another… then what? This marriage was still in its infancy but after tonight, so much was going to change. Thalia would change, her husband would change, their lives would change.
And Thalia could not wait for it.
Chapter Fourteen
