But Caspian enjoyed it. Dammit, he worshipped it. Bedding his wife had brought out another side of himself, and while he was hesitant to explore that side further, if it meant spending another evening in bed with his wife, so be it.
To do that, he would need to find out what was wrong with Thalia, but Caspian, ever the stubborn sort, wasn’t about to give her the pleasure. They would sleep together again—they had to; that was the purpose of this marriage—but he would not beg.
“Here we are,” Caspian said as the carriage came to a stop. “Allow me to –” He stood to open the door, his intent to climb out and help Thalia down.
“I am fine,” she said, quick to stand, quicker to open the door, and even quicker than that to exit the carriage.
Typically, the Montague Ball proceeded in much the same fashion.
Thalia was not rude to Caspian throughout. Nor did she ignore him or give any indication to the other attendees that anything was wrong. For most, at least those who did not know her, they would not have noticed anything strange about how she was behaving. The perfect wife, many would surely agree.
Caspian knew her well enough now to know differently.
“I will have to ask you for advice,” Ironvale was chuckling as he spoke to Thalia and Caspian toward the end of the evening.
“Advice on what, exactly?” Thalia asked him.
Ironvale winked. “How you managed to convince this one –” He indicated at Caspian. “—to leave the manor without being dragged in chains. Tell me, are you a witch?”
Thalia rolled her eyes. “It is not a great trick, Lord Ironvale.”
“Pray do tell.”
“Are you familiar with bribery?” she said with a coy smile. “It works a treat.”
Ironvale burst into laughter. “Good show! Although now you need to tell me what it is that you bribed Caspian with. And whether I might be able to do the same.”
Caspian watched the conversation unfold in silence as his frustration steadily mounted. The evening had been a long and drawn-out affair, and he was just about ready to insist that they head home. Friends were spoken to. Business partners were placated. And enough people saw the two of them together that whispers were quietened.
Then Ironvale appeared and pulled them into conversation.
As had been the case all evening, Thalia was perfectly happy to engage in said conversation… so long as Caspian did not get involved. She laughed when Ironvale made jokes, she scoffed and joked herself, and it looked a perfectly pleasant experience.
But she also stood just a little away from Caspian, with her body turned so that her back was to him and positioned in a way that cut him out entirely.
Caspian stood there, glaring at the back of his wife’s head, getting more annoyed by the second. It was a type of annoyance that he refused to give in to, as Caspian had never been the type to allow such emotions to be shown. Especially in company.
“Sadly, I cannot help you there,” Thalia sighed.
“And why not?” Ironvale grumbled.
“Perhaps I can,” she said with a grin. “But only if you would consider marrying him. Just how desperate are you?”
Again, Ironvale burst into laughter. Thalia chuckled along, only to catch sight of Caspian watching her, at which point her face dropped and she went back to being her so-very serious self.
“Are you quite done?” Caspian said to Ironvale.
Ironvale scoffed. “Ah yes, my mistake. I forgot how the sound of laughter physically pains you, my friend. I am so sorry.”
Caspian was about to tell his friend off… politely, of course. Before he got the chance to do so, a voice cried out from their right.
“Thalia!”
All three of them turned together to see a young woman rushing through the crowd toward them. She had big eyes and wore a gay smile, and the way she dodged around the other guests, caring not for them, might have suggested that Thalia was the most important person in the whole world.
“Seraphine!” Thalia beamed and went to her. “I did not think you were here tonight.”
“I have been all evening,” Seraphine said as they hugged. “But my father…” She curled her lip in distaste.
