“Shall we…” Caspian shuffled forward as the carriage door was opened from the other side. He then held out his hand and she took it.
“We shall,” she said, making sure to smile as he helped her from the carriage and onto the footpath.
Their shared destination today was the London-based home of Lord Ironvale; a large townhouse in the city’s west. Lord Ironvale owned many homes throughout the country, but as Caspian had explained it, he spent most of his time in the city because he liked to be ‘close to where the action was.’ Those were Ironvale’s words.
The townhouse was a three-story affair, rather small when compared to Caspian’s manor, but still large in comparison to the homes that surrounded it. Thalia and Caspian held hands as they approached the front door, which swung open before they had a chance to knock and announce themselves.
“Your Grace,” A butler stood on the other side of the door. “Welcome. Lord Ironvale is expecting you.” He then took a step back and ushered them inside.
“Thank you,” Caspian said as they entered the home.
“Oh, this is lovely…” Thalia took in the grand foyer, unsurprised to see how decadent and well-furnished it was. Far smaller than her own home, but still a room fit for a lord.
“Ironvale hates it,” Caspian said with some humor.
“He does? Why?”
Caspian shrugged. “Something to do with his father, how it reminds Ironvale too much of his childhood. I am not sure.”
“You never asked?”
“I did not think I needed to.”
She rolled her eyes but made sure to smile. “Of course, why would you think to ask such things about your friends. Far too personal that you might risk developing a companionable relationship with the man. The horror.”
He looked at her flatly. “I am already close enough with Ironvale as it is. If I learn too much more about the man, I might never get rid of him.”
“Did you…” She frowned purposefully. “Did you just make a joke?”
“Did you laugh?”
“I am thinking about it.”
He shrugged. “Then yes, it was a joke.”
Thalia laughed, but not at the joke. Rather, she laughed at her husband, how darn straight-faced and serious he was, even when trying to be funny. As she had decided many weeks ago, any attempts to change him were never going to work. What sheneeded to do instead was learn to love the man who he was, and hope that was enough.
And if this last week is anything to go by, it is more than enough…
“I quit!” a voice suddenly rang out from somewhere inside the house. “Do you hear me! I quit!”
“You can’t quit!” That was Ironvale, and his thundering tones shook the walls of the home. “I refuse to accept your resignation!”
“I do not care! I quit! I quit! I quit!”
The owner of the bereaved party appeared at the top of the staircase a second later, and she looked even more upset than she sounded. It was a young woman of about the same age as Thalia, but she was dressed in plain greys which suggested that she was a member of the household staff. Her face was blotched red, her hair was a mess, and her outfit was covered in yellow and green paint.
“Come back here!” Ironvale’s voice cried out.
“Find someone else!” the hysterical woman rushed down the staircase.
“Matilda!” Ironvale appeared at the top of the staircase suddenly, and he looked almost as disheveled as the maid who he chased. “Please, Matilda! Let us talk of this!”
“I am done with talking!” She swept into the foyer and made straight for the door, not so much as paying Thalia or Caspian and glance. “I am done! Find somebody else!”
“Who? How?”
“I don’t care!” Matilda threw the door open and stormed outside, making sure to slam the door closed behind her.
