“I plan on it, do not worry,” Lord Donmere chuckled. “I did not come here to drink and play and enjoy myself. I came here to reveal the truth. And now that I have done so…” He took a step back and bowed deeply. “I will be on my way, as you have requested.” Then, he took a quick step closer and dropped his voice so that only Caspian and Thalia could hear. “I warned you, Your Grace. And if you were not so arrogant, you might have listened.”
Thalia could see the effort it took her husband to contain his rage. He shook visibly. His face was flushed red. And his jaw was clenched. But he said nothing, allowing Lord Donmere to waltz freely from the party unscathed.
The mood in the garden changed dramatically.
Silence rang loud among the guests. Nothing was said, nobody moved, and they stood about awkwardly as they gawked and gaped. It was clear immediately that not only were Lord Donmere’s words heard, but that they were believed.
“Caspian…” Thalia took her husband’s hand again. “We should be going.”
“What?” he snapped and turned about.
She raised her eyes and indicated to the other guests. “We should go… now.”
It felt suspiciously like running… because that’s exactly what it was. Thalia and Caspian were quick to say their goodbyes to the other attendees before they slunk from the garden party. It was stiff and awkward, and they were watched closely the whole way.
Their secret was out, the lie was revealed, and the foundation of their marriage was shattered. There was no need for them to lie anymore, there was no chance that they could change minds, and with Thalia finally being with child, she realized suddenly that the future of their marriage had never been more unsure.
Her world was falling apart and try as she might, Thalia could not foresee a way she might save it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
They spent the carriage ride home in awkward silence.
Caspian fumed silently the whole way, brought to a level of anger that Thalia had never seen in him before. And Thalia, watching her husband closely, could only wonder why he was so angry.
Who cares what people think? Who cares if our secret is out? It should not matter, so long as he cares for me. If his feelings are true, what people think is irrelevant. Our love is all that he should care about…
Was that the reason he was so angry? Was it fear that with their secret out, that they could no longer lie about how they felt? And if they could no longer lie, was he going to spurn her, shut her out as he had done in the early days of this marriage?
Did he care for her at all…
“Caspian!” Thalia was forced to call after her husband once they arrived home. “Wait!”
Caspian was halfway across the foyer, each step taken shaking the very foundations of the manor. She could not say what was on his mind exactly, but she intended to find out. She had to, for the sake of their marriage… and their unborn child.
He stopped when he heard her voice, and he slowly turned around. Thalia gasped when she saw the look in his eyes, one that she had never witnessed before. It reminded her slightly of how he looked when they were in bed together, the animalistic side of him coming to the fore. But there was no hunger there this time, no desire. Only rage.
“He will pay for this,” Caspian seethed. “Mark my words, he will pay!”
“He does not have to,” Thalia said gently as she went to him. She made sure to keep her voice soft, her eyes caring. “And if you antagonize him further, he will only –”
“Only what?” Caspian barked, and Thalia winced. “He insulted the both of us, Thalia. It was as good as if he spat in our faces. He will not get away with this.”
“But if you try and fight it, it will only make things worse,” she eased him. “The best way to nullify gossip is to give it no air to breathe.”
“It already has air,” he snarled, body shaking. “And the longer we do nothing, the worse it will become. No…” He shook his head. “This will not stand.”
“What…” She leaned back. “What do you mean to do?”
“First, we must cut the rumor off once and for all…” He bit into his lip, his brow furrowed tight. “We will host a party… a party that will prove to everyone how we feel about one another. Yes…” He started to nod his head. “And we must make them believe it, no matter the cost.”
She winced. “Do you think that is necessary?”
“Of course it is.”
Thalia hesitated on what she was about to say.
She knew the reason that Caspian was so upset. To have his honor questioned in that way, to be called a liar to his face, was the height of insult. He had every reason to want to prove it false, if for no other reason than to protect his dignity.
